All right, so I've mentioned that I'm looking for my first VDP in another thread and I got some really good advice.

Here's a more specific question. Which of these two would you be more interested in if you were in the market.

A. 2000 VDP - 54k miles
Two owners, tons of pictures, very clean. However, the timing tensioners have not been done yet. $8900+shipping (It's in Philly, I'm in Vegas)

or

B. 2001 VDP - 97k miles
Single owner, very clean exterior. I haven't seen pics of the interior, the seller says it's clean, but I feel that's subjective. Here's the trick, the seller says the tensioners were done less than 1000 miles ago. We haven't really negotiated on price yet. I figure I can get it for ~$8k and no shipping, it's in LA, I'll just go get it.

I haven't had either inspected yet, I just wanted to get a quick take from smarter folks than yours truly.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

1. Ask for a Carfax or equivalent report on each car.
2. Arrange for a competent local mechanical inspection.
3. Ask for a complete maintenance and repair history. If you really are buying directly from the original (or second) owner, something should be available. Cause for suspicion if it is not available for a luxuary one-owner car).
4. Replacing the secondary tensioners alone should not be a deal breaker ($900 +/- perhaps); easily factored into your comparative cost equasion.

 

I think it is a little much to expect full documentation on 12 year old car. You don't think they might cull some of the bad stuff, do you? I suppose it will tell you that the oil was changed on recommended schedule. Other than that, unless they claim new engine or tansmission, what is it going to tell you?

 

Jaguar : XJ8 Vanden Plas in Jaguar | eBay Motors

 

my 2002 vdp i have owned from 60k to 100k. in that time i have had to replace the power steering pump, ball joints, bushings, door cables, door lock actuators, tranny flush, pretty much the entire cooling system including the reservoir..tank cracks on bottom, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, motor mounts, tranny mounts, heated seat wires...and the timing chain tensioners were done right before i bought it...so yeah i would def be checking the suspension out and the cooling system.

 

Sparkenzap, of course you are right! I was generalizing on my own experience in buying a 2002 XJ VP, remembering that complete service records were available. I completely forgot that was 6 years ago. It would indeed be a stretch to expect them for 12 years. I plead advanced age and advancing senility.

JoeP, I hope your choice will give you as much enjoyment as mine has given me.

 

I bought my 2001 XJR with a complete up to date service history. I added to that tensioner replacement, two oil changes and an antenna mast replacement. I can trace every oil change from new and that tells me that my car received proper care. I also have an Alfa with a three ring binder with service and mod records. Point is that properly maintained cars are out there, just need to due diligence in finding one. Also, the price is only an issue at the time of purchase. Better examples may be more expensive but only relatively so. The first major repair due to poor maintenance will more likely wipe out, if not exceed, any savings attained in buying a lesser quality car.

While Carfax is a good way to check against mileage discrepancies or whether the car was a prior rental it's not absolute in disclosing accident history. A pre purchase inspection by certified jag specialist is a must.

Finally, rely on your experience. If something doesn't feel right or you are in doubt then pass on it. Chances are your first hunches are the right ones. Good luck in finding your next Jag.

 

Better examples may be more expensive but only relatively so. The first major repair due to poor maintenance will more likely wipe out, if not exceed, any savings attained in buying a lesser quality car.

Funny, I've been thinking about this exact thing for the last couple of days. You just summed it up here better than I have to date.

Good point.

Still looking.

 

I have a 1999 VDP I bought it 3 months ago. It came with extensive records. It looks prestine and drove great. I took it on a 700 mile drive it did great then all of a sudden last week I go from a stop light and it goes crazy with no previous symptoms. So records or no records a car is never predictable. Pick the one you like the most !

 

That must be a major disappointment. Unfortunately no one can predict what's going to happen with a car, new or used. That's why we have recalls and lemon laws. Records are no assurance of trouble-free future of ownership. They are simply an indication of vehicle's past history or treatment. Chances of major failure in a well cared for car are much less than in a car that has been neglected.

 

There are not too many people in the car business that I trust. That said,....I would seriously consider the car I can inspect and drive MYSELF. Therefore, it would be the L.A. one.
I see only one problem with these two. The price is out of line. I would not pay 8K for that car. I never pay retail. These cars are SOFT!! Dealers sit on them forever, and it's a buyer's market out there.
I paid 5K for my VDP with 80K on the clock (and I think I paid too much). No issues of ANY kind, and the Cat is being painted as we speak (thin overbuffed original paint needed some help). New paint, tranny, tensioners, etc. done, new brakes and rotors, complete new interior.....TOTAL = less than 8K.

A "new" classic Jag with 87K miles. And the one that I personally went through with a fine tooth comb/

 

Ha. Way to raise the bar, DS.

Funny thing is, I am a firm proponent of never paying retail either. The only time I ever recommend it, really, is when there's no other way around it and you believe you can justify that spend because it's worth that much to you.

The other caveat to never paying retail, however, is when there's a specific reason to pay more now to solve a specific problem. For example, paying a price for convenience, or to prevent problems down the road.

The easiest example of the latter is that right now Ireallywantajag is selling his 1996 VDP which is apparently in mint condition. His VDP is out of my price range at $15k—however, would I be willing to go a little above my price range to get a VDP that I know has been taken care of to the extreme and that I know will cost me less over the life of it because of that? Sure.

So there's that bit of grey area there. But in general, I embody the never pay retail philosophy.

But I'll tell you what, if I can find a 98-02 VDP with the tranny, tensioners, brakes and rotors, interior and paint all done with near or under 80k in miles and get it out the door for ~$8k, I will be the happiest Joe you know.

 

Of course, I say that it might be impossible to duplicate Daniel's experience, then I find that this 2001 VDP pops up in North Carolina.

Not a lot of pics on it, but a couple of things jump out: 66k + one owner, the Carfax is online and they're offering a pre-sale inspection.

Of course, you wonder if that means they'll say someone inspected it already.

Here's the interesting thing, if you look at the Carfax it looks like it's been serviced at the same dealership its whole life. That, too, is a positive.

 

It's not hard to "duplicate my experience".

When my wife announced that "she wants one too", I went for a 2003 with 100K on the clock. "Salvage title". The car was hit front left, and needed the hood, headlight, bumper, and a radiator. All that was replaced by the previous owner, painted to match. New tires, and new original wheels. Price?
$3500.-

She is using it as a DD, and put about 5K miles on it so far, without ANY issues. I changed the oil on it, that's all. Salvage title is not bothering me. I will never sell it, and she will drive it into the ground. It runs like a champ, and looks great too.

There are MANY like that around. One just has to look for it, and avoid "the buying fever". The right car WILL pop up on the radar, and I saw few XJRs in Vegas recently, that I will look into. I'll be in Vegas the beggining of the next month (shortly and on business), but I will schedule some test drives while I'm there. Buying from the other side of the country is not my thing,....as I said, I am not very trusting. I want to check the car myself (and I don't need to pay anyone to do it for me).

MANY sellers describe their cars as "mint", but in whose eyes? Paying the airfare to go and look at it (and be disappointed), would make the "right one" (that I will eventually find), that much more expensive.

Good luck in your quest.