Hi Everyone,

I have the opportunity to buy a 1998 Vanden Plas with only 11k miles on it from an original owner. He is asking $15k for it but I was thinking of offering somewhere between $10-13k... Is that crazy? I have always found this series of Jaguar particularly graceful but I've heard horror stories as well. The car appears to be in immaculate condition with the exception of the headliner sagging (which I was going to replace with suede anyway). It is important to note that I am no mechanic, nor do I have an interest in working on my own vehicles (I believe in trusting professionals with their profession, and don't feel comfortable with my ability or patience to learn at this point). My other option is a considerably newer Maserati (2018), but I've always wanted this beautiful Jaguar... and see one with only 11,000 mi on it blew my mind.
With that being said: Is the car too old, meaning, will I likely need to have tons of seals, electric components and hoses replaced and just due to sheer age? I'm aware of the potential transmission issue down the road... Is my dream car likely going to quickly turn into a money pit? Or am I likely safe for some time considering it has such low mileage and was garage kept?
Absolutely any insight or guidance will be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you in advance for your responses.

-Sid

I would take advice from the more savvy, mechanically inclined folks on this list (I am not one) but here are some things to consider. I think your offer is probably in the ballpark, but that's really all subjective. For reference, I bought an '03 VDP last year with 30k miles on it for $11,000 at a dealership. Earlier this year a nearly identical '03 VDP with about 11,000 miles appears to have sold at a dealer in PA for something in the vicinity of $24,000, but I can't absolutely swear to it. If correct, that sale is probably very much an outlier.

As a '98, sooner or later I believe the plastic primary and secondary timing chain tensioners will have to be changed out for improved, metal ones The pros can tell you what that might cost. And, the gearbox might be well-served by having the main pressure valve in it upgraded. that, too, is a known weakness that can sooner or later consume a transmission. On mine, because I had a newer, upgraded engine, I dealt with the transmission for about $1k. Other stuff I did was having all fluids changed over the course of the past year, fixed a bad door latch which was draining the battery ($600), put in a new battery ($275), spent a collective total of about $1,300 on a check engine light (02 sensor, MAF device, breather tube, etc), and upgraded the transmission ($1k). It's my fourth Jag ('89, '97 and '06). I had a headliner done on my '06 for something like $600 or $650.

It's my guess that you could comfortably drive the car you're looking at for quite some time and just work in the tensioners and transmission stuff along the way.

Good luck with the choice.

I don't think that this is really the car for you. It is old, twenty three years old. Even with the low miles, things will start to deteriorate quickly as you add more mileage to it. Low mileage means that it spent more time sitting than being used, bad for any car, worse for a Jag. I think that the price is also way too high, I'm sure that it looks amazing, the cars are beautiful, but once it suffers it's first major problem, you're going to think that any price you paid was too high. Since you are going to pay a "professional" to do all repairs, the costs will be high. Low mileage is a plus for simple, basic, cars with more elemental technology. Even if you are willing and able to pay the cost of maintenance and repairs I think that it will probably need some sorting out after you put it into more regular service. Good luck whatever you choose.

So where is this gem, in case you chicken out?

The x308 is supposed to be treated as the queens they are, if you are going to purchase one, you’re gonna spend a lot of money regardless. Mileage isn’t a factor. These machines are quite temperamental and will encounter problems regardless. If you’re comfortable with paying a lot of money for small work, then by all means since you have no patience to do things yourself, get one. I would say x308s are cars for people who know/prefer to work their vehicles. One small error on the computer is enough to put them into limp mode and you’d be stranded somewhere. If you can afford the Maserati you should probably go with that.

I've had my 98 VDP from new (leased then bought off lease). It now has 175k miles, but in the past 15 years has done less than 40K. Great car and I love it, but I have also been through all of the Jag idiosyncrasies with it, so know them well....... The good news is that there have been few issues for the past few years as all the "biggies" have been dealt with, but there remain some niggling things that I have to live with.

In your case, even as a low mileage car, I expect many of the X308 issues have been dealt with on that car, but as the headliner is on the apparent list, I wonder. There are likely lots of not so visible things on that car that may need attention as many components used were bleeding edge technology that have been problematic as they have aged. Happy to share a list if you want to think of moving to next steps.

I do all my work and am reasonably well equipped tool wise, so that has kept costs reasonable over the cars lifetime. FWIW, I replaced the headliner on mine about 2007 - not a hard job, but if you want a shop to do it, I think that will be well north of $1000 for labour alone - likely far more if you do it "right".

I may be out to lunch, but I find that price much higher than I expected, esp for a car that needs a headliner, at least. I'm in Canada and things may be different in this market (my car is a US model bought when working in Tx), but I would be hard pressed to get $3000 Cdn (~$2400US) for it - and it is 100%. I can't see any reason that low mileage can add that kind of money to that chassis. Right now I'm holding it pending going electric as I can get $6000 for it on a government scrap it program.

if possible, try to get one after year 2000.