Buying a jag!

[mike-db]

So a few things I would like to ask, I'm thinking about buying a 1985 Jaguar Sovereign as the ad says. Its for sale for $750 I have already talked to the owner and he said its so cheap because of a price drop from $1500 and he just wants it gone.

Now it has a 6 cylinder engine, apparently it has the "stock" engine. I've been trying to research what the engine is like on gas.

Really I just want to know if it's going to be better then my 4.9l 6 cylinder engine or not.

Another thing is that it needs new brakes, am I going to have a rough time buying new parts?

Any at all help would be great, I would love to get this car.

[k_rock923]

My best advice would be to bring your mechanic along with you to check it out.

[rockouthippie]

My best advice would be to avoid 1985 cars completely. I don't think the car companies could hit their ass with both hands from 1974 to 1989.

Exceptions would only be slant 6 dodge, volvo, the 2 liter transaxle Chevys (Cavalier, Sunbird, Citations) and Jeeps.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding maintenance parts.

They'res a reason it's $750. Nobody wants it. There is also a reason no one wants it. It's old and it's British and in that vintage it was probably a piece of shit when it was new. Finding a decent car back in those years was more than a little problematic.

How many times did I say "You fucking piece of shit!" while referring to a car in the 1980's? Countless. "We build excrement" was the almost universal slogan of 1980 auto makers. You might have heard of Ralph Naders book "Unsafe at any speed" about the Chevy Corvair, but his later book "What a piece of shit!", wasn't as popular.

I wouldn't worry about gas mileage. I'd worry about passing a parts store.

If you must..... remember.... it's British.... it will have zero tolerance for thrashing.....

In that vintage and running right, I'd expect 18 or 19 city, 24 or 25 hiway. It could be as bad as 15 city. It is rear wheel drive.

[ujay]

You might try looking up the Daimler Sovereign as well. I think they used the Sovereign name for more than one model, depending on the original Jag. The XJ6 was the most sought after at the time IIRC.

Used to drive the boss's, and very nice it was too. But, as RoH says, they go downhill quickly after the first couple of years.

Early bling really, wouldnt touch it.

UJ

[Widdykats]

^ But...but..Ujay, old Jaguars are so pretty.

[mike-db]

Originally Posted by Widdykats

^ But...but..Ujay, old Jaguars are so pretty.

Exactly!

But, from what I've read its sitting at 4.0 l which does not help me! So now it's time to look at cars I'm not fond of... Hondas .

[Vie]

http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?xj40indexf.htm

That page, particularly the long term test, might be of use to you.

[rockouthippie]

^ But...but..Ujay, old Jaguars are so pretty.

Oh man. I've had that argument with a woman before. If you won't let a man talk you out of the predilection for driving 30 year old euro-shit.........

Oh brother.

Mike, you're a guy. You should know better.

I remember my old high school girlfriend Sherry. I just one day realized that I spent a hell of a lot more time under Sherry's FIAT than I spent under Sherry. That got really old.

Did I learn? Of course not.

You should save up 4 grand and buy a 2003 Crown Victoria with 70,000 miles on it. Drive for 100,000 miles and gripe about the 17 city mileage. It's comfy. It's a Ford, so parts are plentiful and cheap. It goes 100 just fine. You didn't need Mr. Tony to fix it.

You just can't resurrect $750 cars mostly. Even normal ones.

[Atmo]

Originally Posted by rockouthippie

You just can't resurrect $750 cars mostly. Even normal ones.

You can, but it's usually not economically feasible unless you're reasonably skilled as a mechanic, auto electrician and a body worker/painter, have plentiful access to cheap spares, have plenty of spare time and don't require 100% reliability.

From what I've seen, those who try usually end up with a front/back yard full of "spare parts cars" and only occasionally have one complete working car.

[Widdykats]

^ You're that guy? Hmmmmm. Neighbors hate you?
@ROH...Well, Sherry was only in High School fa' Chrissakes.
I heard Jags have bad electrical problems..the older ones. I don't know, I don't drive.
I like old Triumphs, old Corvettes 63' 64' and 57' Chevys!

[Atmo]

Originally Posted by Widdykats

^ You're that guy? Hmmmmm. Neighbors hate you?

No, I've only ever owned one car at a time.

[Widdykats]

Gotcha'! Good for you. You're not allowed here on LI , where I live, to have cars all over without them being licensed. To be licensed, they must registered and run. That way the yards don't look like a car graveyard.
Some people still try to get away with it by covering up the cars.

[rockouthippie]

In my life I have only met a couple guys that could actually take a wreck (vintage euro-crap) and make it in to a car. Usually it means replacing the running gear with something American.

I like old Triumphs

I used to make custom dashboards for Triumphs. It was an easy sale because the stock dashboards would usually split in a couple years. Door handles and window mechanisms were easy sales too. I had a TR6. It was a good car. It had a Buick 6 cylinder in it. That's mostly what made it a good car.

If you want the roadster of all roadsters, get a Ratsun 2000. That's a sports car of the British type without being handicapped by being British.

[mike-db]

Good thing I do know my way around cars, painting? Sheesh I'm a painter! Forget the wireing, its just splice and pray that it works. Here is how it works:

"Did it work?"
Nope
"Fuck."
Try another wire.
"Did it work?"
Nope
"Fuck."

Rinse and repeat, and honestly body work is also a cake walk, hammer, welder, done.

Now if you had the schematics to everything, (Haynes manual ftw) then you are even more set and the above steps are not necessary.

If I was buying a pretty car like a Jag than, I'd expect there to be minimal body work.

But alas, the jag gets shit to none for gas so I'm not buying it.

I've done this and help others do this, so it's all good.

[MegaRock]

Screw all of them. I'm still waiting on my flying car.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/30/smal...cars/index.htm

[mike-db]

Too true.

[swingdjted]

Heh, I'm a bad person to ask. My vehicles are very utilitarian, practical, reliable, and mundane-looking. Nothing pretty about a Camry or Tacoma. Personally I wouldn't go for a car like that unless I had a separate daily-driver, plenty of extra garage space, and a good strong amount of extra play-money (none of which I have). Then I'd go for a good-lookin weekend cruiser of some sort like what you're looking at.

I'm surprised that Buick engine fit in a Triumph! They're so low to the ground and tiny, and Buick (or any old USA-built) engines are known for being tall (huge oil pan, big heads and on-top air cleaners).