> Again, thanks for your comments and insight, you've clearly done a
>lot of homework on the subject.
>Thanks. Actually, it was a bit more than "homework". I was with Jaguar Cars
>in the States from '86 - '00 and aside from being involved with the factory
>on service issues, I drove many XJS's as company cars. Despite all it's
>flaws, it was a great car whose quality problems and lack of development
>always worked against it. FWIW, in '67 I bought a spanking new E-Type and
>have always used that marvelous vehicle as the benchmark as to what a Jaguar
>truly was....they haven't come close since, though the XKR is a nice try! >
>The V12 was a heavy beast, but if set up properly ran like a thoroughbred, a
>real masterpiece. Now, if the oil would just stay INSIDE the engine! >
Being the owner of a '79 XJ-S for the last 3 years, I can attest to the truth of your statements :-)
Fortunately I live 2 blocks from one of the best XJ-S repair shops in the Midwest (Speciality Sport Cars in Columbus OH) so I benefit from all the wonderful things this car can do when set up correctly... The V-12 is damn tear a turbine in smoothness and generates great torque.
As to oil leaks, well, oil is cheap.
(Was just in Speciality last month... they had 3 E-types in the shop, a I, a II, and a III... nice cars. But the D-Type they had was a lot prettier!)