[ Owning a Jaguar XJ]
Adam Clementson, Sweden
‘I bought a 1979 Series 2 XJ6 4.2 as my daily driver in 2011. I kept it for three years then bought an XJ6 4.2 and an XJ12, all Eu-spec lefthand-drive S2s. I maintain them all myself, as documented on my Youtube channel [tinyurl.com/u6tw3rf], so running costs are low. I only buy OE parts if possible; anything else is a false economy. I’ve just paid £1000 for an XJ6 with a blown head gasket that’ll cost me just £400 to revive.
‘Apart from fuel injection bits you can get anything, and parts are cheap. If buying for regular use go for an XJ6, but the XJ12 is a lot smoother, faster and quieter, very luxurious and no less reliable, even if it is more complex to work on.’
Dave Robins, Lancs
‘Being in the motor trade for 40 years I’ve just about had one of every XJ; the 2.8 and 3.4 engines are underpowered, but the 4.2 and 5.3-litre engines are superb. I now own one of each, in a Series 1 XJ6 and a Series 3 Daimler Double-six.
‘A friend bought the XJ6 three years ago, after 18 years in storage. He spent £10k recommissioning it including a top-end rebuild for the engine, a set of period-correct tyres (£1600 alone), new brakes, fuel tank and rebuilt carburettors. I bought it from him just over a year ago and I’ve done 6000 miles, spending another £1600 on new coil springs, a brake master cylinder, fuel lines and choke unit.
‘They’re cheap to run, more stylish than any modern car and utterly usable – long journeys are their forté. I average 16mpg with the XJ6 and I’ve had 18mpg from the Double-six.’
Keith Taylor, Yorkshire
‘Four years ago I bought the 1972 swb Daimler Double-six you see here. It had a gearbox fault so was a non-runner, but I fitted a used ’box and it then drove superbly. There was some microblistering and a bit of cosmetic corrosion in the rear wheelarches, so I chose to repaint it. I run a restoration company
(sixteen80.co.uk) so I did the work myself, but that glassout work would normally have cost £8k-£10k.
‘The leather trim was in a state but I took a one-day course and spent £90 on some potions and the trim is now as good as new, although it took a lot of effort. That’s the thing about XJS; if you get your hands dirty they’re very cheap to run. Buy a good example and do some of the maintenance yourself and a budget of £500-£1000 per year is all you need.’