Yesterday I was coming through a near by town and I did a double take. Setting at a used car lot, up front, was a Jag XK8 convertible for $4,995.00. Having just bought one last year for 10K and having it shipped halfway across the country I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. So, today I went back to take a closer look at it. The body is straight, glass is good, tires are OK. The interior is clean, the wood dash looks great,the top is decent. A little wear showing on the steering wheel. A couple small chips in the front paint. It shows 134K on the odometer.
I would have liked to know more about it, but nobody from the car lot seemed interested in talking to me. So, all I know is what I could see. I don't know what year it is, but it is a 4.0 liter,so 2002 or older.
Now I know, it could have a major problem that does not show and that would make it only a parts car candidate. But, if this is what a used XK8 is going for, I guess I did it again. Buy high, sell low, and make it up in volume.

 

Wheels and Front Bumper suggest 1997/98:



Steering Wheel suspiciously worn on one side.
Cupholder broken
Glove Box lid possibly broken
Dash veneer is not a matched set



Recent ByPass Hose (arrowed red)
Aluminium Thermostat Tower (arrowed blue) - could be a good sign!
Incorrect Bleed Hose (arrowed green)
Suspicious staining under Expansion Tank (arrowed purple)



That's about all I can see from 4000 miles away.

Graham

 

There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Jaguar.

Is that the correct throttle body for a '97/'98?

 

Graham - good eye. I also noticed the engine cover looks melted/cracked near the front of the engine.

 

Wow! Some sharp eyes in this crowd.

Keep in mind, the days of dealers selling foreign cars below value because they are unfamiliar with the marque are gone. It is priced at what the dealer thinks it will sell for. In this case quickly as it likely has been sporting the low coolant light due to the leaking expansion tank. If it has actually overheated, then it is no bargain at all.

Possibly in an accident (mismatched dash panels and steering wheel damage due to blown airbag?)

Feel like rolling the dice?

p.s. The top has a worn spot on the passenger side where it is likely rubbing on the rear fender.

 

I'd say 1999 since the font on the nomenclature is the newer style and not the Italicized type.

Example:
This style:

Not this earlier style:

 

Agree. Its a AJ27 Engine with the VVT Connection on the top of the Cam Cover. Also, Cruise Control Vacuum Servo Not present.

 

I have the incorrect bleed hose, it looks like the one in that picture. Is that a bad thing?

 

Taking into account all the noticed defects, what are the unnoticed ones. If you are thinking of buying this one I would recommend a really long test drive and on the way stop off at a place you trust to check for any accident damage. That will give you a chance to check for over heating and while at the garage ask them to put a systems check on it to find out if it has had a dodgy past. Then if you are satisfied it is O.K have $4k in your pocket and make him an on the spot offer but be prepared to walk away and test him.
For me my quirk is high mileage cars, just wouldn't have one. For me it indicates everything else has don't that mileage also, mine has 63k on the clock and I was a bit sceptical about the purchase. Age of the car swayed me and I bought it knowing there would probably be a few more thousand £££'s to get it the way I wanted it, recon'd gear box bought, just in case......but I was after a project for my retirement.
Good point could be its a California plate so should be rust free, if its spent all is life there, worth checking if possible. The steering wheel looks a bit odd, but could be due to the previous owner wearing a ring, its a cheap repair with paint and I have done it myself with pleasing results.
Good luck if you decide to go for it, and please let us know how you got on.

 

I am not interested in buying this car. I have my own XK8 and have owned it for about a year. I have spent a lot of time and money on it already. Fortunately I have shop and enjoy working on cars. But the Jag was a different challenge I must admit. It now has 90K on it and it runs and drives pretty well. I still have a couple issues to deal with.
I noticed on the one I posted that the manual roof latch access hole was open, so it has probably had the green shower experience. The glove compartment closed OK, it had just been left open by someone. Probably right about the possible overheating. I would not touch this car knowing what I now know about the breed. But someone will.

 

That price sounds about right I think....most early models don't sell for much. I bought my 2000 XKR just last year for 6,500.00 with 120K on it. Put in a radiator for 900.00 and with the exception of the roof issue I currently have...hopefully minor I believe...there is nothing really wrong with the car. Of course the drivers seat has alot of wear and the steering wheel shows some wear on one side...but that's all minor stuff really.

 

Do you think that in the long run, the earlier models and the newer cars will be selling at similar prices?

 

NO - a cracked OE plastic Bleed Hose is a bad thing. Any replacement hose that fits and doesn't leak is OK.

I've even seen one with copper tubing bent to the correct shape used as a replacement for the original plastic Bleed Hose.

Graham

 

More importantly, the steering wheel is on the wrong side! ;-)

 

I meant for the value of the car or within a car show.