Ok one of the guys at the local British car club just offered me a Jaguar XJS V12 for $500. It has new brakes, recent transmission service and a couple other new parts (forgot what else). Also as it sits now it runs. The bad, one of the engine seals is shot and it is leaking oil all over the front brakes, the interior is not in great shape and he will be pulling the new radiator and hoses before I buy it.
What says GRM? There is no real hurry on my decision though.
I would, but I'm an idiot.
MG Bryan wrote: I would, but I'm an idiot.
I have a Yugo so everything points to the same thing about me... 
Do it! I'm stalking an XJS too, misery loves company you know!
I've owned five of the ten worst cars in history so I would be all over it! Everyone should own a V12 at least once in their life.
You asked here knowing we would all say yes. (...says the man with a car made from scrapped appliances
It's a V12 coupe for $500, and it's a Jaaaaaagggg! I really can't see how that could go wrong.
lol, I can see a hundred ways how that could go wrong. but it would be worth it anyway.
Only if you're a sadist. 
$500? If you don't want it, I'll take it. Hell, even if all you ever do is sit in it and make engine sounds as you saw at the wheel, it's worth it.
I'm always up for a daft idea but I wouldn't - it looks like all the cheap to fix stuff has been and you're left holding the bag for the expensive side of things.
There was a joke about Jaguars always having a paw in your wallet and from my experience that's unfortunately rather true.
Well if you don't want a great waste of money, please let some of us have a chance to squander stupidly on it!
$500? What's the point of the question? Especially on this board.
It would sit until the Yugo is done but I want a car to do use for doing TSDs and cruises with the local British and Alfa clubs.
you could buy it for 500 and strip and sell the parts for more
How much would it actually take to get a decent reliable runner?
I like those, but, as a Jag project, I'd walk away from it. But for $500, I'd consider picking it up and dropping the resealed engine and transmission into a Model A with an extended wheelbase.
But that's just me...
93EXCivic wrote: How much would it actually take to get a decent reliable runner?
Jaguar was asking $67,500 when they were new, but I'm not sure they were decent reliable runners back then either.
I wouldn't.
93EXCivic wrote: How much would it actually take to get a decent reliable runner?
From the $500 car? It really depends on what you want out of it. If it isn't coming with a radiator, last I checked the oem replacement is ~$600. Replace everything rubber and rewire anything critical.
What year is it?
If I wanted a stock, reliable XJ-S as a daily driver, I'd spend the money to buy an XJS. 
Later cars cost more for a reason in my experience.
How much storage do you have that's not going to ruin the car while it sits? If it's going to sit for a long time, I would pass to let it go to someone excited to get started on it right away. Sitting outside uncovered on unpaved surfaces is absolute evil for a car. I ruined one car like that already and I won't do it again in this lifetime.
That said, if you could do something to it soon and it wouldn't stress you financially to spend a grand or two on it then hell yeah!
In reply to dculberson:
I have room to store it inside.
Well then! Ignore my concern .. the car's a good deal and you could easily sell it down the road for the same or more money. See how much extra he would charge to leave the cooling system, then maybe you could drive it around every now and then rather than just make vroom noises!
What's the worst that happens, you buy it, part it, and get your money back?
He wants the front suspension off my parts Midget, maybe I can beat you to it and take the Jag in trade for the parts. just kidding. The Jag is probably worth more than the front suspension of a 71 MG Midget parts car.
and wouldn't want to affect your automotive ADD, well maybe if I do this would keep you focused on finishing the Yugo.
Raze wrote: What's the worst that happens, you buy it, part it, and get your money back?
I say to buy and part out.
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