XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground?

Printable Version

Jaguar Forum >> Jaguar Models >> Jaguar XJ8 >> XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground?

Page: [1]

Login Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>

XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/7/2008 8:29:11 AM    millergd   Posts: 2 Joined: 7/7/2008 Status: offline As a current Jaguar owner, I''m in the process of helping family shop for a new car to replace their 1985 Mercedes 380SE with 250k miles on it. As you can tell by the car being replaced, my family member enjoys a nice luxury car, but he wants to buy one that can be driven into the ground (e.g. owned for 12-15 years, and final resting stop is a junkyard) and is relaible for the long term, and a good highway cruiser. I am seeking the board''s advice if a 2004-2005 XJ8 would be a good car that fits my family member''''s frugal nature ($30k for a used CPO with 20-35k miles typical) that offers a long wheelbase handling.   In researching posts on the board, I''''m reading that a lot of people are only buying their XJ8''s with extended warranties, which would cover 2-3 years at best in my scenario. Any thoughts?  Would you own this car out of warranty, or is it a bank breaker after 100,000 miles?  Does the 2005 model (2nd year of this generation if I''m correct) offer improvements over the 2004? Thanks, Geoff // Ottawa Canada 03 X-Type 2.5L Sport 06 S-Type R < Message edited by millergd -- 7/7/2008 8:47:52 AM > Post #: 1

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/8/2008 4:27:20 PM    oldmots   Posts: 147 Joined: 6/30/2008 Status: online If the owners had a 1985 Mercedes, they can maybe handle the Jag, although it is incredibly more complex than the German car. The current reported trouble areas of the X350 seem to be the air suspension and minor body fittings and paint. The engine is a good one but the 6 speed ZF sealed for life transmission has not been around the block yet but the previous generation 5 speed ones in the X308 are lasting in the region of 100K miles dependably. If that''s true, get ready for a $10K-$15K expense with this one. Just the exotic Shell fluid for it runs $100/qt at the dealer and it is purposely not available anywhere else, limited production control you know. The electrical system is much more complex than the Mercedes, but there have not been too many reported problems... yet. The reason is likely that many of these cars are still in warranty and they are not showing up on the forums yet with owners crying poor. They are still at the dealers jumping around. My guess is that they will cost substantially more than the Mercedes and only those who like a car with Norman soul would hang onto it for a long time. I just had mine in for some minor warranty work before the warranty expires and the bill was just over $3000. But I love the color! _____________________________ 96 XJ6 4.0, 05 XJ8 4.2 (in reply to millergd) Post #: 2

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/9/2008 6:27:50 AM    wdonovan   Posts: 40 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: Bayville, NJ usa Status: offline "I just had mine in for some minor warranty work before the warranty expires and the bill was just over $3000." Nice warranty! (in reply to oldmots) Post #: 3

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/9/2008 2:07:43 PM    oldmots   Posts: 147 Joined: 6/30/2008 Status: online I may have given the wrong impression, the factory warranty paid the bill, I just had to sign that the work was done. _____________________________ 96 XJ6 4.0, 05 XJ8 4.2 (in reply to wdonovan) Post #: 4

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/9/2008 2:17:58 PM    veffremov   Posts: 96 Joined: 5/7/2008 Status: offline A bit off topic: you can find the transmission fluid for about $38/quart. I also have the ZF part numbers in case you want to order from a ZF distributor - but I''m quessing they won''t sell you just one bottle. The same tansmission, 6HP26 with minor modifications is used in some BWM, Audi, Bentley and Land Rover vehicles, so you may check these dealers for the fluid as well. Note some Audis use 6HP26A61, which uses a different fluid LifeGuardFluid6Plus. here are the ZF part numbers: S671 090 252 Oil LifeGuardFluid6 (209 liter drum) S671 090 253 Oil LifeGuardFluid6 (20 liter canister) S671 090 255 Oil LifeGuardFluid6 (1liter bottle) (in reply to oldmots) Post #: 5

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/9/2008 9:04:41 PM    millergd   Posts: 2 Joined: 7/7/2008 Status: offline oldmots and company, thanks for your replies.   While I''ve gone against the grain in buying notoriously unreliable X-Types and S-Types for myself (given my willingness to repair them early and often), I''m having increasing doubts that the XJ8 is a good fit for family members who aren''t mechanically inclined but who have expectations for reliability through 200k miles and are hours from the nearest dealer.  The Mercedes of old (1986 and prior) were snapped up by owners who traded war stories en route to their 500k km/312,000 mile medallions.  It looks like Mercedes'' quality decline is impacting both its own cars and the parts it supplies for the previous gen XJ series. Either way, to hear that the failure-prone air suspension parts cost $1000 a pop and are not covered in Select Edition, and to learn that the new ZF 6-speed is "sealed for life" (meaning I can expect reliable operation at 200k on original fluid?) are indications that this car isn''t one for the long run, and isn''t one for owners accustomed to infrequent, inexpensive maintenance.   Thanks for your inputs. Geoff (in reply to millergd) Post #: 6

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/10/2008 12:21:05 AM    Jag4.0   Posts: 7 Joined: 7/1/2008 Status: offline Geoff- I''m going to add a slightly different "take" on your question.  First of all, I''d like to point out that ANY current LWB "luxury" car (Jag XJ, Benz E or S class, BMW 5 or 7, Audi A8 and even Lexus LS) is a completely different animal from a mid-80''s Mercedes.  All of these cars have electrics, toys and systems unheard-of in the mid-80''s and ALL will be a lot $ more to maintain.  It''s no secret that even the "vaunted" Mercedes reliablility reputation isn''t what it used to be given their cars (as do all cars at this "level") have so many "systems" or "toys".  I also have a few friends who own newer Lexuses (Lexi?), and they are definitely reliable, but, man o'' man, do their dealers absolutely stick it to ''em for even the most routine of services!  Lexus service makes Mercedes service almost seem "reasonable"!  I guess what I''m trying to say is that I''m not sure it''s reasonable to expect a modern $60+K luxury car, no matter who made it, to be as cheap to get to 300K miles as a mid-80''s Mercedes.  If running costs to 300K are really an overriding concern, I''d suggest they look at an Avalon, TL or something with not quite so many "toys".  That said, if they really want a Jag XJ (as I''m guessing is the case with most of us), then resolve that life is short and get the Jag, but be realistic about what a $ophi$ticated car it is. Good Luck! Greg 04 XJ 4.2 (in reply to millergd) Post #: 7

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/10/2008 5:11:20 AM    mosesbotbol Posts: 56 Joined: 5/20/2008 Status: offline My friend''s A8 Tranmission dies at 90K and spent like 4K or some absurd amount to fix.  Two months after that repair, the engine blew up...  He maintained that car like an F1 team...  I doubt any of these top end cars can manage much beyong 100K.  You want high mileage numbers from a car; buy a Crown Victoria or F150...  My family has owned two 80''s MB''s; 300D and 500SEC.  Even though they last a while, they spent their fair share at the mechanic''s shop too. _____________________________ 2004 XJ8 Vanden Plas F1 | Cycling | Welsh Corgi | Port Wine (in reply to Jag4.0) Post #: 8

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/10/2008 5:17:13 AM    wdonovan   Posts: 40 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: Bayville, NJ usa Status: offline   What he said!  Love the gremlins available on this board.   I''''ll stop. < Message edited by wdonovan -- 7/10/2008 5:18:46 AM > (in reply to Jag4.0) Post #: 9

RE: XJ8 a car that can be driven into the ground? - 7/10/2008 6:46:26 AM    oldmots   Posts: 147 Joined: 6/30/2008 Status: online Having done a little research, I have found that Castrol MultiVehicle ATF and Motorcraft Mercon SP both  claim to replace Shell M1375.4, the Jag specified fluid for the car. At $4 or so per quart, this is reasonable. I also found a ZF website that categorically states that the ATF is good for up to 62,000 miles. It needs to be flushed then. This makes sense to me, as the fluid is very high quality full synthetic. The next question is are we going to trust Castrol and Motorcraft? How can they sell a fluid for $4 that is going for anywhere from $36-$100 everywhere else. Will they buy a new tranny if the fluid damages it, and how would we prove that anyway? _____________________________ 96 XJ6 4.0, 05 XJ8 4.2 (in reply to veffremov) Post #: 10

Today's Posts
Most Active Topics
Make A Donation
Forum Rules & FAQ
RSS Feeds

Jaguar Prices

Top 10 Posters
jimc64 6543 aquill1 5245 bigdreams05 3773 factoryjagua 2972 racerx82 2896 cadillac 2596 dennis 2295 ken@britishp 1763 jag_genius 1735 h20boy 1292