1996 JAGUAR XJ3.2L Petrol

The Jaguar XJ presents as roadworthy following the most recent test on 29 August 2025 at 94,871 miles, where the tester recorded no defects and issued a pass. The maintenance trend is stable and improving, given two consecutive clean passes after earlier failures. The 6 September 2024 pass at 94,509 miles and the 2025 pass show the vehicle has settled into a sound condition with no advisories logged. At roughly 30 years old with 94,871 recorded miles, the car averages just 3,162 miles per year, indicating light use or extended periods off the road. The record shows only 1,730 miles added between the July 2023 test at 93,146 miles and the August 2025 test at 94,871 miles. Two failed tests appear in the history, on 20 September 2022 at 92,991 miles and 14 August 2024 at 94,481 miles, yet the DVSA data lists no defects against either failure, which suggests administrative issues or unrecorded minor presentation faults rather than mechanical decline. A buyer should still commission an in-person inspection of structural integrity and corrosion, particularly on sills, subframes, and suspension mounting points, as a 1996 saloon of this type is prone to hidden rust after long static periods. The clean MOT sheets mean no worn suspension bushes, binding calipers, or exhaust emissions faults were flagged, but low annual mileage can mask seized brake components and flat-spotted tyres from standing. Given the two faultless passes in 2024 and 2025, previous ownership appears to have addressed whatever caused the earlier failures and maintained the car to a testable standard. Verify service history and check for aged consumables such as perished hoses or degraded rubber mounts that a mileage-light record will not reveal.