Greetings from a new XJS enthusiast (I need help finding one!)

["Tom Stephens" <tcstephens@abac.com>]

Hello All:

This is my first posting to your news group.  I'm a long-time Jaguar
admirer, but have never owned one.  I am now beginning a serious search for
one of my favorite types -- the XJS coupe.  I've spent the last two years
restoring a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible to show condition; now I
would like to concentrate on acquiring a nice specimen of a 10- to
15-year-old XJS coupe, to serve as my primary vehicle, to be driven daily.

I would appreciate any help or advice I can get to lead me in the right
direction (or to help me avoid blunders).  I've browsed your JagWeb pages
and read most of the introductory material (e.g., "Please help a wannabe
Jaguar-owner", "EXPERIENCE IN A BOOK:
Help for the Jaguar XJ-S owner", etc.)

Some personal background:  I'm a 46-year old physical scientist and program
manager.  I've lived and worked in San Diego, California  for 21 years,
having permanently escaped the brutal Midwest (Ohio) snow storms.  I play
competitive tennis 2-3 times weekly, and brew my own beer (I keep entering
my beer in the Del Mar fair, but haven't won anything yet; maybe this
year!).  I won my first classic car 1st-place trophy last fall with the
above-mentioned Continental convertible, as a member of the Lincoln &
Continental Owners Club (LCOC). 

My goal:  Acquire an XJS coupe, roughly 1980-1988 vintage, no worse than #3
condition and possibly #2.  I expect to pay about $10,000US, which seems
consistent with what I've seen advertised locally.  I realize that using
such a car as a daily driver means that dependability is an issue, but I'm
not afraid to do my own regular maintenance, and to troubleshoot
electro-mechanical problems (God knows, the Continental convertible is an
electro-vacuuo-mechanical nightmare). 

 Questions:

a)  Is there a Jag owners club in San Diego, where I can get face-to-face
advice or appraisals?
b)  What is the best source for sales listings for vintage Jags in my area
(Auto Trader; Hemmings, local paper, ???)
c)  Is there some XJS photo book that I can consult?  My choice of the
1980-1988 vintage is based mainly on some vague past impressions about XJS
styling.  I really need to see some examples that might help me narrow my
choice.  
d)  Are there particular XJS models to avoid?

Thank you all for your time and attention.  I look forward to sharing my
Jaguar adventures with you all.

Tom Stephens, 
tcstephens@abac.com

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