Too good to be true?
 

Hi all, I am new to this forum and have been doing my research in finding an x type to purchase. First, I would like to say that this forum is great and has already answered many of my questions. But I have two questions which still remain unanswered. I have been debating whether or not to buy a 04 and up model because I have heard the awd system is lacking because of the removal of the vc. I live in colorado so a good awd system its a necessity. I have also heard that the 04 and below have many more problems with the awd system. So does the performance of the 04 and below compensate for the extra repairs? Also I am looking to buy a used x type. I have been looking around and found a 2003, 2.5, 5spd, with 80k miles for $5500. Is this jag too good to be true?

Thank you in advance

I have an X Type like you describe. It has the VC and as long as you do the TC oil changes you should be OK. It's been a great car. I live about a 1,000 miles north of you and it's great for winter driving. As far as price...what's the car's condition?

It is just an online ad. Would a tcase oil change show up in a history report? and how often does the tcase oil need to be changed. Here is the link to the ad. Used BLACK 2002 Jaguar X-Type 2.5 for sale in Houston Texas VIN: SAJEB53D12XC72924 at LemonFree.com

The TC case oil change is not endorsed by Jaguar. To them it's a "sealed for life (even though life may be short)" unit. A test drive and a mechanical check should tell if there's any problems. Pictures look good.

Thank you Tony_H. I also thought the pictures looked good. It is just in that cusp of the price range where it could be a great deal or it could have a problem.

So does this mean that it would be more than common to run across an x type with a bad tcase? If so, it seems as if my work just got much harder... Anyone got any insight onto which year would be the best to buy?

You don't have to rule out the later model years, just look for one with DSC. It can be argued either way if it's better to have the VC or DSC. Both systems have merit. I chose to get a newer model with DSC and don't regret it one bit. Just don't buy an X without one or the other. Good luck in your search.

I've only noticed one thing on this car. The passenger side front wheel seems to be different than the others. This is a bit odd since the car doesn't have hubs on it, or at least it shouldn't. Also, the rims and the body style looks very similar to a sport, with the rear spoiler and the lack of chrome. I would definitely go look at this car. Otherwise, it looks very clean.

so in further research and reading all of the reviews of the x type for the respective years, I have decided that the younger models are the way to go because of less maintenance. Although I wanted an older model at first, I decided that most of the kinks were worked out by 2004. When reading the reviews I mainly found many small problems which I could fix myself such as the trunk latch and replacing the fuel tank. But the thing that scares me is many complained of shaking coming from their drivetrain. This was also after a short amount of miles which makes me wonder if buying one with 80k on it is worth it at all. Is the shaking in the drivetrain simple enough as just greasing a bearing or is this something serious such as needing a new tcase?

Thank you for giving me your 2 cents on the car. I really just needed someone to look at it who has owned one of these cars before. My problem is that I live in Colorado and am looking to buy one out of state. Is there any way I can assure that the vehicle is in good shape before driving all the way out to see it? Would a vehicle history report illustrate if it had had its fluids replaced and if it had been well maintained?

From what I gather, the x type is a very solid car, but it just needs to be maintained. Without maintenance, all hell breaks loose. Hopefully I am correct and am not getting pulled into a car which will steal all of my hard earned cash.

Thank you again for all of your help. I realize that many people ask the same questions as I do but I just need to make sure I am not throwing away my funds.

I bought mine in Tenn. and I live in Michigan. I just made sure to check all records on the carfax. However I spent many hours E-mailing the dealership I purchased the car from, and getting to know the people. They really can tell you a lot about the car. If you ask questions and they answer, quickly, and knowledgeably about the car and are happy to talk, that eases ones mind. However, if you talk to them and they are just looking to unload it, chances are there MAY be some problems.

Really just ask as many questions as you can about the car. See how willing they are to divulge info that may not be posted on the carfax, like other work done on the car outside of dealerships that may have been reported.

After Talking with my dealership, I had no qualms purchasing it w.o even seeing the car. HOWEVER, I got very lucky and did my homework.

Hope this helps!!

Best of luck!! Love the cars, they are expensive to keep on the road, but well worth the money.

disguay, when it comes to the X-Types, you will find that some like the older ones, others like the newer ones. But, like with any car that is used, what you get is a lot dependent on the previous owner(s). The best thing that I can tell you is to take whatever car for a drive and see what it handles like. It will be obvious if you have a good car or not.

As for paying $5500 for an X-Type with 80K miles, I would call that average, if not a little high. If you are going through a dealership, then that would be a fair price. But, to stick within your price limits, try looking at private sellers. You may be surprised as to what you can find and for the price.

Now, if you are willing to spend a little more, I would tell you to look at the XJ8. It will cost you a little more (about $2K for a 03 model), but the quality of the car, the niceties of the car, and the associated problems will make it money well spent. Had I known what I know now, I would have saved my pennies and gotten that. But, some want the smaller size of the X-Type.

If you have any more questions, let me know. I will attempt to answer whatever you may have as a question.

It is also missing the headlight washer jet cover on the dirver's side.

It's a nice looking car but for the money I would seriously look into getting a s type alot better car than the x type. Not bashing the x type but it's just not the same car as the s type. Beside s types have that classic retro look :)

Looks like there is something weird with the passenger seat bolsters, like the top of the leather is worn away or somehow discolored.

As for anyway you can assure it's a good deal before driving out the answer is "no". You can minimize that you are wasting your time by asking a lot of questions and making sure they send you the Car Fax. That won't tell you the whole story, but is a good baseline to tell if it was in an accident or had routine maintenance. Ask as many questions as you can ahead of time. As about that wheel issue for sure. I am not positive, but isn't that wheel 16" and the rest 17"? Also ask if anything has been painted on it. Even though an accident might not show up doesn't mean that something didn't happen that the previous owner had taken care of himself. The pictures aren't that clear, but it looks like it has some scratches and such in a few places and isn't "pristine". Once you have enough answers to your questions and have enough of a comfort level, then take the drive. I bought a car 500 miles from where I live and flew down to get it. It wasn't 100% like it was represented, but I was able to work that out. One thing I would say is that if you would drive down and it wasn't what you thought it was, be prepared to walk away even though you spent all that time and money to try and buy it. There is always another if you are patient. My situation worked out and I have had mine for over 2 1/2 years and almost 50K miles and it's been scarily trouble free.

I always hear "jaguars are expensive to fix" but all i can see that goes wrong right now is headlights, fuel system, auto tranny, t case, and rear driveline. If this were my Jeep I wouldn't even think twice about those things going out and me having to replace them. Is there anything else major that needs to be added to the list? Thank you for your willingness to help me through this process.

CJClay87: Thank you for insight into how you made your long distance purchase. It really helps alot.

Achysklic: I didn't think the s types came with awd which is a must for me.

Alfadude: Thanks for looking at it. I will definitely include questions about those items once they get in contact with me.

It is definately a Sport model, has the 18s, it will have a stiffer suspension, one thing to look for are better pics of the seats. The side bolsters are a lot bigger on the sport so you have to drag your ass across them and sometimes you will see wear on them, not so much the base but the sides. the front passenger side wheel is not the right one. I'd worry about that. Don't fret about the T-Case, they are not as suspect as people make them out to be. I'd be wary to buy an X type off the internet just because there are issues. Maybe get a complete carfax or something on it. I think a sport with a manual would be cool, wish mine was a standard until I hit rush hour traffic.

sidewalkman: That was my first criteria when buying a "new" car was that it had to manual. I really don't want another vehicle which is held back by the performance of the transmission. I also heard that the auto trannys will burn out sooner. I am glad that the x case is something i really dont have to worry about. Thats the main thing ive been scared about when looking online so I really haven't been able to expand my horizons at all with what else I should look at in the car. Also, I'm not really scared away by how torn up the driver seat is. As long as I have something to sit on I'm happy. If the interior is destroyed beyond hope, I will look elsewhere but I don't think a few tears will make up my mind.

Hopefully I can get a full carfax out of them. I know that if they don't offer one to me, they are hiding something.

It seems to me as if used jags just sound terrible because nobody complains when theirs works fine. Thats what im finding also on this forum in many of the sections where people post their miles and what has gone wrong. Also I am not really hearing any big bias in MAJOR repairs between the 02 and 04 models. I can fix small stuff and replace hubs (the take a bold out and put it back kinda stuff) so that doesnt really scare me away.

Again, thank you all for your help

Disguay, the tranny isn't truely hard to replace, but like with all cars that have a sideways mounted engine, just getting to the tranny can be a chore. Keep in mind that this car is basically a "Ford". Sure, it has the Jag body and niceties, but most of what you are seeing is all based on a Ford vehicle. As you will find looking around the forums, there are a lot of parts that are Ford that you can use on your car. That will save you money and also will hopefully give you a bit warmer feeling on being able to fix things.

As for the things you mention as being "common" problems, other than the transfer case, all of those can be done in your driveway. Some of the members have replaced their transfer cases themselves, but there is a trick with the half shafts and getting the clips on the half shafts in the proper place without damaging other seals. I don't recall all the details, but it can be done at home.

If you are set on an X-Type, go for it. I do a lot of my own work and haven't found anything that I have needed to replace that I can't do.

Thermo, this is exactly what i wanted to know. You have just illustrated to me exactly what I want to know. Fixing a ford is really not that hard mechanically. Some shtuff may be hard to get to, but it is fairly straight forward when you get there. Also, the Jag components seem to be associated with the body which further pushes me to buy one. Because of this one post by you, I will now put operation badass (find me an x type) in full effect. Thanks :)

first time responder
 

Hey guys, I just joined this site, as I bought my wife a new 02 X-Type 3.0 liter automatic. She drives sparingly so it only has around 33,000 miles in 9 years, but I was wondering what needs to be maintained besides the oil and filter changes. I have always used Mobil 1 and have really never had any troubles with it except once an overheating problem, seems like it was the thermostat from what I remember. Other than that she has loved it, me too. If you don't mind just let me know what I need to keep an eye on.

Alan, I think if you start a new thread you might get better feedback. I am also new, but I just feel like this would probably get your question answered better. From all my research, because your car is an 02 and therefore has a viscous coupling in the transfer case which required a vent on the tcase. Although many members flush their tcases around 60k, I believe that your car is old enough to have accumulated dirt and grime through this vent. I think it would be a good idea to do a transfer case flush just to stay on the safe side.

If another more experienced member feels like this above is not true, simply reply. I just felt that because I asked so many questions, I should try to return the favor :)

Sarcasm disclaimer for the newb: I write like we're best friends, very few punches pulled. Get used to it. :icon_wink:

First, if you're thinking you can beat on an X just because it's a stick, get that thought out of your mind or YOU will be the next person complaining about the weak drive train. Sticks have the same Achilles heal and can cause even more strain on the weak link, the TC.

The X is not a performance car. If you think you'll be able to hang with the beamers etc just because you have a manual, forget it. Just because the X isn't a slouch doesn't mean it's "all that". It's a classy car that can do it all but won't be breaking any records in any category. It's biggest feature over the competition is that you won't see one on every corner and exudes class the others never had.

As for the XJ, S, or any other Jag people try to steer you to, they seem to forget the X is the only AWD. If you don't want AWD, you shouldn't be looking at an X. All Jags are nice but they each have their niche. The X's is AWD, it's ONLY true selling point over any other used Jag. YOU will appreciate the AWD in your neck of the woods. With proper tires, it's VERY sure footed when it's slippery out (VC or DSC models).

Completely agree, people shouldn't hijack your thread. Plenty of room to start his own. I thought you handled that very gentlemanly. Kudos!

Now, for my insight on internet sales. While there are many reasons to shop the internet for cars, that doesn't mean you should actually travel THAT far to buy one. Obviously people do it all the time but that doesn't make it any safer. You want to do as much "shopping" online as you can so you know as much as possible before buying.

The problem is, most cars photograph MUCH better than they actually appear "in person". Once you travel a great distance, most dealers will feel they have a fish on the line because nobody wants to put a lot of effort into something and go home empty handed. That's not to say they're all out to get you, but Alfadude gave you great advice about being in a frame of mind to walk away if something doesn't seem right. And believe me, it's much easier to say than do. You risking time and money traveling. If you don't buy the car, you're already at a loss. So buying it seems that much more tempting.

Then there's always the problem of something wrong as soon as you get home. Most dealers give some kind of 30 day 1000k warranty or will offer to fix something for free. That's not so easy once you're back home. So it's worth your time to hit the dealer up for a discounted aftermarket warranty. He will make a commission on it and can knock a little more off the car while you get more peace of mind. You can also offer to finance it through him and he'll get another commission and knock some more off. Make sure there is no penalty for early re-payment. Make the payments for 3 months and then pay it off if you have the cash. He gets his commission, you got a discount, and your credit rating just went up for taking on a loan.

That being said, knowing what I know, the X is not a car I'd go hunting for too far away from home. You want to drive it first. A local dealer might even let you have it over a weekend. But in the end, the 2 most important things to remember are, do your homework, and don't settle. I think you've got both covered from the sounds of it. Good luck.

c5, your insight into why I am getting a manual seems to be false.... I feel that with a manual transmission I will be able to get higher mpg (true) and will also have better control over the engine over mountain passes. That is what I mean about performance. None of the high acceleration stuff, just making sure I can get over all the passes here in front of the ranger so I don't have to take the scenic route when they close it.

Your honestly has been very helpful. I am trying to look for used cars around areas where I know people who I can go visit so the trip wouldn't be a complete waste of time, and I am also being very specific in my searching now. I realize the example I posted before was a very poor quality jag for the price, but I was new to this reduced price of luxury so I was a little taken aback. Now I know that I am looking for a 5spd, less than 80k, with a vc or dsc, and it must have documented history of maintenance.

I think I am close to getting one of those two steps done. I done nothing but research the xtype in my free time for the past week. I feel like I know it better without even owning one than I know my current DD.

Again, Thanks for your honesty and I appreciate your criticism. If everyone told people what they wanted to hear.... well I wouldn't have a girlfriend for one, but anyways, i greatly appreciate it

disguay, the "53" in the 6th and 7th serial number digits show this example to be a "Sport". The three wheels that belong were also on early Sports and are 17". If you are seriously looking at an 02 or 03 there was also an unofficial transmission replacement program, "customer campaign" it was called, that ended about 2005. But was only specific to the Jatco auto boxes.

The AWD with the VC in the early years TCs is great in nasty weather but any first you do with an early model year is check and change the TC fluid. Nine years and 80K miles and if she has spent any of her life in warm climes and it may be close to dry.

PS if you did get the car you were looking at, I've got that fourth matching wheel (shameless plug for my classified ad) :icon_shrug:in my garage waiting to ship to you!

Good luck in your search. At least you are going about it exactly the right way REsearch first, rather than finding out later

You sound a lot like me when I was searching. When I first saw a Sport model with teh alcantar and Carbon fiber interior and Aruba wheels I knew that is what I wanted. And it had to be a manual. I wasn't in any hurry and dutifully searched all the usual websites until I found mine. Took me about six months and it was about 500 miles away. Was the first time I ever bought a car out of my area and it was scary, but it worked out for me. One thing in my favor was that it was still under the Jaguar warranty, so if anything happend after I bought it I could take it to a local dealer. One advantage of buying so far away is once the deal was finished I had a really good shakedown run to get familiar with the car.

Good luck in your search. Sounds like you are doing it right. And as C5 said: do your homework and don't settle.

Disguay, Thanks for your reply to my question. Having been on this site for exactly a day or two, I had no idea that I would be "hijacking" your thread, there was certainly no negative intent on my part, just don't know the rules yet I guess. Anyway thanks again and if I did something wrong, my apologies. Alan

That clears things up immensely and makes perfect sense. Under those circumstances the manual is ideal. For those who can't or rather not drive a stick I'd suggest adding a trans cooler. In fact, I never heard of anyone adding one to an X.

mohrd: The identification of sport via the vin number really helps. Some ads like the example on this thread do not indicate it as a sport so I really appreciate it. Also if I do end up buying the one listed, I will contact you about the rim. Thanks for the info

Alfadude: I really like the sport model too. I think that for the extra cash, it seems to look a little newer and the wheels probably won't need updating as quickly. I also like the idea of sport suspension because I really don't want to drive another boat (i know the jag isn't, but it's just an expression.)

Alan: No problem. If you need help starting a new thread we can help you out for sure. I just thought that you would probably get better responses from your own thread. Not to mention it would be easier for you to understand it because it would be organized with just your issue and not other answers. Welcome to the forum though!

C5: Im glad you approve of my intentions :icon_wink: