It doesn't look like people hang out in here a lot, so I'm not sure if anybody is going to even see this...

My husband is DYING to own a mid-1980s (no later than 1987) Jaguar XJ6. They are really beautiful cars, and they're hard to find in superb condition. Most of their problems, from what we know about them, tend to be electrical and not electronic, which, for someone like my husband (someone who drives an Audi!), is much easier to deal with.

We have looked and looked and never found one for which we were willing to pay the asking price. My husband is wanting one he can work on and restore, not one in showroom condition -- he wants to put work into it and put his own stamp on it.

We aren't millionaires, and we've had other priorities -- like replacing the head gasket on my Volvo recently -- so the whole idea has fallen by the wayside. However, I just found a guy about 90 miles from us who has one for sale. It's a 1986, and he says all it really needs to run great is a new catalytic converter and a general tune-up. My husband could handle that, no problem. He also says it needs paint -- well, my husband has painted two cars before (his Audi and our Saab -- and I helped paint the Saab) -- so he could handle that too. The best part is that I can get it for $400.

I want this to be a surprise, so I am having to do all my homework and research and everything -- I don't want to tell my husband about it until we are heading out the door to go get it, if I can help it (no way can I get it all the way here and in the driveway without him knowing about it). The guy says there's no rust and that the engine and transmission are in good shape. I'm asking him to send me detailed pictures of the entire car -- exterior, interior, wheels, tires, and under the hood. I know enough to know what I'm looking at and to know if it is left alone. My husband isn't afraid of tackling anything on one of these, so I'm not worried about it needing work.

I have two questions, though. One, is $350 a fair offer, just to see if he'll sell it for a little less? It would insult him to offer him $300 when he's asking $400, right? Two, what else should I ask him about the car? I want to know as much about it as I can ahead of time, because it's going to really suck if we get there and there are any surprises. I don't want to turn my husband's awesome early Christmas present into a total disaster just because I didn't ask all the right questions. Keep in mind that we know we are buying this as a restore job...

:cat: Hi there rachellauren.

Jaguars are beautiful cars. There is no doubt about that. But, they were never built for paupers or economy.

Whether or not he would take $400.00 or $300.00 or $100.00 is not relevant. The price you offer is what is relevant to you.

Jaguars are money pits. They love your money more than you do. They are thirsty. They love petrol. They'll give you the performance-but you'll pay for it.

If other priorities are important to you now-forget the Jaguar until you have more money than you know what to do with it.

Everybody else would love a Jaguar too. But we love our money more at the moment.

The experts might and probably will disagree with me. I'm used to that. Let's see what everybody else thinks.

Cheers :right:

All I can say is that, "I wish my wife is as supportive as you are!"
:)

The minute I started a storytelling session of how beautiful the 240 Wagon was, she got the hint, and cut me off with something more 'modern' and more 'fuel efficient'... Heheheh...

Having said that, I think you COULD 'test' him with USD350. But keep in mind that until and unless you REALLY see what you're getting (i.e. going there! and seeing the car with your own eyes!) you shouldn't make any commitments.

:)

Good Luck!

There are problems with the aluminum block with the straight six cylinder jaguars. I almost bought one to convert to a chevy V-8, but it was cheaper to buy a Trans-Am and work on that one. (hey I was 18, what did I know about foreign cars) Anyway, like Aukland said, they are money pits. When they run well, they run well. When they don't, well..... you get the picture. Hope it works out well. BTW:do you have a sister who is like yourself? :grin:

rule of thumb for jags...

dont buy an old one if you cant afford a new one....