Last night, I emailed the seller of a 72 XJ6 that I was not buying his car.
Two weeks ago I found a car on ebay that I thought would be a good “driver”
while I the engine my 71 is rebuilt. I was corresponding with him about its
condition and got some pictures. It was advertised as “restored”. I talked
to the owner about a number of things but particularly about rust. I was
told the car was fine.
Last weekend a kind luster located near the car (I’m 800 miles away) took a
look for me. He reported obvious rust on the sills and under the rear of
the vehicle.
I immediately emailed the owner telling him I was no longer interested.
After I did so, I reflected on why I would not buy the car under any
circumstances. 1) I expected “X” and you got “Y” and was disappointed. 2)
What else did the owner not tell me?
It reminded me of the importance of honesty in dealing with theses cars.
Without it, the hobby falls apart. Fortunately, the seller is not a member
of the XJ group as far as I know.
Anyone know of an available S-1 XJ6 in the USA, structural rust?
In reply to a message from Lou Danzico sent Thu 29 Apr 2004:
I’ve been searching for an XJ12 for 4 months, and there’s not a lot
of Jags in Wyoming, so I was excited to find a '76 XJ12 in Ft.
Collins Colorado, only 40 miles away, for $4000. They said it was
in great shape with only 2 spots of rust in the doors.
When I got there, I couldn’t believe they told me that with a
straight face. There was rust everywhere, I lifted the carpets and
both floor pans had holes you could put a football (US football
that is) through them. Rust under the grill, in the door skins,
around the rear bumper bolts, front fenders, window sills… I
walked away.
They sold it on Ebay advertised with no rust, and got $2050. If I
would have been the buyer, and showed up and saw that car, I would
have demanded my money back or drove their car through their living
room for them. I don’t know what ever happened.
Hang in there, you’ll find one if you’re not in a hurry.–
Billy Minder
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from Billy Minder sent Thu 29 Apr 2004:
I went to look at a series I a few months ago. It was advertised
with fresh coat of paint, new interior. I get there and the paint
looks like its been painted on with a brush. It is caramel on the
lower half and some sort of bright white on the upper half,
genuinely the most revolting backyard scheme I have ever seen.
Where the pinstripe would be, the line between the paint jobs was
all wobbly. The inside had been redone in VINYL about 20 years
before, a cursory lift of the carpets revealed that the foam
underneath was soaking wet and the pans rusting fast. In short, una
bomba.
Same story looking at a saloon a while ago. Advertised with no
rust, I get there and it is absolutely full of it. Bubbles as far
as the eye can see. The chrome is pitted to buggery and the engine,
which has been ‘turned regularly’, is siezed and not firing. ‘Would
pass rego easily’? I think not!
This really pisses me off, especially when I drive for hours to see
cars like this and they are not as advertised.–
mark
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In reply to a message from Lou Danzico sent Thu 29 Apr 2004:
lol I believe in what goes around comes around. I was just out for
a motorcycle ride when I past a used car lot with a 1985 xj6 for
sale. looked great from 20 feet lol the guy wanted $1500 and
another guy was looking at it I told him I bet you can see the
ground under the carpets. I said it right in front of the
salesman. he did not believe me lol so I pull the carpet up and no
pan left soaked carpets all rust. rust all through underneath and
windows all around. so no sale for the guy that day. yeah everyone
has their own definition of mint. I always hear easy fix or the ac
will work just needs a recharge. if it’s so easy I tell them why
ddn’t you fix it. I had an ac system totally rebuilt on one of my
jags and it cost me $2000 everything replaced new. anyway everyone
here understands the importance of maintaining these cars or bigg
$$$ or if you are not mechanically inclined finding a good mechanic
is essential. an example of being ripped off is my uncle who spent
$30,000 in repairs over 11 years on his vanden plas that he bought
new for $36,000 cash in 1984. he sold it for $1000 in 1995 with
187,000 miles odometer not working anymore with the original engine
and trans still running nothing ever rebuilt. car just leaked a
quart every 60 miles. the car was repainted in 1988 cause of the
terrible spider cracking of the paint. sorry to go off subject and
for it being so long. if yo made it this far thanks for reading this–
JASON H
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