I finally found the Jag I want, 2000 XKR convertible, low miles, and the right price. Of course it is in the states. Tomorrow I will get the report I ordered from one of those inspection companies. Then hopefully I pull the trigger and finally buy one. I think I have all my ducks in a row. Checked boarder crossing, found a dealer near by for the recall report and driving lights. Then just fly down and drive her back should be a pleasant 3 days on the road just enough time for the border to process the title. I feel like a teenager going to buy their first car.

 

congrats man, a nice little road trip to pick up a well priced us car is the way to go.. Should be fun,
what year xkr anyways?
And where in canada you from?

 

it's a 2000 and I'm in New Brunswick, north of Fredericton. Not getting much accomplished at the office today checking my email for the report every 30 seconds.

 

I did the same about six months ago. Brought in a unicorn of an XKR-coupe from MI. Make sure you have the release of lien documentation for the US customs. They gave me a bit of a hard time for not having anything in writing (dealership's fault). Good luck and have a fun trip.

 

I will keep that in mind if I get the inspection report before the dealer sells it to someone else. I think 5 days is a bit much for a report but I just can't close the deal without it.

 

I finally got the report. I am putting my wallet back in my pocket and backing away slowly. The xkr has been in an accident and poorly repaired, misaligned panels, lousy paint. Plus suspension issues and it was bottomed out hard. I suspect it was driven hard and put away wet. I'm back to searching again.

 

Best of luck Fulton.

Money well spent on the report.

The car for you is out there, just a question of having a little patience.

(this reminds me, I need to petition JimC64 about something)

 

Cars 2,3.and 4 have been inspected and rejected. The worst was from a kia dealer in Branford CT. They kept insisting the car was "pristine" however it scored 56 out of 100 on the report. The worst offense was the brakes didn't even work! I spent 15 minutes on the phone as the service manager explained how to work the E-Brake. Um, I figured that out the first Jag i drove 2 years ago. Other issues were poor accident repair on all four corners and the passenger side door. It was in a "minor fender bender" most likely with a speeding transport. Their website shows a perfect wheel, just the one as the other three are badly scared. I could go on but why bother. My recommendation to all is to have any car you are interested in inspected by a third party. I think I have given up on getting a nice XK8, all of the dealers I have responded to are dishonest and I have wasted $2000 in the search not only paying for inspections but traveling to the states to look at them myself. if you see a guy with a tear in his eye as you drive past it's probably me.

 

sorry to hear that friend; maybe time to look around for the, albeit, more expensive local XK's?

 

Unfortunately there aren't any XKs available at any price locally. I was just lamenting about the dishonestly of used car dealers. Using terms like pristine and spotless to describe a vehicle that is in poor cosmetic or mechanical condition. Wasting countless hours and money either traveling to see them or paying a service to inspect them. The nearest Jaguars advertised in Canada are in Toronto which is 12-13 hours away by car and flights are cheaper to New York or Boston. And Canadian Jaguars are often at twice the Blue Book value and show salt damage from winter driving. The last dealer I dealt with was so convincing that I booked time off, arraigned hotels and flights only to receive a inspection report with pictures that revealed the photos from the dealer were Photoshopped and the vehicle was not only in poor condition it was unsafe. I'm not looking for perfect just nice and without any major mechanical flaws.

 

And Fire! I am now the proud owner of a 1998 Sapphire Blue XK8 with 50K on the odometer. Picking her up tomorrow with a 15 hr drive home. Found her at a Jaguar dealer in Maryland, wow they couldn't have been more helpful. Even doing a full maintenance at no extra cost and repairing a small tear in the drivers seat. Now I'm living the dream!

 

4 days on the road and the Jaguar is home. My face hurts from smiling. High light of the trip was blasting down the New Jersey turnpike on Sunday in the pouring rain when I got passed by at least 40 Lamborghini's doing 90+ mph. I kept up for a while until my wife gently mentioned that the headline would be: "Grandfather killed in fiery crash trying to out run his fleeting youth!"
Not an issue bringing her into Canada. If anyone needs help importing a Jag let me know. It's not that hard and a lot of fun. Attached is a picture on the coast of Maine.

 

Looking good Fulton, they could use some sun in Maine though!

 

Good luck with the car - and don't forget to check those secondary tensioners.

 

Checking over 11 years of service records no mention of secondary tensioners. I will order them this week. The engine is stone quiet but I'm dying to break in the new spanners. And my garage is far enough from the house no one can hear me swear.

 

Jeff,
Remember not to exceed 2500 rpm with those spanners until they've done 500 nuts.
Do Canadians say 'spanner' or are you an escapee from the Old Country?
Origin of the term FWIW is the key used to wind up (span) a crossbow.

 

So in modern parlance we should call them nutters?

 

I'm here in loyalist country, a large portion of the population left the US after the revolutionary war and still hang on to proper English. I figured as long as I am under the bonnet I should use the spanners I store in the boot. I think the Queen would want it that way.

 

Nice one!
I've met HM a few times, I'll mention that her Dominion is knuckling down correctly.
I'm sure One will be Royally Chuffed.

 

XK8 looks superb and good to hear you had no problems on the journey home.

Graham