I found a cherry 2003 base unit at a local store. Paid too much ($8000), but like new with 61K miles, perfect paint and interior, four new Pilots, new battery, new fuel pump and filter. Throttle replaced two years ago (~$3500 at local dealer). Runs perfect; no codes, P1111). Moonroof, CD player, AC, and upper brake light work!! Will need usual front end refresh: Bilsteins, upper mounts, sway bar bushes, and links. Brakes two years old: will need to pull the tires . . . Local dentist owned it the last seventeen years; only serviced at the dealer and garaged after a couple years as a lease in NJ.

Now to unload this Lincoln lease . .

 

Obviously I dunno 'bout US prices, but here in 'Stralia (Australia) the US$8000 paid would be spot on - maybe even a bit on the bargain side. Low mileage and well serviced...
Might be time swap all the fluids, too: ATF & filter, brake, pwr. steering, oil & filter, coolant, rear axle - and check the state of the timing chain tensioners, guides, chains...

 

Nice to see you back, and scored a good one to boot! Well found Jim!

 

8K isn't that bad in todays' economy. Especially so if you got what you wanted.

 

Setting up to have my local indy work on the suspension: cleaned the throttle plate and bore and MAF yesterday, added some SeaFoam. LTFT sitting at 3.1 both sides and stable. Tightened up the throttle cable. All else like new.

Only issue is the lack of extra keys: apparently the tibbe key is no longer available from Jaguar. Will check with some local locksmiths to see what they can do. I am finding some keys on Amazon that supposedly can be cut and programmed . . . we'll see (I think my key is an 8 cut).

 

Sounds like you got a good one.

Jim: I’m curious about the build date, but that may be due to a lack of understanding of Jag VINs on my part. I have F58507, an ‘03 VDP that, best I could tell, is 1018 or so units from the last X308 made. I have a build date of 7/2002. Your VIN suggests the build date on your ‘03 was a good bit before my vehicle. What does yours show as a build date? Did base units and VDPs and other variations use different VIN numbering systems? That might explain my bewilderment. Either that or Brown’s Lane changed over to ‘03 production earlier than I thought would be normal for a manufacturer.

To quote Vinny Barbarino: I’m soooo confused.

Cheers.

 

 

My build date was also July 2002: the start of the MY 2003s for sale in NA.

 

This is speculating on the basis of absolutely no knowledge of auto manufacturing. I wonder, and I’m happy to be educated, if Jag cranked up a ton of production in July (based on the difference in our VINs), maybe tapered off for a bit, then used the extra time to remake the production line for the aluminum 350s? My Vanden Plas VIN is about 1800 past your base model, and the final VIN, as best I can tell, is F59525. My question/observation/pondering is premised on the belief that all types of 308s carried an Fxxxxx VIN, but I could be horribly wrong. Sure wouldn’t be the first time and certainly will not be the last.

(Parenthetically, pun intended, I continue to believe I have a Euro-spec fuel tank as I’ve never been able to get more than 19 gallons into it when the warning light comes on. Being at the tail end of a body style that ran from ‘95-03 might suggest parts bins were being emptied at will to be ready for the next model.f)

Cheers.

 

Actually, car was imported July 2002; build date on the door post says May 2002. Now I need to check to engine serial to assure I have the newer morris chains . . .

Local locksmith installed a second key and fob: $245 (which seems high, except dealer said the 8 tibbe key was no longer available).

Shocks, mounts, and bushings next week at local indy (Abacus Racing, VA Bch).