JAGUAR XJ-S
It may be temptingly cheap compared to rivals but the XJ-S can be a money pit if chosen poorly. Here’s how to buy a glamour puss instead of a flat cat CCW’S Jaguars Up for grabs on p48-49
‘It remained in production for 21 years and now makes a superb classic buy’
Jaguar didn’t replace the seminal E-type with a direct successor, much to the chagrin of hardcore petrolheads. Instead they read the writing on the wall and built the XJ-S. Jaguar had gradually massaged the E-type into a tourer during the late 1960s and 1970s and so the XJ-S was designed as a GT from the start.
The new car was only available with 5.3-litre V12 power until 1983 (though it was updated in 1981 to improve fuel efficiency… relatively speaking; we’re still only talking 20mpg here). 1983 saw the arrival of the XJ6’S 3.6-litre ‘AJ6’ engine while a cabriolet – which has a fixed frame that the cloth roof slides up and down on – was also introduced. This XJ-SC was initially offered only with the six, but the V12 was offered from 1985. This model was then canned in 1988 as a full convertible was finally offered. 1989 brought the V12only XJR-S, which featured stiffer suspension and a bodykit. The engine grew to six litres just a year later.
A facelift model arrived in 1991, subtly re-named ‘XJS’ (without the hyphen), with a re-styled interior, rear and side windows. 1992 saw the six-cylinder enlarged to four litres, while all V12 models’ engine capacity increased to six litres in 1993. 1994 was the last major range update, with the AJ6 replaced by a re-worked engine of identical capacity, the ‘AJ16’.
The XJ-S remained in production for 21 years and there’s no doubt that it now makes a superb classic buy. Fast, refined and elegant, the XJ-S needn’t be costly to run if you buy carefully. However the financial penalties could be extremely painful if you get it wrong. Here’s how to make the right choice.