Just viewed an XJ40 and an X300 - help me decide please!

[mccrackenj]

Ok everyone - I need your help urgently. I viewed 2 XJ6 3.2s yesterday & today and I can't decide so I'm looking for opinions

Car 1

Late 1995 X300 3.2 Sport in Sapphire blue with black leather. 115k with S/h up to 75k which was 2001. 2 owners. It's bviously had at least oil changes since then but no paperwork to prove. Seems very good overall, but some rust on 2 arches. One arch had some bubbling, about 8 inch line of small bubbles. Another arch had an angry looking crusty patch about 1 1/2 inch diameter. Both arches strangely felt fine and solid from behind. No other rust and overall the paintwork looked pretty good. Interior was fine, some minor scuffing on driver's seat bolster but nothing a good treatment with leather cream etc couldn't sort out I don't think. Car ran fine and no nasty clunks or pulling to either side under acceleration or braking. Tyres and alloys in good condition.

Being sold by dealer who will take £2000. MOT to Sept 08 but no Tax.

Car 2

1994 3.2 Gold in dark blue metallic with cream leather. Only 77k but with absolutely no S/H at all. 3 owners.
Again the car has obviously had at least oil & ATF changes recently but no paperwork of any kind. Condition very good indeed. No visible rust anywhere. Minor rust to the back of the front bumper and surface rust on A-frame. Also bubbling under chrome on front bumper centre blade.
Downside of this one is the paintwork, it's obviously been through a carwash many many times so the paint is a mass of tiny swirls and scratches and is therefore getting a bit flat. I don't know just how much I can improve things until I get stuck in with polishes etc so I don't know the potential for getting a really good finish. The overall finish on the X300 is considerably better. Again, the interior was fine, the seats could just do with a good clean and some cream. The car ran fine and no nasty clunks etc, but did pull to left appreciably under braking. Tyres and alloys in good condition.

Price £1900, private sale, with tax to end March and MOT to May

So - which one to go for?

Obviously the X300 is the more modern car and should be better built with slightly better engine etc, but lately I'm finding myself drawn to the shape of the XJ40, mainly I suppose because they are so rare nowadays

Also - £2000 is cheap for an X300 but a pretty strong price for an XJ40

Basically I have decided that I'm def buying one of these 2, but which one?

What do you all think?

Thanks all

[GavinPearson]

The first point you should bear in mind is about oil changes - has it really had them?

Because they are so stretched out anyway, forgetting one will put the bearings on the road to failure. Not good.

The 40 sounds better in this regard, but I'd be worried about the paint. The 300 may have an OK body, but I'd be worried about it's engine falling apart.

I think you need to find more candidates. Look at 4 litre cars as well, they are noticeably more gutsy and barely suffer any fuel consumption penalty.

[mccrackenj]

Thanks for replying Gavin.

If I'd the choice I'd much prefer a 4.0.

Unfortunately I live in Belfast so I only have access to what is available within Northern Ireland - I'm not prepared to pay for flights & ferries etc to go and see £2000 cars. I have been looking for a decent X300 or XJ40 for some time and there are very very few around locally and 4.0's seem to be completely non-existent. Both appear to run sweetly - but I take your point that they may have had a fluid change recently, but that could be the 1st for ages.

These are the best I've seen in this price range for a while and basically I'm not waiting any longer as I want a comfy car now, before the winter sets in.

If either of them turn out not to be a great decision I'm prepared to accept the financial consquences.

So - it's decision time.

[GavinPearson]

If it was a decision out of the two it would be the 300, based on the body condition alone.

If you get the car, have ALL the fluids changed, it really does extend the life of the car massively.

250K on one of these cars is not unusual if the oil is changed every 5000 miles.

[Jaguar steve]

I'd go for the X300, and try to screw the dealer for some sort of warranty.

Regardless of what you may like the 300 will be easier to sell on if it's a dog.

On the other hand if it's a good 'un, and you change all the fluids far more often than Jaguar reccommend, and take care of it it's the luxury car bargin of a lifetime.

[mccrackenj]

Thanks for your opinions chaps. I've told the owner of the XJ40 that I'll not be proceeding with that one. I'm still considering the X300, because I really liked the interior.

I just wonder how long the current bits of rust on 2 arches will take before it's really unsightly, and what it might cost to have the arches replaced and painted.

Any ideas?

[a8hex]

mccrackenj said:

Thanks for your opinions chaps. I've told the owner of the XJ40 that I'll not be proceeding with that one. I'm still considering the X300, because I really liked the interior.

I just wonder how long the current bits of rust on 2 arches will take before it's really unsightly, and what it might cost to have the arches replaced and painted.

Any ideas?

X300s are galvanised and so they shouldn't normally rust. Is the rust anywhere where the car could have been scratched?
How bad is the rust? does it need cutting out and replacing or does it just need treating and respraying?

[mccrackenj]

I didn't notice any scratches anywhere on the arches.

They feel solid in behind, so hopefully it would just be a rub down, treat and paint job. One arch is just a row of smallish bubbles that hasn't broken through the paint, but the other is a crusty 'scab' about 1 1/2 inch diameter. Again it hasn't broken through the paint yet either but presumably it won't be long?

[james S]

You are close to a V8 budget wise. I've had both and strongly prefer the V8s - more powerful, smoother and with more refined interiors. There is some evidence the 6 cylinder are more buller proof however.

I doubt I'll get more than 2k for mine when it goes.

[x200sxy]

I've just had all the arches done properly on my XJ40 (not that they were bad) and it cost me £300.

[mccrackenj]

james S said:

You are close to a V8 budget wise. I've had both and strongly prefer the V8s - more powerful, smoother and with more refined interiors. There is some evidence the 6 cylinder are more buller proof however.

I doubt I'll get more than 2k for mine when it goes.

I haven't seen any V8s locally at less than about £3500, apart from fleabay, but at that price they will be pre 2000 and you'd have to get tensioners changed for peace of mind, surely? Also, I prefer the dash of the X300s to the X308s. Still, when 2000/01 4.0 V8s start to get into £3-4000 territory then I'll have to reconsider!

[mccrackenj]

x200sxy said:

I've just had all the arches done properly on my XJ40 (not that they were bad) and it cost me £300.

That sounds v good to me. If I thought I could get 2 done properly for say £200/£250 then I'd be very tempted.

[Jaguar steve]

mccrackenj said:

james S said:

You are close to a V8 budget wise. I've had both and strongly prefer the V8s - more powerful, smoother and with more refined interiors. There is some evidence the 6 cylinder are more buller proof however.

I doubt I'll get more than 2k for mine when it goes.

I haven't seen any V8s locally at less than about £3500, apart from fleabay, but at that price they will be pre 2000 and you'd have to get tensioners changed for peace of mind, surely? Also, I prefer the dash of the X300s to the X308s. Still, when 2000/01 4.0 V8s start to get into £3-4000 territory then I'll have to reconsider!

A cheap V8 from ebay.....now you're being silly Buy the X300

[mccrackenj]

Jaguar steve said:

mccrackenj said:

james S said:

You are close to a V8 budget wise. I've had both and strongly prefer the V8s - more powerful, smoother and with more refined interiors. There is some evidence the 6 cylinder are more buller proof however.

I doubt I'll get more than 2k for mine when it goes.

I haven't seen any V8s locally at less than about £3500, apart from fleabay, but at that price they will be pre 2000 and you'd have to get tensioners changed for peace of mind, surely? Also, I prefer the dash of the X300s to the X308s. Still, when 2000/01 4.0 V8s start to get into £3-4000 territory then I'll have to reconsider!

A cheap V8 from ebay.....now you're being silly Buy the X300

You're right of course, wouldn't consider it unless I knew someone who could do tensioners etc for a good price and unless gearbox was OK.

The whole equation might have just changed though. Got 2 calls re my TVR last night and one is hopefully coming to see on Sat. If it sells then I may not be looking for a cheap X300 after all . . .

[Johnniem]

Go for an X300 but keep looking. Try PH classifieds or Jaguar Enthusiast Club website. There are lots of good ones out there for very little money. You should find one cheaper and in better condition.

[x200sxy]

mccrackenj said:

x200sxy said:

I've just had all the arches done properly on my XJ40 (not that they were bad) and it cost me £300.

That sounds v good to me. If I thought I could get 2 done properly for say £200/£250 then I'd be very tempted.

Must be the cheap labour here in Scotland! But honestly they really were not bad at all (car's 14 years old but only done 28k).

[Jaguar steve]

If you do up the budget and go for a V8, find Broadbean747's post on PH first.
It's ESSENTIAL reading for anyone considering a XJ8. IMO They are fantastic cars, I've had mine for two years now and love it to bits...but there's plenty of bad ones out there and buying a rough one will end in tears.

[mccrackenj]

Thanks Steve. Read it some time ago and printed off for future reference.

[a8hex]

Jaguar steve said:

IMO They are fantastic cars, I've had mine for two years now and love it to bits

Pah! beginners.
I've had my X300 for 11 and half, and still love it to bits. They're great cars too.

[Jaguar steve]

a8hex said:

Jaguar steve said:

IMO They are fantastic cars, I've had mine for two years now and love it to bits

Pah! beginners.
I've had my X300 for 11 and half, and still love it to bits. They're great cars too.

Yep, couldn't agree more...my X300 worked out cheaper to run compared with the curent XJ8 over the time I owned it too