You didn’t really think I was going to let a whole week go by without subjecting you to some really sketchy old crap, did you? Today we’re looking at two cars that technically function as cars, move under their own power and all that jazz, but you’d better be ready to turn some wrenches as needed.
Yesterday’s cars both ran and drove just fine, they just had a ton of miles and were kind of boring. The “I Hate PT Cruisers Club” was out in force, but so were plenty of apologists for Chrysler’s funky little wagon. The Focus won, partly I think just because it wasn’t a PT Cruiser, but nobody seemed all that enthusiastic about picking it.
I’ve never had either of these, but I’ve owned both of their predecessors – a ’99 Neon and an ’05 Focus – and I can’t say I really have a preference in terms of driving them. I guess I’d take the PT Cruiser here, for the practicality of the wagon bodystyle, but either would be fine.
I think we all have, at some point, found a cheap and cool car with a bunch of red flags, and fallen victim to that fateful five-word question: “How had could it be?” I know I have. Whether you actually go through with the purchase or not, you start doing the calculations: How much will the parts cost? Do I have the necessary tools? Do I like it enough to put in the work? Some of us, including most of the writers here, buy first and ask those questions later, much to your amusement, I hope. Today, we’re going to take a good close look at these two seeming bargains, and determine which one would be less of a disaster if you just went for it.
1986 Volkswagen Cabriolet – $1,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Forest Grove, OR
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: I’m pretty sure it runs and drives
Twice in its life, the Volkswagen Golf offered a convertible version. And both times, the earlier body style carried on in convertible form for years after the hatchback version had been replaced. The Mk2 Golf arrived in the US in 1985, but the old Rabbit Convertible continued, now simply called the Cabriolet. I’m fully aware that, due to its integrated roll bar that resembles a basket handle, and its popularity with young women, this car acquired another name that I’m sure someone will use in the comments. I won’t repeat it here.
Like a lot of early water-cooled Volkswagens these days, this Cabrio has bits and pieces of later cars. These cars are a bit like Lego sets; everything fits everything else, so mixing and matching of parts is common. This one has a 2.0 liter engine out of a later Golf in place of its original 1.8 liter, which probably gives it a marginal bump in power. The seller doesn’t actually say how well, or even if, it runs, but it has been photographed in more than one locale, which indicates that it at least moves under its own power. We are told it got a new clutch recently, as well.
It’s a little rough inside; there’s a hole in the driver’s seat and someone has made wooden panels for speakers in the doors, as well as a janky-looking cupholder in the center console. I’d pull that out, at least; a 20-ounce soda bottle fits just fine in between the seat bolster and the handbrake handle. But overall, it’s fine for a cheap convertible. The seller says the odometer is broken, which is very common for VWs of this era.
It’s clean and rust-free outside, but again, it has some bits and pieces it didn’t originally come with. The wheels are from a Mk3 Golf or Jetta, possibly the same car that donated its engine. It also has a quad-headlight grille with a GTI logo on it, which I don’t remember any US-market Golf or Cabriolet ever wearing. But these days, it’s not hard to get parts from other parts of the world to customize a car like this.
1987 Jaguar XJ-S – $1,750
Engine/drivetrain: 5.3-liter overhead cam V12, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 46,000 miles
Operational status: Technically runs and drives, but needs some help
This is as close as I come to a hot take: This car, the Jaguar XJ-S, is a personal luxury coupe. It’s a British Chrysler Cordoba. It has a big engine, soft suspension, and flashy styling meant to impress and possibly intimidate onlookers. Furthermore, I submit that the only difference between what most people call a grand tourer and a personal luxury coupe is country of origin. I don’t hold with such snobbery. If you want to call your boat-tail Riviera a grand tourer, go right ahead, as far as I’m concerned.
You won’t be doing much grand touring in this one right away; its 5.3 liter “High Efficiency” V12 starts and runs, and the car is drivable, but the battery light is on, and all the belts and hoses have yet to be replaced. It could use a tune-up as well. The seller says that “you could probably drive it across town.” Looking at the map, it’s about fifteen miles from this car’s approximate location to my old house in Portland. Would I chance it? Well, when I bought my MGB, it was an eighteen-mile journey, and it made it six before breaking down. But sure, what the hell, sounds like an adventure.
As for the personal luxury part, yeah, it’s got that. A lot of cheap Jaguars have absolutely appalling interiors, but this one looks pretty good. The leather is a little cracked and worn, but it’s intact, and it’s got a nice Nardi steering wheel that’s a lot more attractive than the stock unit. Neither the air conditioning nor the stereo works, so you’ve got some work to do, but it’s certainly not a lost cause.
It was repainted by the previous owner in its original classic British Racing Green. It really suits the XJ-S well. The paint still looks nice and shiny, but the seller does note some rust in the floors, so watch out for bubbles elsewhere. Overall, though, this is a car you could show off proudly, and yet not be afraid of enjoying it.
In my younger days, I probably would have considered either of these as a daily driver. I mean, if you can drive it home, you can hop in it the next morning and drive to work, right? Yeah. I was late to work more often than I’d like to admit back then. I hadn’t yet grasped the idea that if you’re going to have a cool but unreliable car, you have to have a less-cool car that starts every time to balance it out. So, assuming you’ve already got something more reliable, which one of these would you drive home to tinker with?
I voted VW. It looks like there’s nothing wrong with that car that would keep me from doing the thing I most want to do in a convertible, namely, cruise around and get ice cream on a pleasant day. The Jag is pretty, but no way is a Thatcher-government-era Jag going to just work every time I turn the key.
I almost bought a cheap V12 XJS. The owner called me the day before I was supposed to go see it that somebody had just bought it. I was bummed but 3 weeks later, the same Jag was for sale again. I figure I dodged a bullet.
Tough call for me as I like them both even though I’m not a big VW fan.
I usually vote for the XJ when it comes up here, so this time I’m going VW and have a fun little run about convertible.
I’ll take the Jag.
The Jag will stand up better to my neglect due to a solid roof and will look better in my driveway in a non-operational state when I spend several years contemplating fixing it/swapping in a new engine.
i’m so anti volkswagen it’s not funny but in this case i’d take the cabrio over the jag. at least theres existing knowledge and aftermarket support for a cheap convertible. not unlike my e30 vert that just graduated to daily driver status despite… not having a top…
Jag for me. My dad had one for a while and they’re nice cars. Worst possible option is the V8 swap which has been done a million times.
I want to vote for the jaaaaaag, but I see so many of those and they are always just parked – rarely are they actually propelled by their own power on the roads. Voting for the drop top over the beautiful lawn ornament.
It’s my fake money, so even though I want to build a Cammisa carbrio, I’ll take the Jaaaaag.
5.3 V12 and 5.3 Chevy v8? Kismet.
V Dub all day in this one!
But V-12 is like 10 more than V-Double!
Math checks out.
Two really good deals. Gotta go for beauty, even with the foretaste of regret–the XJ-S still pushes my buttons.
I’m interested in both while realizing that I would still need a reliable 3rd car for when they are both in pieces in my yard or garage.
XJ-S is the obvious choice for me, I want one anyway!
Since I’m not Laura Holt, I’ll take the Jag.
I love Laura Holt.
She is beautiful.
Great choice either way, terrible choice either way too, but I can’t resist a big Jag coupe. And it’s green, vs white, and white is the worst color so even more points for the Jaaag
True Story, when I was 12-13 years old, I was sending out a lot of postcards for Free stuff (Four Wheel and Off Road magazine, had a every April address list). This apparently got me put on a mailing list of all kinds, and Including American Express, for which I qualified for a card ,assuming I could verify income, and an Opportunity to test drive the latest model of the very Jag here. needless to say my parents would not let me.
Cabrio. At least I can fit my hands in the engine bay to repair mostly everything without having to disassemble the entire engine. But finding panels to replace rust will be a nightmare. Have a 02 cab. At home now, been looking for fenders for 3 years.
V12 > I4
Coupe < Convertible
Automatic FWD
Hmmm. A tie. Coin toss came up VW.
I’ve always wanted a 12 cylinder Jag, but I know it’s going to be a headache when something inevitably goes wrong. Possibly an expensive thing, and I’m sure some parts for these things are getting hard to find.
The Cabrio is definitely someone else’s project but the parts and aftermarket availability should be pretty extensive.
But now I’m typing all this out I have the sudden desire to change my vote, because goddamn I’d love a V12 Jag in British racing green, future troubles be damned.
There are enough people who love these V12s and have made modern stuff work with them that this to me is the ideal purchase. You are going to spend a solid 5-10 grand modernizing, but even the best example would need the same at some point.
So all it needs is a tune-up, an alternator and some belts? I know better but I’ve always wanted a V12 so this is easy. My wife is mad already.
….”this year’s Jags are better”…
Possibly…but an 87 V12 that barely runs is definitely not “better”
Not to mention that getting a Jag up and running reliably would require a stack of Franklins that I don’t have.
The VW is easy to work on, fun to drive, and will be easy to sell when the leaves start falling again.
VW for the win.
The Jag has PRESENCE, and it gets my fake money today without question.
While the thought of luxuriating in that lovely Jag interior is appealing, the part where the car moves down the road might prove to be a bit too much work. And rusty floors are a non-starter.
I can fix that VW with duct tape and bailing wire. As a purely fun summer-evening restaurant car that will still allow me to afford nice restaurants, it’s perfect.
That Jag’s leather upholstery is not exactly pristine. Has no one noticed that the right side bolster on the driver’s seat has departed company with the center back insert?
Well, yeah, at this price point that’s to be expected.
Bit clueless about the swap but apparently the 2.0L into an A1Golf is a fairly plug-and-go option according to VW Vortex. I don’t think I would find a shortage of them at a pick n pull.
I like the Cabrios, It just needs some nicer basketweaves and lowering springs, I’d drive it.
Handle Hooptie FTW.
It is. Mine was.
BRG and biscuit interior naturally attract me to the Jag. The added bonus is that I live less than 10 miles from Moss Motors, so I’m sure I will hand them 10 times the asking price to make it perfect…. until something else breaks.