What Price? 2002 Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport

[jcelee]

I have a very clean end of the line 2002 '02' Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport Auto in metallic British Racing Green with near perfect cream leather.

It was a dealer demonstrator for six months, then owned by an elderly couple for around 7.5 years before I bought it just over 2 years ago. It has around 79,000 miles on the clock and has a very thorough Jag & specialist service history. In addition, I have had the chain tensioners replaced with 3rd Gen metal ones, gearbox oil and filter changed, thermostat housing replaced with an aluminium one and just about every suspension bush replaced within the last 10k. It has around 11 months MOT and is taxed until the end of January 2012.

In terms of equipment, it has heated electric memory sports seats, cruise control, climate control, rear parking sensors,6 CD changer and heated windscreen.

I am only selling it because its hard to justify and park 4 cars, its so different from my other cars I will really miss it but needs must. Having said that while I appreciate it is a challenging market I'm not planning on giving it away...

Pics to follow but any thoughts on its value please?

[Jaguar steve]

jcelee said:

I have a very clean end of the line 2002 '02' Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport Auto in metallic British Racing Green with near perfect cream leather.

It was a dealer demonstrator for six months, then owned by an elderly couple for around 7.5 years before I bought it just over 2 years ago. It has around 79,000 miles on the clock and has a very thorough Jag & specialist service history. In addition, I have had the chain tensioners replaced with 3rd Gen metal ones, gearbox oil and filter changed, thermostat housing replaced with an aluminium one and just about every suspension bush replaced within the last 10k. It has around 11 months MOT and is taxed until the end of January 2012.

In terms of equipment, it has heated electric memory sports seats, cruise control, climate control, rear parking sensors,6 CD changer and heated windscreen.

I am only selling it because its hard to justify and park 4 cars, its so different from my other cars I will really miss it but needs must. Having said that while I appreciate it is a challenging market I'm not planning on giving it away...

Pics to follow but any thoughts on its value please?

That sounds like a nice car that's had all the necssary done - unfortunately no matter how nice an older Jaguar is you'll be hard pressed to get anywhere near what you might think it's worth as only very few hardcore Jaguar enthusiasts realise what bargins these are and the percieved running costs of an old XJ alone would put most people off even thinking about owning one.

I'd suggest you have a look on carsandclassic, in the Jaguar World magazine and if you have access to the JEC in thier classifieds to get some indication of asking prices.

If it's any help I've recently done a deal at £3k for a absolutely pristine 31k 2001 XJ8 with FJSH and very long MOT and tax. I saw the car I eventually bought initially advertised for £4995 then dropped to £3995 on Autotrader and aparently I was the only phone call the vendor had over a month a month of advertising there.

I sold my old XJ (2000 model, 101k long MOT and short tax) via the JEC magazine for £2.5k. That suggests to me it's a good move advertising in the enthusiast sector rather than trying somewhere mainstream like Autotrader.

I think that reflects the market quite well - the gentleman I bought the new car from even agreed to do the 150 mile round trip with his brother to deliver it to my home even before my cheque had cleared he was so keen to get the deal done - and it came with nearly a full tank of fuel too

[dkatwa]

wow...amazing you can get a car advertised for £3,995, for £3k! I would have been scared to offer £3,600 let alone anywhere near £3k...
what is the secret to getting such a good deal?

[Jaguar steve]

It was first advertised for £4999...

It's simple - supply and demand and price flexibility. Nobody wants old Jaguars as the general perception is they are ruiniously expensive to run and terminally unreliable. That makes old Jaguars a buyers market where you have the upper hand and can name your price and take your time. On the flip side if you were after a nice sensible Fiesta diesel you'd pretty soon find it's a sellers market and would have to pay full price there and then or somebody else would snap the car up very soon after.

Even though I have no need for another XJ - my old one was fine - I habitually flick through all the classifieds a couple of times a week just to see what's about. I'm still doing it now even though I've just replaced my car. If I see a potential replacement I'll go and view and if it turns out better than the car I already have I make completely unemotional and uninvolved take it or leave it offer at the price it's worth to me and not what the seller thinks it's worth to him.

I have the view if I loose the deal then so what? Nothing lost - I already have a nice XJ anyway and there's almost certain to be another one worth a look come up later on - and we usually combine any trips to look at cars with a opportunity for a pleasant drive, pub lunch and a day out somewhere new so the time and fuel used is put to good use even if the deal does not happen.

[jcelee]

Thanks Steve, I have a soon to expire JEC membership so should clearly advertise it there. I have to say that having done the preventative mantainance jobs I've actually found it a very inexpensive car to run for around 6k miles a year. Insurance for example was just over £170 a year fully comp this year!

Of course I'll put it up on Pistonheads too and it sounds like £2995 might be in order.