I am looking into getting my first Jaguar, and I have my eye on a 2011 Jaguar XF (finally found one in botanical green!) but it has 106,000 miles. It's a very good price (15k) but I am very unsure about reliability. How well do the XF models stack up in terms of being reliable? I really don't want to end up buying a lemon.

 

Service history counts no matter whether you're buying a Jaguar or another brand. If it looks like someone took care of the regular maintenance then you're less likely to run into overdue issues. That said, bear in mind that just because you're paying "a good price" for it, you're not looking at the service habits of a $15K vehicle. I got a "good price" for my XFR but the original sticker price was $85K and you have to be prepared for those level of service and parts costs. If you're not, or don't have a good warranty, then walk away now...

 

i would think it hard to qualify as a lemon if its made it over 100k miles...you are getting in at a time...any and all cars are going to start requiring work , and replacement parts...

 

>you are getting in at a time...any and all cars are going to start requiring work

The big question that you should answer is whether there is a good independent Jag-knowledgeable shop near you.

If not, and you're not a master-level wrench-turner, then look elsewhere.
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '08 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition" (250.06 whp / 259.67 torque)
Past Ours: '05 X-Type 3.0/auto Jaguar Racing Green

 

I don't think the XF range is inherently any less reliable than the other upscale brands like BMW, Audi or Mercedes. But they have big sticker prices on parts too...

My point was that people jump into a "cheap" Jaguar and don't do their running costs due diligence and it can all end in tears when you get a $2K shop invoice...

 

EXACTLY!
It's not a simple car..

 

What should one look for in service records? Just regular maintenance or something else? "Component X goes between 90k and 120k, so look for that", anything of that nature?

 

European cars have a lot of plastic in the cooling system, and it's a failure point on these cars. The plastic parts need to be changed on an interval even though it's not in the manual, or you could lose the engine. These types of failures seem to coincidentally happen as soon as you buy a used car.

 

Hi, I bought my XF 2009MY over 18 months ago with 179,000 miles on the clock, it has been great with no issues other than having to replace the diff (common fault) with a good used one at a cost of £250.
My XF had a full Jaguar Main Dealer/Specialist service history and that is it's saving grace, if it has been looked after well, it will look after you well, don't let that mileage put you off, my XF has now completed 192,000 miles and purring like a kitten!

 

192k miles - that's impressive. What engine have you got? Great to hear that they are getting on well even in high mileage!

 

Hi, it's a 2.7 Diesel, a lot of people shy-away from high mileage cars, but as I said if they are looked after they should last a long time, I recently sold my X300 3.2 Sovereign (1995) ad that had 286,000 miles on the clock and never had the head off, I sold it to a chap in Hungry and he flew to Luton Airport and then drove it back to Hungry with no issues.

 

My XF got a mileage of approx. 262,500miles with no trobles with power train. Only first 10 months had me experience a hell due to an unknown issue with suspectedly engine or exhaust part.

With my experience, XF deserves to get durable and reliable evaluation. With 5 and a half years of driving the car, it had no leakages from oil reservoir or connected seals or gaskets. It is just as clean as a new one.

Engine oil changed every 13K miles, transmission fluid each 100K miles, and differential oil, just crystal clear at 110K miles check after one change at 70K.

The facelift XF diesel is just reliable as I would say.

 

I moved on when I hit 100K on a 2010 V8 - only becuase that was an excuse to get a cool XFR But for the car was solid - they only thing I noticed is the engine oil required a top up every no and then.

 

I just bought an XF with 28,000 miles on the basis that my 17 year old XJ8 has been pretty solid. Key tho to its solid performance I think has been this very forum and that I've pre-emptively done service and replacements that have been recommended after reading about others experiences. Already ordered the newest version of the 5.0L water pump and some plastic pipes and hoses.

 

Service records and check 'em good for the same issues that haven't been resolved. Price seems a bit high honestly. We got a CPO 13 XF 3.0awd in December for $25k with about 40k on the odo, out the door with brand new tires to boot! I realize you are stuck on a color but as with any high dollar car buy the best you can afford, don't harp on a certain color or package unless it is a deal breaker for you and you wouldn't enjoy the car if it wasn't exactly what you wanted. Good luck, can't speak long term about the XF but our XJ and XK as well as a previous X Type have been as reliable as a rock. Key is to do the maint. they require when it is called for and sometimes before (like with the tranny).