1994 Jaguar XJS 4.0L 2+2 Convertible

1994 Jaguar XJS 2+2 convertible.

VIN

Mileage

Original: Cassette player, CD player, Leather seats. A/C, Cruise control, power windows, power top, power (front) seats, European headlights

4-speed Automatic, 4.0 liter 6-cylinder, RWD, anti-theft, air spoiler,

Red exterior, beige (biscuit) interior, beige top with beige cover

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The Story.

This is my fifth Jaguar, starting with my 1960 XK150, XKE, 1985, 1985, 1994 … and my first convertible. For the first time (it happens when you get older), I picked an easier to service and maintain 4.0 liter, 6-cylinder automatic XJS, after a not so great experience with a 1985 V-12 XJS coupe (that never saw an opportunity to break down that it didn’t like). I couldn’t master tuning the V-12 engine, so the 4.0 liter 6 was an easy choice.

I can’t say this is my favorite Jaguar, but only because my 150 and my E-type were stick-shifters and, therefore, more fun. This XJS has been my most reliable cat and the easiest to maintain. It is a great car in that regard. It is lots of fun to drive, but it really isn’t a great driving car until you get “to speed” … which, except out west, is likely to have you driving over the speed limit (which, of course, I never did).

I have been a member of Jag-lovers list serv (www.jag-lovers.com) for the past 15 years or so. If this is your first cat; join them. Learn to repair the car from them; forget your local garage.

So why am I selling this car? (I wonder myself.)

In terms of the car’s condition, it’s generally very good. The convertible top is in great shape. The body has no rust. Most everything works as it should: windows, blower, heat, electrics, tranny, engine, brakes – all good. Yet it’s not all good. There are three problem areas.

First, this year (2018) my cat has been a magnet in the wrong way. The leaping cat decals on the right and left fenders are missing because they were stolen (twice) on a college campus. So too the Jaguar decal for the rear right wheel. Someone tried to break into the car in a parking lot (same college) and messed up the latch on the passenger side door. (That’s any easy fix, but I didn’t get around to it because it wasn’t that much of a nuisance.)

Second, and this is really what made up my mind to sell this car, is that a driver of a jacked-up pickup with a big steel rear bumper didn’t bother to look in her rearview mirror when backing out of a parking spot at a supermarket. “Oh! Did I hit something?”. Yeah, you did. She dented in about 18” of the passenger side rear fender (see pictures), which pushed the fender back against the rear tire. Grrrh. To make matters worse, my speedo and cruise control quit working then. That’s likely the cable of the rear end was knocked loose, but I haven’t driven the car much at all since then. (In case you are wondering, the frame is fine.) To add misery to that damage, someone backed into the car not once but twice when it was parked in our small downtown (Williamstown, MA). Now I also had dimples on the bonnet, but, worse, the bonnet was pushed back enough so that the right-side bonnet latch won’t stay closed. No note of course, just an empty parking space in front of the car.

Other issues. The driver’s side arm rest has come off. The A/C has never worked and I never tried to fix it. It’s a convertible. There is a recent tear in the stitching of the driver’s bucket seat. The Jaguar tape player has never worked (what is a cassette tape anyway?), but the CD player works great. The paint on the air foil is peeling in spots, but nowhere else on the car. Also the PO cut back each side of the air foil at the front of the car because he scraped it on curbs. Its not so noticeable, but its there. I never minded it, nor did the car’s admirers.

I am including 4 new Brembo brake rotors, which, at partsgeek.com, are worth a little over $200.00. The car doesn’t need them now, but you will some day.

The car has mostly sat since August, since I kept thinking that I would get around to doing the body work, but I didn’t.

2018 was a bad year for my cat. 2019 could be a good year for you and this grand car because there is little relationship between my (low) reserve and the value of the car. My advice is to always park her away from other cars (especially at the supermarket or the mall) and, I guess, college campuses. Block out your partner saying, “I don’t know why you can’t park closer” and relish the ride and the interest of other drivers.

You know that this model sells for in great condition. That’s not this car. This XJS needs your attention, but the projects are small except for the $1,000 or so you will spend on bodywork and paint. I am selling the car as is.