Hi guys so I zoomed in on two cars and need an honest opinion .
I saw a 2001 Van Plass Supercharged with a rebuilt title but in mint condition .
89k on the engine mint inside and outside
Some records like rings ,seals etc owned by an older couple but sold to a dealer .

I can get it for $6000 !

Or a 2002 XJR looks mint too, 50 k miles but the owner has never done any repairs to it beside an oil change .
no repairs that's what I'm worried about ..
I can get it for $13 000

Would you go for any one of them and why ? Would you be worried about a car that never had any repairs (the XJR ) ? Or a car that has 89 000 miles with some repairs but rebuilt title ? But 6 k
And I don't know why it has a rebuilt title .the dealer mentioned a front bumper that needed to be replaced .

 

1st thing I'd do is hit kbb.com. Both sound overpriced. They may be good cars but there's no reason to get soaked, especially since any used car is bound to come with an issue or two. Then check with your insurance person. Mine says a rebuilt title is a red flag. It doesn't have a rebuilt title because the rings were replaced it has it because there was a big issue (accident, flood, theft recovery) and the the title needed to communicate that. The car could still be good but the rebuilt title really lowers the book value. I'll have to say I'm impressed with the XJR's, I have a 1999 that we've been enjoying for a little over a month now if you could get a low mile example for half what that seller is asking you might be getting a good deal. $13k is pretty steep, even for low miles (IMHO).

 

According to the seller The supercharged has a rebuilt title due to the front bumper not the rings . Sorry for the misunderstanding .I wish I could run a Carfax on that car . It had 89 k miles the only receipts on that cR are for a ring job ,engine and transmission oil change .
I could get it for 6k not sure is the chain were ever changed

The 2002 XJR has no service but oil change. The seller tells me that the car has never needed anything .But with 50k I found it hard to believe .

So my my questions were : Would you buy a 2002xjr with 50k thats never been serviced except for an oil change for 13k ?

Would you buy a 2001 supercharged with 89k and and rebuilt title for 6 k ?

They both look very clean

Ps I did find a 2003 XJR with 20k for 12 k but a rebuilt title ... Ahah! It's very frustrating ..

I have the money to buy and can't find what I want .

 

Just retrieved the maintenance schedules book from my XJR,


Engine oil every 10 000 miles
Wiper rubber every 10 000 miles
Air filter every 20 000 miles
Coolant every 30 000 miles
Spark plugs every 30 000 miles
Supercharger belt every 40 000 miles
Accessory belt every 100 000 miles


So if the owner classes that oil changes include air and oil filter, not much been missed on the XJR.


But please bear in mind that MY book is for a 1998 XJR with the AJ 26 engine, and they may have extended miles/ times for the later cars with the AJ 27 engines.

 

So what type of maintenance a 2002 XJR with 50k should have had ? Beside oil change

 

Rebuilt title sounds like it was totalled. Insurance can be difficult to get for that car. 89K on the engine, how much on the rest? Salvage title really dings the value of the car, about 50% of a like vehicle with a good title.

For the other car, $13K sounds a bit steep. For that price, it had better be perfect. No repairs would be a good thing, but it sounds like it needs to maintenance such as brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant. It may need a set of brakes too.

-Mike

 

I have owned my 1999 XJR since new. It now has 140K+ miles, and has been the most trouble-free vehicle I have owned for 30 years - and I drive aggressively.
During the first 50K miles, it required nothing but oil changes and air filters, tires. Since then, it has required nothing but the occasional coolant flush, and I changed the secondary timing chain tensioners prophylactically. A couple of battery replacements, tires and wiper blades over the years, differential seal about 5 years ago - that's it.
Bottom line, have the 2002 checked out by a qualified and trusted mechanic, offer the seller 10K, and be happy !
Forget about the one with a goofy title - a red flag if ever there was one !

 

In CA a salvage title means the car was totaled by an insurance company; resurrected, inspected, passed and retitled. Could have been totaled for something minor (my son's Sequoia was totaled for a bad power seat by USAA - got tired of trying to fix it; we fixed it, got it retested, retitled, been running for another 100K miles).

I think the 2002 is overpriced; but sounds like it is brand new. Even so, there are things that will need to be renewed soon -- water pump, tires, pads (clean and grease the calipers 'less Box goes nuts), battery. Plastic and rubber parts wear out due to age as much as miles.

 

"I wish I could run a Carfax on that car"

Well why don't you then?

 

I found out that the 2002 is an XJR 100

 

Now that is worth going to take a look at.


Only 500 ever made!


Unless you count the one Sean B created.

 

If it is truly an XJR100, that's a very special car. Only 250 brought into the states. Last I knew, there were only 50 something left here in the states. As far as maintenance, not really much needs to be done in the 1st 50K other than LOF, cabin filter, tires and topping off various fluids. The OEM Brembo's lasted 80K miles before needing replacement.


Spark plugs @60K
Fuel Filter @60K
Brake Fluid every two (2) years (though this is rarely done)
Coolant Flush/ReFill every 5 years or 150K
Trans Flush/Refill @100K

Good luck and hands down, the XJR100 is the far superior vehicle.

 

Terry,
Go for the '01 VDP SC! Or both, WTH! I have the exact same VDP, best car I've ever owned. To date, nearly zero issues; fuel pumps (outsourced), Cam chain tensioners (did myself), required oil and filter changes, too many tires (P7's suck!) Still goes like stink, great build quality, pleasure to drive (hard!) and everybody loves to ride in the back seat. At 6K, it's a throwaway; wish I'd paid that!!
Regards,
Buck

 

Turned out the dealer now wants to sell the 2001 VDP SC for $8888 . He went back on his word !
So I lol pass on that . I'm hesitating between the
2002 XJR 100 if it's still for sale Can't get a hold of the seller ...
And the mint 2003 XJR with 51 k
First one is 14.5 but needs a muffler and a CD player
Second one is 10 but needs mouthing but a module to control the steering wheel to go up and down as the one on the car is slow and a brake job in about 5 miles
I have to say that I'm really happy to reads your comments . You have a great club !
Ps I'm located in Los Angeles