Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport
Discussion
Following my thread last week on which Jag to buy, I was offered a very good example of an XJ8 by a fellow PHer. Several emails, phonecalls and a facetime walkaround later I was on my way down South to give it a look.
I must say my experience with the seller was extremely good. A very honest and helpful chap that gave me great confidence in the car before even making the trip. Having looked around it I handed over the cash and made my way back North!
I always feel a slight apprehension when bringing home a new car that something drastic is going to go wrong so for the first 20 miles or so I was listening out for noises, smoke in the rear view mirror and all the other usual nightmares than can quite easily turn a man to a jibbering wreck! Eventually I started to relax, popped the cruise on and wafted home in almost complete silence. Having been used to an MR2 for the past couple of years, this was a very different experience altogether, I have never felt so relaxed behind the wheel in 12 years of driving.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning! I never feel at home in a car until I have given it a good valet, so set to work on the interior. The condition is very good with some slight wearing on the drivers seat, I will be getting this done at the weekend. A local chap is extremely good at restoring leather and isn't unreasonable with his pricing either, so it's already booked in there. Generally however, it looks almost brand new in there and is a fantastic place to be.
After the interior was clean I set to work on the exterior. Battling with the light was my biggest problem so I only got chance to give her a good wash. While my man does the drivers seat this weekend I will be clay barring the bodywork!
Overall I am very pleased with the car. It really does put a smile on my face, and with a classic insurance policy to cover me and the wife FC I'm paying just £250 a year! The only niggles are one of the door pins is missing and another is stuck, so I will need to source some.
I'll let the pictures do the talking:
Comments welcome
I must say my experience with the seller was extremely good. A very honest and helpful chap that gave me great confidence in the car before even making the trip. Having looked around it I handed over the cash and made my way back North!
I always feel a slight apprehension when bringing home a new car that something drastic is going to go wrong so for the first 20 miles or so I was listening out for noises, smoke in the rear view mirror and all the other usual nightmares than can quite easily turn a man to a jibbering wreck! Eventually I started to relax, popped the cruise on and wafted home in almost complete silence. Having been used to an MR2 for the past couple of years, this was a very different experience altogether, I have never felt so relaxed behind the wheel in 12 years of driving.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning! I never feel at home in a car until I have given it a good valet, so set to work on the interior. The condition is very good with some slight wearing on the drivers seat, I will be getting this done at the weekend. A local chap is extremely good at restoring leather and isn't unreasonable with his pricing either, so it's already booked in there. Generally however, it looks almost brand new in there and is a fantastic place to be.
After the interior was clean I set to work on the exterior. Battling with the light was my biggest problem so I only got chance to give her a good wash. While my man does the drivers seat this weekend I will be clay barring the bodywork!
Overall I am very pleased with the car. It really does put a smile on my face, and with a classic insurance policy to cover me and the wife FC I'm paying just £250 a year! The only niggles are one of the door pins is missing and another is stuck, so I will need to source some.
I'll let the pictures do the talking:
Comments welcome
im really please you like the car Dave, im glad it went to you :-)
it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
lestershaw said:
im really please you like the car Dave, im glad it went to you :-)
it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
I knew I knew the car! it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
lestershaw said:
im really please you like the car Dave, im glad it went to you :-)
it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
Thanks again Lester, was nice to deal with a good seller, the car was exactly as described and runs very nicely! it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, and im sorry that the the rain stopped too late for me to was and clean the car properly before you arrived.
you were a pleasure to deal with, great communications, and did everything you said you would and when you said you would. Have fun
Lester
StoatInACoat said:
Love it! Want one, can't afford to run it 
Are you keeping a blog on it? Be interested to see what sort of bills it throws at you. My Dad's seems to cost millions to keep going but it is older than yours and he does just drive it to the garage whenever it makes a funny noise.
I'll keep this thread updated, it's had a lot of major work done and been well maintained so I'll just keep on top of it and fingers crossed all will be fine. I know a good mechanic anyway Are you keeping a blog on it? Be interested to see what sort of bills it throws at you. My Dad's seems to cost millions to keep going but it is older than yours and he does just drive it to the garage whenever it makes a funny noise.
It returned 26.8mpg on the run down at a 'comfortable cruising speed' and I'm getting just under 20 commuting to work. I didn't buy it for the economy though, you have to expect them to like a drink. What I'm spending on fuel I'm saving on depreciation of buying newer. It's quite tempting to boot passed slower cars, but that novelty will probably wear off (maybe).
Lovely, miss my 3.2 XJ6 every day just needed more space hence the estate now. Will have another one sometime (hopefully soon and hopefully a XJR) Mine threw up no big bills in my ownership.
Good luck op and always nice to see cars changing hands between forum members.
And a quick pic of the old boy!
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
Good luck op and always nice to see cars changing hands between forum members.
And a quick pic of the old boy!
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
firman said:
Lovely, miss my 3.2 XJ6 every day just needed more space hence the estate now. Will have another one sometime (hopefully soon and hopefully a XJR) Mine threw up no big bills in my ownership.
Good luck op and always nice to see cars changing hands between forum members.
And a quick pic of the old boy!
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
Nice example that! Do like the wheels, I was thinking a nice set of BBS' would finish it off nicely, but it's too easily to get carried with these things.Good luck op and always nice to see cars changing hands between forum members.
And a quick pic of the old boy!
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
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