Good morning! Today we’re looking at two fancy-pants convertibles – only they’re not quite what you might be expecting. One doesn’t have enough cylinders, and the other doesn’t have enough pedals.
It sounds like yesterday’s bad ideas were a little traumatizing for a lot of you, casting votes under duress for a Land Rover with a terrible reputation. But hey, sometimes there just aren’t any good choices, and you have to choose the lesser of two evils. And I agree: a straight, running, drivable car with the potential for trouble down the road is a better option than a wreck that may or may not be repairable.
And actually, I like that Freelander. It’s like an upscale Geo Tracker. It’s too bad we didn’t get the four-cylinder/manual combination here in the US; apparently that was the one to get.
Speaking of powertrain options: I’m afraid today’s cars might disappoint. Did you ever go see a band that you love, and you wait all evening for them to play that one song, the one that was never a hit, but it spoke to you and helped you through a really rough time, but they never play it? Or have you ever waited ages for a reservation at a fancy restaurant known for one signature dish, and on the night of your reservation, something happens and it’s not on the menu? I mean, it’s still a good meal, or a good show, it’s just that it could have been so much better, if only that one thing were different. Yeah. These are kind of like that.
1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible – $4,999
Engine/drivetrain: 4.0 liter dual overhead cam inline 6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Conway, SC
Odometer reading: 155,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Jaguar’s E-Type was a tough act to follow. Love it or hate it, you couldn’t ignore it. And while it went on too long and lost the plot towards the end, its successor was bound to be a bit of a letdown by comparison. The XJS, like the last few years of the E-Type, hit the streets with a 5.3 liter V12. A few years later, Jaguar offered a six-cylinder version as well, but it was an also-ran; the XJS had a V12. Everyone knew that.
We didn’t get the six-cylinder version here in the US until the second series, and we never did get the five-speed manual version. Jaguar’s AJ inline six is a damn fine engine, no doubt – but it’s not a V12. It runs and drives just fine, the seller says, and it “handles beautifully.”
A hundred and fifty thousand miles is a lot for a Jaguar, but this one wears them well. The paint is nice and shiny, and the interior looks decent as well. The seller says it needs a new top, but looking at the photos, it looks fine to me – unless these are old photos. The car has California license plates in the photos, and some of the scenery looks very California-like too. Add to that the paragraph copied and pasted from Wikipedia, and I think this seller’s got some ‘splainin to do.
If it all checks out, it looks like a halfway decent car. It’s just sort of a bummer it doesn’t have the V12. It feels sort of incomplete with the six. Could be worse, I suppose – it could have a Chevy V8.
2001 Porsche Boxster – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.7 liter dual overhead cam flat 6, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Galena, IL
Odometer reading: 112,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Quick – what’s the fastest way to ruin a small sporty convertible? If you’re thinking “install an automatic transmission,” then we’re on the same page. Miatas, MGBs, Fiats, and even Alfa Romeos have, at various times, been subjected to this indignity. Add to that list the Porsche Boxster, which has offered an automatic from the start.
The Boxster’s automatic is a five-speeder, with Porsche’s “Tiptronic” manual shifting capability, basically the Autotune of vehicular transmissions. It looks like you’re doing it yourself, but really, the car is doing it for you. Apparently this car pre-dates the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel; gears are changed via little up-down buttons on the steering wheel spokes. You can also pretend to shift by moving the lever side-to-side if you’d rather.
It runs and drives well, and has new tires, so there’s that. Cosmetically, it looks all right, but it does have the seat-cover mystery: What’s under there? The covers could be there because the seats are trashed, or they could be like the plastic on your grandma’s couch when you were a kid. I’d hope for the latter, but the crap on the floor makes me suspect the former.
A more important mystery that needs to be answered is the condition of the notorious intermediate shaft bearing, Porsche’s old nemesis. There is an upgrade kit available, and if this one hasn’t had it installed, it it probably should be done right away. Use it as a negotiating tool, along with the missing third pedal.
Really, there’s nothing wrong with how either of these cars are spec’d. I’m sure they’re both lovely to drive; they’re just not what you’d expect in either case. But really, Jaguar’s V12 was never much more than bragging rights, and the Porsche-with-an-automatic ship sailed long ago, back in the 924 and 928 days. What we’re really talking about here are two pretty cool $5,000 convertibles, regardless of drivetrain options. Which is the one for you?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Jaaaaaaaag. The auto box is perfect for that car’s mission: stately motoring through the countryside on the way to the cottage or yacht club to go sailing.
Balling on a budget? $2k sailboat, check. $1k for a seasonal slip, check. $500 for a season’s worth of booze and munchies, check. $250 for gas, check. It’s doable!
Seasonal slip for $1000? Where? Crimea?
Also, $500 for munchies seems low but then again I’m fat so…
Western NY. Lots of lakes here so boats are plentiful and cheap. Lots of marinas, too.
Must be nice. They are about 5-15k around here depending on size.
Boxster, despite its flaws. I’ll never willing ride in anything that comes from SC, not Volvos, not Boeing Dreamliners, not BMWs, not the forthcoming Scout, and certainly not this Jag. It’s in Conway, I mean, come on, the name says it all.
My camper came from SC as did my edumacation. We’re fine, y’all!
The jag is more suited to the automatic, so I voted jag. This Boxster does have the relatively uncommon blue top and interior, which is nice.
BTW, the IMS issue is serious due to the consequences of failure, but the failure rate is single digit percentage low. The early 1997-1999 dual row bearing cars are even lower. By 2002 they all had single row bearings that have a higher, but still low, failure rate. This 2001 could have either, it seems.
I bought a 140K mile 1998 with an unknown IMS history and I decided to roll the dice. IMS replacement is about 2/3 the cost of a used engine. If I have to do a clutch, I will probably consider it, but I’m not doing it preemptively.
The cars are $5k, which is basically throwaway money in today’s market. Not sure “two evils” is the right term here.
I like the idea of cruising in the Jag. No sound system kind of sucks, will need to fix that. I assume it is just a busted head unit and not “no wiring, speakers, etc.”
The Porsche, outside of the interior which I am sure is trashed, looks pretty good. Yes, it isn’t a stick. But good luck finding a MT Boxster that isn’t on Copart for $5k.
Lets go Jag though. More interesting than a base model Boxster.
High mileage manual 986 Boxsters at ~$7K are pretty common in the midwest. Mine was 140K and $6,700 in 2021 and probably only worth maybe $8K now even after I put $800 in new Koni reds on each corner.
A V12 anything is a maintenance nightmare and a fuel guzzler.
This is the right spec for the Jaguar – and it’s the right color for me.
Plus it’s not common, like the lease-special Boxster.
I’ll take the Jag.
The AJ6 and AJ16 are great engines. Smooth and very durable.
I would love to have a 6 cylinder XJS coupe to go with my current XJR6.
Going Jag, as a ’70s child I have always liked the look of these (I prefer the Series 1). The 6 is arguably the better engine from a maintenance and longevity standpoint, I doubt your giving up much power. I think these were GM sourced automatics so no issues there. The body looks good and I can live with the interior for now. Probably get the seat reupholstered at some point but this car is not worth concours quality work. I would drive it.
To my admittedly limited line of thinking, a Jag V-12 doubles the chances of things that can go wrong with a Jag inline 6. Buuut seriously, the Jag is simply a sexy beast, and one that I’d use for genteel touring, not tearing about. I wouldn’t care about a six in that thing as much as I’d care about an automatic in the Boxter. I’d also probably care about the overall condition of the Porsche – right or wrong, those interior photos and general backdrop are speaking to me, and what they’re saying isn’t good.
Jag is a muscular cruiser, Porsche is meant to attack every corner at 8/10s. Different life mission. I WANT a corner carver but my lifestyle more suits the GT.
A 4 litre straight six is a splendid engine for a Gentleman’s automobile if you ask me.
I’m a sucker for the older Jags and though this one isn’t my favorite, I’ll still go with it. The I-6 isn’t the engine people talk about, but maintenance wise, it’s the winner. I love the idea of the V12 but I’m pretty sure I’d be done with the vacuum line nightmare after the first week.
If the Boxter was manual and IMS-solved, it would win every time.
Details, details.
When I walk out into the garage every morning, I would enjoy seeing the Porsche sitting there more than the Jag. Yes, once you started driving, it may be a different feeling but just from a looks perspective, I’m voting Porsche.
Yeah, not a fan of that particular Jag’s looks.
I am 42. When i turned 40 i sold my Focus ST and but a Jag XFS. I like autos. most of my driving is in the subburbs and crowded highways. I go to track days twice a year. The bother that a 6 speed gives me 360 other days a year just isnt worth it to me any longer.
I am all in autos.
The steering wheel cover on the Boxster is a bad omen for what the seats look like. The leather on the XJS looks a little tired, but laudably intact for nearly 3 decades of fun in the sun. This showdown is an either/or depending on what you want from your convertible. I went with the Jaaaaag as a smooth cruiser that will never go out of style.
Eh, if I’m going to be stuck with an autotragic, I’ll take the cruiser. Jag’s I6 is an underrated engine, and as others have pointed out, makes for easier DIY than the V12.
Regarding the Parsh’s IMS bearing, I’m in no way an expert on the subject, but my understanding was that this is an early-life failure issue. So correct me if I’m mistaken, but if it has 112K miles then whether or not the fix has been implemented is moot.
You’re about right on the IMS issue, they tend to flare up around 60-70k miles. You can extend the life of the IMS bearing by routinely revving higher than 4k, as that flings oil around and ensures that some actually gets on in. A heavy foot is a Boxster’s best friend.
I daily a 6 speed manual, and while I wholeheartedly approve manuals in cars I’m getting to the age where shifting all the time is a PITA in some areas. Traffic jams especially. I look at it as the ‘less desirable’ transmission is actually good for me, because I could get cars cheaper than with the manual.
I’ll take the Jag, because Jaaaaaaaaag.
As always, the prices would also allow for a nice Saab 900 purchase. That’s my criteria; would the shitbox choices be better than a 900?
Automatics are fine, but never settle for the automatic when you want the manual. I settled on an automatic BMW e36 because I needed the car that day, but man oh man do I wish it was a stick.
But didn’t we actually get the manual 6 cyl XJ-S here in the states for maybe a couple of years, I want to say in the mid-90s? I remember getting excited about the possibility, if in a purely fantasy way.
Not from what I found; I could only find specs for automatics. I seem to recall reading something about it in the magazines way back when, but it could be that they planned to offer us the manual but it never actually came to fruition.
Damn, b/c that’s how I recall it too – reading about it in the mags and thinking “finally, a Jag coupe that’s at least a little connected to the marque’s sportscar past.”
As a BMW fan, I do love me a straight 6. So the Jag it is. However one of these years I am going to own something with a V12, just because.
The Boxster is a great little car, and the Mercedes-built auto in the 986 and 987 generations are honestly pretty damn good autos, but that little mid-engined roadster was made for rowing your own.
As much as it’s a disappointment to not have the V12 soul in the Jag, I also love inline sixes, and this one is pretty damn good. So, between the two of them, it’s the Jag all day every day.
I went Boxster, but it was close. I am a child of the 70s/80s, and like those Jags. The I6 means one less set of gaskets to leak and easier repairs, with smooooth cruising.
Manual or no, the Boxster will be the better handler. Repairs will be harder in some ways, but they’ll be repairs on a Porsche with a robust aftermarket.
Jaguar did a masterful job restyling these, even if everything doesn’t work perfectly for the coupe version.
2JZ swap the XJS? And what’s wrong with an LS swap?
It’s the pumpkin spice latte and ugg boots of engine swaps.
Wankel Rotary or go home
Briggs & Stratton thumper with a Turbonique back axle.
And that, my friends, is the Showdown in a nutshell.
None of that “I’d rather walk” or “Neither” or “My brain hurts” nonsense.
It’s time to pick a side. And you… will… choose.
Okay, then – Jaaag, please!
Straight six all day long and twice on national holidays.
Jaaaggg wire
Yeah, I’ll never, ever understand not voting…it’s so fun and my favorite feature of this site…I wish they had more stuff to vote for on other subjects too along w/ “Would You Rather?”
That would be the only way to make it tolerable.
Yeah, tell ’em! I can’t really opine on the 4.2 straight 6 since my ’87 XJ6 had the ancient 4.0 whose design dated back to 1949, and I imagine the 4.2 isn’t quite so primitive, but the Chevy V8 conversion I did resulted in a car that was better in every way that mattered to me (i.e., lighter, faster, quicker, easier and cheaper to fix, better fuel economy, and surprisingly easier to get through emissions inspections once I got the referee to sign off). I’d love to do that same conversion to an XJS, and I have zero interest in messing with a V12.
Both look like decent deals to me. I drove a (new) Boxster with the Tip, and it wasn’t half bad. If you have to go shiftless, it’s a fair choice.
I prefer the V12 in the Jag, just because it sounds so nice and is butter-smooth. That said, I’d rather work on the six, and it is an excellent engine. Never really cottoned to the XJ’s looks, but it was a helluva good driving machine, and luxurious. Which is why I picked it.
Hot take: The inline 6 on the XKE and XJS were and are the superior motors, more reliable and able to make more horsepower than the V12 with very minor tweaks. There is a reason Jag raced the inline 6 vs the 12.
I’m with you on this one. The straight six is the better motor to have in that car. Lighter, easier to tweak, more reliable, and buttery smooth. Exactly what you want for a grand tourer.
Agree with this, The 4.0L is stout with regular service.
However, Jaguar may have not raced with the V-12, but In the United States Group 44 raced both an XKE and XJS with it and had great success.