Is a classic XJ6 worth €5,000?

HELPDESK:Answering all your motoring queries

From W O’B: I’ve always wanted a Jaguar XJ6 and I’ve been offered one for less than €5,000. Its in the North and it would mean importing it, but it’s in great condition. It’s the 3.2-litre engine with 150,000km. Do you think it might be worth buying? I know it’s bad on fuel economy but I’m only driving short distances.

This is a head over heart debate. My head says run a mile, but I understand the attraction some cars may have when they pluck at the heartstrings. However, €5,000 seems a really high price, and I would want to be sure both you and the owner are talking in the same currency. You also have to remember, you will pay VRT on the car when it’s re-registered here, which I’ve provisionally worked out on Revenue’s online calculator to be around €800. For me that total price is way too high. Pottering around town is also not the answer to thirsty vehicles, as fuel consumption is often just as bad when the engine is idling. Then there are inevitable repair costs with a car that’s 15 years old. My head says walk away and, while I understand the attraction, my heart says listen to the head. If you really want an XJ6, you should be able to get one for half the price.

From L Ross: With all the salt on the roads, is there a risk of long-term damage to my car? I remember living in Germany in the 1980s – I watched my car disintegrate over a six-month period as the salt devoured the wheel arches.

We get this question almost every time there is a fall of snow. Most modern cars have plastic linings in the wheel arches so the risks are reduced, but salt is very corrosive. At the risk of encountering the ire of the Dublin city councils and their water divisions, I would suggest you give the car a good clean and be sure to wash underneath. While you shouldn’t see a return to the bad old days, you might not spot a scrape on the car’s paintwork. Ideally, while it’s dry and before the next snow, you should wax the car as well, giving it a protective coating.

Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara St, Dublin 2 or email motorshelp@irishtimes.com