[xj-s] 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible

XJ-S
1

We are looking at a 1988 with 58K miles on it. One owner and
all service records. Not sure what we should pay for the car
but we are wondering if this is an OK year or something to
avoid? We were looking at Jaguar’s as a fun sunny day car. I
am a pretty good home mechanic but want to buy a decent
year. The 1988 looks like new.–
kitra
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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2

If it’s really an '88, it’s a Hess & Eisenhardt conversion. Are there
H&E badges behind the front wheels? What’s the date on the driver’s
side door frame?

I happen to own the same year if you have any specific questions.
They’re fairly rare, and finding parts can be somewhat challenging if
it’s an H&E and not a Jaguar part.

-PaulOn May 15, 2009, at 9:07 PM, kitra wrote:

We are looking at a 1988 with 58K miles on it. One owner and
all service records. Not sure what we should pay for the car
but we are wondering if this is an OK year or something to
avoid? We were looking at Jaguar’s as a fun sunny day car. I
am a pretty good home mechanic but want to buy a decent
year. The 1988 looks like new.

kitra
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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3

In reply to a message from Paul Venezia sent Fri 15 May 2009:

I’d suggest a couple of great books for background reading and for
getting to know the difference between models : You and Your XJS -
Nigel Thorley, and Jaguar XJ-S by Brian Long. There are many others
of course.

Generally, though, V12s are more demanding in terms of maintenance -
an 88 car will need a lot of work to get it running up to scratch.
Fuel lines, brakes, ignition work, cooling system overhaul, and so
on. You had better be a DIY mechanic or the bills will get absurd.

Later, post 1990, facelift 4.0 models are held to be the least
troublesome and best if you are DIY adverse.

Not intending to insult H&E owners but their main advantage is
rarity. 89 and 90 factory convertibles have some advantages - parts
availability mainly.–
1990 XJ-S V12 Convertible, 1986 XJ6
Santa Clara, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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