Looking at a 2000 XK with 100,000 miles. Has anyone experience with cars with this mileage and the pitfalls of owning an older Jag.
The car is at a dealer so have no history.


Thanks
Gordon

 

Welcome to the forum Gordon,

I've moved your question from Jaguar Forums Advice / Feedback & Suggestion Center to XK8/XKR forum.

Members here with the same model will be able to advise.

Graham

 

Gordon - check out the following link as there is a thread on things to look for.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-data-29800/

there are several forum members with XK8/Rs in excess of 100k and with care, these cars will see many more driving miles. Be sure to have the vehicle inspected - again the above link has things to look for like secondary tensioners, coolant leaks, etc.

I purchased my 2000 in Feb of 2012 with 91k as a daily driver and currently approaching 125K. With the help of the information on the forum and the knowledgeable members, ownership is a joy.

 

Can you do the bulk of the maintenance and repairs yourself? If not, and you're planning to rely on a dealership, your checkbook may be drained in record time....

 

If you cannot do work on the car yourself, or have a frendly independent mechanic at a reasonable rate then don't buy an older Jag. You must be able to DIY.

 

I would echo both thoughts. Mine now has over 111,000 miles and is my daily driver, but I do all the maintenance and much of the repairs. Dollar for dollar, it has been a good value.

I have had three other Jags in my life with cars, all of them bought "fully depreciated". I have not regretted buying any of them. I do seriously regret selling one or two.

 

I have been reading reviews of the XK and they certainly not very good. The number of reviews is not very large and I wonder if this is really not indicative of Jag quality.
When you say I must be able to do my own maintenance, what does that mean. I can do brakes oil changes and simple stuff like that but electrical problems, engine overhauls are beyond me. Are special tools required for regular maintenance.
Thanks for all your replies, they are extremely helpful.
Gordon

 

Read the FAQs in this section, previously provided to you in a link in post #3 above. Study the issues these cars eventually exhibit - you'll find them in the FAQ link. Decide if you can tackle most of these problems yourself. If you can, I recommend that you concentrate on 2003-or-newer models - no more plastic tensioner issues and arguably a better engine. Plan on putting aside $3,000 in a money market account as your rolling maintenance fund. You can purchase these cars for Honda money, but you cannot maintain them over the long run on Honda money. But once you get the majority of the common issues resolved, they are indeed great GT cruisers. Spend plenty of time here reading and learning before you decide to test the waters. This forum always serves as the best tool in your tool kit....

 

Gordon, as you read through the section at the beginning of this XK section, you will see many fixes and many recommendations. The BIG one you need to be concerned with is the timing chain tensioner issue. If this has NOT been addressed, you are looking at an expensive repair, or possible engine failure sometime down the road. The only way to be certain, would be to pull a cam cover and look for updated tensioners. And even then, you cannot see the condition of the lower tensioners and guides. Not something your dealer is likely to do before you buy! The other two biggees, are the nikasil engine (probably a non issue if it hasn't already been addressed), and the A drum failure in the transmission. If your dealer can show you no records, you can use it to drag the price down to a ridiculously low level. Or, you can pass on that car and wait for one that you KNOW the history on. That info is HUGE. That being said, I have 101,000 on my XK8 and it literally is like a new car. Quiet, smooth, reasonably powerful, and a pleasure to drive!

 

Jon makes a solid point. 2003 or newer if you can swing it!

 

Thanks for all the info.


I really should not be buying a Jag but it is one of those bucket list things. I have always dreamed of owning a Jag and since I am almost 70 years old I better get it done.


Something in around the 10KUS is probably all I can afford. I know that comes with pitfalls but I will have to live with those.

 

I am on my 4th Jaguar now. I have the belief that these cars will always be a $15-20K expense. Either you will get a "really good deal" and pay 10K for one with another 5-10K in repairs. Or you will pay 15-20K for one that is in great, well maintained condition and has already been "expensed" by its current owner.

It is doubtful you will never find one for ~10K that needs nothing and lasts a long time. Cars like that are simply worth more than 10K in today's market.

So go buy what your heart wants. The Jaguars of the Ford era are truly awesome cars. You won't regret it.

Just understand that ultimately it is going to cost you $15-20K - eventually. You can pay more for a well maintained car and truly enjoy it. Or you can pay less and enjoy it whenever it is not being repaired/costing you more money.

 

I am going to take the advice provided and look for a newer car later than 2003. There doesn't seem to be many, they are either in the 15k yr 2000 or so or seem to jump to 75k. Hopefully something will come up over the next few months.
For a car that everyone seems to have problems there sure aren't many for sale.


Thanks everyone, I'll keep you posted.


Gordon

 

As written by Gordon
On the Forum you will see a small percentage of owners who are having problems. This is where they'll come for help. There's plenty of owners not having a problem. Go to any other Forums and you will see that almost any car make will have a many people seeking help for their cars. In the luxury car field, Porches, Mercedes, Lexus, etc.. Reading their forums you would think the same of these cars.

 

Keep in mind that Jaguar has always been a niche car company so their production numbers are small compared to more mainstream European manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. The XK series is probably the most sought-after model so Jaguar enthusiasts that get serious about wanting them tend to do their research, find the right car, and hold onto them for quite a few years. I think that's the primary reason why it usually takes awhile to find what you're looking for....

 

Hi All


Well there is another Jag available and I am asking for advise about a few items on the carfax report.


1. The car was taken back under the lemon law in 2007 with about 11k on the clock. The car was in NJ.


2. There is a reported discrepancy in the mileage. I think it was caused when the car came to Canada in 2011 and the change between mileage and Km happened.


3. There is a little something that looks like rubber cement in the trunk rim. Is this normal or is it an indication of attemps to stop leaks. I know that this is difficult and only can expect a guess.

 

Buy a nicer one up front. I bought one that needed repairs despite prior owner having bought some expensive replacements (new CATS front shocks). By the time I was done, I could have bought a car whose paint would have been in better condition and with 35,000 fewer miles. That said, I've sunk my costs, and the car has no deal killer issues (e.g. Porsche IMS failures killing engine = $15k, BMW SMG transmission = $7.5k, Air suspension on anything = $4k, etc...).

Some late model 2002 cars have the upgraded timing chains and tensioners that went into later models and thus remove that deal killer. Mine did. But unlike the Porsche IMS problem for all Boxsters and 911s from 1999 through 2008, the Jag timing chain issue can be pro-actively solved.

Then you can enjoy the sublime style, and the CONSTANT COMPLIMENTS that come with the car. It must be akin to being a minor celebrity. Every third time I get out of the car, someone comes over to say something. Never had that experience with Porsche and Lexus, and I like it.

 

Restllessone,
I bought my 2002 with 62K miles over 4 years ago, and now have over 140,000 miles on it. I did replace tensioners and have had my share of problems over the 80,000 miles I've owned the car, however, of the many, many cars I have owned in the past 45 years, this is unquestionably the one I enjoy the most. The prices you mentioned are way too high for the mileage that you're looking at (not including the 2006). I bought my near perfect condition 2002 XKR, four years ago, for just over $15000. XK8's with 100K+miles are available well below $10,000.00.

There are plenty of very good cars out there. Be patient, buy one with a documented service history, and enjoy the heck out of it. There is a beautiful 22K mile perfect condition 2000 on ebay, you might want to take a look at.
Jaguar XKR Convertible 2 Door | eBay

 

tberg, your paint looks new! Wow, you drive a lot of miles. I'll have two years into mine June 1st and I won't have put on 10,000 miles.

That ebay car is enticing... Someone low balled me on mine, but if I switched to this one when the seats were not so thick maybe the back seat of the convertible would be nominally usable, uh oh...

 

Welcome Gordon,
I looked for XK8/XKR in Canada for almost a year without much luck. Nice ones were usually priced over $20,000 and most of the rest were more than I was prepared to fix. I had to expand my search to the US where the selection and prices we more in my favour. I used a third party inspection service and when I finally found a good one. (original flawless paint, clean carfax, low miles, etc.) I flew down and bought it. The money I saved more than covered the cost of flying down and bringing her over the boarder. With the help of this forum, simple hand tools, and a bit of luck I've kept the Jag running flawlessly for a year now. My previous mechanical experience is fixing lawn tractors and snow throwers. Read the stickies under the XK8/XKR section and know the car before you buy it. Even a year after my purchase I still smile from ear to ear when the garage door opens and that beauty waits for me.