I'm almost ready to buy a 2003 XJ8 with 50K miles on it. I got a pre-inspection report which said:

- Entire car has been repainted
- Small rust bubbles under chrome trim around rear window painted over
- Rear parking sensors painted over
- Bad wear on rear inner tires; left toe set to 0.47" (specs -0.01 to 0.19)
- Carfax report indicates car has had only one owner, in the DC area, but in 2010 car was re-titled in Florida in May and then moved back to the DC area by December

The optimistic interpretation: The owner moved to Florida for half a year, decided to paint the car silver, and had to get a new title because the color was changed.

The paranoid interpretation: The car was totalled in an accident, throwing it out of alignment. The owner transferred it to Florida to clear a salvage title, repainted it to cover the damage, then moved it back to DC.

Other paranoid intepretation: The car was damaged by flood or hurricane, began to rust, and was repainted.

Why would a 2003 XJ8 with 50K miles have any exterior rust, or have rear wheel alignment problems, or need to be repainted?

 

Fishy, you want advice? keep looking

Why not head over to the new members forum and introduce yourself? If you buy one there plenty of likely lads that can help with any issues with these cars.
Welcome

 

Why? Read again your last two interpretations.
Dave

 

Yes, just pass on it, too many questions for a potentially expensive car. Both of my Jags were repainted before I bought them. That, in itself, is not an indication of serious damage, but it does raise questions.

 

U can't title a car in florida thst had been given a salvage title.

 

We are doing a full repaint on mine because of bad sun fade..... Do more research, call the dealer and have them run a history on the car. Mine did this free for me : )

 

Bad wear on rear inner tires; left toe set to 0.47" (specs -0.01 to 0.19)

I think that's a bad sign - is the car even straight?

 

However, what if it is the same owner and he shuffles the title in Florida before the brand hits the databases, then shuffles it back a few months later? Someone who knows systems can always find and exploit a weakness.