You can’t handle the truth. (fiction)
Do you have any idea how much money a, let us say a 2000 XK8, is to own?
You buy one 65K with some service records for fluid changes, battery and water pump/thermostat change, great looking car and can’t wait for top down driving.OK!
The top struggles down and won’t lock at the windshield, order parts and get indy to do work, hoses, rams and labor $2500.
A little spirited driving, tire rub, ugh.Shocks , mounts and labor all the way round $1800.
Time for enjoyment. After 500 miles get the ABS/Trac light.I get away cheap with a rebuilt and labor $250, but was told the brakes are bad, $650 later, back in business.
Loving the car, finally getting the looks I always knew would be there, but what’s that smell, ugh.Somewhere in the back of the engine orange fluid is escaping its confining hose.It’s called what!Yes go ahead and get the ones under the intake while you are at it.$1500, ouch!
Now, one year later and have put a wonderful 6000 miles on it, the tires are firkin bald. $1600 with the extra’s they tack on.
Started to hear a little rattle at start up.Even I know what that is.Turns out the tensioners only the second generation plastic, so $1200 later all is well.
The truth;
Over the two years we could have gotten lots of cars, but no one would compare in looks or ride for that matter and we have been lucky.The transmission had the upgrade, bushings in the front and throttle body sensor done.No wild codes to chase, but we do have to keep a battery tender on, as something is eating power with the switch off.We will find it of it will quit working, one or the other, better chance it will give up.We got the car at a very good price, yeah, how did that work out.$7700 and counting if you had these routine faults show up, plus the price of the car, off course.
Are you ready to go get yours?Don’t take this as a negative, if I just sat in the garage, that would be fine, except on a sunny day, I would push it outside.
A little disclaimer, we haven’t had all these problems yet, but some, just a little bit of reality to those looking to get the best looking car made since 1996.

Wayne
(it's cold and a little bored and thought about what I really should be doing, so just wrote about it)

 

Wayne,

Either Wednesday or Thursday of this week would be absolutely delightful days to tear into your XK8 top rams. The outside temps could stay below 25 degrees all day on both days. Break out the sunscreen and the beach towels and we can go in after them....

Just kidding, my friend. While I would love it, I know your fingers would freeze up like popsicles and you would be miserable all day. Your car's top innards wouldn't appreciate it, either. We may wind up snapping off brittle parts and doing more damage than we are able to repair....

The job can continue to wait for a bit more appropriate outside weather. We'll get to it when the time is right....

 

Jon, if you only knew how much I thought about doing this on Thursday, you came to mind as soon as I saw the forecast. LOL
Not yet, but the top is down, just incase we get a day in the 50's without rain, key word here is rain. Can't even play golf, well not much.


Wayne

 

Just keep me posted, Wayne. Given a couple of days notice, I should be able to join you for the rams project. I agree - we don't want to be doing this under any threat of rain. Clear blue skies all day are essential. Maybe next week or the week after. Jan and I are also planning to visit my mom in High Point next week or the week after, but she's been very ill since before Christmas and needs to recover a bit more first. That will also need to be a relatively warm day since the dogs must stay outside all day while we're gone....

Sure hope Christine has recovered from her throat and respiratory issues by now....

 

Wayne,

A little Faulkner fits nicely here, don't you think? (The punctuation is his; but then again he was probably drunk.)

"You don’t love because: you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults."

 

Essential reading for any prospective buyer who doesn't yet know WHY used Jaguars are so cheap!

Graham

 

Had to go to our next Capital City to pick up my '99 XJ
Called in to see elder sister for the first time in a year and she asks what brings me up her way?
Brought a Jag I says. Quote "I have three words for you,--ARE YOU MAD"

Her thoughts were of my father every weekend with his head inside the bonnet of his MK11..

Never had an issue with car that wasn't routine maintenance.

 

Off-topic, but: "You want to buy what?" was my wife's response when I said I'd been offered one of these:




Best wishes, Colin

 

Colin, That would do it! (goodbye wife).
I saw many a village in Beds. that you would wipe out just going down the street.
Nice safe way to get around.


Wayne

 

Jeez Wayne! You've got more into her than I have into mine - and I had to replace an ENGINE(!) 30,000 miles into my ownership!

Still, ... you're pretty much on target: It's wonderful just to walk into the garage and see her sitting there, beckoning.

We are all such lost causes.

 

What if you promised her the job of standing in the observation hatch or whatever
you call that opening?

 

Plums, You mean you don't already have one of them telling you which way to go. I never got a sun roof on a car, I was sure that would happen.
Kind of a Richard and Hyacinth thing. You have to watch PBS to understand.


Wayne


No offence ladies, just a little LOL.