Jaguar XKR - Mercedes SL - Educate me........
Discussion
As per the title really.......
Currently I lease a car that is due to be returned at the end of July, and have decided that I am going to purchase my next car. Unfortunately I cannot afford to get the car I want until after April 2012. So with the following in mind:-
From my limited knowledge (and brief internet homework over past couple of evenings) - it appears I could afford the XKR SC approx 2002, a newer non-SC one, or the SL500/SL320 on a 98 plate.
All of the cars I am looking at are from 55,000 - 75,000 miles. What cars need what doing around these ages and mileage that I should be checking have been carried out, or need to factor into purchase price? What specifically on any of these cars should I be looking out for?
I have not driven either yet - but will be trying to arrange some drives over the next few weekends..........
Currently I lease a car that is due to be returned at the end of July, and have decided that I am going to purchase my next car. Unfortunately I cannot afford to get the car I want until after April 2012. So with the following in mind:-
- Between August 1st and April 5th - I will do approx 5000 miles
- I would like to stick to a £10,000 budget
- I would be looking to lose minimal money on further depreciation over this period. Happy to budget approx £1000 costs for servicing, tax, MOT etc in this.
- I have always liked the look of both the XKR and SL500 (or perhaps 320), and this seems a perfect time to try one of them.
- There is a 50/50 chance I would hold onto the car as a long term toy past April 2012
From my limited knowledge (and brief internet homework over past couple of evenings) - it appears I could afford the XKR SC approx 2002, a newer non-SC one, or the SL500/SL320 on a 98 plate.
All of the cars I am looking at are from 55,000 - 75,000 miles. What cars need what doing around these ages and mileage that I should be checking have been carried out, or need to factor into purchase price? What specifically on any of these cars should I be looking out for?
I have not driven either yet - but will be trying to arrange some drives over the next few weekends..........
As an SL500 owner, I will obviously suggest one of those! If you pop over to the Mercedes forum and either search through it or post something, there are several hugely knowledgeable members who will be able to point you in the right direction. I'm sure there are similar experts in the Jaguar forum as well.
Best of luck in your search!
Best of luck in your search!
Fats25 said:
- I would be looking to lose minimal money on further depreciation over this period. Happy to budget approx £1000 costs for servicing, tax, MOT etc in this.
I bought a 2005 35K miles SLK two months ago. I've had to spend double that in the first two months, and non of that was on tax, MOT or servicing, that was (is) just getting it right.
Edited by Ari on Tuesday 31st May 13:38
Ari said:
Any car of this ilk you're looking at the potential for big bills for running repairs. You might get lucky, or you might not. But if your budget is £1,000 for servicing, tax, MOT etc I'd think again.
I bought a 2005 35K miles SLK two months ago. I've had to send double that in the first two months, and non of that was on tax, MOT or servicing, that was (is) just getting it right.
I appreciate this, and I could find the money for unforseen bills if it did cost me more than this. However I would like to mitigate the risk of spending this money, by doing my homework, and understanding the likelihood/risk of having to spend this.I bought a 2005 35K miles SLK two months ago. I've had to send double that in the first two months, and non of that was on tax, MOT or servicing, that was (is) just getting it right.
chris333 said:
As an SL500 owner, I will obviously suggest one of those! If you pop over to the Mercedes forum and either search through it or post something, there are several hugely knowledgeable members who will be able to point you in the right direction. I'm sure there are similar experts in the Jaguar forum as well.
Best of luck in your search!
I will be over in a minute! Thanks....... Good Idea.Best of luck in your search!
Not as far as I can tell.
Everything I've read suggests a major quality dip between about 1996 - 2004 so an SL from that era will still be affected.
I went for a 2005 as the oldest I'd accept for thta reason but I don't appear to have escaped unscathed.
Having said that, in fairness the car has been brilliant, it's just suffered with lack of use, particularly regarding the air con system, which could have happened to any car similarly treated.
Everything I've read suggests a major quality dip between about 1996 - 2004 so an SL from that era will still be affected.
I went for a 2005 as the oldest I'd accept for thta reason but I don't appear to have escaped unscathed.
Having said that, in fairness the car has been brilliant, it's just suffered with lack of use, particularly regarding the air con system, which could have happened to any car similarly treated.
Some issues to look at on the XK8/R:
Timing chain tensioners. Jaguar did three designs of tensioner for the XK. A 2002 model would have the second generation plastic tensioners fitted as standard. These are plastic and while more reliable than the originals Jaguar introduced a metal tensioner kit in 2005.
On an XK/R with 75k on the clock it would be good idea to have the gear box oil changed. In theory they are sealed for life units but it's advisable to have it changed around that sort of mileage.
The other big issue is that you you should check for corrosion on the front sub frame and floor panels and also on the sills. Shouldn't be a problem on a 2002 model but early ones are really starting to suffer.
A new set of tyres all round will cost £800+ if replacing with the original fitment of Pirellis on 20" rims. These are very quick to wear in my experience.
Having said all that the servicing via indy Jag specialists is quite affordable and I have never had any serious issues with mine.
Timing chain tensioners. Jaguar did three designs of tensioner for the XK. A 2002 model would have the second generation plastic tensioners fitted as standard. These are plastic and while more reliable than the originals Jaguar introduced a metal tensioner kit in 2005.
On an XK/R with 75k on the clock it would be good idea to have the gear box oil changed. In theory they are sealed for life units but it's advisable to have it changed around that sort of mileage.
The other big issue is that you you should check for corrosion on the front sub frame and floor panels and also on the sills. Shouldn't be a problem on a 2002 model but early ones are really starting to suffer.
A new set of tyres all round will cost £800+ if replacing with the original fitment of Pirellis on 20" rims. These are very quick to wear in my experience.
Having said all that the servicing via indy Jag specialists is quite affordable and I have never had any serious issues with mine.
If you can get a 4.2 XK/R for that budget I'd go for that as the Mercs of that era can be pretty scary, reliability wise and the 4.2 addressed many of the Jag issues (Nikasil, timing chain etc.). I'm somewhat biased of course, but there are plenty of good Jag independents out there and are not too expensive.
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