The dilemma of xjs ownership

[stuart27]

Just thinking out loud perhaps, but I was just pondering my recent xjs purchase. I'm happy with the car...it is a project and expect to own it for many years...,hopefully. I was however, just thinking about economics....,which I now know doesn't really apply to an xjs. I figured that to make this purchase viable in the conventional economic sense, the previous owner would have needed to give me at least 2k to "take it off his hands".

For the specific model I bought, an 89 V12 coupe, it's never going to be worth more than say 4k (?) by current valuation measures (and that's in strong A+ condition). I don't even know whether A+ would ever apply anyway as the car only has partial history. I bought the car for just shy of 2k, but will be spending around 3k just to get it mechanically up to scratch. If we start on paint work, then it makes no sense at all. My point is, if economics are to be believed, it would probably never make sense to buy and restore an xjs in all but a few instances. The V12 seems to be a particularly "bad choice" on the grounds of economics. Luckily, I don't often act sensibly when it comes to economics...and I hope for the sake of the future of the XJS, others will be of a similar view.

The sensible advice as always is to buy a late model facelift car and avoid the V12. This is sound advice in terms of economics, but sad if we see more, otherwise sound V12's being scrapped due to economics. The V12 for me offers something truly special as it's such a rarity in any car.

What brought this to the fore was a trip to the jaguar specialist who is doing the work on my xjs, they have a "graveyard" of old jags... mostly donor cars. Some of them were in pretty good condition generally and I wondered why they had been scrapped in the first place. Again economics I guess. One car I saw made me particularly sad...in between 2 or 3 XJS's
was a Daimler double six coupe...probably late 1970's. I love these cars and if I could find one and afford it...would get one in a shot. These cars are pretty sought after now and are starting to fetch more serious money. Again maybe the key is patience...and who knows, maybe even a V12 pre facelift XJS may be worth the investment in the long term.

Stuart

[Brakebuster]

if you buy a steak to eat , you dont value it by what comes out the other end,

you value it on its taste as you eat it....... as after that its ' worthless ' .....



same with classic car ownership, buy to enjoy , not to make money ( in the most-part ), you know maintenance and running cost will be unrecoverable, but why buy the car in the first place if your worried about such things ?

i know your upholding the ownership of the car over profit ( money back ) with your thread......

i'm five years into my own 89 V12 coupe resto, and still have a lot to do, but its this journey i'm enjoying, and when she is up and running, regardless of cost over market value, i will be driving around at 12mpg with a huge grin on my face

every Jag that goes to the breakers makes the remaining cars that are in great condition worth that little bit more, thats how i think of it......

enjoy your car ,

BB merry christmas

[stuart27]

Nicely put!!!...I'm not complaining about it at all....it's just good to hear of others going through and doing the same things. Makes me realise I'm not so crazy after all...well maybe I am, but at least I have company!

Merry Christmas!

Sbb

[Mr.Ian]

I must admit to having a little giggle to myself thinking of value's and running costs. Being the purchaser of what must have been the worst condition 1977 model V12 XJS recovering the waterfall of money input needed to rebuild her is just a joke.
Although from what i've seen it appears the pre H.E. pricese are far higher than the early model H.E.s now so fingers crossed they might go into the classic status if they're not already as they are so few and far between.
As a daily driver yes avoid the V12 if you have to but crikey what a great lump of engineering it is. I personaly wouldn't have bought any other engined XJS to be quite honest as I feel it needs the V12 under that enormous bonnet.
There again i'm only going to use the XJS at weekends as a second car and due to that the V12 lump isn't such a problem.
I'll just be happy to drive around in my Jaguar knowing that if it wasn't for me it would've been in the scrapyard years ago, the thought of costs to get her there won't enter my head.

[Brakebuster]

i use an economic 4ltr V8 XJ8 for every day running around , lol

BB

[MichaelSB]

First may I say that I agree with all of the above, buy it run it enjoy it!

With regard to cost of ownership I think we should all remember how much we all loose on our modern cars, in my own case I lost more on a cousin of the XJS when I sold it than the 13k I paid for my XJS, so I think at worst if we keep our cars in sound condition and improve them where and when we can they may just stand still in value which is much better than any new car will do.

You know it makes sense Buy Two!

[BigCatXJS]

Like BB, I have a second car (Daimler Six) for everyday use

My '89 XJ-S; if I go by the agreed insurance valuation, then I'm about even. The cost price plus all the renovations/enhancements (which exceed the purchase price!) roughly tally to the insurance valuation...

...but the smug grin I wear when driving her and the flattering comments about the car from passers-by are priceless!

[steveww]

Generally speaking classic car ownership is about enjoying the driving and forgetting about the cost. There are many more pastimes that burn money the same way. How much is golf club membership and what return do you get on that investment?

The cost of running an XJS is probably about the same as depreciation on a typical modern luxury car.

For £ per mile invested gives many fold return in smiles per mile

[steve455]

I think, that from the posts there is no dilemma. If I'm servicing or got half the IRS in bits it still feels like I'm keeping something special on the road.

I like to think that mine is in the "A" band, not perfect but enjoyable.
Gradually getting all the "jobs" sorted without emptying the bank.

It all comes down too ... As BIGCATXJS says:-

...but the smug grin I wear when driving her and the flattering comments about the car from passers-by are priceless!