There are a few guarantees that come with a Jaguar XJR, the latest
version of which
will be reviewed on PH shortly. It will of course be very fast, extremely opulent and yet suitably restrained as an overall package. Plus any XJR, regardless of its ability, will depreciate faster than you can say "long-wheelbase and the 21-inch wheels please."
Hence a previous generation X350 XJR is now available for £4,995. Alright, that's not an entirely representative price (we'll come to that in a second), but then the costliest X350 on PH is still only £20,000. For even greater luxury, a Super V8 is available for £12K.
19-inch wheels enhance the subtlety
But £4,995, that's worth talking about. The reason this 2003 XJR is at such a tiny fraction of its original price is, predictably, the mileage; the advert suggests it's done 175,000 miles.
After this sort of use, how far can conventional buying wisdom apply? A full Jaguar and specialist service history is an encouraging start, hopefully with some recent work to mitigate against immediate outlay. These XJRs are known for their fragile rear lower wishbone bearings for example, which can only be remedied by replacing the entire assembly at £500 a corner.
On the plus side, buying any XJR is unlikely to be trouble-free. With the CATS adaptive dampers and a plethora of interior electrics, it's a complex super saloon that will likely require maintenance regardless of mileage.
175,000 miles later, XJR's cabin looks fine
Furthermore, this car has reputedly covered its miles on the motorway, where it was presumably a wonderful place to waft away miles. These are of course easier than urban miles, and that appears largely borne out in the XJR's condition; the wheels appear largely free from kerbing and the interior is still perfectly presentable, a few creases on the driver's seat the only sign that it's covered 17,000 miles annually for the past decade.
Outside, the chrome still shines and silver paint looks fine. However, these are freshly washed advert photos, so a closer inspection may reveal some more major imperfections. Let's just say it looks fresher than its mileage would suggest for now.
Buying used is always a gamble; sometimes it pays off, sometimes not. This XJR could cost no more than a lower-mileage model to run or it could prove a money pit. A £5K supercharged V8 Jaguar saloon is as tempting a prospect as it is terrifying, but it would surely be an experience. It would be a bold purchase (it's brave enough from the dealer attempting to sell it!) but, hey, PH would be a much duller place without risk-takers. See the man who bought a £17K Ferrari 456 for inspiration...
JAGUAR XJR
Price: £4,995
Why you should: It's very cheap because of 10 easy years spent cruising, apparently.
Why you shouldn't: Another £5K could go very quickly resolving issues.
See the original advert here
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