Jaguar XJ-S

ENGINE 5344cc/V12/OHC POWER 285bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 294lb ft@3500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 147mph 0-60MPH 7.7sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 17-24mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, three-speed auto MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 16,000 miles

Turn the ignition key and there’s a mighty bellow from the 12-cylinder behemoth lurking under that long bonnet before it settles to a refined whisper. On the road, there’s plenty of pull to keep up with modern traffic – and leave it far behind, if you really put your foot down and keep it there. The steering is customarily light but firms up when you need more precision in tighter bends, and the brakes are instantaneous yet predictable, with no tramlining. The gearbox moves through its three forward ratios with ease, and the suspension makes any lumpy road surface feel as if you’ve glided over a pancake. There are no strange noises or vibrations through the drivetrain or suspension, and no dead zones in the steering. The paintwork looks great in the sunlight, and there’s plenty of good news as you get closer – all the shut lines are even and there are no warps or dents to be found; there’s no evidence of corrosion, either. There are a few swirl marks and a few stone chips at the front, but largely it’s in excellent condition. There are minor scratches to the chrome sections, too, but you’d

EXTERIOR Overall it’s excellent Minor imperfections INTERIOR No major issues Freshly refurbished MECHANICALS Soft and glorious No problems

have to be really looking for them to notice. The car rides on perfectly presented alloy wheels wearing Falken tyres front and rear. A refurbished headlining had yet to be refitted when we assesed this car, but should have been done by now. New carpets will also be fitted before its sale – not a cheap undertaking and one that any prospective buyer will be glad to have already had done. The rest of the interior is fantastic, as befits a car with such low mileage for the year. We found no cracks to the dashboard and no scratches to the control surfaces, and the wood panels are free from cracks and scuffs. The leather seats only show minor wear, and the seat bolsters are also hardly worn. Even the leather door pulls – often a vulnerable sore spot for day-to-day nicks, scratches and scuffs – are pretty much unblemished. The vast engine bay looks great, with no signs of corrosion. All the fluids are clean, clear and up to the maximum mark and none show any signs of leaking or seepage. A look at the service history reveals a raft of main dealer and specialist stamps up to 2011, and it will be serviced before the car is sold. There are lots of old MoT certificates present to back up the low mileage. With so few miles on the odometer and having just been the recipient of some fettling, this XJ-S is a very good choice. The purchase price seems small given that a similar-condition E-type will be worth probably three times as much. As a car to get in and drive this is a great example, but for those with one eye on investment, one need only look at E-type values to see where an XJ-S as good as this one’s going. We reckon this one’s worth a look. Nathan Chadwick