Buying a 1988 or later XJ6

If you want to know which Jaguar XJ6 models we recommend and buy for our customers, read on. It is too easy to be swayed by nice shiny paint and too easy to pay too much or buy a model with higher total operating costs than you expect so this page is intended to share our experience with anyone shopping for an XJ6 and maybe give the needed data for anyone still trying to decide if they should make this purchase. If you don't read lengthy articles then this next paragraph may be all you want.

THE BOTTOM LINE: We like the 1994 (and nearly as much: the 1993) Jaguar XJ6s (known in the trade as XJ40s) for their low total operating cost (around $5,000 per year for depreciation, repairs and financing) and excellent service performance. Many of them come with Select Edition Warranty coverage although we do not recommend purchasing extended warranties as a rule. We would not pay much more for a Vanden Plas, maybe $600 if you really love it's interior. Rather we would look for confirmed service history, dark wood (indicating garage protection), and the real Jaguar smell inside (indicating light or careful useage). Have a pre-buy inspection performed by a dealer or shop that knows the cars inside out even if you think you have found a gem. Pre-buys cost between $100 and $200 and should have written results.

1995 to 1997 models (X300s like the one on the graph below) are the newer shape with contours over each of the four headlamps and are substantially re-engineered from the 1994 model. Definitely an even better car but everyone wants them so there is a $10,000 jump in purchase price over a 1994 model. In part that is why the 1994 models appear such a good deal and it will probably be 2000 before the 1995s are the 'steals'.

1992 and older models back to 1990 can still be good buys but they do not have air bags or R134a refrigerant. The cars have been getting better and lower running cost each year since the XJ40 came out in 1988 and 1993 was a significant jump over 1992 because of a general update of much of the car for 1993 MY.

1989 and 1988 models like this picture were the first years for the new model and they do have a number of well known problems (and well known solutions that have been applied to many of the cars by now) The problems included bouncy self levelling suspension, door handles that break, bulb failure modules that play games with the exterior lights and give false dash display, heater blower motors that fail, etc. The cars also had 3.6 litre engines (rather than 4 litres since) but they are not significantly slower. Most are now pretty scruffy but a very well maintained example can be a good buy for someone who does not have the cash for a 1994 and almost no one seeing a really tidy one drive buy knows that it is only $6000 car.

The data below are our observations on costs derived from finding and servicing these models and the total operating cost is calculated by adding the next year's:

• Expected depreciation
• Flying Circus' projection of service and repair costs and
• Interest cost of the money (at 10%) that will be invested in the car (or the lost income from investing the cash).

Operating costs do not include gas, oil or tyres. As can be seen from the pie chart for the 1994 model that we favor, repairs are NOT the biggest consideration although I am often asked that question first.

These are the data used in the chart below

To the best of my ability this is realistic and useful information (December 1998) for anyone contemplating buying an XJ6. You could debate my method of interest calculation or purchase price or repair costs (in fact I would appreciate e-mail that would help refine the data and, as yet, I have insufficient repair data on '96, '97 and '98 cars) but I do not think it will substantially alter the conclusions.

Flying Circus' motives are: If you are going to own an English car, it is in our interest to help you buy wisely, stay in love with the car, avoid disappointments that would cause you to sell, and keep you excited and vocal about the best car purchase you ever made. Oh, and tell 20 other people.

If you think you want to buy a Jaguar but need a little more reassurance or need some questions answering, call us or come and visit or go to the Jag Lovers page on the web at http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html. I recently found a very informative page with photographs of the different XJ40 models and another covering the prices and comparisons of used XJ40 models.

If you have found a car that seems to be a smart buy, we will happily perform a pre-buy inspection or just give you a free opinion if you want to drive on over to show it to us. The pre-buy inspection has actually become quite popular among new owners of higher mileage cars who need to assess the car and budget their maintenance.

If you want to have us find the ideal car for you we will do that too and inspect it and determine what it needs to bring it up to snuff before you take delivery. We charge $500 for the service (it probably does not cost you a penny in reality) $200 up front to establish your criteria and begin the search. $300 at time of purchase (when we will perform one pre-buy inspection at no charge). We think this is the most successful way for most people to acquire a car but we realize it requires considerable faith in us.

...............and if you really, really want to do it right, ask about the awesome 1994 XJ12. Distinguished by 2 major features: The final (and smoothest) iteration of Jaguar's famous V12 and the extensive use of Autolux leather

Absolutely Jaguar's best kept secret and a car too good to let just anyone know about. These cars can be found with 40k to 80k miles having been maintained exceptionally well (people who buy or lease $72,000 cars tend to maintain them well and you don't usually find gum wrappers under the seats - actually I once found a genuine Gucci ladies watch under the seat of a car that came from the sales). 1994 XJ12s are smart buys too. They are done depreciating heavily and are down to around $12,000 in the next year (2002). They are the same - maybe even lower maintenance than their sister XJ40s. They will give around 13mpg for most typical driving and 18.5mpg highway. They are safe. They will make you a better driver.