If brakes and tires are the only issues, $19K is a more than fair price. Assuming you can get it at $19K and the cosmetics are right, I would jump on/in it.

 

Thanks @tarheal

I'm just worried mainly about the headlight being out. I suppose I could take a voltmeter and see if the ballast is sending voltage to the bulb, but then I guess I still won't know if the ballast is bad or something else if it doesn't get anything.

 

I own a '99 XJ8 with 76K miles. I have had a few things go wrong, but with the help of the good people here I have been able to fix everything myself. I never believed that I would own a car like this one. I don't regret making the purchase. I do believe that I would like to move up to a newer model, say '04 or later.

There are a lot of good things about owning an XJ8. First and foremost, it is a very comfortable, nice riding car. They depreciate heavily, which is a pain if you're buying new but a real boon of you're buying used. There are a lot of bargains to be had. If you buy a fairly new one, especially from the original owner, you can be reasonably sure that they have been well cared for. People generally don't buy cars like this and abuse them.

The main issue with mine right now - besides the fact that I haven't addressed the timing chain tensioner issue due to the cost - is that the paint on all the horizontal surfaces is shot. This car has spent its entire life in the desert southwest (bought new in the Phoenix area, now in Las Vegas) and the intense sun has taken its toll on the paint. I believe that I would have to do a repaint to even sell it.

 

youd be surprised what compound can hide for a few weeks....

 

So this 04 didn't sell at his price, oferred 15.8k and he let me walk, some recession. I missed another 04 in similar shape at a CT dealer for low 15s so I'm in right range and this guy was fishing.

Still fishing myself...

 

I dont think you can find a good example of an XJ for less than that. Mine has 76,000 miles and I am the second owner of it. I would definately not sell it for that much.
Theres a lot of reasons why not, mine for instance hasnt thrown any errors codes since I purchased it (1 year ago). Is mint inside, I changed ALL the fluids, 1 owner driven out of the city before me, manuals and Jaguar warranty for 1 more year.

You can however find one picked up at auction,where the dealer just clears all codes, and sell it with no warranty. Those requires thousands of dollars worth or maintaince replacing fluids (which are expensive), and labor to get the job done. Various parts that will eventually needs replacing. well you get the idea.

You can pick up a beautifull example of the previous generation XJ for cheaper then the 04+, and youll be just as happy.