1994 Jaguar XJS V-12


1994 Jaguar XJS V-12 Grand Touring Coupe

This was the last year the XJS Grand Touring Coupe was produced by Jaguar.  The 1995 and 1996 model years were produced by Ford.  So, one could rightly say that this is one of the LAST TRUE JAGUARS.

If you yearn for the days when Jaguar built real sports cars - don't overlook the 1994 XJS V-12 

You get 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, with a luxuriously comfortable top speed of 150+ mph. 

The XJS V-12 has always has been an exceptionally smooth and somewhat-quick grand touring machine, and when you wind up the Jag's race-proven engine and unleash this big cat's full performance potential, you will be shocked to see how well this cat roars to life.  Not many cars will be able to out-perform this XJS V-12.

Jaguar claimed that the 1994 models were ''the best Jaguars ever built.''  This was no empty sales pitch.  With each year Jaguar was perfecting this cat, and Jaguar made dramatic gains in quality.  True, Jaguar had a lot of ground to make up, but based on this car, that's exactly what that British automaker did.

Of all the Jags I've driven over the years, and I've owned a few, this car is the most solid - and trustworthy of them all.

You can't say that about older Jags, some were known to overheat, stall and suffer catastrophic failures for no apparent reason. 

Here's the Stats on my Jag......

1994 XJS 6.0L 2-door V-12 Coupe

 

Base Price

XJS 6.0-liter V-12 Two Door Coupe $69,950
Base Price with Options $77,950

Engine

6.0-liter SOHC V-12 (regular gas)  
Horsepower @5,400 rpm 278
Lbs torque @2,800 rpm 334
Engine displacement in cubic inches 366

Transmission

4-speed automatic w/OD Yes

Powertrain

Engine liters 6.0
Cylinder configuration V-12
# of valves 24
Recommended fuel regular unleaded
Automatic transmission 4 speed
Sport handling package Yes
Overdrive Yes
Limited slip differential Yes
Fuel economy city 17 mpg
Fuel economy highway 22 mpg
Fuel tank capacity 24 gal.

Suspension/Handling

Front anti-roll bar Yes
Power steering Yes
Alloy wheels Yes
Front tires 225/60VR16.0
Rear tires 225/60VR16.0
Sport handling package Yes
Performance tires Yes
Limited slip differential Yes

Body Exterior

Number of doors 2
Power door mirrors Yes
Heated door mirrors Yes
Spoiler Yes
Body-colored bumpers Yes
Clearcoat/Black paint Yes

Convenience Features

Air conditioning Yes
Automatic temperature control Yes
Memory seat Yes
Cruise control Yes
Power windows Yes
Remote keyless entry Yes
Tilt steering wheel Yes
Full floor console Yes

Seats and Trim

Front bucket seats Yes
Heated front seats Yes
Driver lumbar support Yes
Passenger lumbar support Yes
Leather upholstery Yes
Leather door panel trim Yes
Carpet on lower door panel Yes
Genuine wood instrument panel insert Yes
Genuine wood door panel insert Yes
Genuine wood console insert Yes
Leather steering wheel Yes

Entertainment Features

80 watt entertainment audio system Yes
Multi-6 disc CD changer Yes
Speakers 8
Power antenna Yes

Lighting, Visibility and Instrumentation

Front fog lights Yes
Variably intermittent wipers Yes
Rear window defroster Yes
Tinted windows Yes
Front reading lights Yes
Tachometer Yes
Voltmeter Yes
Trip computer Yes
Oil pressure gauge Yes
Water temp gauge Yes

Safety and Security

ABS brakes Yes
4 wheel disc brakes Yes
Full size spare tire Yes
Driver front impact airbags Yes
Power door locks Yes
Remote keyless entry Yes
Security system Yes
Limited slip differential Yes

Standard Specs and Dimensions

Exterior length 191.2"
Exterior body width 74.1"
Exterior height 48.7"
Wheelbase 102.0"
Curb Weight lbs. 4,053

 

I have owned the car since 1998, purchased from an authorized Jaguar dealer in Woodland Hills, California

Beautiful Black paint, Barley Tan Leather Interior with beautiful Walnut trim. 

1994 Jaguar XJS V-12 Coupe Advertisement photo
This is the official 1994 XJS V-12 Grand Touring Coupe photo

Just for the record, the Jaguar XJS was first introduced in 1975 and it's styling has remained virtually unchanged since.  It underwent a facelift in 1989 with euro headlights and wide taillights, but then in 1995 Ford Motor Co. took over production. First thing they did was shut down the production of the XJS Coupe. They only produced a few XJS convertibles that year, then in 1996 they shut down production of the XJS altogether. 1994 was the last year Jaguars were made entirely by Jaguar, and as it turns out, it was also the best year for the XJS V-12 Coupe.

The XJS Coupe was the only model available back in 1975, then a non-factory convertible was built, then a hard-top cabriolet, and finally a factory convertible.  It wasn't until the mid 80's that Sport Coupe models, like this one, were eventually built using the famous Jaguar V-12 engine.  The early models were teamed up with a GM Turbo 400 Transmission, and the fit just wasn't perfect. The 1994 Jaguar has the famous 6.0 liter V-12 teamed up with a GM 4L80E 4 speed Transmission, so it now has overdrive, and with the Sports pack suspension system option, it's perfect!

Powered by the 6.0 liter V-12 cylinder engine you have great performance, and with overdrive you don't have to worry a lot about the fuel economy.  If memory serves me right I get around 17 mpg with city driving, and 22 mpg when on the highway.  There's an onboard computer that tells you instantly.  That's way better mileage than I get with my 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it only has a V-8.  I know a few people with a XJS V-6 that also get way less mileage than this V-12 gets, so it's really a non-factor.

The XJS has been slowly moving from being a "used car" to now being a "collectible car", and since this 1994 XJS is insured as a "collector car" the insurance is super low.  My State Farm policy costs me less than $300 for a year of a million in full coverage with stated amount $25k comp and $25k collision.  Last summer this car saw it's first Car Show, where it received a lot of positive comments.  It didn't win any awards, mainly because it was lumped in with all imports, so the '58 Morgan roadster and the '56 Austin Healey roadster took the prize. 

Most Jag XJS cars on the market suffer from mileage, as well as from age.  The older cars have rubber that's likely to have disintegrated, and if it has not already been replaced it should be.  This includes hundreds of small hoses, bushings, and seals.  These are inexpensive, but time consuming to replace, and if parts are renewed the balance of the car is fairly indestructible.  The 5.3 liter car is particularly prone to fuel system fires as the rubber hoses in the high pressure fuel injection system age.  The short hoses between the fuel rail and injectors seem to be a common problem area.  On this 6.0 liter V-12 car they eliminated these extra rubber hoses with modern fuel injectors, and eliminated the rubber connecting hoses to the fuel rail assembly, so this just isn't a problem.  Another nice thing is that in the event you ever should need replacement parts for the car, they are readily available, both second hand and new.

This XJS has always been garaged and well cared for, near perfect condition, aside from the few imperfections I list below.  Considering it's 15 years old, it looks better than a lot of the new cars I see coming out.  This car has only has 50,000 original miles on it.  Not because it was in a mechanic's garage, but because it's been in my garage.  I do have other collector cars, and I doubt if I put 100-150 miles a year each, so they just don't get driven all that much.  Mostly just to car shows.  My Jag Mechanic and those I know in the local Jaguar club all say that this is the cleanest XJS they have EVER seen, and my mechanic says this engine is rock solid.  The leather and all features are good, the engine is strong, the steering is tight, the tires are almost new, the transmission is smooth and responsive, and the brakes are great. 

The Car Runs and Drives Perfect.

Current imperfections:
-Driver seat has slight scuffing on the side/back of the seat
(this was a problem with this model year, all 94's I've seen have it. The leather is a full hide, not a split hide like American Japanese and similar foreign cars. They use hide that is 1/6th the thickness of a full hide. Anyway, this scuffing is today exactly like this when I bought it in 1998, all I do is keep leather conditioner on it. I was told a pro could repair it like new, but I my upholstery guy does not do that, he just replaces the leather.)
-Front spoiler needs a little touch-up
(you can hardly tell since the spoiler is below the bumper, this is slight fiberglass damage to the ground effects, and it was caused by approaching road dips too fast, I had to learn to take them slower because of the low ground clearance.)
-Front hood has a few paint pits
(typical road gravel nicks or pits)
-Hood has a tiny dent near the center air intake vent
(if I didn't point it out, you probably wouldn't see it)
-Passenger door has a tiny paint chip/dent
(thanks to a discourteous driver in the Wal-Mart parking lot)
-Rear spoiler has a scratch in the paint
(it looks like someone probably set something on the car when I had it under the car cover)
(see photos below)

Tires: Pirelli P6 225/60/R16 Front and Pirelli P4000 225/60/R16 Rear (rated for 150mph)
Mfg. Options: Sport handling package and 6-CD Changer
Mileage: 50,000
(almost exactly)
Acquired: December 24, 1998
Located: Lompoc, CA (Santa Barbara County)
Average Fuel Economy: 17/22 MPG
(+/-)
Production Totals for the XJS V-12 Coupe from 1993 to 1996 Worldwide = 772 cars

END OF AN ERA

When you think about it, how many luxury car models can you think of that lasted in more or less the same guise, without a re-model for over 20 years!  It is a testament to the classic design that this car had such staying power.  If you drive this XJS V-12 I guarantee that not only will you be impressed with it's looks and handling, but you will find it will really turn heads. Your neighbors will stop you just to say... "wow, nice car!".

Please contact me with questions or for more details, I promise to answer you right away.

My sources tell me the car is worth between $20,000 and $25,000, and I want to sell it to bring my wife's '57 T-Bird up to concourse condition.

$15,000.00 buys it. 

Buyer must be in a position to leave a non-refundable $1,000 Deposit through PayPal within 24 hours of our agreement on price, but just so you know, I am fairly firm on the price.

I will accept valid Cashiers Check from Bank of America, or a Bank Wire, or Cash.  The Vehicle WILL NOT leave my Premises until all funds have Cleared.

Serious buyers only, Please 

Sorry, but I am NOT interested in a trade.

Buyer is responsible for Vehicle Pickup or Shipping, but I will assist if you need me to.

 

Click on any photo to see it FULL SIZE.... I didn't shrink or touch up these photos, so they'll take a minute or so to load, but after a photo loads you'll be able to click the loaded photo so it enlarges, and you can then zoom in on the detail.

Front Right Front Right Rear Rear Left rear Left
Left Front Spoiler Damage Spoiler Damage Paint Chips Hood Dent Right Door Dent
Right Door Dent Rear Spoiler Scratch Driver Seat Scuff Trunk Trunk Trunk Spare Tire
Trunk CD Changer Trunk Battery Left Engine Left Engine Right Engine Engine Hood
Driver Seat Driver Seat Back Driver Back Seat Passenger Seat Pass Seat Back Pass Back Seat
Driver Door Driver Dash Center Dash Passenger Dash Passenger Door Odometer
           
Supplemental Photos to answer questions
These are the 4 screws from the front directional lamps on the bumper, they are black metal and covered with what looks like wax residue I simply buffed the heads with a jewelers rouge cloth and as you can see they are fine. Here is the Seat Belt Clip, the tan plastic coating around it is moulded The Drivers Clip shows signs of being slightly worn thru the plascis coating, metal is showing, and looking at the way it is designed this is normal wear and not functionally an issue. The Drivers Clip flipped over to show you how the plastic is evenly worn away by belt wear. This is the view of the same clip, but the Passenger side.
Front Screws Front Screws        
           
Here is the Current CARFAX Report I did on 2/2/2010
The entry in 2005 showing change in owner is because we put the title in the name of our Family Trust.
           
           
Here is the CARFAX Report I did on 1/16/2002
           

PERFORMANCE

Jaguar claims that the 1994 models are ''the best Jaguars ever built.'' This is no empty sales pitch. For each of  three years prior, Jaguar had made dramatic gains in quality. True, Jaguar had a lot of ground to make up, but  based on test cars, that's exactly what that British automaker did.

Of all the Jaguars I've driven over the years, and I've driven a few, this car felt the most solid - and trustworthy.

You can't say that about older Jags, which were known to overheat, stall and suffer catastrophic failures for no apparent reason.

Those days are gone.

Jaguar officials said only about 100 customers in the United States bought an XJS V-12.  Worldwide the production was only around 250 cars, so would you say these cars are soon to be extremely RARE?  Official production numbers between 1993 and 1996 was only 772 cars produced. 

Having driven the XJS 12-cylinder engine with an automatic, there's no doubt in my mind that this car is the car to own. Performance-minded drivers find that it is by far the most fun and enjoyable version of the XJS to drive.

The transmission has a Sport mode to make driving firm, tight and fast, but with a positive feel. It doesn't take long to get used to the power. The engine pulls strongly and revs to 6,000 rpm.

Even with a heavy foot, fuel mileage is excellent. Like I said, for me this car delivered somewhere around 17 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.  That's cool for a 12 cylinder car that weighs more than 2 tons.

HANDLING

This car came with Jaguar's optional ''sports pack'' suspension system, which includes fat 16-inch Pirelli tires mounted on special wheels, high-performance shocks, a front anti-roll bar and stiffer springs, so it feels as if it is connected to the road the same way a roller coaster is connected to its tracks.

No matter how hard you toss the XJS into a curve the body always stays poised and the tires never once lose their grip. The XJS is a fairly wide car, and I think that, along with the extraordinary fine-tuning of the suspension system, is the secret to the Jaguar's agile road manners.

The power-assisted steering is quick and takes so little effort to turn the wheel. It makes the car seem that much more responsive.

The four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes are the best I know of on a Jaguar. Touch the pedal and they bite hard, slowing the car quickly and without fuss.

FIT AND FINISH

You will have no complaints with the way the XJS is assembled. Parts are fitted much better by Jaguar than any American car. 

Ergonomically, the XJS is not the greatest.  You are very comfortable once you are in the car, but the low curb height, mixed with the tilt steering wheel being close to the edge of the driver's seat, it takes a little practice getting in and out of the car. 

Also, the front and rear seats actually touch, so since there is absolutely no legroom in the rear for passengers other than a small child just forget you have one.  Kinda like the Camero's rear seat, why bother.  In all likelihood, Jaguar added the rear seat so that the XJS would be classified as a four-seater, thereby qualifying for lower insurance premiums.  Insurance companies tend to charge a premium for two-seat sports cars. So, the rear seat must be viewed only as a place to store small items.

The electrically adjustable front seats, covered with tan leather, arevery comfortable.  But if you have a large derriere, you might find the XJS a bit of tight fit.

The center console is beautifully trimmed in wood, and home to numerous switches and buttons. The electric doors have a remote too.

From the outside, this Black car with its tan leather interior is simply gorgeous.

The car is quiet, and visibility is good, and a very rewarding vehicle to drive.

The 1994 year XJS has both a driver's and passenger's air bag.

The XJS V-12 coupe is fast and mean... and like fine wine, the XJS V-12 will just keep getting better with age.