Why Are XJ's So Cheap??
Discussion
I'm I mad, or is this a lot of car for the cash?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
They are cheap, and unless that one is absolutely immaculate, it's not all that cheap. I bought an X300 at the end of last year for £1100, and I paid over the odds. A V8 of that age could be had for £1000 upwards, I reckon.
They're cheap because they're big and thirsty. If mine was worth keeping, I'd get the arches fixed. It's a base spec 3.2, and I can't see it fetching more than about £650. It's not worth spending any money on.
They're cheap because they're big and thirsty. If mine was worth keeping, I'd get the arches fixed. It's a base spec 3.2, and I can't see it fetching more than about £650. It's not worth spending any money on.
My father's had his '99 car since 2000 and it's been utterly reliable and main agent servicing has been very cheap! I gather anything that's likely to have had Nikasil issues will have done so by now the only other thing to watch are the plastic cam chain tensioners. Check the service history as these may have already been done.
It's worth paying more for an immaculate car than getting something rough. While that goes for pretty much anything it's especially true of Jags, 7 Series, Mercs etc.
It's worth paying more for an immaculate car than getting something rough. While that goes for pretty much anything it's especially true of Jags, 7 Series, Mercs etc.
Cheap because nobody wants them. XJ's are precieved as unreliable and ruiniously expensive to run and incomplete unless the ashtray is full of cigar butts and there are a couple of dodgy microwaves and a case of vodka in the boot. Since the modern trend appears to be making cars appear as fugly and angrily aggressive as possible the nicely balanced proportions and smooth flowing lines of the classically styled XJ have become deeply unfashionable too.
Do we give even the very tiniest of flying fvcks about all this? Personally I think not.
Depreciation is the biggest killer of all car expenses. Buying and running a three of four year old 4 door Eurobox over the next 5 years or so will, dispite it's lower fuel, maintainence and VED costs will almost certainly work out more expensive than doing the same mileage annually in a pristine 10 year old XJ.
And I know what I'd rather be driving...
Do we give even the very tiniest of flying fvcks about all this? Personally I think not.
Depreciation is the biggest killer of all car expenses. Buying and running a three of four year old 4 door Eurobox over the next 5 years or so will, dispite it's lower fuel, maintainence and VED costs will almost certainly work out more expensive than doing the same mileage annually in a pristine 10 year old XJ.
And I know what I'd rather be driving...

Jaguar steve said:
Depreciation is the biggest killer of all car expenses. Buying and running a three of four year old 4 door Eurobox over the next 5 years or so will, dispite it's lower fuel, maintainence and VED costs will almost certainly work out more expensive than doing the same mileage annually in a pristine 10 year old XJ.
And I know what I'd rather be driving...
I agreeAnd I know what I'd rather be driving...

Modern cars with their fancy electronics will soon go Pop so thats the end of that
At least the odd rust hole can be welded
Acording to my V5 I'm driving a '99 car, now what part was that !!
What do you consider cheap ? I paid $21500 for 2000 model 3.2 XJ8 Jag in pristine condition.That's Australian dollars. The timing gear had all been done, interior and duco was spot on. I've had it 6 months and so far have only had to replace the brake switch witch can go in any car. Its done 135000 klms which for a V8 is not high.I only do long country trips so it's easy on the engine and I would expect to get many years of very pleasurable motoring from this fine vehicle.My 1999 AU Ford had 240000 on the clock when I sold it. I would expect nothing less from a Jaguar.
Colinbentley said:
What do you consider cheap ? I paid $21500 for 2000 model 3.2 XJ8 Jag in pristine condition.That's Australian dollars. The timing gear had all been done, interior and duco was spot on. I've had it 6 months and so far have only had to replace the brake switch witch can go in any car. Its done 135000 klms which for a V8 is not high.I only do long country trips so it's easy on the engine and I would expect to get many years of very pleasurable motoring from this fine vehicle.My 1999 AU Ford had 240000 on the clock when I sold it. I would expect nothing less from a Jaguar.
You paid about £13500, according to an money exchange website, and over here in the UK the same car would cost about £2000. Cheap.
As said, they are cheap mainly because of the perceived bills of running something like that. The reality is actually they aren't that much more expensive then any other modern car, fuel bills aside. A guy at work has just paid £700 for the service on his diesel Audi A4 so it's not as if buying a 'sensible' car makes you immune to big bills.
And yes, that is strong money for that car, I'll take this W reg, one owner, 99,000 mile car for £1,700 please (not the best exterior colour though).
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
And yes, that is strong money for that car, I'll take this W reg, one owner, 99,000 mile car for £1,700 please (not the best exterior colour though).
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
I paid £600 for an XJ 4.0 Sport ( AJ16 engine) that had a doggy top damper mount.
Paid £500 quid for a full service ( oil, plugs, BELTS, filters, and the mount ).
The interior was and still is as new.It pulls really well in all gears and I now use it as my everyday car.
The bills for my punto used to be higher than the Jag's !
It's a 95 so it comes under classic car insurance ( £150 for 6k miles )!
I don't think you can get this much class for less
Paid £500 quid for a full service ( oil, plugs, BELTS, filters, and the mount ).
The interior was and still is as new.It pulls really well in all gears and I now use it as my everyday car.
The bills for my punto used to be higher than the Jag's !
It's a 95 so it comes under classic car insurance ( £150 for 6k miles )!
I don't think you can get this much class for less
I've run my X300 as my everyday car for 16 years. It was nearly new when I bought it, so I've seen the depreciation, but its lost less than 2grand a year and I still prefer it to any new car I've driven. Its been the cheapest car to own I've had since I could only afford sheds. Even main dealer services weren't too expensive, back when it had them. Lancasters in Reading always did a good job on the car and as I said weren't too expensive.
Spares can be a bit pricey though. I think it needs a new air con compressor, which isn't going to be too cheap :-(
Spares can be a bit pricey though. I think it needs a new air con compressor, which isn't going to be too cheap :-(
From what I have seen, High miles seems to be a killer on price like upwards of 75k - not reliability though. A low miles car will always attract good buyers regardless of age. X300's seem to have taken a nose dive, X308 are doing better in comparison, XJ40's occasionally pop up for 2+k with low miles '90 onwards. With the advantage of Classic car insurance and low price I do think a '93/94 XJ40 is probably the best buy.
I have had my 3.2 XJ8 for 7 years, its had rear shocks, new front discs and erm oh yes, two coils. Its fast enough, beautiful ride a cheap to service. Like me they like a pint or two. I have an XKR from the same era, the ride on the XJ is way better and they are so under valued too. If I had the storage I would keep mine.
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


