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Good morning from LA! My question to the group is tried and true. I was considering a beautiful 2008 VDP in Radiance/ Champagne Interior. The body, paint is flawless also Sabre wheels, leaper, etc. The issue is interior. Headliner sagging, no floor mats, seats are less than clean. Also the price,He wants 12985 “no haggle”. My CU says 10155. I was initially going to buy, but backed off when I could go to auction and get a perfect car for more money but not any projects. I want a doable project especially one that could personalize the car to me. I just want some expert advice that will give me insight on this decision.
here are some choice pics. Thanks for your insight on my quest to “move like Jagger”. 😂
Body is clean👍🏾 Weakest point cause of concern with headliner. There’s some definite wear on steering wheel also non heated and no wood. Back seats with screens is a must! Engine runs well should inspect? 10 way power Coming at ya!
in today's market, the price may be close to fair. Ask the dealer to throw in a warranty to make the deal. Those issues are minor to resolve and remember you are considering a 14 year old vehicle. If you wish for a perfect car then bring a trailer or cars and bids is the way to go, but be prepared to pay for the condition.
112k miles in todays market is about right for an 08 if it were not for the headliner issue. Seats and steering wheel can be cleaned, repaired and dyed if need be. I wouldn't put emphasis on screens so much. I have them in my Mercedes and think they've been used twice. Ipads and phones are always the choice.
Don't judge a car by its outer cover or interior...
Get an expert to check out the engine,transmission and air suspension. If those are fine then the rest of the stuff is "cosmetic" and can be dealt with quite easily. If your not mechanically minded then the most important advice is to find an independent mechanic in your area who knows these cars.
I am in the middle of restoring a 2005 x350 and its a lot of fun.
About the price it seems reasonable and the prices are only going up as there are less of these beauties around.
Driving experience is wonderful.
Good luck
The steering wheel can easily be swapped for a wooden one. I don't see any value in the headrest monitors (though I used to install them)--I agree with the others, that these are a thing of the past and not relevant anymore and are likely to be a source of problems down the road, but, of course, if you fancy them then you should get them.
A sagging headliner can be as innocent as heat causing the adhesive or backing to breakdown,. However, it may be a more concerning symptom of neglected sunroof drains which can cause a whole host of electrical woes. For me, I would look for any other signs of water ingress, such as stains in the a- or c-pillar panels and make sure all electronics seem to be working exactly as they should. Any weird electrical issues would give me pause, if I did not feel comfortable with diagnosing electronics. If the seller let me, I would pull up the door sill panels and have a look at the sound deadening under the carpet. Those usually will reveal the truth about any past water ingress events.
Even though this other car is a 2006 (I happen to prefer the non-facelifted version), it has stayed in one family (almost making it a single owner) and has very low mileage, and the price is in the neighborhood. I would consider this car especially if they have all of the maintenance records
Always buy as perfect as you can find. A car like you looked at has not been maintained well. Why has the owner not repaired it along the way? What other things need repair that you can't see. Take a pass. I bought my 2008 XJ8 last month in Florida with only 76,000 miles. Only needs upper control arms. Rest of car looks and drives perfect. Had new battery, water pump, perfect interior. I paid $10,000 USD. Figure any car you buy you're going to spend $1000 in the first 12 months. Lots of these are listed by dealers and private individuals at $12,000 - $20,000 and you will find them still for sale months later. If you are not mechanically inclined or savvy about these cars, have it inspected by a local Jaguar dealer or independent who knows these cars.
John
Last edited by John in Tennessee; Apr 26, 2022 at 05:08 PM.
Reason: add info.
Why didn't the previous owner replace the headliner bc it is purely cosmetic and can be done at any time. If it doesn't affect drivablity then who cares. My 2008 is as perfect as it can be mechanically and cosmetically except for a saging headliner near the rear lights. I would look for service records and expensive maintenance items being performed like transmission service, all new fluids (coolant, power steering, brakes, etc) and plugs.
Cosmetic stuff can be fixed but hidden or neglected mechanical stuff is what should concern you.
And btw, used car prices are thru the roof. 12 yr old accords with 120k are going for 10k. This price is more than fair
Buying perfect or mild project?
