Hi folks,

I am not a Jag owner yet (I do have an 80 MGB LE). Due to my wife's medical problems I am thinking of buying a 2006 Jag XJ8, short wheelbase model with 56k miles. Car appears to be in excellent condition and well maintained. It is spotless. The extended warranty coverage is about to expire. Car grew up in Florida and moved to Nova Scotia last spring and has not been on the road in our winter salt.

Are there any bits and pieces that have been a problem on these cars that I should worry about? It will be used as my summer touring vehicle and will be unheated garage parked for 4 or 5 months each winter.

Somewhere I read that one should be concerned about a corroded cross member.

Any help that you provide me will be much appreciated - the asking price is around C$23k.

Thank you,

BN

 

I don't think you should be too concerned with corrosion on the under carriage/ cross member - that is not a general problem - I think I have heard about ones (I believe that car had flood damage). You can read a lot about the typical problems here on this forum - Throttle Body, Air suspension and various smaller issues. Given the price of the car and that it can be pricy to repair get a full warranty for at least 3month/3k miles - one that covers until you know the car (It always take a little to find the bugs - and it sucks to pay for other peoples lack of maintenance)
Martin

 

The main short-life parts, (part from tyres and brake discs and pads), are: - air suspension compressor - not all that expensive, and may already have been replaced on your proposed car.
- rear lower wishbone bushes - expensive at a main agent, but less than half price from internet suppliers. The bushes can be bought separately now, but you then have to find a place with the correct kit installed to swap them out.
- all spring unit lower bushes (4 in total) front and rear are different, but quite cheap to buy. Labour to replace will be more than the part cost.

There can sometimes be annoying transmission faults, usually cured by a TCM reflash. SInce 2003, there have been several mods to the software. It depends on the year the car was made, later ones have the mods already done.