I'm looking at getting a 1999 XJ8 but I'm torn

It's 158k miles, seller says it runs great, leather seats, etc

I'm worried that at that mileage it's not going to much longer and will be in for repairs frequently.

I've been reading about the plastic sec timing chain tensioners, closed trans, and the like issues with these models and I don't know when or if this car will croak or have similar issues if I decide to get it. I don't care if the cup holders crumble

The exterior is nice and it's just $2600.

I'd be willing to put in $600-$1k a year for potential repairs and maintenance, but as far as I know there's nothing wrong with it yet. I don't want to get this car if half the time I see it, it'll be in a shop

My two friends are telling me to ditch the deal saying it's not worth it in the long run and they are probably right. It's hard for me to decide cause it's either this car and pricy maintenance, or possibly more money to buy some shitty civic or accord but saving money on maintenance. What do I do?

158K miles is quite a lot but at that price it seems irresistible. I'll be going down to take a look at it in two weeks and I'm looking for any thoughts or info that'll help me make the right decision

Has anyone had experience with 1999 XJ8 they can share

 

Have you driven it? Take someone that knows Jaguars with you. At least take someone that knows something about cars. I am one that just took the plunge. Three weeks ago I purchased a 2000 XJ8 with 140000 for $3200.00. Sometimes you just need to do it. Maybe your friends are slightly jealous. Check the main things, oil level/cleaniness look for leaks under the car. Drive it with the radio off. Listen for sounds. From the research I did most of these cars have the timing issues around 70,000. If your willing to spend $600-1000 for repairs a year that will go a long way towards general maint. If the engine or trans blows you almost sell a good body and interior for $2600.00. If it was me(and it was 3 weeks ago) I'd go for it. I did. Check out my XJ...

 

I think 600-1K is a good plan for 'normal' yearly maintenance, but it could very well be the case that if you buy this car you could put in 2-3K just bringing it up to date (i.e. new tensioners, water pump & related items, and a transmission drain) if those things haven't already been done and you can't do the work yourself. A good repair history would really be helpful. Of course, you could fix none of those things and just take your chances… When it blows, you'd only be out $2600 and just buy another car.

The general rule of thumb usually is: buy the best Jaguar for the money, remember that there is NO such things as a cheap one.

If it were me, and I didn't know the car's maintenance history, I'd pass on this one.

Cheers,
Scott

 

Thanks everyone. Got my answer, I will let this one be.

158k is just too much for a model of this year

 

So you were unable to get a carfax? Mine showed it was serviced at a Jaguar/Land Rover dealer. Including all oil changes.

Sometimes there are deals. Mine a one owner who traded it in for a new Lexus. Complete service record on CARFAX. Since he traded it in only 200 miles put on in last 3 months. I've already put 600 on and I was out of town for one of the three weeks I've owned it. It really depends on the reason and circumstance the car was being sold/traded in. Way to broad a statement
remember that there is NO such things as a cheap one. Sometimes it's just the luck of being in the right place at the right time.. There are no guarantees that a lower mileage car that cost $6000 won't blow up on the way home....

 

The cost difference between great and average cars is so small -- why buy one at the end of its life.

Anything you spend on a car w/150k on it is lost ... and the chances of spending on a car like that is much much higher than one with 60k .. they are rarely sorted.

You are quickly at 5k .. and it still has 150k.

I look for the 55k cars ... and have bought them to about 75k .... after that it really has to be a one owner.

 

Anything you spend on a car w/150k on it is lost ... and the chances of spending on a car like that is much much higher than one with 60k .. they are rarely sorted.

I have to disagree. That is a pretty broad statement. I've had 3 cars and all got over 263000 with no issues. I still have two of them. One with 300979(yes takes correct) and the other 276000. All drive fine with little to no major issues. Maybe cars of old were built to only last 100000 or so miles. Really all depends on how they're kept up. Gone are the days of disposable cars. Just my .02...

 

Everybody has a different comfort level .. years ago 100k was the cutoff point. And for many that still is. For me ... I have no problem driving a car I have owned since new or nearly new out to 150k. I have also been doing that with many of my second cars at various location -- Business / Vacation homes ... if they are driven enough and I keep them long enough. As a car starts to fall into the 150k area I begin to restrict where it goes .. how far away.

Cars have a natural maintenance cycle and value points. AT 100k a lot of used car buyers are not interested ..........at 150k almost no one is interested. Those two mile markers are important in value. My experience is that cars do indeed start to have maintenance needs in the 100k area ... and at 150 and above all kinds of items start to fail. So it is not so much that you can't keep them going, because you can .. but at what cost and what value are you receiving.

People are much less willing to do proper maintenance on a car approaching 150k ... so my point was that buying cars at that mile point normally requires performing more maintenance at first ownership. Plus, it almost does not matter what you do to the car -- at 150k .. the car is a 150k car and will be worth very little more. You are not going to get 6k for it.

One of my Lexus sedans had a transmission go at just over 200k a few years ago Had owned the car (2001) since new ... it needed nothing .. and was in unbelievable condition - including the interior. But do I spend upwards of 2k on a car that may be worth 4k .. at best? In this case I did because I could not replace that car -- knowing the history and condition for 4k. But the car was not worth any more money with the new transmission vs the car before it failed.

One can still find almost prefect garaged Jaguars in the sub 80k area .. for crazy low money -- they make the best used ones.