If your car has over 100,000 miles, how many of that was with you, and how many times have you had to have the car brought home, or to a shop, on a flatbed?
Include stories if desired.
I bought mine with 18,000 miles on it in 2005 so I have driven about 85,000 miles with the car.
Put me in for 2 flatbed events.
The first one, I was heading home from a bar. The temperature shot up and all hell broke loose on the dash. Restricted performance, etc. Coincidentally, I was passing the Jaguar dealership where I bought the car, but since it was about 1am, they weren't open. AAA took me home. The problem turned out to be the radiator hose coming off the thermostat tower. The reason it happened was because the fitting on the tower that receives the hose was missing a chunk of plastic. The clamp had precious little to grab. That must have happened when the same dealership replaced the thermostat under warranty a while earlier. This was when the accessory drive belt got its coolant bath that caused the squeal that I chased for a while until I learned on this forum that the belt will do that when it gets a coolant bath. Boy, am I sorry I let the dealership touch my car. I upgraded the coolant tower to a metal one, no more problems.
The second one, I drove from Atlantic City to my girlfriend's house. I dropped her off and then the car barely started, then died. Bad fuel pump. I'm just glad the car made it out of the parking garage in AC. It's very tight and a tow truck wouldn't get in there.
So one flatbed event was induced by the gorillas at the Jaguar dealership and that leaves one that I blame on the car.
Not bad for 100,000 miles, I think.

 

I've had four flatbed events in over fifty years of driving. Three with Jaguars.

I only started keeping detailed records of miles and fuel since getting an XJ40 in 1996. It let me down with a burst coolant host on a Christmas Day afternoon in rural France - flatbed 1. This was followed by an X300 and an X308 before my first 2001 XK8. This caused flatbed 2 with a failed throttle body only five miles from home. A 2005 XK8 and a 2007 XK 4.2 passed without incident before my current 2014 XK 5.0 had flatbed 3 to a Jaguar Dealer in northern Spain with coil failure. My personal mileage on these 7 Jaguars is 208,509 miles.

Graham

 

We purchased my wife's 2006 XK8 Victory Edition convertible in early February 2012 at just over 36,000 miles. It was her daily driver until late October 2018 and is now approaching 121,000 miles. While I have had to deal with quite a few of the usual XK8 issues with this car, it has never required flatbedding or towing during our ownership. During its heyday in our stable, it safely transported her back and forth from North Carolina to Florida to visit her aging parents on her many solo trips there. Now it is just her toy that she no longer drives, so I take it out at least weekly to keep it properly exercised. We really should sell it but thus far she has not been able to come to terms with letting it go to an owner who would get far more use and enjoyment out of it....

 

I purchased my 2000 XK8 (affectionately known as The Mistress) Feb of 2008 with 91500miles on her. She has been my daily driver and currently sits at 186300 miles. I have had a few flat bed rides -alternator went out at speed on the interstate and lost all power; rear bearing seized; transmission failed (2 times); the joyous timing chain tensioner failure and 1 loss of coolant casualty. Not bad for a 20 year old that loves to go topless!! She hasn't been getting her normal amount of exercise since C-19 but I do take her out for a daily 5-10mile run just to keep her limber. While she will need a new coat of paint soon, she's still a beauty and a joy to drive

 

I'm just a rookie, in June 2019 I got my seventeen year old '03 with 79k miles on it and now has 83k. So I'll just shut up and read. No calls to AAA and I am loving' every minute of it. Thank you, thank you, thank you again to everyone contributing to the answers to all the questions asked here. I have learned and continue to learn so much from all of you. A manual is good, the internet is great, people are better!!! Can't wait to put another 83 on it. TM

 

I bought my 2004 XK8 about 7 years ago with 38K.

It now has about 105K and so far I have never had it fail while on the road. It has had several 1000+ mile trips and many 500+ trips.

Most of those miles were driven by me, and 90% with the top down.

My car is in better shape now than it was with 38K. I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere.

Now it probably won't start in the garage after this.

 

My first Jaguars were e-types purchased in the 1970’s. They were 100% reliable even though I was doing the maintenance myself

here’s a photo of my 1970 S2 right after I replaced a blown head gasket. The following day I drove it from Norman Oklahoma to Santa Monica California, pretty much non-stop, averaging 91 mph including all stops. It had nearly 75,000 miles on it when I bought it, and over 140,000 when I sold it. A really swell long legged car.


My ‘02 XKR came to me 3 years ago with 116,000 miles on it. it’s got 160,000 now and zero breakdowns since I’ve had it.


It was a hot day

 

Bought my 02 XKR with 131k and sold it with 205k. 3 times trailered. Once for a burst oil cooler and a couple other tows due to failed cooling bits.

 

Oh boy. I'm at ~106k now. About 25,000 of that is me. Before that, I think 60,000 was my uncle, and the rest was the first owner.

In my ownership, I've been flatbedded quite a few times.

1. Shop couldn't figure out how to do timing chain job. Cut ties with them, and I had to tow to different shop.
2. Power steering pump seized at work. Towed to shop.
3. Due to 3, crank pulley came loose a couple weeks later. Towed to my house.
4. Couldn't fix (3) at home. Towed to shop.
5. Flywheel broke apart while on the highway.

I think that's it?

 

Hi all,
I have a 98 XK8 that I bought certified off lease in 2000 with 36,000 miles on it. It now has 135,000 miles on it. I absolutely love this car! Of course as we know, Jags have their "foibles" and I've spent some time chasing down some interesting gremlins, but flatbeds? Let's see...

1. Three days after I bought it, it wouldn't start in a Best Buy parking lot, all the lights started flashing and the windshield wipers were going on their own accord. Had to have it flatbedded to the local Jag dealer for it to be dealt with under warranty. They didn't tell me what it was, but at least that particular issue never happened again.
2. About 10 years ago the gearshift absolutely refused to move out of park on several occasions and then would refuse to move out of drive. I thought it would be the switch from the brake pedal, but no (according to the local Jag dealer - hmmm) so I had the transmission replaced with a rebuilt ZF (rather than the new one the Jag dealer was insisting on at 3 times the price) and all good ever since.
3. About 4 years ago the top of the plastic cooling tower sheared off at the cap while driving. Luckily I noticed it quickly and pulled over before any damage. Had the metal replacement installed to head off that issue for the future, but:
4. At around 118,000 miles the engine started chirping after a cold start. Sounded like a nest of birds in there, but it would go away once the engine warmed up. When I took the Jag to my mechanic (not the jag dealer after having been figuratively raped by them when they replaced my front wheel bearings a few years previously) for the cooling tower issue, they checked it out and the verdict was the camshaft bearings were going bad and it was only a matter of time before my beloved Jag would bite the dust. I decided to ride it out and the engine actually lasted another year before blowing at 124,000 miles. My mechanics (Christian Brothers Highlands Ranch, CO - great guys and great service!) really wanted to install the LS engine conversion into it - tempting, but I stuck with a standard Jag 4.0 that they found with a 3-year 36,000 mile full warranty. Cost me $10K all in to get it replaced (yep, more than it was worth as my wife kept reminding me - too bad!), but I've had that car since before I met my wife and I'll still have it long after the divorce!

So I'm at 135,000 miles now and (knock on wood) no issues beyond my AC compressor leaking. I just refinished the leather in the interior (front seats, center console, steering wheel) and repainted the hood because the clearcoat had worn down/through in a couple of spots. Also added the Adamesh Stage 1 exhaust upgrade that really gives the car a great growl that is throaty yet still understated. I put on some Coventry 19-inch wheels and the Mina Gallery mesh grill a few years back and the car looks absolutely fantastic now. Amazing how many compliments I get from people and how shocked they are when they learn it's a 22-year-old car!

 

With the resale value of our cars taking it in the shorts, I'm curious, what did you get for one with over 200,000 miles?

 

It passed on for 5k. Bear in mind it had some gnarly key marks in the paint from the PO and had other needs. I had also been unexpectedly laid off and was looking a prompt sale.

 

So that's the bottom. Motivated seller, keyed paint, mileage over 200,000 and more. I hope I never get there, except for the 200,000 miles.

 

The bottom, and the top also for that matter, is a moving target.

There are too many variables to have a definitive bottom or top. And that is without even considering the psychological aspect of the buyer and seller. Like everyone, I’m always on the lookout for a bargain, which is what I consider my ‘02 XKR to be @ $7,900 nearly three years ago. And coming to me with all the known defects fixed .

But for the most part, if one pays attention to the current offerings, just hitting the middle is not a bad deal for either party.


Z

 

My 2000 XK8 is pretty stout and has never let me down! I bought it at 45,000 miles. Soon after, I replaced the cam chain tensioners. Then I set about getting it sorted: rebuilt the ABS motor, the throttle body & TPS, replaced 1coil pack, upgraded the roof hoses and had the "claw" rebuilt.

After that things have just been minor wear items like one ABS wheel sensor, coolant level float (see my posts here on the little "life jacket" a made for the float, it has worked for many years), exhaust resonators (Tip - use Cherry Bomb mufflers to replace them. Cheap, fit perfectly, sound great without high speed droning and look cool in red), changed the transmission fluid at 70K and 140K and lubricated the J Gate workings.

I installed Real Gauge and the remote top actuator years ago.

Nothing ever went seriously wrong so I sort of dropped out of this great forum for some years. I am unusual in the sense that the XK8 is my winter car! I drive a Corvette in the summer. I think the XK8 is an acceptable snow car because it is a relatively heavy, rear wheel drive car. I'm old school in that way. It has never come close to being stuck in a Wisconsin winter. I just wish the heater was a bit better, the convertible top loses a lot of heat!

I'm shooting for 200,000 which I should make easily!

Regards

 

Scott, having driven your cat in winter WI roads do you work extra to rinse the road crud off after a drive and how is the car holding up corrosion-wise?

 

I bought my 2003 XK8 convertible in 2011 (third owner) with 88,000 miles on the odo, price: $14,500, from a used luxury car dealer in Charlotte, NC. It now shows 135,000+ miles. In 47,000 miles and 9 years it has never been towed. I drove it to work once in a rare central-North Carolina snowstorm (it did quite well) but that was the last snow it's seen; now in northern Kentucky, I don't take it out when it's snowy. I have changed the trans fluid (as per Reverend Sam) at 100,000 -which fixed the Whoop and hard shifts; although the ZF-6HP26 in my car is pretty robust, I have been babying it a lot since it has trouble with downshifts on big hills and passing (and the whoop is back), so it will need some more attention soon. Had the thermostat housing burst once, but was practically in my driveway - was able to replace that on my own. Replaced all the cooling system rubber I could get to and had the Octopus replaced by my indy shop. The car has been flawless in every other respect, though with the usual Jaguar foibles from time to time. The exterior is original and is in excellent condition and the Zircon Blue generates a lot of compliments. Love this car - will keep on putting the miles on it!

 

Well, nothing special really. I keep it washed but just like a normal person. I only have 2 spots of surface corrosion, both on a repaired rear panel. An easy fix. I do, however, put a good coat of wax on the body before winter and keep up with quick spray on wax through the season.

Oh, it lives in a heated garage and I circulate the air when its wet. That, I think, does the most good of anything.

I have some general age related corrosion on various nuts and fittings, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Regards.

 

not Scott, but I did live in South Padre Island Texas for a while, it’s home to some of the newest model year rust buckets that I’ve ever seen. Also home to quite a few older cars that appear to be rust free. I asked a few of these old timers how they avoided the rust. To a person they all had the technique.


Actually very simple, they all used a car wash that sprayed up under the car once or twice a week. Since then I’ve always followed that advice. When I couldn’t find a suitable car wash, I just sprayed down the car, top and bottom, with a typical garden hose using plain city water. My cars, all classics prior to the XKR purchase, all have been daily drivers. I gave them the rinse treatment once or twice a week, every week regardless of the season. Then garaged them with a fan blowing until they were dry. Voila ! No rust issues, Not one.

The XKR came to me with only one rust spot; the exhaust manifold. The rest of the exhaust system, all original, was rust free, just like the entire sheet metal. Three years later, no change.


Z

 

Z, Yes! My local carwash just started the underside spray and, I agree, it is a good idea. The fans, too. Coastal cities have it rough, the salt is in the air and when water vapor condenses on cooler metal it winds up everywhere. Here in the Midwest it is mostly salt spray from the roads. It is a distinction without a difference as far as rust is concerned I guess.