The "Should I or shouldn't I?" newbie question. Opinions wanted!
#1
09-08-2011, 10:35 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
The "Should I or shouldn't I?" newbie question. Opinions wanted!
Hey, all. So, some background: I've been without a car for a number of months. I got a new job -- a much, much better job -- and I've been able to snag commutes with a friend. During the past two months, I've been saving up for a car. Preferably something new.
Bad news hit: commute won't work. I need a car now. I was prepared to get something reasonably blah, work with it for 4-5 months, then trade it in and get the thing I was really looking to grab in the first place.
(Isn't this a great way to start a story on a Jaguar forum?)
But things have changed. A 1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas has come to my attention, listed at $5,500. Seems to be in great condition save for a fairly big caveat -- salvage title.
On my end: I'm 26 years old. I net just over a thousand dollars a paycheck. I don't have many obligations at the moment, but in the near-ish future I'm going to move back to Los Angeles where I can expect to pay $6-700/mo. rent.
Knowing my long-winded life story, let's assume I moved forward and purchased the Jag. How much do you expect it to cost me? Jags are notoriously expensive to maintain, but do I earn enough to keep it on its feet for a few years without crippling myself? Keep in mind that I'm a writer-type, so maintenance is beyond me. I would have to find a shop for even an oil change (yes, laugh at me!). Best to be forward and honest with all info when asking for opinions, right?
Let's recap--
1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas
$2,000 a month after taxes on my end.
Likely $900-1000/mo. in bills in six months.
I drive maybe a thousand miles a month.
Being the wise people you are, can I manage this? The Jaguar isn't something I'd want to trade off in a year. I'd like it to last for at least a few.
Thanks for all the help, and if the consensus is no, I'll just go for something cheaper and come back to the Jag in a couple years time!
Bad news hit: commute won't work. I need a car now. I was prepared to get something reasonably blah, work with it for 4-5 months, then trade it in and get the thing I was really looking to grab in the first place.
(Isn't this a great way to start a story on a Jaguar forum?)
But things have changed. A 1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas has come to my attention, listed at $5,500. Seems to be in great condition save for a fairly big caveat -- salvage title.
On my end: I'm 26 years old. I net just over a thousand dollars a paycheck. I don't have many obligations at the moment, but in the near-ish future I'm going to move back to Los Angeles where I can expect to pay $6-700/mo. rent.
Knowing my long-winded life story, let's assume I moved forward and purchased the Jag. How much do you expect it to cost me? Jags are notoriously expensive to maintain, but do I earn enough to keep it on its feet for a few years without crippling myself? Keep in mind that I'm a writer-type, so maintenance is beyond me. I would have to find a shop for even an oil change (yes, laugh at me!). Best to be forward and honest with all info when asking for opinions, right?
Let's recap--
1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas
$2,000 a month after taxes on my end.
Likely $900-1000/mo. in bills in six months.
I drive maybe a thousand miles a month.
Being the wise people you are, can I manage this? The Jaguar isn't something I'd want to trade off in a year. I'd like it to last for at least a few.
Thanks for all the help, and if the consensus is no, I'll just go for something cheaper and come back to the Jag in a couple years time!
#2
09-09-2011, 12:28 AM
Hello. Let me first say welcome and secondly that I am by no means an expert. I am new to jaguars but not new to cars or the used car industry <body shop for ten years>. I would not buy a salvage title jaguar. I just bought a 2003 xj8 for $5,000. 140k miles. It has a good transmission. I spent another $1,000 on a new water pump and various hoses gaskets and leaks. Runs perfectly now. From what I understand these cars are very reliable so long as they are maintained. I noticed many parts are comparable to GM and other domestic vehicle prices. The labor will be $20-$30 higher per hour, but a trained specialist will be working on the car and may notice something another mechanic may not. Every car will have problems eventually. But i would much rather spend the money on our jaguar than my wifes Pontiac. We love that car too but well........ all thats for another forum.
If it were me I wouldn't go pre-2002 unless I knew for sure that the plastic timing chain tensioner had been changed, the water pump didnt have the cheap plastic impeller on it and was able to verify the transmission was in good shape. We did a weeks worth of research here and elsewhere before we bought the car and set a little money aside just in case.
Short answer bud YES BUY A JAGUAR! But dont get that one......theres just too many better deals out there for one IMHO. Good Luck!
If it were me I wouldn't go pre-2002 unless I knew for sure that the plastic timing chain tensioner had been changed, the water pump didnt have the cheap plastic impeller on it and was able to verify the transmission was in good shape. We did a weeks worth of research here and elsewhere before we bought the car and set a little money aside just in case.
Short answer bud YES BUY A JAGUAR! But dont get that one......theres just too many better deals out there for one IMHO. Good Luck!
#3
09-11-2011, 10:14 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was in your position about 7 years ago and bought an old Audi and it was a mistake. There was no telling when things would start failing on the car. For you only means of transportation you want an reliable vehicle. With my old Audi I was stranded multiple times or had the car in the shop for days at a time when I needed transportation.
Of course now I own a 99 XJR but it is not my only form of transportation (I also own a motorcycle and SUV). I love my car, but I would always be concerned about reliability/maintenance if this was my only vehicle.
On a tight income and your only means of transportation, I recommend buying a Honda or Toyota in the same price range which should be easier to maintain and and is probably more reliable.
Of course now I own a 99 XJR but it is not my only form of transportation (I also own a motorcycle and SUV). I love my car, but I would always be concerned about reliability/maintenance if this was my only vehicle.
On a tight income and your only means of transportation, I recommend buying a Honda or Toyota in the same price range which should be easier to maintain and and is probably more reliable.
#4
09-11-2011, 11:30 PM
Senior Member
#5
09-12-2011, 01:16 AM
Senior Member
Get a cheap Honda or Toyota till you're well up on your feet - you can't afford the possible consequences or costs of Jag ownership right now - once stable, you'll love it and can have an emergency fund in case your Jag needs it... until then, buy something that's bulletproof and cheap to maintain.
#6
09-12-2011, 01:44 AM
Veteran Member
#7
09-12-2011, 01:30 PM
Again, don't do it! I bought one as our family's 2nd car and I usually commute via bicycle. My comparison was not to other sub-$10000 used cars, but to newer late model cars in the the $15-20k price range. I decided I'd rather have the Jaguar even if I have to spend a thousands in unexpected maintenance than, say, a Ford Fusion with significantly less risk of major malfunction. And as a cash buyer, we had the luxury of buying the jag and putting the leftover money in the repair fund. But as my sole means of transportation without a significant cash repair fund? Forget it! Buy something cheap and basic, drive it into the ground, save the cash and get a jag next time.
Trending Topics
#8
09-12-2011, 03:05 PM
Senior Member
#9
09-12-2011, 06:22 PM
Veteran Member
#10
09-18-2011, 09:24 PM
Hey, all. So, some background: I've been without a car for a number of months. I got a new job -- a much, much better job -- and I've been able to snag commutes with a friend. During the past two months, I've been saving up for a car. Preferably something new.
Bad news hit: commute won't work. I need a car now. I was prepared to get something reasonably blah, work with it for 4-5 months, then trade it in and get the thing I was really looking to grab in the first place.
(Isn't this a great way to start a story on a Jaguar forum?)
But things have changed. A 1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas has come to my attention, listed at $5,500. Seems to be in great condition save for a fairly big caveat -- salvage title.
On my end: I'm 26 years old. I net just over a thousand dollars a paycheck. I don't have many obligations at the moment, but in the near-ish future I'm going to move back to Los Angeles where I can expect to pay $6-700/mo. rent.
Knowing my long-winded life story, let's assume I moved forward and purchased the Jag. How much do you expect it to cost me? Jags are notoriously expensive to maintain, but do I earn enough to keep it on its feet for a few years without crippling myself? Keep in mind that I'm a writer-type, so maintenance is beyond me. I would have to find a shop for even an oil change (yes, laugh at me!). Best to be forward and honest with all info when asking for opinions, right?
Let's recap--
1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas
$2,000 a month after taxes on my end.
Likely $900-1000/mo. in bills in six months.
I drive maybe a thousand miles a month.
Being the wise people you are, can I manage this? The Jaguar isn't something I'd want to trade off in a year. I'd like it to last for at least a few.
Thanks for all the help, and if the consensus is no, I'll just go for something cheaper and come back to the Jag in a couple years time!
Bad news hit: commute won't work. I need a car now. I was prepared to get something reasonably blah, work with it for 4-5 months, then trade it in and get the thing I was really looking to grab in the first place.
(Isn't this a great way to start a story on a Jaguar forum?)
But things have changed. A 1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas has come to my attention, listed at $5,500. Seems to be in great condition save for a fairly big caveat -- salvage title.
On my end: I'm 26 years old. I net just over a thousand dollars a paycheck. I don't have many obligations at the moment, but in the near-ish future I'm going to move back to Los Angeles where I can expect to pay $6-700/mo. rent.
Knowing my long-winded life story, let's assume I moved forward and purchased the Jag. How much do you expect it to cost me? Jags are notoriously expensive to maintain, but do I earn enough to keep it on its feet for a few years without crippling myself? Keep in mind that I'm a writer-type, so maintenance is beyond me. I would have to find a shop for even an oil change (yes, laugh at me!). Best to be forward and honest with all info when asking for opinions, right?
Let's recap--
1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas
$2,000 a month after taxes on my end.
Likely $900-1000/mo. in bills in six months.
I drive maybe a thousand miles a month.
Being the wise people you are, can I manage this? The Jaguar isn't something I'd want to trade off in a year. I'd like it to last for at least a few.
Thanks for all the help, and if the consensus is no, I'll just go for something cheaper and come back to the Jag in a couple years time!
Leslie
aka wyche1
#11
09-19-2011, 02:50 PM
Veteran Member
Don't buy that one.
Salvage title jag in my opinion should be 1500-2000.
You can get a good example that has been reasonably well taken care of for what you are looking to pay....
I find Jaguars to be reasonably reliable when the (few) problems are sorted out- I know a gal with a Jetta looking at $3k for a tranny rebuild and the car currently will not move, so most cars can run into the same problems Jags do- so I wouldn't be scared off by *possible* repair costs.
Salvage title jag in my opinion should be 1500-2000.
You can get a good example that has been reasonably well taken care of for what you are looking to pay....
I find Jaguars to be reasonably reliable when the (few) problems are sorted out- I know a gal with a Jetta looking at $3k for a tranny rebuild and the car currently will not move, so most cars can run into the same problems Jags do- so I wouldn't be scared off by *possible* repair costs.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WinterJag
XJ XJ6 / XJ8 / XJR ( X350 & X358 )
16
10-09-2015 07:49 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)