Thanks in advance to all the help. This will be the first jaguar I've owed. Just sold my BMW 528 which I had some mechanical problems with but thanks to the BMW forum I was able to do all the work myself and learned a lot about my car. I've never owned a jag so I was wondering if there's any common issues with the car I should look for before I finalize the deal. They owner claims it was his mothers car and the transmission went out and she has to many other cars to deal with this one she just wants to sell it. It's a 97 xk coupe. 103k miles and get this, I'm only paying 2700$, yes two thousand and 700 so obviously I have no problem justifying the expense for a new tranny. He said somthing about the timing being updated. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

The simple answer is that at the top of this forum in the FAQ sticky is an item labeled 'I'm buying a XK8/R, what should I look for?' That is a much commented on subject.

At $2700 you should be able to afford many months of entertainment putting everything right. A new transmission is no big deal just a few thousand but you might want to understand the 'timing update' as that could, or could have killed the engine. Between the two maybe it isn't such a good deal.

 

I generally don't feel comfortable buying a car I haven't driven, even if its cheap. If you are good with it, it should be another learning experience. The tranny will run about $3000 so you are getting in at $5700 and the car is worth at least that much. Just hope everything else is good. The cars have an design flaw in the secondary timing chain tesnioners that makes them a potentially fatal link until changed out with later versions. They also have bad original water pumps and a cylinder lining that can be problematic if overheated or run on high sulphur fuel in the early years.

 

Thanks. Yes he said the timing was updated. Even with the bad transmission I can still hear the motor and check for commons problems Atleast. I'm planning on getting the Aston Martin kit to go on it so it looks like a vanquish. For 2700$ I don't really think I can go wrong. I'll keep you posted

 

Hey I just bought a 97 also, mine was cream puff with brand new tires with 53k miles for $8400. The bad news for both of us is 97 was the first year and these cars had lots of issues as I have learned here. The good news is most of the issues can be addressed with the help from this group.

The other good news is if we do it right it will be good cheap fun.

Good luck

charliepace

 

Yea that's what I'm reading also. I went ahead and bout the car tonight. Gonna order my transmission tomorrow for 1599$ and hopefully put it in over the weekend if it gets here. This car has brand new michilens on it so I'm probably going to sell the rims and tires asap. Have to get it painted also it's the green/ teal color I think is ugly. Gonna get it painted black or silver haven't decided yet. I did pass a vanquish today that was silver that looked Awsome!

 

Bought* typing all this from my phone sorry ha

 

Welcome danny, don't worry too much about the spelling, phone access to the forum makes it really difficult to capitalize and such correctly. As long as there is some punctuation, and not much fragmentation of sentences (your post read just fine to me), you'll be A-ok.

Read that FAQ thread and the various topics on the xk8/r, lots of good info there on your newish car.

 

Thanks. Ya I read through all the stickies, I figured I got a ok deal for 2700$. Has brand tires if anyone wants them...

 

Hi Danny,

I have a 2001 XK8 and may be interested in the tires.
I live in orlando FL.

Regards,
David

 

Hi Danny,

Do the tires on a 97 xk8 fit a 2001 xk8 mine are 18 inch wheels that are offset? bigger at the back than the front?

Regards,
David

 

I'll have to check