Worth it to jump "back" to a 308?
 

So I am relocating to the US from NZ and am hunting for a replacement car for my 04 XJ6 in a selection of easy-to-get-to locations*. I've been looking at candidate x350s in a number of locations, but the service records on carfax often leave a lot to be desired, especially on 3+ owner cars. You can imagine: longer intervals, quick lube places versus specialists. Never mind that given the age of these cars, they end up at "bad credit? NO PROBLEM!" dealerships. The 308s have generally been even worse.

But one car has forced me to reconsider. It's a 2003 with 40k miles, one owner. Miles were incrementally put on, with some more intensive driving around 2009-11. The service record is impeccable - annual maintenance at the same dealer. In the last 5 years, the following items have been serviced:

2011: engine, suspension, A/C, electrical, water pump, transmission, cooling
2015: Water pump; power steering line/hose.

It's more than I thought I'd be willing to pay for a 308 (about 12k), but I am seriously considering it, as it's one of the best-taken care of jags I have seen in 2 weeks of searching. Most (all?) of the common problems I have read in the 308 thread seem to have been avoided by the model year and the maintenance record.

My only concern is the low mileage, as I have come to believe in my short time of jag ownership and meeting others that these cars really should be driven (I'll give 'er a good run).

Thoughts? I am curious as to what the running costs might be (assume use of an British/Euro indy rather than dealer; limited DIY for brakes and tires), particularly compared with the 350. x308 suspension parts seem MUCH cheaper (c $100 for a shock versus $1000 for an x350 air shock). And is there a perma-fix for the transmission drum?

Sounds like a good well maintained car, I think the 03 MY would have the updated tensioners so thats not a worry (I stand to be corrected....?).
Having said that I think 12k is "all the money" and more, a similar example in the UK would not command more than $7 - 8k at the very most but I don't know the US market.
Just my 0.4 quarters worth.....

A 2003 would have the third generation tensioners so you're good there.

I paid $13,000 for my 2002 because it was in outstanding condition. I regret not getting a 2003 because I had to upgrade the secondary tensioners. Maybe I overpaid a little but I'm so picky about my cars having to be in pristine condition that if I had paid less but bought one that needed more work to bring it back to excellent condition, I may have put even more into it. The car you found sounds like a good deal to me if it's immaculate.

When did you buy your '02?

I am finding the car very hard to value, as the number of '02-03 cars on the market is low, and the cars are virtually always over 100k miles.

Should I jump back?
If I was not obliged to bring people too ofter: yes, in a heartbeat!

The look of the car pays back for all possible issues, surely where most or all are taken care of already.
It is an older generation car though, no doubt about that.

And here is some info on a possible prevention of the trans problems:
http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj...2/#post1394377

I got mine about two and a half years ago. It had a little less than 60,000 miles. I found it on eBay and it was a California car. Like I said, I may have paid a little too much but at the time I was looking, that's what the low mileage cars in top condition seemed to be going for. I was specifically looking for an 02 or 03. If I were in the market now, I'd only buy an 03 because of the tensioner redesign that year. I had read online before buying mine that the second generation tensioners in the 02's were fine but it isn't true. You have to get the third generation metal tensioners that are in the 03's. Many people with the plastic tensioners have already replaced them so if that's the case, then an 02 would be fine.

I absolutely love my car. It's exceeded my expectations of it. Every time I get in it I have a smile on my face. It's truly a remarkable car. And other than fixing some things soon after I bought it, it's been reliable.

I've been restoring and collecting old cars as a hobby for nearly 30 years and one thing I've noticed is that there are an awful lot of parts in a car that deteriorate primarily with age rather than mileage or use. Plastic, rubber and vinyl are damaged by UV light, ozone pollution and heat. Metals are damaged by moisture and dissimilar metals by galvanic corrosion. I've also seen many low mileage cars also start to leak fluids profusely because the interval between use allows the lubrication to drain away from the sealing surfaces. Damage occurs each time the car is used again before the circulation returns. You can assume the same additional wear happening to bearings. That's why they need to be driven. X308s are very nice cars and I believe a good value but I think you naturally have to expect to make more repairs than a newer car even despite having lower mileage. Just be sure to check it thoroughly for leaks and deterioration if you decide you are seriously interested. One thing is for sure though. You'll never park next to its twin unless you go to a Jaguar club event.

+1.

It's about figuring out that balance between many factors; age, mileage, maintenance history, cosmetics, etc. How and when the mileage was put on matters too. I owned a Corvette that had 36k put on in the first 3 years, then 2k over the next 16. Nothing leaked, everything was mint, and looked good. Regular use started to kill pretty much anything plastic or rubber within a year. I rebuilt the ENTIRE braking system other than the hard lines; new hoses, new master cylinder, new booster, rebuilt all calipers. I replaced most of the cooling system; every hose, radiator, water pump gasket, tstat gasket, heater core, etc. I had vacuum issues until I simply replaced every single line and junction. I resealed the transmission because it leaked out of the input shaft seal, and leaked on the pan. In the 20k miles I put on it, I did substantially more work than my buddy did on his same era Camaro with the same engine and transmission that had about 120k.

You want a well maintained, regularly but reasonably used, good looking car. It's sad to see a car die from disuse rather than wearing it out. Dying at 300k after a life of road trips, burnouts, quarter miles, etc; is much more valiant than wheezing at 60k after just sitting around.

I would recommend you keep looking. I found an S Type with all service records with 41,000 miles then three months later found a 2004 XJ8 with similar records with 55,000 miles. There is a two owner car in San Diego 04 XJ8 with 56,000 on Car Gurus for under 11,000.00.

I also wouldn't put too much negativity on service records that aren't done at a dealer or Independent Jaguar place. There are a lot of good oil change places around.

I guess a lot depends on where in the US you are relocating to. In the snow belt, the X308 might prove difficult to maintain and drive: rust, poor free board in high snow. If Southern California: good choice, more cars available; lots of wreckers with spare parts; reasonably good independent repair shops. If you are doing your own work, a good choice. If not, could get expensive.

Point made about plastic and rubber breakage needs to be recognized: plastic in these cars is a euphemism for fragile and broken.

After having put a deposit down, I just got the inspection report back today from Lemon Squad, which turned out better than I thought.

highlights:
-No engine or transmission issues.
-re-painted bumper
-No leaks; "normal" differential seepage (thoughts on that?)
-Various minor cosmetic stuff on the interior (eg seat leather wear)
-Moderate under-body rust "indicative of living up north/near a beach" (car was based in Great Neck,NY for much of its life so that was expected).

I am basically exhausted/done looking. Organising an international move in two weeks, closing out my professional stuff here, selling the XJ6 here, updating/circulating a resume stateside, and picking a car hasn't been particularly easy.


Buying that car in San Diego would involve getting there (with all my stuff...), checking service records (not on carfax after 35k miles), inspection, and driving it to the East Coast.

I do not know exactly where I will end up. Washington DC offers the best set of opportunities to exhaust, given my skill set.

The car's mileage was put on consistently over its lifetime versus the corvette that had 2k over 16 years from 80sRule's post. The substantial work done in 2011 and late 2015-1/16 also boosts my confidence - this car was cared for.

I like the car. I have the time/money to budget for repairs that will come up. I could financially handle a much more expensive, newer car in cash, but I like the aged and beautiful. I am by no means buying this as an attempt at cheap luxury that will consume my entire budget. I can't find any deal breakers or items that scream "walk away." I inclined to go through with the deal and negotiate for the minor leather repairs and a sealing/rust coating service, as I will be driving north within weeks/a couple of months.