Ok you Europen folk, need your opinion

[AllGoNoShow]

I got an 1986 Jaguar XJ6 inline 6 on hold for my just north of me, going to go pick it up in a month or so, whenever I sell my Camaro. I've heard these cars aren't too bad, but aren't the best either. So here is my dilema...

1. I could buy the Jag, keep it and be happy
2. Could buy the Jag, clean it up, do any minor things and sell it
3. Could buy the Jag, do #2, throw some rims and rubber on it for cheap to make it look "Pimper" (As I work at a tire shop i get it all cheap) then keep it
4. Could buy it, do #3 and sell it and buy an 86-92 Mercedes E-Class, something along the lines of say a 300 Coupe, not totally sure yet, either from Japan and bring it over or try and find one locally for the amount of money I have, although it would NOT be stock, I wouldn't be able to afford the new mods to it so I would have to buy one semi modded from Japan, which there is no shortage of. I could also look into 90's BMW 7 series or 8 series which I enjoy but don't know if I would have enough money for it.

What would you guys do, I know some of you probably own Jags o rhave owned a Jag or 2 in your time so I could use your input on what you think, and you benz owners, what you think about it...?

[Lederlieber]

I would do #2 without selling it.

[Jostyrostelli]

Never owned a Jag, but DON'T PIMP IT!

I think the XJ6 is a very nice car and it really depends on how you're using your car.

Are you gonna use daily to drive to work, or is it a weekend car?

I once drove a XJ6 (as a passenger ) and the ride was smoooth! Like sitting on a driving sofa!

I would never buy an old Merc, they may be good but here, you don't get a good reputation with an old Merc.

What I suggest, is get a BMW 8 series!! I love them, don't know anything about reliability or mileage, but I would just buy it for the looks and the exlusivity

[mmap]

Aah yes the 80's, the decate build quality forgot... The XJ6 is a very nice and IMO cool car but beware there will probably be issues with quality.

Having said that anything thats over 20 years old is always a risk so even though Merc was still building their cars to a standard back then they might be just as fragile now, it all depends if the car has been looked after or not.

Personally I would buy teh Jag and keep it if I had the money to fix it up when it broke.

[metz]

3.
As long as you do it kinda of subtle, not like spinners

[krummi]

Get it, fix it and keep it. Dont know how much you drive normally but on my minimal cruising around a Jag would be fantastic and the quality problems should be that big problem. I clock about 8 000km / year only.

Im pretty much repeating what Muumipeikko said..

[Magnet]

Drive it into a wall

No, seriously, that would make it a series 3, the year before Ford took over. Well, I'd have it checked over, because it could turn into an expensive affair if it hasn't been properly maintained. Especially in the engine and electrics departments.

Here's a couple of reviews of old Jags

The XJ40: http://drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=8518&vf=1

The old XJ6: http://drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=8468&vf=1

[Kip_6666]

They're pretty cheap these days. But the prob is, even if you do fix it up, its not going to be worth all that much more. Of course its depending on the buyer. But overall, they're not worth the trouble.

Do it for yourself, if money isn't an issue.

[Lederlieber]

Originally Posted by muumipeikko

Aah yes the 80's, the decate build quality forgot... The XJ6 is a very nice and IMO cool car but beware there will probably be issues with quality.

Actually the quality is quite good in 1986 models (the new XJ6, code XJ40, came then. I don't know if this car which is in question is the new or old one). And also two or three yearmodels before the new one were very good, because in 1984 Jaguar got out of British Leyland and then quality rose very drastically. So it should be quite good a purchase. And yes, DON'T PIMP IT, PLEASE!

[AutoMX]

I know a Jag mechanic, and as he says, unless you are a Jag mechanic yourself, it probably isn't worth fixing if its older then 1994 or so.

We have a 1987 300E and it's pretty quick, reliable, and very comfy. Honnestly I don't see what the whole discussion is about 80's mercs. I never drive it slow, I don't drive like an ass thinking I own the road, and I don't pretend Im better than others (is that all on the list?)
It's a great car and it's no wonder many asians love them, alone with the rest of the world really.

Also, unless you're going to sell the Jag in the Inglewood area of L.A. DO NOT PIMP IT, it's like showin yo bling to a 55 yr old lawyer in a suit.

#2 - then go Merc shopping. our 300E was $5k with mint interior, 90k miles, and perfect paint (still perfect after a few years). In fact, we've only cleaned the engine and changed the oil regularly in the 40000 miles it's covered since we got it. No problems at all

[Kip_6666]

An old 5 series could also be an option.

[AllGoNoShow]

Thanks everyone for their input so far.

I am not a "jag" mechanic but I am doing my apprenticeship to become a journeymen for AST and am taking the AST program at SAIT, Tech college here, in a year and a half.

I've heard some of the issues with the electrical on jags is that the plugs and such get corroded very easily, so they should be the first thing you always check when your working on the Jags, and if they are, either new plugs or spice up the old ones and then use a seeler of some sort *forget the anem right now* before reinstalling.

The thing is I don't especially have a ton of money right now, so if I were to buy the Jag, and keep it, if in 5 months the steering rack on it decided to go, I'd be screwed. Where as our city, Calgary, has a rapidly growing Asian population that love driving Mercedes and BMW around which would make used or new Mercedes parts become cheaper in the coming years.

Don't get me wrong, I might still keep the Jag, depends on how much I like it when I get it under my possesion I guess. But I would also like say a black 300 Coupe limo tinted lowered and a little bit more fancy rims, where as the Jag is green and not a vast assortment of parts for making it fancier then just a plan jane jag.

I'm going to find a few pictures of Mercedes I would like and how they would look, then you maybe get the idea of where I am going.

The reason for the "pimp" factor is working in a mechanical/tire/lube shop, I get the wheels 10% over store cost, where as most stores sell them for 110% store cost, therefor I wouldn't be spending 2k on a new set of rims and rubber, but when I go to sell the car, it looks like I have invested that much into a new set of rims and rubber. The "pimp" wouldn't be spinners or anyting, but it would probably be 17's in chrome, compared to 15's in satin. Another reason would be www.hotwheelsauto.com they are local around here and buy and sell sporty and luxury cars, if I bought a Jag for 2k, did some rims for 1k or less, did some polishing and cleaning for $400, and then sell it for 7k, it would seem worth it.

[AllGoNoShow]

Here are a few links to cars I would buy if I sold the Jag, or atleast this is what I would do to a Benz if I bought one, unless otherwise stated.

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g32141023
Thats a damn sexy 2 door, onyl thing I woudl do is maybe get those rims in chrome or polished or get another set of chrome or polished rims and then redo the tint with something darker.

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f32254768
Not too bad for a 4 door, although I would prefer leather

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/75634129
Not to shabby all the way around

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r6262717
Thats sweet, would maybe polsih up those rims or get a set of polished or chrome ones

http://www.importconcern.ca/stock/100004/01.jpg
is one that is already bought but add some tint and thats what I would enjoy probably

The Jag I am getting is this one
http://members.shaw.ca/thedavepollock/Jag%20Out.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/thedavepollock/Jag%20In.jpg

[GTV V6]

Do A Clarkson...

Take out the Motor, clean it up and use it as a coffee table, The XK6 motor is a gorgeous looking bit of kit.

Sell the rest for spares.

Or you could do a James May and send it to the company that remanufactures them, so you could have a really nice looking old Jag with modern Bits.

Dont Know what the Hamster would do...

[AllGoNoShow]

No, sorry, no ruining perfectly good cars for me. If the Jag was totalled and the engine was good, sure why not, but this car is good condition, why ruin it, thats f***in retarded.

[GTV V6]

^^^^ I did give another option

Personally I'd keep it, one of the best looking Jags ever.

Always loved that shape, my dad used to have an XJ6C (pillarless coupe) the series 2 not the series 3 like "yours", I used to sit in it to do my homework

[Dark_Templer_102]

Those old E class mercs were tanks on wheels (liek volvo)

My coach was living in Egypt (hes my fencing coach and was the olmypic trainer dude in Egypt) and he had one of those old boxy E mercs and obviously its really hot there...and i think it was his left rear tire...it exploded going around 80 MPHs (or something equivlemt) and he said something about the rear axle but i forgot...and when the car wheel exploded he rolled like 8 times and obviously the car was totaled but he got out the hospital the next day

[AllGoNoShow]

Well when your tire blows out at 80, u never not have a scratch, mercedes or honda

[nismo33]

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g32141023
Thats a damn sexy 2 door, onyl thing I woudl do is maybe get those rims in chrome or polished or get another set of chrome or polished rims and then redo the tint with something darker

That must've been a euro import (or perhaps if they also assemble them in the UK). LHD dont see them often.

[logo]

get a 190e 2.5 benz 8)