Howdy to everyone from the Arizona desert.
For 40 years (I'm 43) I've been intrigued by the shape and lines of Jaguars.
A lady in the small Kansas town I grew up in had an old XKE.
First car I ever saw with a V-12, and I'll remember that sound forever.

Fast forward to the eighties and nineties in Texas, and I started seeing lotsa Jags with Chevy small blocks in them - even at the drag strip.
Hmmmmm.....
A gentleman's hot rod, eh?
Well, I was too busy racing BIG block Chevrolets to really pay much attention.

A retired old man who hung around the airport where I used to fly had a XJS convertible, I rode with him a couple times and found out what smoooooth power is all about.
Might as well been an electric motor under that hood....

Met my wife 5 years ago, she had never had any kind of decent car.
She would buy the cheapest used imported piece of **** she could find and drive it until it died.
Let the salvage yard come get it, and go buy another....

Well, after marrying her and getting rid of her last P.O.S. Isuzu, I gave her my Chevy truck and kept it maintained like ALL my vehicles have been.

She now realizes that everything in a vehicle can actually work...
:-)


Driving around one day, she pointed out an XJ8 and and remarked how nice it was.
I replied that I've always liked Jags myself, but I've never been around them much.
(I'm a truck/muscle car guy.)


Fast forward a few years, the wife hit 40, and decided she wants to have a cool car for once in her life.
Mustang GT was what she wanted, so we started shopping.
Then she got sticker shock - she doesn't want a car payment.
(Heavy sigh....)


Then she saw a Jaguar the other day - in black. Decision has been made. I HATE black.

I made the mistake of showing her how reasonably priced used ones are - with the caution about the reputation for $$$$$$ maintenance.

No matter, it's a done deal. She wants a black XJ8, I'm leaning XJ8L. Gotta have rear seat leg room.

So, I'm thinking 1998-2003 models.
I don't want electronic supension, and I don't need every gee-whiz gadget on the car. I am indeed concerned about buying a money pit, and I wonder what I should watch for in used Jags.

I'll be lurking around here as I have time, and gathering all the available wisdom from you long-time Jaguar enthusiasts.
Expect naive, stupid questions aplenty, and remember I'm not a wealthy Ivy League-educated Fat Cat.

I'm the guy who will pay $5,000 for a guitar but not 50 cents to put cheese on a hamburger.
I have my own ideas about the value/money thing...
:-)

Dee

 

Welcome to the forums, if I were you I would go for 1995-97 X300s

 

I got a 2006 xj8 last nov for 22k. deals are out there. someone posted that if you don't have to have nav you can save a bundle.
anyway I love this car.
Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll get lotsa good advice here.
Chad

 

Howdy Dee

Welcome to the forum!

 

Hey Neo, welcome to the forum, great intro by the way

Why not post up in the relevant section and ask advice from all the owners currently who have these cars....I'm sure they'll be glad to offer advice.
Ask as many questions as you like and I'm sure most of em will get answered. If you have any probs there are some fantastic techs around too.
All the best

 

Thanks for the welcome guys!



Why is this?
One reason I was leaning X308 was to get the Ford-designed (?) V8.

The inline six doesn't thrill me in the least, though it's likely easier to work on.
I see they did a supercharged version, so maybe that would have adequate oomph...

The V12 is certainly tempting, but I worried about service/reliability/durability on them.
Is this unfounded?
I know the old ones were quite trying to keep running, but hey, I would LOVE to have the newer 6.0 V12 under the hood!

Are they aluminum with sleeves?
Sealing or head gasketing issues with them?
Valve train troubles?

If the V12 proved to be as trouble free as the newer V8, I would certainly consider it.

I'll gladly accept any advice.

:-)