Tomorrow I am going to look at a 2004 Xj8 locally here in west palm beach and i need advice. Looks clean. No accidents. Car fax says its been maintained well. The car has 145,000 miles on it and the dealer is asking 4900 for it. Good deal? It is a big ford dealer here not some small car lot. How are these cars reliability with that mileage and what are things I need to look for. Car has been registered in florida for its lifetime and last owner had it since 80k. I am basically using it for my 60 mile highway commute to Miami for work. Thanks for the help!

 

If your commute is 120 miles roundtrip, by my reckoning you could easily do 40k miles per year. Hope youve got plenty of money set aside for maintenance.

Wrong forum, btw.

 

Sorry for posting in the wrong forum. New to this. Forgot to add I am an airline pilot so I don't commute every single day. Once or twice a week max I would be making the roundtrip.

 

Well, I have a 2002 XJR with nearly 140K miles. My general impression is of a vehicle that is ageing well, but is at the point where it appreciates a slower pace of life. Maybe as a second car, doing nice trips at the weekend?

They need a lot of maintenance at this age, and it gets expensive quickly if you're paying someone else to do it, and need the car. If you can do it yourself, and take your time, costs are more reasonable. Hence my comment about a second car.

 

It's already got a lot of Miles, it will sit for periods, and then you will have to rely upon it for a long trip...I don't know, doesn't sound like the best choice. For 3k more you could find a base x350 with way less miles.

 

Just joined and looking at a '97 with 112K. Needs a new headlight assembly on driver's side but starts & runs great. Traction control error message. I'm used to doing my own maintenance on Buicks but am concerned with how much this is a problem with the Jag. What maintenance problems are most common?
Thanks in advance for any guidance!

 

Things to look out for on an 04 XJ... If it still has the factory air ride suspension, the air springs and air compressor for the suspension are problematic unless someone performed the suspension conversion then your good. The suspension itself probably need new bushings all around and quite possibly new rear lower control arms since bushings aren't available for those as far as I know $$$$$ The coolant thermostat housing, expansion tank (coolant reservoir) and radiators $$$ go out every so often. The intake manifold probably needs new o rings due to rough idles and general air leaks.

6660: Are you speaking of a 97 XJ? Also, what year/model of Buicks?