The bad news: Last month my beloved Jaguar XJ8L was stolen and wrecked. I was hoping it could have been fixed but the estimate was 20K.







The good news was the insurance company I use gave me replacement value because my car was flawless aside from the usual saggy headliner.

After testing out many Jags searching the whole country for a Jag as nice as my old one I found this locally!

So the good news here is my new Jag! a 2003 VDP, one owner, low miles, new tires and rebuilt tranny with a 50K mile warranty!!!!





I checked this one out very well the seller put it up on a lift and the undercarriage was unbelievably clean! Aside from needing a good buffing on the paint and some cleaning of the interior the car is 98%. Can't wait to get it home!

I was going to get a newer model but truthfully I was very disappointed in the 2004 and up Jags. The ride wasn't even close to what this generation Jag has, not even close!!!! So I decide I wasn't getting anything newer that 2003.

 

John,

I'm sorry to hear about your XJ8L, but your new VDP is stunning, and I've always liked those 7-spoke Lunar wheels!

P.S. Do you happen to know what Jaguar calls that color of red?

Cheers,

Don

 

I looked at one that same colour, and I believe it was Carnival Red. Pretty car!

 

Carnival red it be. Worked out for you. Now you get to work thru all potential problems . . Tensioners, water pump . . . . That you had solved on the old cat . . . But you are ahead.

 

sorry to hear about your loss, but looks like it didn't turn out too bad after all!

Thanks for sharing and happy motoring

 

The Jag is dead. Long live the Jag.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Congrats on the new car. Great find!

Scott

 

Sweet looking cat. Good luck and many happy miles!

 

I had an earlier one in Flamenco Red with cream leather -- they are very pretty in red.

 

How did they get around the security system?

Anyways you have a newer replacement ... and a parts donor car close by if you keep track of where the old car lands.

 

+1. I'm curious as well as to how they got around the security system and stole the car.

BTW your VDP is a nice upgrade!

 

I would be interested in knowing also.

 

Thanks guys, I already miss the hell out of my car. I hope the new one will be as good.

They stole it with the keys, I either dropped the keys or some one lifted from me at a show I was at. I had the car parked in an HP spot. I have a legit HP Pla Card. I thought it might have been towed because I have neglected to put the pla card on the mirror a few times in the past. I reached for my keys. I have them on a caribiner always hanging on my belt and all that was there was the caribiner sans keys. I knew then and there the car wasn't towed.

 

Had the car now for a couple days. Not sure if I was just used to my XJ8L or what but this one just doesn't seem right to me. There is nothing wrong with it except it's just different. I can't say I'm crazy about the color I really liked the white the best. I couldn't wait for weeks or even months to find another XJ8L or Vanden Plas in white. This car is solid, 4 brand new tires, rebuilt transmission with a 50K warranty, one owner, clean car fax, garage kept etc. We put this up on the lift before I bought it the undercarriage was remarkably clean rust free and dry. One problem the CD player doesn't work all it says when I hit the selector is No Disk!!! I hate the radio need my CDs. LOL The interior is fairly dirty started cleaning it today but it rained off and on so I gave up. I'll hopefully get some new pics up tomorrow!

 

I have a 2001 XJ8L and it has some of the VDP features, like a better steering wheel, but not the heated seats. Was there always a long wheelbase VDP? Wish I had one, but I've not been in love with every VDP seat style, darker piping, etc.

Just curious.

Congrats on your new car. I'd rather have a Carnival red Jag than anything else I can think of.

 

Here are a few pics I took of the new VDP in front of my Co-Op, Not a huge fan of the red but I am hoping it will grow on me. The car was solid and that was the reason I bought it. This is a very clean mechanically sound one owner car.

 

Very nice find - I actually like the colour, but that's always a very personal thing.

 

As said before ,,, I like them in red and your car does look well cared for. I do think the Flameco was a more elegant red .....

It is funny how they all have a different personality - good luck

 

Thanks guys!

For some reason in my pics it really looks RED but the color in person is almost burgundy/maroon and sometimes looks brown from a distance. It's a strange paint IMO it almost seems like it actually changes depending on the light or way it's viewed. If I didn't know it was factory I would swear it has one of those flip flop paints. I really liked the white and that's strange because when I was looking to buy a Jag several years ago white wasn't a consideration it was my GF that really like the white ones she looked at. I decided to look at one she sent me a link to and as soon as I saw it in person I knew white was the color. LOL If it wasn't so expensive I would do a color change on the car. The dark color makes the car look small compared to the white. Everyone thinks it's a different model and comments that they think it's smaller than my old XJ8L.

 

I don't remember when Jaguar switched from the Flamenco red. I guess they felt the Carnival was a little more "toned down" and approbate for a luxury sedan. The Flamenco was more of a true red.