Jaguar XJS V12 Vs. 911

[caliber60]

I feel comfortable working on my '87 911. I buy factory parts(not too expensive), put it in and the car gives good performance in return.

Can we say the same thing for a Jaguar XJS V12? Are they really a nightmare to maintain?

[strupgolf]

I had a 85 XJS v-12 that was a very good car. I had it over 2 years and it didnt give me any problems. BUT, the engine is a nightmare to work on. A V-12 is a maze of wires, tubes, fans, and everything else. I changed my own plugs, but a tune up, basic, at my shop would run over $700.00, and that was over 5 years ago. The V-12 from Jaguar is a very fine engine, but I'm glad its gone. The 911 is very simple, with my limited knowledge, to work on, but I know it is still from Germany. And as they say," Es em gunten shizeslw un botemaume gotemhen un slozengotten on flibbenshultne gas tottem". Which problbly means bring your checkbook.

[buster73]

The Jaguar V12 is a good and reliable engine and basic tuning and maintenance is not too bad (for a 12 cylinder anyway). However once you have to do some serious work it is quite challenging. You can spend days just to figure out all the hoses, pipes and cables around the engine bay. I once helped a friend to pull his V12 after a rod let go and smashed a big hole in the block (Series 1, not really recommended for full throttle runs on the autobahn). We first had to reinforce the engine crane because the engine and tranny were so heavy that it was almost impossible to handle. As with our 911's it pays to buy the best car you can find, with proper maintenance records and to keep it well maintained to avoid trouble.

[livi]

Not to mention the tremendous drinking habits of the Jag´s V12.

[Don Z.]

If you're really serious, do a google search on "Jaguar Experience in a Book". It will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about an XJ-S.

Read that first, and you'll have some idea what you're starting with, and what you have to look forward to.

Me, personnally? Well, I haven't bought an XJ-S... at least not yet, anyway.

[Chris Holcombe]

I came close to buying one a couple of times. You can find them pretty cheap but neglected ones are like neglected 911s, open your wallet and start crying. Plus like most British cars you have to do some reengineering to fix the "character" the factory left with the car. Gas mileage is about the same as a truck. Having said all that I still lust for one.

Here's the link to the XJ-S bible:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/

[avendlerdp]

Don't do it. I know first hand. The v12 is not the issue. It's the rest of the car. Built poorly, and the design is just a pile of work-arounds for problems they don't fix correctly. Here's an example.

Problem: Fuel boils in the lines due to congested engine bay and improper ventilation.

Solution: Install a fuel cooler that hooks up to the AC and then make the AC compressor always on.

Result: Even poorer economy, more heat, worn out AC compressors, and a car that runs like crap when the AC breaks (oh, it always breaks).

Get a Benz if you want fast comfy cruising. Lots to pick from.

-Alex

[turborat]

The pre-FOMOCO XJS cars require a lot of repair and maintenance. The steering racks are constantly blowing seals. The engine is a pain to maintain. They had fuel deliver problems that started more than one carbeque. The engine wiring and ignition timing is a real PITA to deal with. My '86 required timing the motor while laying under the front of car with a timing light as the engine is pushed to above 2,000 RPM. The fuel filter is in the trunk, so the car always smelled like raw gas because careless technicians spill gas onto the rear carpets. The inboard rear brakes are a pain to work on. If I recall, parts were more expensive that 911 parts. I might consider a 4 liter car with a manual transmission if I found one. I saw a few in California when I lived there. I have not seen one in years.

[unclebilly]

I traded my xj12 (v 12 sedan) for my first porsche. My jag was well sorted but it involved work every weekend to keep it that way. The v12s are not very powerful on this side of the atlantic and get between 12 and 20 mpg at best. Performancewisé, I was quíte dísaponted and the electrics are hoorrible.

[Hladun]

I owned a 1982 XJS for many years and now have a 1978 SC. They are different cars, the 911 is a sports car and the XJS is a GT. The XJS is very comfortable for 1,000 mile drives. As someone said, the XJS is very thirsty. They are both costly to maintain; I don’t think they’d be much different if they were previously well maintained.

On my XJS it was ultimately the American components that failed; the Delco A/C compressor seized and the GM transmission failed. In the transmission a snap ring on the first gear clutch pack broke. GM got the extra 3 cents it would have cost to put in a better snap ring and I got a $1,000 failure.

For it’s size the V12 never produced much power. The heads were pretty crude and fuel consumption kept engine state of tune down. V12 sounds nice but it’s 80 to 100 hp/litre that get the job done.

[strupgolf]

I guess my old 85 XJS was the exception. It ran woderfully and it was I thought, well built. It is a cruiser, good for long trips. I never had any problems with it for over 2 years. Maybe I got lucky. It was as solid and quiet as any car I've owned. My other Jag was a 94 XJ6, which again was a woderful car. Smoooooooth as silk and a great road car. Maybe I'm just living right.

[Ashley Bowler]

Don't do it. those cars can be an absolute nightmare. I had one that constantly overheated. It was just one problem after another.

[masraum]

Buy one with a screwed engine and swap a SBC and TH350 or TH400 in. It'll run forever, be simple, and fairly speedy.

[strupgolf]

Yep, thats what I would do. Swap out the old V=12 for a SBC and you would have the best of both worlds. A very easy update with a kit. And it would be speedy.

[unclebilly]

check out http://www.jag-lovers.org/


here is one of my old XJ12s...



the engine...



I actually had 3 of these cars at one point. There are all sorts of electrical gremlins... and they liked to hide inline fuses for things like the climate control in the console. There is no reference to these in the service manual. They are also rust traps - in 1986, they were still not using seam sealer at all in these cars. The frint fenders are designed to catch silt and rust from the insude out bot infrom of and behind the wheel.

Lovely car to drive but a biotch to maintain.

[subdewd]

if you want a gt how about the 928

[pjv911]

I love my 87` XJS its pretty fast has no leaks and is basically new with only 16k original miles. Im considering selling it now since the kids no longer fit back there. But its a way cool hiway car and will smoke both rear tires with ease. First gear goes to 60mph . I never topped out 2nd (still has the original p5 pirelli tires with sidewall dry cracking). Top speed has to be at least 150mph. Did I mention there`s no cup holders !

BTW if you notice my signature you will see only 1 XJS . So its obvious which car I like best. The 911 wins hands down except for hiway driving comfort and A/C.

Kurt Williams

[dsfnctn]

I have a 88 xj6 , 85 carrera targa, and a 97 C2S. I have the jag for 8 years. The porsches come and go. The Jag stays. It gets 25 mph on the hiway and that thing can rack off the miles . It is like taking your living room for a drive.

[Chris Holcombe]

Originally posted by dsfnctn
I have a 88 xj6 , 85 carrera targa, and a 97 C2S. I have the jag for 8 years. The porsches come and go. The Jag stays. It gets 25 mph on the hiway and that thing can rack off the miles . It is like taking your living room for a drive.

Yeah but the "XJ40" cars are completely different animals than the XJ-S aren't they? BTW I'd like to have one of those too...and a clean series 3 XJ6...and a Mark X.......