Looking to buy my first jag
Discussion
Hello there Jaguar Forum!
I am thinking about buying an X300 for myself. Why an X300 I hear you cry?! Because of insurance. The XJ8 and XJ40 variants are just too expensive to insure, while I can get a nice 3.2 X300 insured for £950 and a 4.0 for £1200 (I know that is stupidly high for a classic Jag, but cheaper than a bunch of other "more sensible" things for a 19 year old!)
I have done some fairly extensive sleuthing on these forums about these cars. It seems I can expect 25 mpg and that the minimum requirements to consider when looking are 12 months MOT and FSH. I have also located several buying guides of things to check for when buying.
My real problem here is my parents. They are reluctant for me to "get into a hypercar and kill all my friends" and that it will be too expensive for me to run... I rely on them to pay for the insurance, and so I am stuck until they understand the lack of risk
The real reason for this post is to ask a couple of you what your running costs are like? People always say to buy a good one, but I don't know what a good one is. Is anyone aware of any "good ones" for sale at the moment for a limited budget? Any pointers for how to persuade them that this isn't a car that will be vandalised and picked on?
Another pointer that was given is to go for the highest spec car possible: this both appeals and doesn't appeal. Firstly, the insurance is a couple of hundred pounds more, and I have to pay anything over £1000, which eats into my car budget. Secondly, while I love the Daimler seats, there are so many additional things to go wrong in them as opposed to a nice 3.2 sport! I really, really want leather, but other than that, spec isn't that important.
Lastly, I really fancy the idea of a manual X300: they are very rare, and the only good one for sale at the moment is £2500 on Ebay, with quite high mileage considering the price. Is anyone aware of any manuals being sold, or coming up for sale? £2500 is really the top end of my budget, and insurance may still piss on my manual parade...
Thanks very much for all/any replies to my ramblings, and apologies for the roundabout, waffly way in which it is written: well done for making it to the end!
I am thinking about buying an X300 for myself. Why an X300 I hear you cry?! Because of insurance. The XJ8 and XJ40 variants are just too expensive to insure, while I can get a nice 3.2 X300 insured for £950 and a 4.0 for £1200 (I know that is stupidly high for a classic Jag, but cheaper than a bunch of other "more sensible" things for a 19 year old!)
I have done some fairly extensive sleuthing on these forums about these cars. It seems I can expect 25 mpg and that the minimum requirements to consider when looking are 12 months MOT and FSH. I have also located several buying guides of things to check for when buying.
My real problem here is my parents. They are reluctant for me to "get into a hypercar and kill all my friends" and that it will be too expensive for me to run... I rely on them to pay for the insurance, and so I am stuck until they understand the lack of risk
The real reason for this post is to ask a couple of you what your running costs are like? People always say to buy a good one, but I don't know what a good one is. Is anyone aware of any "good ones" for sale at the moment for a limited budget? Any pointers for how to persuade them that this isn't a car that will be vandalised and picked on?
Another pointer that was given is to go for the highest spec car possible: this both appeals and doesn't appeal. Firstly, the insurance is a couple of hundred pounds more, and I have to pay anything over £1000, which eats into my car budget. Secondly, while I love the Daimler seats, there are so many additional things to go wrong in them as opposed to a nice 3.2 sport! I really, really want leather, but other than that, spec isn't that important.
Lastly, I really fancy the idea of a manual X300: they are very rare, and the only good one for sale at the moment is £2500 on Ebay, with quite high mileage considering the price. Is anyone aware of any manuals being sold, or coming up for sale? £2500 is really the top end of my budget, and insurance may still piss on my manual parade...
Thanks very much for all/any replies to my ramblings, and apologies for the roundabout, waffly way in which it is written: well done for making it to the end!
Hooli: Yeah, it does vary from month to month: for a while, and XJ40 was cheaper, but now (for the same price) I could insure a V8 XJR!
Ecurie Ecosse: Thanks very much, helpful feedback. As above, I did try insurance on an XJR, it was £1.8k on insurance and dreadful mpg... hopefully at later point in my life though!
Jaguar steve: Thanks in advance for your buyers guides: everywhere I look, people are raving about them! I had appreciated that the Jag would find "being shagged" a challenge, so no need to worry about racing my mates. I hadn't heard of Jaguar World classifieds, but I will take a look
Ecurie Ecosse: Thanks very much, helpful feedback. As above, I did try insurance on an XJR, it was £1.8k on insurance and dreadful mpg... hopefully at later point in my life though!
Jaguar steve: Thanks in advance for your buyers guides: everywhere I look, people are raving about them! I had appreciated that the Jag would find "being shagged" a challenge, so no need to worry about racing my mates. I hadn't heard of Jaguar World classifieds, but I will take a look
LewG: My god, just seen your garage! I don't mind admitting that I nearly passed out with elation when I saw your XJS again... my favourite car under 10k at the moment, bar none! I just can't justify buying one and I dont have the budget (being a student) to lavish the care that my love for them would require. Thankfully, they are a little above my budget too, otherwise PH might find itself with another "V12 sized gamble"
Lovely to hear your impressions though, and I'm glad you approve of my (nearly made) decision!
Lovely to hear your impressions though, and I'm glad you approve of my (nearly made) decision!
Edited by YoungRestorer on Monday 21st July 18:11
Humper (ace username btw): Cheers for the advice 
LewG: Don't worry, I'm not as brave an ebayer as you, although I did bid on that XJS manual that Harry Metcalfe just bought... when it was around 1.8k
thats the exact reason why I didn't just do it, my overdraft would have been used every day maintaining it. I just couldn't risk THAT Jag... THIS Jag on the other hand is completely different.... I'm based in South West London, if I am ever around your neck of the woods, I won't hesitate, thanks for the generous offer 
LewG: Don't worry, I'm not as brave an ebayer as you, although I did bid on that XJS manual that Harry Metcalfe just bought... when it was around 1.8k
thats the exact reason why I didn't just do it, my overdraft would have been used every day maintaining it. I just couldn't risk THAT Jag... THIS Jag on the other hand is completely different.... I'm based in South West London, if I am ever around your neck of the woods, I won't hesitate, thanks for the generous offer UPDATE:
I went to go and see my first X300 today. It was just beautiful, so wonderful. The seller took me for a 90 min test drive, and I'm fairly sure I need this car. He later emails me to explain that he has fallen back in love with the car after the drive and wont be selling it: a disappointment as I was hoping to buy it tomorrow!
I'm going to see a manual one tomorrow, but I really need a car for next weekend. Does anyone have any recommendations for good X300s to see in the South West London area?
Any contributions are, as ever, gratefully received
I went to go and see my first X300 today. It was just beautiful, so wonderful. The seller took me for a 90 min test drive, and I'm fairly sure I need this car. He later emails me to explain that he has fallen back in love with the car after the drive and wont be selling it: a disappointment as I was hoping to buy it tomorrow!
I'm going to see a manual one tomorrow, but I really need a car for next weekend. Does anyone have any recommendations for good X300s to see in the South West London area?
Any contributions are, as ever, gratefully received
LewG: this one... http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/131237526189?nav=WATCHING_...
I wanted it so much, and I felt appalling as it flew over the buy it now price I had begged my parents to lend me some money to cover. Some get away I guess!
News re my car: I pick it up tomorrow! Keep your eyes peeled on the Readers Car thread for more details
Thanks to everyone for your help, I couldn't have done it without you
I wanted it so much, and I felt appalling as it flew over the buy it now price I had begged my parents to lend me some money to cover. Some get away I guess!
News re my car: I pick it up tomorrow! Keep your eyes peeled on the Readers Car thread for more details
Thanks to everyone for your help, I couldn't have done it without you
Car is bought: thread is up in Readers Cars here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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