Used jag inspection
Discussion
So.... I have found a car that I like, but am eager to get it inspected. It is a bit shabby, but I don't want a pristine one that I will slowly ruin through my owning and using it! This car will be bought to use...
My parents assure me the AA is a good choice, but I would rather have a specialist look it over. Only trouble is, I don't know any specialists near the car ( East Grinstead). One idea is to phone Jaguar Surrey and see if they would do it for me. If nothing else, I will use the AA, but I was hoping I could get some suggestions about X300 specialists.
Thanks everyone
My parents assure me the AA is a good choice, but I would rather have a specialist look it over. Only trouble is, I don't know any specialists near the car ( East Grinstead). One idea is to phone Jaguar Surrey and see if they would do it for me. If nothing else, I will use the AA, but I was hoping I could get some suggestions about X300 specialists.
Thanks everyone
Edited by YoungRestorer on Tuesday 29th July 14:49
You could have a look on the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club website, there are members on there who will go and look at cars for you. I've never had cause to use this though so can't comment on how good a job they will do, if there are costs etc. but if you want someone who knows a specific model well then that's a possibility.
You don't need a specialist.
What you do need is a Level Headed friend who knows enough about cars to make sure it drives OK, that everything works, the tyres are reasonable and who'll give you some guidance on condition. On top of that you need an MOT test you pay for yourself prior to purchase done by a garage of your choice that you trust. If the vendor won't agree to all of that then just walk.
Providing it's not rotten or tatty and obviously falling to bits or done more miles the the space shuttle chances are mechanically it'll be OK.
If its knackered then move onto the next one. You need to find an enthusiasts car that's been well cared for not a shagged out stone rashed pile of kack some dealer has taken in as px or picked up at auction for a couple of hundred quid. Nobody wants old big petrol engined cars so it's a buyers market.
Look at jagads, Jaguar World magazine and the JEC classifieds which you can access without being a club member
What you do need is a Level Headed friend who knows enough about cars to make sure it drives OK, that everything works, the tyres are reasonable and who'll give you some guidance on condition. On top of that you need an MOT test you pay for yourself prior to purchase done by a garage of your choice that you trust. If the vendor won't agree to all of that then just walk.
Providing it's not rotten or tatty and obviously falling to bits or done more miles the the space shuttle chances are mechanically it'll be OK.
If its knackered then move onto the next one. You need to find an enthusiasts car that's been well cared for not a shagged out stone rashed pile of kack some dealer has taken in as px or picked up at auction for a couple of hundred quid. Nobody wants old big petrol engined cars so it's a buyers market.
Look at jagads, Jaguar World magazine and the JEC classifieds which you can access without being a club member
Jaguar Steve, as always, your feedback is golden.
I fin myself in the position that no one wants to sell their pride and joy to me on account of my age: I have seen two people who have let me know they they have decided to keep it (code for they don't want me as the new owner). I saw the manual I am looking at on car and classic, and find that I much prefer the driving experience to that of the automatic. My choice is therefore severely limited in terms of manuals.
This dealer is himself a jaguar enthusiasts member, and was at Silverstone at an event over the weekend. He owns his own XJ manual and thus I am reassured that the car is not a £500 auction/px quick buck. The question is whether it is good condition for the money he is asking
Is your feedback basically that I just need someone to check that it is a decent car, not necessarily an excellent version of this model?
Thank you very much for your pointers across all the threads, they have been gratefully received
I fin myself in the position that no one wants to sell their pride and joy to me on account of my age: I have seen two people who have let me know they they have decided to keep it (code for they don't want me as the new owner). I saw the manual I am looking at on car and classic, and find that I much prefer the driving experience to that of the automatic. My choice is therefore severely limited in terms of manuals.
This dealer is himself a jaguar enthusiasts member, and was at Silverstone at an event over the weekend. He owns his own XJ manual and thus I am reassured that the car is not a £500 auction/px quick buck. The question is whether it is good condition for the money he is asking
Is your feedback basically that I just need someone to check that it is a decent car, not necessarily an excellent version of this model?
Thank you very much for your pointers across all the threads, they have been gratefully received
Manual X300s are rare and quite sought after - especially as they are the last manual XJ ever made. A pristine one will command almost whatever anybody is prepared to pay for it and even a slightly tatty one will still carry a premium.
Despite a heavy clutch and a agricultural change quality the manuals perform much better and offer improved economy than the equivalent automatic. That's partly because the auto X300 3.2 is an ancient 3 speed 'box with an overdrive 4th gear that has a lot of torque converter slip engineered into it to improve refinement and only changes up to 4th and locks up the converter at 50 MPH. That means you are driving around in second and third most of the time which is ruinous for fuel economy. That's fine in a motorway cruise in 4th but a hard driven X300 in city centre dawdle and thrash will drink even more than I do.
I had a weekend away in Wales a few years ago in my 3.2 X300 auto - 19 MPG. Almost exactly the same route in the replacement X308 3.2 - 24+ MPG.
The only way to tell if the cars a good one is look at several. That way when the right one comes along you'll have past experience to draw on. Specifically buy on paint, interior and body condition, the odd missed service or drop of leaking oil or minor scuff or dink will have to be accepted on any 17+ year old car
The bottom line is you're buying a simple well engineered car with robust mechanical bits.
It may have the odd electrical issue but it's essential it's not corroded anywhere. That's the killer.
Despite a heavy clutch and a agricultural change quality the manuals perform much better and offer improved economy than the equivalent automatic. That's partly because the auto X300 3.2 is an ancient 3 speed 'box with an overdrive 4th gear that has a lot of torque converter slip engineered into it to improve refinement and only changes up to 4th and locks up the converter at 50 MPH. That means you are driving around in second and third most of the time which is ruinous for fuel economy. That's fine in a motorway cruise in 4th but a hard driven X300 in city centre dawdle and thrash will drink even more than I do.
I had a weekend away in Wales a few years ago in my 3.2 X300 auto - 19 MPG. Almost exactly the same route in the replacement X308 3.2 - 24+ MPG.
The only way to tell if the cars a good one is look at several. That way when the right one comes along you'll have past experience to draw on. Specifically buy on paint, interior and body condition, the odd missed service or drop of leaking oil or minor scuff or dink will have to be accepted on any 17+ year old car
The bottom line is you're buying a simple well engineered car with robust mechanical bits.
It may have the odd electrical issue but it's essential it's not corroded anywhere. That's the killer.
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