Hello XK/XKR forum members. I am new to both the XKR and used car shopping, and was hoping to get some advice and recommendations from you. My wife and I loved the facelift model, but were too late on the draw to custom order a run-out XKR; we've never purchased a used car before, so are a bit nervous about the process. Also, as we have specific color/trim requirements and we live in the northeast, realistically we'll be shopping inventory out of state; we've done this for new vehicles in the past, but I'm assuming when buying used, it can be more complicated.

I've been looking at 2012+ MY XKR coupes that still have at least a year of original warranty left, but am unclear on how to go about the pre purchase inspection process:

1. Should I contact a local Jaguar dealer, and what would an inspection typically cost?

2. Or if an independent PPI service is preferable, does anyone have recommendations for the south FL and south CA regions?

3. How would I would coordinate between the PPI dealer or service, and the seller (non-Jaguar used car dealer or private seller)? If I put down a deposit, does the seller typically allow someone to pickup the vehicle for an inspection?

4. Do 1 and 3 typically also include a detailed paint/body damage inspection?

My main concerns are condition of the exterior paint, interior trim, wheels, brakes, tires, and if the vehicle has had any history of mechanical trouble or unresolved electrical/nvh issues. Are there any specific red flag/warning signs I should have checked on an XKR? Again, I'm sticking with vehicles that still have factory warranty left, but I'd like to avoid a "problem" vehicle.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

 

I went through this a little over a year ago when I purchased my 2012 XKR convert. Assuming you have done your investigative homework on the car and a list of your priorities it is now more of the search. I used cars.com , autotrader.com and JaguarUSA as my sites to search. My biggest problem was finding a color that I liked and in a convertible. You should have more of a selection if you are looking for a coupe. I ONLY looked at dealer cars and they had to be CPO cars and under 10,000 miles. Also a non-smoker 1 owner car . As for a PPI I felt comfortable with the CPO process done by the dealer. The paint had to be at least 99% but with less then 10K miles I expected it. Also asked for lots of photo's and be specific on what you want to see. You can also ask others on this form if they will look at the car and give you their opinion. Also Carfax is a good reference but sometimes doesn't give full info . I bought my car sight unseen based on back and forth discussions/pictures with the dealer. I requested a copy of the CPO checklist . Gave them a down payment with a CC and did all of the paperwork using next day mail. My check was sent electronically and I arranged transport of the car with the dealer. Once I found the car the whole process took about a month before the car was delivered at my door. This was the 1st time I purchased a car sight unseen . By the way it took me 6 months to find the car that fit my wants. My primary problem was color. If you like Black , Silver , Gray or White in an XKR you should not have to much of a problem finding one. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

Jagtoes' advice is good, but have you identified a car or cars that you want inspected? I would suggest first finding a car you want, that fits the parameters of color, mileage, price, etc. Then, see if there are forum members in the car's vicinity that would take the first look. I have done it several times for members on the east coast looking at cars in California. If after that you have interest in a particular car, having it inspected by an independent mechanic or Jaguar dealer should be relatively easy.

I have bought 2 used XKR's in the past five years including my 2010 which upon inspection by my personal mechanic required a new engine replacement. The previous owner's aftermarket warranty paid for the engine and installation, and allowed my mechanic to do the install, and I've had a year behind the wheel without problems except for an adaptive headlight replacment.

Good luck in your search.

 

Thank you jagtoes and tberg. My preference would be to find a CPO low mileage vehicle at a Jaguar dealer, but given our very specific exterior/interior requirements, I think we'll have to be more flexible in this regard. It would certainly be a lot easier if we liked black on black.

Thanks for the non-smoker tip- it hadn't occurred to me, but an important used car consideration. In terms of detailed photos- what is a reasonable expectation? I've seen PPI services that provide as many as 50 HD photos in their report. Also, are there any mileage ranges that I should avoid- some of the XKRs that come up are leased vehicles that have seen as many as 10K miles per year. Thanks again!

 

Hi,
I did an out-of-state purchase of my '08 Portfolio last spring 2014. Spent 3 months searching. After numerous phone calls and many pics, the dealer agreed to fix a number of blemishes and followup with pics. I hired a third party inspection company, with whom, the dealer agreed to coordinate. The third party performed a test drive, checked all available features for operation and provided 50+ pics of all areas. There were some minor blems, but, no deal breakers. The dealer shipped for free.
Upon arrival, I had my local Jag dealer give it an inspection. All systems were good for a 42K mileage XK-R. However, It failed Maryland State inspection due to a cracked rim. Contacted the dealer, after a little discussion, dealer agreed to pay for a new set of rims of my choice. I was happy, the dealer was very fair.
I felt like my experience was good.

 

Certified Pre Owned (CPO) does not seem to provide much guarantee that the paint condition is good. The CPO process may require that they repair damage*, but a somewhat poorly cared for paint job can still "pass" the CPO inspection. If cosmetics are important to you - and of course they are - arrange for a specific inspection of all cosmetic aspects of the exterior.

I imagine that most dealers do care greatly about cosmetics and will have taken care of significant issues, especially given the price of these cars, but my point is that CPO is no guarantee of this.

If you can manage it, wash the car as part of your inspection. The dealer has very likely applied wax and glaze to hide or minimize paint flaws. A little soap and you get to see the actual condition of the paint. It might not change your mind about the car, but it could give you some negotiating leverage.

* See http://www.cars.com/go/advice/shoppi...inspection.pdf The CPO inspection includes a paint inspection, but there is no language stating what is or isn't "good enough" to pass. My personal experience is that the paint has to look pretty darn good overall when all waxed up, but can still have minor but extensive cosmetic defects - swirls, tiny scratches, small chips, and bird damage. This might be nearly invisible under was and glaze, but readily apparent when freshly waxed.

 

Hey newXF, my 2013 XKR w/dynamic pack and performance exhaust is available. It's a black coupe on ivory/black interior. It only has 6,100 miles and has been vinyl protected wrap since new. I have a member interested in California but he has been unable to secure financing from the US. My XKR is in Canada and I bought it Florida.


My car is mint and has no dents, dings or rim marks. It has the Vulcan XKR-S polished aluminum optioned wheels. If you are interested pm me. I'm on the North East Coast of Canada and can arrange shipping. Fly up for a day visit...

 

Hi NewXF, my additional advice is when you have found the right car, just google the lemon laws or consumer protection laws for that state.. Just in case, since every state is different.

 

RedRider48- glad to hear things worked out well. Can you tell me roughly how much the PPI service cost, and also, is the cracked rim something you felt an inspection should have picked up on?

j.w.s- thanks for the tip, but I'll likely have to purchase out of state, sight unseen, so I'm hoping I can find a reliable PPI service.

DGL- thanks for the offer, but unfortunately black won't work for us. Your coupe is gorgeous though- Venoms and Kasugas are our favorite wheel designs on the XKR.

Jpav27- will do, but definitely hoping to target safe(r) bets that keep us well clear of all that.

A few follow-ups:

. Any suggestions on how best to go about finding a quality PPI service- forums, online reviews? My instinct is to go with a local specialist rather than one of these nationwide franchise companies, but I'm really just guessing.

. What would be the pros and cons of going with a PPI service vs. a local area Jaguar dealer for the inspection?

. Is there an annual mileage or total mileage that would give you pause on a 2012+ MY?

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the advice!

 

NewXF, you also might consider listing your priorities on the form here as some of us check regularly on what is being sold and what the prices look like. We might stumble across something that meets your needs. As for mileage on a 2012 I would like to see maybe 3-5K per year where you know the car has been driven . 10K a year would not be considered a show stopper but anything over that I would not consider. On my weeding out process I set the bar at 15K miles total and that was back in Jan 2014. I also made contacts with multiple dealers giving them what my needs were and they would keep me posted as their inventory changed. As for people who do PPI's I would also use the form here and based on where you find a candidate see if someone in the area knows of a good PPI service. Happy hunting

 

Hello,
As I recall, the third party inspection was under $200. Regarding the cracked rim. The crack was on the inside of the right rear rim and very fine. Unlikely it would have been spotted by either the seller or the third party inspection due to road dirt etc. My dealer was very thorough as I impressed upon him the nature of the purchase. My wife cracked a rim on our XJ-R years ago, so now I'm more aware.
Low profile tires and pot holes do not play nice! Good luck with your purchase....

 

It's going to depend on the area, when I bought the XK8 in Las Vegas the local dealer wouldn't do an inspection, not sure why but it seemed to be a new policy.

 

When I bought my 07 XK a month ago I googled jag repair and found a shop just 2 miles from the dealer. They had jag software and seemed to know about the cars. He spent 2 hours with it and charged $125.

Govtslug

 

Just purchased a 2011 XKR Polotrano Frau from Texas Jaguar Dealership. PPI was $125, but the inspector only charged $90 because I did not want a written report (oral was fine for my purposes). Took 84 pictures. These were handy when the transporter damaged the vehicle.


The inspection was so detailed that the inspector noticed that the vanity mirror light was broken on the passenger side.


The dealer was very accommodating to the inspector. I would be wary if they were not. I bought the car from Autohbahn Jaguar located in Fortworth, TX. My salesman was Greg Chandler. See if they have what you want.

 

I just bought an 07 xkr for 30 grand with only 25k on the clock and immaculate. it's one-owner, clean carfax, service history and even has a full clear bra front and back. it's the green with tan and I had to have it. I had no inspection done as it's a reputable dealer and it will be here on Wednesday. fingers crossed!

 

I've bought 4+ cars out of state, sight unseen. If you have negociated a price on the car (assuming inspection is ok), the seller shouldn't have an issue bringing to a shop of your choice. You pay for it. Since the car is under warranty, I'd be more worried on body damage than engine damage. Consider inspection at good body shop since the mechanicals are still covered and many mechanics aren't the best at noticing paint work.

Schedule a PDR (paintless dent removal) service upon delivery as there will be slight dents; there always is and the best money spent. The car will look razor sharp once they go over it.

You should be able to lower the cost of the car a little to pay for inspection and part of shipping since the dealer won't be on the hook for Lemon Law issues (being shipped out of state). I didn't have my cars I bought inspected, but all were exactly as described FWIW.

 

Bought my '07 XK Coupe from Jaguar Nashville in 2011; completely satisfied! Never bought a car that way before ! Think Jaguar dealer a must for out of state sales.

Cheers, Adrian

 

I have bought 3 cars out of state, the most recent being last week. Last weeks purchase was a 2008 XK coupe Located in Oklahoma, I live in NC.


As others have mentioned, find an unrelated 3rd party to inspect the car for you. I failed to follow my own advice once and I am still regretting it (a Ferrari purchased in California).


While a PPI can go a long way toward giving you piece of mind, for me nothing can replace actually seeing the car yourself. If I am going to be handing someone a check for many thousands of dollars, I want see what I am getting with my own eyes. My typical procedure now is to have a PPI done and if everything checks out I will negotiate the deal with the dealer/owner contingent on a final inspection by me. I will then fly out, on a one way ticket, to see the car myself. Doing it this way I have never been asked for a deposit. Apparently the sellers feel if I am willing to spend the money for a PPI and a plane ticket a deposit is unnecessary.


That is the way last weeks purchase worked. I flew out to OK with a certified check, inspected the car, closed the deal and then drove the car back to NC. For me, driving the car back home is the BEST part. I left OK mid afternoon on Thursday and was in Raleigh on Saturday, having had a ball driving back.


Yes, flying on a one way ticket can be a little risky and , yes, I once had to fly back on a one way ticket when the car was grossly misrepresented, but all in all it was money and time well spent.


Paul

 

Paul, that is ballsy on the one way tickets... What happened on the Ferrari?

 

Living in Florida, I purchased my 2010 Coupe from Pa a little less than 2 years ago. It was November which is the best time to buy these cars as they are not winter cars. I found my car on line at a new car Mercedes Dealership. I negotiated a price. I sent an independent mechanic to test drive and take pictures (100 pictures were taken). I flew out to see the car. I put the car on a lift and inspected myself. I arranged to send the car back to Florida in an enclosed carrier. I received my 2010 XK Coupe with 4,825 miles on odometer 3 days after purchase. I'm am to this day very happy with my purchase.