Excited and nervous…and off I go!

Heading out to start the 2.25 hour journey to look at this gorgeous jag.

Equipped:
Toolbag
Good flashlight
OBD II Reader
Gorilla black tape for window
Shop rags
Gloves
Full Yeti of coffee
CDs to test the changer (and music for ride home)
Bluetooth speaker in case CDs don’t work
Jumper cables
(yes I know about the secret connectors in trunk side vent and spare tire well)

Called a bunch of shops within 20mins and while a few have lifts and will let me look, none will touch a jag outside of the Toyota dealership, for which I have a standing appt in case.

Wish me luck! I may be posting in the New Jag owner’s photos sticky tonight!!

Thank you all for tips and guidance.
And of course, feel free to throw in any tips as I won’t be done inspecting until around 4pm EST.

 

Good wishes to you
wj

 

Congrats. Great color combo. If you're going to replace the top, besides the tape, glue it. Standard short term fix. Also does "chance of rain 40%" mean 1/4" of water or hurricane?

Careful w the antenna. It breaks easily. Maybe an easy fix. Maybe a full replace (mine was). Suggest if still works, leave it down unless AM/FM is important.

Also check for wet or stained passenger floor mat. Like Bocatrip mentioned, one of the few problems w these cars is the stuck duckbill (rubber valve for AC overflow). There's the simple DIY fix (I did) but it's considerably more expensive to pay someone.

Good luck!

 

Awesome thanks!

Per my meteorologist buddy, 40% chance of rain means:
”It will rain in your weather region. 40% chance it will rain on you.”

Don’t have glue but bringing some beach towels to brace it from the inside as well as black taping the inside and out.

I will test the antenna while inspecting, but it will be down for the drive home.
I will eventually pull the fuse when I get Bluetooth audio going.

My biggest concerns are mechanical as it’s been sitting a while. Months if I understood him correctly.
It starts and has a new battery, although I’m pricing in replacing it, hard wiring a CTEK and all that.

 

Am sure you know to check the coolant level before starting. Make sure correct level. May need a set of pliers to get the coolant tank cap off
Great cars. 420hp made the freeway drive home very comfortable.

 

Yes sir.
Coolant, oil, trans fl, brake fl.

 

All good plus pull codes. Sealed trans, no dipstick. Thumbnail check on condition/life of rotors/brakes. Looked at couple of 4.2 XKR's. Some get driven hard. One had a new set of front tires and front brakes at 15k. Pass. Don't buy a car based just on CarFax but you do get number of owners, location, maybe some service history. Where it was done (dealer? good indie?) helpful.

 

Whelp that was a bust. No unicorn here.

Top did not work at all. Unlatched, rose an inch and stuck. Could hear a motor going but nada.
Couldn’t find the manual allen key.

Fairly decent sized new (paint chipped off on top and was still shiny new) dent on passenger hip.
round enough to be paintless removal but would still need a spray.

Only one key fob and it didn’t work.
Antenna broken off, but I could hear the motor works lol.

Interior was mediocre for a 2007. Bumps, bruises and leather coming off top triangle in front of quarter window driver’s side.

Engine started and ran fine. But threw the codes below and the check engine light came on again after I cleared it.

Drove great, shifted quickly and smooth with paddles and without.

Top didn’t need replacement after all, but rear window was leaning into headliner and did need to be glued.

Walked away.
He asked what he should list it for as is.
Told him $8k is best you’ll get and that’s be someone who can do the repairs themselves.

Holler at me if you’d like the project. He said I can DM his number to anyone.
Grandma just wants the money.

Side note they also have a ‘65 GTO in a shed.
She needs paint but is a beaut.
And sadly not for sale.

 

Sorry to hear that!!!!! Don't get down...it will happen...

You got to drive an R!!!! Have owned 1997,2000, 2005 XK8s..2008,2010,2015 Xks..but never drove an R...


Patience is a virtue!!!

 

Hence the DANGER of buying sight unseen..

Although my latest XK I did?=?!!!????


Fair deal...........

 

Sorry to hear
How many miles on it?
How was your trip, enjoyable? No rain?
wj

 

Yeah sorry to hear. At least you got to drive a 4.2 R. Try the NA version if you get a chance. Nice car, still 300 hp. If you're going to stick w/ 4.2, recommend 08-09 w the interior antenna. 20" wheels look nice although narrower tire sidewalls do ride a little harder. My personal experience is that CATS do a great job of keeping the ride smooth w the 19's. Glad you got a chance to drive a 5.0R for comparison. Argument for a 4.2R is enough horsepower and I personally think it sounds better. To each his own. Hard to beat a 5.0R if you want a hard core British muscle car that is a guided missile.

 

@wymjym @HealeyJag

Was a 2007 XKR vert. 58k miles.

Seems a classic case of grandpa’s dream car, but couldn’t afford the car. Must have done zero maint and it hadn’t been driven in over two years.
Someone would start it every couple weeks but that was it.
Was really surprised that the engine ran super smooth with zero issues. Fluids were all fine.

 

Ope quick correction. He sent me a video of the top working. Seems there is a safety feature with the trunk cover.

 

If the luggage divider inside the boot isn't fully engaged, the top will not close. Same thing for the front windows; if not programmed auto-up AND down, top no workie.

 

Exactly..

Always look for a simple solution first..

Not just Jags..life too!

 

Sweet!

Buy it for $7,000...
Make the offer..?

 

If it drove and operated perfectly what exactly turned you off to it for $8K??? A 20 year old car isn’t going to be in pristine cosmetic condition especially for that price range. I reckon someone here is going to ****** it up. If it was a colour I like I’d be flying up there tomorrow!

 

Just realized I didn’t post the image for the codes.
It ran well on the shirt test drive, but there are def issues.

Totally true that an 18y old car isn’t going to be perfect.
But as I added up the things in my head, it would be near 20k total in to get it there.
(I’m not a big DIYer. I can do small to medium things)

I am eyeballing a 2008 xkr portfolio for $21.5 that is pristine.

Honestly though, it was clear the owner didn’t take care of it before he passed. That was my deciding point.
Be a great project for anyone who wants to put in the time and effort. Just too many unknowns.

 

For future reference low battery voltage can affect the canbus network with module communication failures which’ll trigger a number of DTCs. The O2s though could be an issue due to repeated starting but not driving. Best to reset all and drive for a while and see what comes back.