1980 Jaguar XJS Hardtop review from Australia and New Zealand
"Fell to bits and almost made me do the same!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Well, I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said almost everything went wrong.
I bought it second-hand at a Melbourne Jag dealer, and in the 5 years I had it, it was a complete bomb and a bitter disappointment.
I was locked into a repayment scheme with the credit union, so I had to suffer with it until 1988 when it was paid-off.
The problems were mainly due to bad parts used in the manufacture of the car. For example, the entire dashboard blacked out and nothing worked except starting, all because of a faulty Lucas fusebox.
I would rather not go into further details about this nightmare. Suffice to say, I believe in "Forgive and forget"!
General comments?
It was only suitable for 2 people inside. Yes, I was well-aware of this when I bought it. I never needed the back seats for anything, anyway.
Having said that, the cabin was absolutely luxurious and beautifully thought-out. It was a joy to sit in.
The looks of the thing were stunning (when I could bear to look at it!).
It performed better than any car I've driven, before or since.
Handling was not what you'd expect from an expensive GT. It had a lot of understeer.
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| 1980 - XJS 5.3 V12 Coupe 5.3 V12 Unbeatable power and luxury for the price of an average telly |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1980 |
| First year of ownership | 1983 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1988 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.3 Litre V12 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 32000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 67000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Jaguar S-Type |
| Date of Entry | 23rd July, 2006 |