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I will say... that car was GORGEOUS! The exterior was flawless and the interior only had a couple of minor blemishes. The lines on the X150 coupes are downright sensual. I was about to cry when I discovered the potential mechanical issues.
A bit late now but was driving the car a bit an option, to see if any codes come back?
Also a bit late. I wish I had remembered this old Technical Service Bulletin sooner, but age takes its toll. Some DTCs are erroneous, but it probably doesn't make any difference because the UO100 DTC isn't on this list. I thought everyone should be aware of this before making a decision. Here's the link to TSB XK419-002 : http://www.jagrepair.com/images/TSB/...419002NASF.pdf
Last edited by Stuart S; 05-11-2019 at 11:12 AM.
Reason: Added photo
The fact that the codes were cleared 0.6 miles ago leads me to believe that there was an issue with the vehicle. The Google reviews for that dealer are all 5 stars or 1 star, and many of the people who left 1 star reviews say that the check engine light came on, or some other issue popped up shortly after they drove off the lot.
Today I drove up to the Washington DC area to look at a 2011 XKR convertible. This was the first 5 liter XKR I've driven and I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!!!!!! HOLY S**T!!! I had my reading glasses on top of my head. I was pulling onto the highway and I punched it. My reading glasses ended up in the back seat!!! Now I'm not going to be able to settle for anything less than a 5 liter XKR.
Unfortunately the title on this particular vehicle is in limbo. The owner is in prison for bank robbery. Seriously. He's 60 years old with a PhD in nuclear physics from MIT. Last November he decided to rob a bank. He got caught (Google his name, Christopher Warren Lapp.) He gave his ex-wife Power of Attorney. She already signed the title over. A friend of his is trying to sell the car, but he only has a photocopy of the PoA. I did lots of Googling and spoke to my lawyer sister. To get the title in my name I would need a certified copy of the PoA, then I'd need to take it and the title to the Virginia DMV, then they would do something, then it gets more complicated.
I told the friend that he should just buy the car from the bank robber for a dollar, get the title in his name, then sell it and give the proceeds to the bank robber friend.
How can anyone trust Inmate Lapp? He's a convicted crook, so how can you assume that his "'title" wasn't a forgery and his ex-wife and friend aren't in on a stolen car scam? You give him the money for what appears to be a good price and you get the car and a "title". He's 60 years old and who knows if he'll live long enough to get out of jail? Maybe he did the bank job as his farewell fling and just wants to have a little more fun before he hangs it up? (Apologies for the pun).
If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. That "easy flip" might make matters worse for the buyer, who might be at risk of felony possession of stolen goods, if he knew about the questionable title and the phony sale to enable the seller to flip the car after buying it for $1. What if someone else shows up with another title to the same car? I'm pretty sure that the buyer will lose the car and won't be able to recover a penney.
Yeah... I've thought through all of the angles. Today I met the friend who is trying to sell the car. I went to his house. Before I went there I looked up the tax info on the house. He bought it in 1996. I don't think I scammer would meet me at the house he has owned for over 20 years.
But still... I'm not going to buy this car with the title in question.
I'm thinking about hiring a lawyer in Virginia to straighten it out. If the lawyer can fix the title issues I would buy the car in a heartbeat. But I'm not going to risk that much money buying a car that I might never own.
I wouldn't let a title hassle stop you if that's the car you like. I know people in prison and their cars and titles are legit. If the car has no stories beyond it's current owner; why not go for it.
I wouldn't let a title hassle stop you if that's the car you like. I know people in prison and their cars and titles are legit. If the car has no stories beyond it's current owner; why not go for it.
If the car was here in North Carolina I would do the legwork to buy the car. But it's five hours away in Virginia.
I'm going to call a couple of lawyers up there tomorrow and see how much they would charge me to get the title issues worked out. If it's not too much I'll buy the car.
Is it possible to trace the VIN through some central bureau from the day it got off the boat. I have heard of such a place, but I don't know if it or they really exist. But, I think that I would examine that potential before hiring an attorney.
Why so? I've been looking casually for a couple of months. I really got serious a month ago. I've been seeing this one, but it had been a little pricey for the mileage. But at this point I'm starting to realize that the "perfect" car isn't out there. This one seems like a good compromise. What is there about it that makes you think I should run away?
Originally Posted by ralphwg
Is it possible to trace the VIN through some central bureau from the day it got off the boat. I have heard of such a place, but I don't know if it or they really exist. But, I think that I would examine that potential before hiring an attorney.
Yes, it's called the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. I've already had this car checked out. The title is good, but the dude selling it is in prison, so he can't sign the title over. It requires someone with Power of Attorney, and it gets complicated.
Why so? I've been looking casually for a couple of months. I really got serious a month ago. I've been seeing this one, but it had been a little pricey for the mileage. But at this point I'm starting to realize that the "perfect" car isn't out there. This one seems like a good compromise. What is there about it that makes you think I should run away?
1.Why would you buy a XKR from a buy-here-pay-here lot. A lot has to go wrong for a car to end up at the bottom of that barrel.
2.Why do you, a person who will keep and cherish a Jag want a 4 owner car. Think of it as 4 foster homes. When you can buy a 1 owner cherished car from someone like you.
3. Why do you want a (obviously fleet) car from NY city. That thing has seen punishment you would not believe.
So lets recap.
Number of previous jockeys= max 4
Geographic origins= worst
Damage accident records = absolutely
Mileage= high
Seller= buy-here-pay-here lot
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Price reflective of misgivings= no.
IMHO this quote from a dealer's web site may be quite an eye-opener for some people...
**Please remember, every one of our cars has been enjoyed by their original owners, and these are not factory-new cars. This means they have actually been driven, and regardless of the level of care, every car will exhibit some wear-and-tear.
Remember these cars were around $100K when new, and are now priced in the sub $20K region. One certainly cannot expect to pay 1/5th the price of new without any compromises.
If it were me buying, I would even be in line for that flood recovery car (after a through inspection of course), as I can see good value in that one at an ~$15K offer.
I believe too many buyers may be setting unrealistic targets on just what a used car offers in terms of value for the money.
The Jag XKR will easily turn 200K miles with minimal maintenance and repairs. And at the ~$20K entry point for a sub 100K mile car, I believe this simply can't be beat.
In the exotic world, which our cars realistically are below, excepting maybe the XKR-S, it's super common to have many owners. Condition and documentation over everything.
The one I was looking at is the 4th lowest priced XKR for sale in the US right now on cargurus. The dealer is a shyster, so I know he'll never go down to 12K. He's hoping to sell it to some baller who won't give a crap when the CEL comes on.
05-10-2019, 09:06 PM
