I'm looking a buying a used xk8 with 69,000 miles on it. My wife thinks Jaguar's are not good reliable cars. The one I'm looking at has 2 problems. First the windows don't go up when they should. Also the top goes up vary slowly.
what do you think about the car?

 

An '03 XK8 should be a good, reliable car but is now 8 years old and has a couple problems. Please describe the window problem a little more. The first thing I would look at on the top operations is the level of the hydraulic fluid in the pump reservoir. While you are back there verify that the brass 'T' manual operation valve is fully closed (clockwise). Pumps have been replaced when the only problem was that the valve was open a little.

You know you want that car. Once you have been around one there is no avoiding the wanting.

I know you will be joining the forum shortly.

A moderator will be along shortly to move this thread over to the XK8/R forum where you will get better response.

 

I will get the car if possible because, I like the looks of it. I'm not scared of it, but would like to convince my wife It's not as bad as she thinks. I'm buying it from a used car dealer
who, said both problems are fixed. The window would go down every time you pulled on the door handle, but wouldn't go back up. The dealer also said the top didn't go up because
the battery was down from sitting around without running.

 

Window problems are often battery problems as the motor draws a lot of current (30A fuse) and pulls the voltage down on a weak battery. The car's computers go crazy if voltage drops below 10 volts, even momentarily. A weak battery may also cause the top pump to fail to meet the pressure requirements of operating the top. Both problems are reasonable results of a weak battery.

By '03 Jaguar had worked through all the issues, except for the top hoses of course, and the consensus is that they are pretty reliable cars. See the FAQ sticky above, now that you are on the XK8/R forum, for a purchase check list. Many of the items on the checklist do not apply to an '03. Like Mercedes, BMW, etc. these cars are going to be more expensive to maintain than a Chevy. Of course it is not a Chevy and that is the reason you are considering buying it.

 

The window issue you're describing sounds like it may be a simple reprogram. Get in the car and with the top up, run the window all the way down and hold the button down until you hear a small click then do the same for all the way up. A couple of times may be fine. This teaches the windows where the stops are and may be necessary if the battery got low.

I've had two now and I taken them on 6000 mile trips each summer. I keep a cheap scanner on board in case I throw a code out in the middle of nowhere and I can then reset it. Needed to do so twice on the last trip until I put a new MAF in from a chain autoparts store.

These are no worse than other cars but they do have a lot of gyzmos that you have to stay on top of. Great fuel economy on the hwy and very dependable motors from what I've learned. Good luck and enjoy.

 

Trade in the wife for a younger model. It sounds like she's already giving you problems. I recommend a low mileage blonde one (make sure the headliner color matches the carpet color).

In regards to the car, If you have just a little bit of nerve, you can fix just about anything that goes wrong. It doesn't even take much skill. Just a few tools and a willingness to tinker. Just look at my videos if you don't believe me. Of course, it helps that I have another car to drive when my Jag is broken. I'd probably be a little uncomfortable if the Jag was my only means of transportation.

 

lol, glad to have your wise advice being offered again Reverend. It was missed.

 

In favor of Reverend Sam wise statement, this is something for sure you can't say of any women. Whatever wrong with the car, it can be fixed. Get your car, there is only one life.

 

i wish they were a little more dependable

 

who, women or Jags???

 

My Jaguars have been very dependable! Only the necessary fluid changes have been needed in the last two years. (This does not include the money that I have spent to make it my own!)

 

I'm trying to think of anything that has gone wrong with my Jag in the last 2½ years...the rear pinion seal needed to be replaced, but that is just a seal. Besides that, it has pretty much been routine maintenance stuff (I'd actually consider a seal replacement pretty routine anyway)