Hi All,

I am thinking about driving down to Kentucky this weekend to look at a car.

The car is shown below. Do you think the price is a bit high? It looks very clean, and well maintained from the carfax.

Used 2005 Jaguar XJ-Series Vanden Plas for Sale in Mt. Sterling KY 40353 Joe Oldfield Used Cars Inc.

Thanks!!

Mike

 

Yes, it's bloated by a couple of thousand. Also, if the suspension hasn't been replaced with new Bilstein modules, it's worth a couple thousand less than that. Tell them if they want to move that iron off their lot and get it off their floorplan, you'ld give 8500 w/3 year service contract, and call when they're ready. Give them a few days, and I'll bet they call saying when do you want to come and get it...

 

What are the benefits to the Bilstein modules? How much does it cost to complete a Jaguar shop?

 

Bilsteins are the original manufacturers of the part. The B4 module is the direct replacement, and the going rate right now for them is about $700 each. Shop time would vary, but about $600 for all around w/alignment is about the going rate.

https://www.partsgeek.com/ss/?i=1&ss...lstein&x=0&y=0

https://www.partsgeek.com/ss/?i=1&ss...069483&x=0&y=0

 

I agree - it seems a few thousand overpriced.
As a data-point, I bought my 2005 VDP a few months ago for $6500. 123k miles, from a private owner who looked after it well, but not really a like comparison.

This one looks good and solid, very low miles, serviced on-time. What's the 'Government use' for the second owner ?

Big thing to look for is the Air suspension, but outside of Check Engine codes and possible sunk ride height overnight, its hard to determine.
Headliners detach too.

 

 

My two cents.
NADA pricing (what dealers use) puts the value at $8900 with that low mileage. Assumes a clean car of course with all OEM equipment. If the owner hacked up the car by putting aftermarket shocks (air or spring), like Box says, knock a couple of grand off. Then of course there is the obligatory pre inspection you should arrange at you expense in advance of you heading down. Have them take it to a Jaguar dealer for the inspection. The Carfax shows some history. I would get all the maintenance history. Deal breaker for me at that price or even @ $8900.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

One thing that you should know is that a dealer is a great place to launder vehicles with expensive safety and service issues. If the vehicle was in really that fantastic shape, then it begs the question as to why the former owner decided to part with it. Of course, you'll never get much information (if at all) on that score from the dealer. You can pretty much assume that the car likely has suspension issues at the very least. Naturally in the description, the dealer rattles off all of the wonderful features that the car has, but no where does he state that everything in that vehicle is actually in good working order, nor does he mention the defects. As is always the case with used cars, it's buyer beware! In any event, I wouldn't offer the dealer any more than $8400 tops for the Jaguar. Of course, as with any used car, you're likely going to spend an additional few thousand on the repairs (tires, exhaust, suspension, hood struts, missing items, front end work, brakes, air conditioning, etc.).