Comments: 1-15, 16-23
Instrument Panel Dimmer shorted out.
A lovely place to watch the road unwind from. I have owned two of these. My first was an 85 V12, and now this one, a 95 Coupe, with the 4.0 6 cylinder engine. In terms of overall refinement, it is my opinion that the later car is in a totally different league, but that does not diminish the standing of the earlier cars in the slightest.
These are unique automobiles. They clearly were affordable exotics, and mostly, better cars than most people thought.
These were (the earlier cars, pre-90s) perhaps the most complicated automobiles ever made. Seriously. My advice would be that you do not consider ownership if you are not VERY well inclined mechanically and with eclictrical systems troubleshooting, or unless you have lots of money.
That being said, these are some of the most comfortable, enjoyable cars to take a road trip in that you can imagine. They are capable of chewing up enormous distances in a day, can cruise at speeds that many cars would struggle to reach, and do so in a grand manner.
And they are rare. It has been years since I have passed by one on the highway. You just don't see one everyday... In fact, you don't see them hardly at all. If you want a car that speaks to individuality, it would be difficult to do better at 10 times the money.
These are lovely cars. The interior of the later cars is like nothing else on the planet. Old world charm and comfort abound, but in an intimate space, where you are surrounded by soft skins, thick carpeting, and beautiful wood-grains.
The driver ergonomics are somewhat flawed by not having a proper dead-pedal, and by having a slighly odd relationship between the seat and steeringwheel position. The wheel is adjustable but does not telescope (in the 95 anyway). With the seat close to the wheel, the pedals are too close. The Steering wheel is also a bit to big cramping the thighs a bit (I am 6', 190). The seat is not adjustable except in for-aft movement and seat-back rake (there is a lumbar adjustment too, but that is minor). Most luxury cars offer tilt and height adjustments, so this is an odd oversight. Still, with some fiddling, most people could probably find a very comfortable postion.
The cabin is quiet. At 110 mph, it is still relativly wind-free. At about 120, some aerodynamic buffeting starts to take place, which doesn't become anymore severe as speeds approach 150mph, though of course wind noise does.
I have driven my car at top speed and it did reach an indicated speed of 147mph which is exactly what the manufacturers claim is, however the speedometer of my car reads a bit fast. Based on my estimate using a stopwatch and milage markers, I recon that the actual top speed was about 145. Not bad for a 237 HP 6 cyl car. Not bad at all.
The ride is hard to describe. This car uses a rather tall, narrow tire, which is actually beneficial to comfort, and the suspension, even though based on a design that goes back 40 years (XKE), handles bumps and dips better than most cars of its size and weight. This is a heavy car though (even the V6 weighs in at around 3800 Lbs), so the handling isn't sports-car like, but much better than a sedan, and it rides better than most sedans do.
In the end though, I think that what makes these cars so desirable is the strong character. This results from a combination of heritage, styling, engineering, scarcity, and raw mystique. No other cars at affordable prices generate the same passion in me as the XJS does and few PRACTICAL cars top it at ANY price.
Why you don't see many of the pre-Ford Jags is no mystery.
They were expensive to buy and fix, and when they broke, which was often, they cost a lot to fix. Apparently not enough people felt the same way you do to justify paying the cost.
Yes, it is true, the earlier XJ-S cars are complicated and nothing is simple to do on them. I would not recommend them to a novice (And I didn't in my original comments). The later 6 Cyl cars are far more straight-forward, with much less complexity, and by all reports are much more reliable. That is why when I got the urge for another one, I went with the 95 Coupe. I consider the 95 and 95 6 Cyl coupes to be the best of the line for someone that is going to be using it as a daily driver (as I do mine).
The Jaguar 4.0 (I own a 95 Celebration version) was my boys dream come true. It was launched in the year (1976) when I was just practicing for my driver's license and at the time basically reading every auto-magazine.
I have had hardly any problems with this car that has done 85.000 real kilometers. You need a garage for the yearly services. One that you can trust. But that was the same for every car I owned in my life.
Sometimes it is difficult to find spare parts (like my front headlight) since there were so few cars made and the lights are different in the US, UK and here in continental Europe.
This car is unique. I intend to keep it for the rest of my life, that is if my son doesn't have the same accidents I had with my father's car before I turned 21.
Have fun,
Joep.
I have owned a 95 XJS for more than 4 years. I put about $1500 worth of work into it when I got it, but that was about it. No engine work whatsoever. It has the 6 cylinders, it runs absolutely great. She has 79,000 miles now, and still runs well. Actually quite reliable. As far as looks, it produces many envious glances, and often admiring looks from women. Even Porche and BMW drivers take a look at this 95 XJS coupe. Funny that. Classic lines, and when she's washed and waxed, look out.
I own a 1996 xjs convertible. the car had 41,000 miles when
i purchased the car in august 2004. The vehicle needed new tires which ran about $900. The tech had broke one of the
studs on the left rear wheel. I replaced the hub assembly
myself. Later in October of that year, the ECU had gone out. It cost me $2100.00. I also installed it myself. I
worked as a jaguar tech so the parts cost me less. I do
all the repairs on my vehicle. I have not had any troubles
with the exception of the problems above. the car runs well, and I'm very satisfied with it. I plan on getting another 96 to add alongside my current one.
Thanks for the comment. I had been thinking about buying a 1995 XJS 6-cyl coupe with 83K miles priced at $5500. Will pass on it now.
Anybody that has some information on a 1995 coupe with the 6 4.0 can you e mail me? dz@acaciahomemortgage.com or zeller @realtor.com in the usa thanks the one for $5500 sounds great at 88k.
I currently own a 1996 jaguar XJS Celebration Convertible. I bought the car in august 2005 from a man who was getting a new jaguar (XKR CONVERTIBLE) it has only 22,000 miles on the clock so it has hardly been run in. The car was a dream of mine when I was a youngster and now I am lucky enough to own one.
Some people might complain about the car, but if you ever drove mine you would change your mind just sitting in it.
It's a beautiful machine and I love it.
UK.
We have had our 96 xjs convertible for a year now, and still think it was worth every penny. I have always wanted one of these cars since my youth, and we were looking for a convertible and I found this one. Having looked at several in my lifetime and never finding none worth buying, I could tell that the one that I looked at was well cared for. So I called my lovely wife and sent her a picture of the car. She instantly fell in love with the car and may I add looks great driving it too. We went back the next day and bought it. It had 106k when we bought it and after one summer its up over 112k. The looks and the ride are incomparable to any other car I have driver. We have had only a couple little things go wrong since we bought her. The oil sending unit started leaking (less than $100 installed) and a circuit breaker failed ($5 installed not OEM Jaguar). The only thing that I could possible complain about really has nothing to do with the car, and that is its so hard to find anything to fit the car unless you get it from Jaguar or its priced like its from Jaguar. I have been looking for wheels for mine for quite sometime and short of getting the OEM wheels redone there aren’t many options. If anybody can tell me some information on aftermarket wheels that fit this car please enlighten me.
Can anyone explain the relevance of the hood ornaments on these cars - the 1995 XJS 4.0 cyl. 6 cylinders? Some have the leaping cats, while others have a medallion. I must say I believe the medallion looks more correct on a low slung sports model. the leapers seem to be more appropriate on sedans and salons... Very receptive to comments. robertw@hiredgun.com
Thanks!
I am considering a 95 xjs 4.0 - 6 convertible for $9000 with low mileage. does anyone have any advice for this year and make. is this a good deal?
I once heard there was a particular era of the jag that should be avoided - is this it? I hope not. thanks.
The cautions that you may have heard about xjs models to be avoided probably relate to pre-1992 vehicles, prior to Ford introducing galvanized steel bodyshells, as earlier models especially pre-Ford ownership are prone to the dreaded body-rot. That said, there is another school of thought that the car's best styling occurred during the 85-91 production runs. Playing safe though, you shouldn't be overly worried about a 95 model on the bodywork side of things and obviously the straight six is better on gas than V12 from a practical rather than a purist viewpoint. Good luck and use a quality independent specialist for servicing. Parts are readily available on the web. Price sounds about right.
PS I drive an 89 V12 coupe which has lovely torque and looks, plenty of chrome everywhere, but suffers the usual corrosion snags if not kept in check, not to mention gas usage.
Hope this helps.
Hey folks.
Thinking of buying a 95 xjs with 43k miles for $18k. how reasonable does this sound?
My father owns this same car and I absolutely love it, my only concern is paying for the up-keep and maintenance. Can someone give me a ball-park estimate as to how much yearly repairs/upkeep would be? Thank you.
I owned a 89' Jaguar XJS 12 cyl., which was a beautiful looking car. The only problem I had was that she didn't want to run for anyone, but my mechanic. I would pick her up and she would stall out within a few miles. The problem was never discovered by three different mechanics at three different shops. I finally decided to sell the car and purchase a Japanese car for daily travel. I believe that I had a lemon to begin with and I still love these cars! My wife says that I'm addicted. I believe with Jags, you either love them or hate them. I plan on purchasing a 95 XJS coupe this winter for my Christmas gift. 6 cyl. of course!!
I own a 1988 XJS, and like the above comment, mine has started stalling intermittently and mechanics can't find anything wrong. It got fixed briefly when I found out my new battery had a dead cell; maybe the replacement does too. As far as not seeing many on the road because they're too expensive to maintain, I disagree. There were few made to begin with. Only the rich could afford them, and most have been well maintained because of this. Who needs Ford and its jerky V8? You buy the XJS for the V12! Many parts are reasonable anyway; it has a GM ignition and tranny, for instance. They are tough to work on, though. Even changing plugs is difficult.