Just £5,000 buys a running 3.6-litre automatic coupé, with the best examples worth £10,000 or so. A project 3.6-litre XJS-C fetches £5,000, while good cars are £10,000. There are plenty of pre-facelift V12 convertibles, but facelifted cars are rare; buyers generally prefer the later cars.
Worthwhile 4.0-litre and V12 convertibles (early or late) start at £10,000 and run to £25,000 for something nice, but the much rarer 6.0-litre examples can fetch £40k.
Alternatives
The BMW 6 Series was up against the earlier XJS, while the original 8 Series competed with the later XJS; it came in coupé form only, with straight-six or V12 engines. Three other German options are the Porsche 928 along with the Mercedes SEC and SL; for the latter choose from the R107 (1971-1989) or the far more modern R129 (1989-2002).
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The Aston Martin DB7 offers excellent value, while the Ferrari 400 and 412 are more costly to buy and run, but they’re alternatives all the same. Among the other options are the XJS’s replacement, the XK8, and the Lotus Elite, although really good examples of this left-field British GT are hard to find.
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What to look for
Top tips for choosing your XJS…
Rust
The bodyshell was galvanised from 1994. On earlier cars you need to check everywhere for rust, including the floorpans, sills, wheelarches and screen surrounds. Repairs can easily run into thousands.
Engines
The engines are generally tough and all parts are available for servicing and rebuilds. The six-cylinder engines can overheat; white emulsion on the underside of the oil filler cap betrays a blown head gasket.
Steering bushes
While the steering racks wear well, their mounting bushes do not, but new ones are available. The suspension isn’t weak, but replacing the Jaguar’s springs and dampers can transform the driving experience.
Brakes
All XJSs had discs all round and they work well; anti-lock tech arrived in 1988. Until 1993 the discs were inboard, so not very accessible, and as a result they’re often neglected.
Interior
The XJS’s interior is pretty olde world with lots of wood and leather, and it’s all the better for it. The seats are comfy and supportive, the low-slung driving position is good (with room for tall drivers), but the rear seats are best suited to small children only. Boot space is plenty for a week away, with more than 400 litres available in all models.
Running costs
There’s a big difference in running costs between six and 12-cylinder editions. The latter cost a lot more in maintenance and fuel, but when it comes to servicing there’s a lot that you can do yourself. If you prefer to leave things to the professionals, there’s an army of highly regarded Jaguar specialists around the country.
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