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'94 Jaguar XJ6

Nebbers

Nebbers

Senior member
So here's something from the total end of the spectrum of what I was looking for, which was an Accord or Civic or something.

I probably shouldn't even be considering this, but damn, it's really tempting.

1994 Jaguar XJ6
223-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
4-speed automatic w/OD sport and fuel econ
125k Miles

Looks to be in excellent condition. Listed at $3000.

b3ue7b.jpg

2uhab7o.jpg


The concern here, of course, is that if I run into problems I'm probably going to be hurting (in comparison to something more common) I would guess. I'm not planning on driving the hell out of whatever I get, most likely won't be taking any road trips anytime soon with it, but I would like something to last me at least a few years without investing a ton of money into it.

Is it really as bad as I think it is getting parts and repairs done? I know the fuel efficiency isn't going to be that awesome but that's something I can live with, honestly. I just don't want to have a major repair needed anytime soon.

... I'd definitely enjoy it more than something like an Accord, though that would probably be a safer bet.

Talk me out of this. Or into it, if it's not as bad as I think. 🙂
 
I should add that I'm not exactly a 'car guy'. I can do minor things, brake pads being about the extent of what I've done myself.

... which isn't to say I wouldn't like to learn more, just that I'm relatively clueless as far as things go so far.

I should also add that my budget is around $4000, so if odds are good I wouldn't be dropping more than another $1000 in this anytime soon, maybe it's not such a bad idea.
 
Nebbers said:
So here's something from the total end of the spectrum of what I was looking for, which was an Accord or Civic or something.

I probably shouldn't even be considering this, but damn, it's really tempting.

1994 Jaguar XJ6
223-hp, 4.0-liter I-6
4-speed automatic w/OD sport and fuel econ
125k Miles

Looks to be in excellent condition. Listed at $3000.

b3ue7b.jpg

2uhab7o.jpg


The concern here, of course, is that if I run into problems I'm probably going to be hurting (in comparison to something more common) I would guess. I'm not planning on driving the hell out of whatever I get, most likely won't be taking any road trips anytime soon with it, but I would like something to last me at least a few years without investing a ton of money into it.

Is it really as bad as I think it is getting parts and repairs done? I know the fuel efficiency isn't going to be that awesome but that's something I can live with, honestly. I just don't want to have a major repair needed anytime soon.

... I'd definitely enjoy it more than something like an Accord, though that would probably be a safer bet.

Talk me out of this. Or into it, if it's not as bad as I think. 🙂
Click to expand...

You are looking at the wrong car then. Jags are notorious for costly repair bills, and getting a '94 is just asking for trouble.
 
Look at Lexus if you want reliability. The European cars are not reliable and they are very costly to repair.
 
Jags from that vintage are a mixed bag. They were notorious for the electrical issues and then some. They can be dependable drivers but the overall cost of ownership is much much higher than it needs to be. Jags from those years make BMWs look cheap to operate.

If I were looking at higher mileage luxury I would scope out a first gen LS400 without active suspension. Now a Merc E320 is a very similar car but will end up costing you your house in repairs eventually.

I have personally taken a ls400s into the 200K range and it did it wonderfully.
 
Oh, that is tempting. Looks a hell of a lot better than the usual POS econobox, doesn't it? Here's the deal, though. You're going to get a combined 20MPG, AND it's going to cost serious dough when it breaks, AND the car is going to break twice as often as just about anything else.

Reminds me of the Top Gear episodes where they get an older Rolls or Bentley for £10k, rave on about how beautiful it is, and then it breaks after ~250mi. It's like owning an Alfa, when it's running right it's a marvel, when it isn't it's a turd. Car guys will contend, however, that you need a car like this once in your life, just so you can enjoy the memories of the highs and lows later. I owned a `77 Dino 308 GT4 for a year, picked it up for only $5500 and ended up putting in another $3k fixing it up a little... until the transmission went out and ended my fun. You know what though, it was a great experience and I really regret getting rid of it. I should have kept it and gotten it repaired a few years later when I had the money. Oh well.

I say go with the Jag. What the hell. You only live once and you'll have some cool memories from it, good and bad.
 
I know a couple with a mid 90s Jag, it's been NOTHING but a money pit and they can't afford a money pit (stupid decision to buy it in the first place). No.
 
My friend had an older Jag, somewhere in the '95 vintage range. Nothing but expensive problems. Stay away. Stay far... far.... away.
 
Throckmorton said:
I bet the crash survivability of that car is horrible.


Old cars are nice, to look at.
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Actually, those cars were tanks. My Mom-In-Law had a 1986 XJ6 and it had a good solid feel to it. It's a heavy car so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Reliability on the other hand was atrocious. Every time she would take it in for repairs it cost her $1000.

I worked for a guy years later who had an '89 Jaguar XJS that was just a nightmare. It constantly leaked oil, he'd spend thousands on repairs and 6 months later it would need the same repair done again. Just a horrible car for maintenance.
 
Zenmervolt said:
It's a Jaguar from the days before Ford took over. The word you're looking for is "when" you run into problems with it, not "if." You don't want that car.

ZV
Click to expand...


Ford purchased Jaguar in about 1989 or 1990. I had given some thought to a 94 XJR a few years ago and most people on message boards seemed to think that Ford had made pretty good strides into resolving quite a bit of the reliability issues by 1994.

I would pass on the car the OP posted simply because of the square headlights, those are horrid on that car.
 
Sluggo said:
Ford purchased Jaguar in about 1989 or 1990. I had given some thought to a 94 XJR a few years ago and most people on message boards seemed to think that Ford had made pretty good strides into resolving quite a bit of the reliability issues by 1994.

I would pass on the car the OP posted simply because of the square headlights, those are horrid on that car.
Click to expand...

I don't think Ford had much influence on Jaguar until at least the late 90s even though they made the purchase in 89/90, so I'm almost positive a '94 XJR would have no ford parts or influences in it at all.

As to the OP, even basic maintenance is going to be very costly (I owned a 2003 Jag for 6.5 years). Need an alignment done? Can't take it to any of the regular shops, jaguar dealership or speciality mechanic will be your only hope (and expect to pay for it)? Need a brake job? Good luck finding parts at any of the local autoparts stores, expect to order off the internet and even the cheap pads will be 50-60 dollars or more.
 
If it comes with a thick maintenace record, I'd bite... and be far happier about it then paying used honda moron tax.
 
MixMasterTang said:
I don't think Ford had much influence on Jaguar until at least the late 90s even though they made the purchase in 89/90, so I'm almost positive a '94 XJR would have no ford parts or influences in it at all.

As to the OP, even basic maintenance is going to be very costly (I owned a 2003 Jag for 6.5 years). Need an alignment done? Can't take it to any of the regular shops, jaguar dealership or speciality mechanic will be your only hope (and expect to pay for it)? Need a brake job? Good luck finding parts at any of the local autoparts stores, expect to order off the internet and even the cheap pads will be 50-60 dollars or more.
Click to expand...

Actually their influence began almost immediatly. Ford was able to introduce modern manufacturing techniques almost immediately which Jaguar lacked. Existing products saw huge quality improvements. There's a few good books about Ford basically saving Jag from itself. Jag was essentially still using WW2 style manufacturing processes, facilities and machinery into the 80s.

I'd have no problems with a mid 90s Jag. 80s? Stay away.
 
Sluggo said:
Ford purchased Jaguar in about 1989 or 1990. I had given some thought to a 94 XJR a few years ago and most people on message boards seemed to think that Ford had made pretty good strides into resolving quite a bit of the reliability issues by 1994.

I would pass on the car the OP posted simply because of the square headlights, those are horrid on that car.
Click to expand...

Eh, Ford really didn't do much until the X300 models as I recall. A '94 is the last year of the old XJ40/XJ81 cars which still traced a lot back to the pre-Ford days.

ZV
 
Jags are well known to be about the absolute worst car to own used. Anyway, I looked on craigslist, holy crap it's amazing how awful the resale is on these, $10k gets a V8 Jag less than 10 years old. S types are all over the place.
 
Doppel said:
Jags are well known to be about the absolute worst car to own used. Anyway, I looked on craigslist, holy crap it's amazing how awful the resale is on these, $10k gets a V8 Jag less than 10 years old. S types are all over the place.
Click to expand...

Time to buy? eh? 😉
 
Doppel said:
Jags are well known to be about the absolute worst car to own used. Anyway, I looked on craigslist, holy crap it's amazing how awful the resale is on these, $10k gets a V8 Jag less than 10 years old. S types are all over the place.
Click to expand...

They're a bit stupid looking, but I would LOVE an S-type R.
 
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