Hey all,

So up until recently I had XF 5.0 NA which I sadly lost due to an accident caused by aquaplanning and have been looking at getting another Jag, I've stumbled across an 08 XF SV8 4.2 SC and was wondering if it's worth it?

Is that motor known to have many issues? Is there anyway to increase power from the suoercharger? Do. You think it would be worth getting? I know they aren't very common and when I try to search for info on them, I mostly get info regarding the XFR.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

You won't see much on the 4.2 V8 on here as it was only around the XF for a year. But good engine, seen as pretty reliable. Doesn't have the timing chain issues that the 5.0 has as far as I know. A bit less power but not a big deal

Note that the rear diff on some of the 2008/09 cars starts leaking and is an expensive replace.

 

Lots more info on the XF 4.2 SC (known as the SV8 in Oz and Blighty) over on the Pommy forum here: https://www.jaginfo.org//
From all reports it has fewer problems than the early 5.0 as the one in the SV8 was the final version before it was replaced by the 5.0.
Yes, it's relatively easy to increase the power/torque with either a larger crank pulley + tune or a smaller SC/snout pulley + tune although I'm not sure too many places sell these things any more.
All that said you would probably be better off with an XFR especially a later ("facelift") from 2012 to 2015 although that would cost a fair bit more than a 2008 SV8.

 

They seem to be a bit tricky trying find info on. I have found based on what I could find that the motors are built pretty solid.

Ah okay, I didn't know that about the rear diff but that's very handy to know so thank you!

 

I'll have to check out that link, thank you. I had the 2011 MY12 pre face-lift 5.0 NA XF and it ran like a dream.
I think Mina Gallery makes the pulleys for the supercharger, and paramount performance. Although I'm not sure about shipping to Aus.

I was looking at a couple of XFR's but they're a little out of my budget, any pre facelift XFR I've found usually has around 105, 000km

 

The extra power you just don't need, the SV8 is plenty animal enough if let off the leash. The gains from any pulley tinkering are negated simply trying to get the power down on the road. I've run an SV8 for many years now and I've thought about replacing it countless times but have never succeeded in finding a car that even gets close - at least not one that I can justify buying - and I have had plenty of performance machinery with the unreliability and costs associated with. The XF SV8 is quiet and refined, heated and cooled seats in relative silence if you so desire, until you choose that it isn't - put it into track mode and it is an absolute animal, a lot quicker and more stable than many of the performance car snobs would have you believe. Then there's the trim, but if you've had an X250 with the higher spec seats etc you know how good this is, my only gripe is pedal position if I choose not to use the adaptive cruise control - leg gets tired and never really found a position where they don't.

The SV8 if you can find it tends to be well specified because they were 'end of the line' and were pushed by Ford to get something out while they finished polishing the XFR plans, the only option mine does not have is the heated steering wheel. To date the most expensive invoice on my car is four tyres, put on decent rubber and you won't get much change from £1000 if any.

The downside for me is that corrosion has become an issue, I've done some research and the corrosion I have (inside the doors that has penetrated to the face of the door) is not unknown - you won't be able to see it without tearing the car apart unless it is established - then there will be tell tale blisters on the face of the paint.

The facelift stuff is a matter of taste I think but they're not for me, Jaguar joined the race to the bottom and tried to turn the XF into a company hack - all plastic and cheap - I wouldn't have a new Jaguar gift wrapped, the SV8 and early pre facelift XFR marked the end of my 'modern' Jaguar aspirations.

Perhaps I'm past all the testosterone fueled days where faster was better - there isn't a new car on the market that I'd waste the money on, abiout the only thing I'd replace the SV8 with is a much older Jaguar or an Aston Martin DB9. If I do sell the SV8 I doubt I will replace it to be honest.

 

Hi Remnant1, I can let you know my experience with the very model you are looking at, having owned mine for just over 2 years.
I remember drooling over these in a Jaguar showroom (ULR in Malvern) when they were brand new and about 10 times any price I could have spent on a new car. my theory is that the buyer back then was very wealthy and could afford to drop $100k off the value of a new toy the day he drove it home. The second owner, well-heeled enough but not quite so rich as the first buyer, has bought a quite expensive used car and enjoyed it for a few years until it has started to need some coin spent on it. This is where you and I come in, I'm assuming you will be looking at around AU$20-27k, whereas an XFR will be asking three times that much, way out of my used-car budget too.

You will need to be prepared to spend some time and money on what the car will need over the next few years. If you are not equipped and capable to do much of it yourself, you will be spending some serious money on this car. Had I not been able to do major work myself, I probably would have spent close to the purchase price of the car in maintenance over the past 2 years. Nevertheless, every time I finish fixing something and get back in and drive the thing, all is forgiven.

I have not had any hint of trouble from the engine internals (one thing that encouraged me when I was looking to buy, was the fact that the engine had been around several years in previous models). To replace coolant hoses the supercharger has to come off. To achieve this in the RHD variant the engine has to come out. I did this in my home workshop in a few days.

As for performance modifications, despite the recurring theme on this forum, you will never be able to utilise the performance this car offers in standard form unless you are racing it on the track. 1/4 mile times are a recurring theme on here but this car was never built for that and if that is your goal you'd be better off with something else. In good hands the SV8 in standard trim, perhaps with the addition of LSD, would be competitive in a road-based event like Targa Tas.

There appeared to be a few good examples on the Aus market a couple of months ago when I last looked.

I should add, I have a 130km daily round commute and have added 60,000km to this car since purchase.