Jag choices & advice?

[smartphone hater]

I'm toying with the idea of buying an oldish X type simply because out of all the vehicles I own I have nothing half respectable to go anywhere in.

So, I'm only looking at spending a couple of thousand which leaves me somewhere between 2001 & 2004 with higher mileage. I've currently narrowed my search down to either a 3.0 or 2.5 litre petrol auto or manual, I don't plan on doing huge mileage & insurance is not a concern.

I have very little experience with these cars so am wondering..

Is there any common faults with either of these vehicles I should be looking for?

Is there a vast MPG difference between the 2.5 & 3.0 litre versions?

Is there a huge difference between the cost of VED on models made before & after 2001?

I am quite proficient with a spanner & hammer so normal every day faults aren't too much of a worry, but I don't really want to be exchanging gearboxes etc. I am hoping for something half decent that I don't have to keep faffing about with all the time, I have enough vehicles to faff about with as it is.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[AmiableChimp]

I've been doing some reading around Jags recently, and XJs appear to be a better proposition than X-Types IMO.

[6potdave]

I would agree with the above. I too am looking for a Jag and have set my sights on an XJ now, they seem a lot better in almost every way!

[Dr Interceptor]

I've got a 1998 Jag XJ8 4.0 - love the thing, big, comfy... yet actually surprisingly nimble to drive - much better than the equivalent S-Class Merc.

Find a nice one with a good service history, lots of bills, and a respectable owner, and you could do much worse.

[Six Fiend]

£2000 will get a decent 3.0 X-type manual with under 100k on it - but and it is a but, they are prone to transfer box and propshaft issues. Sometimes it can be a seal but my transfer box was damaged beyond and so was the prop. £1500 later it's lovely

The rest of the car is simple enough to work on and parts cheap enough (lots of Ford bits).

I looked at 2.5s but wanted the extra go of the 3.0 coming from a 4.0 V8. The fuel economy is not exactly any worse! Town work low 20s, Driving Miss Daisy on a trip gives high 30s (my best is 40mpg over 200 miles in one stint), a lead foot is back down into the 20s.

If I had the space I'd prefer to be in an X300/308 XJ for proper wafting. Your budget can get you a real gem if you take your time and look carefully.

Usual caveats about any older car apply - suspension, bushes etc

X-types can rust under the sill covers if they've not been cleaned out/drainage holes are blocked. I've seen some like lace! At 10 years mine had minor surface rust in a couple of places

[joebongo]

Got a FSH 2001 XJ sov 4L a month ago. Many toys on board and is very nearly as good as my old E38. The boot is smaller and thats the reason I say nearly as good. Not having tiptronic is something to get used to for overtakes but I just put the J gate into 3rd and glide past so far.

35mpg at 60mph when wafting.

I have a metal cat on the bonnet.

Oh edit to add it looks and feels a little like an old 80's proper Jag, Arthur Daley stylee which I like.

Edited by joebongo on Monday 9th July 17:32

[smartphone hater]

Thanks everyone.

I did look at a few XJ adverts as well but what put me off was the higher prices. It seemed that to get the same sort of age & mileage would cost up to a thousand more, but after what you've said I'll have another think about it.

Thanks Six Fiend, That's more MPG than I was expecting. When you had your transfer box problems what were the symptoms? Did it simply cease to proceed in a forwardly direction or was there clonking & vibration? That's the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Edited by smartphone hater on Monday 9th July 20:43

[Jaguar steve]

The very safest bet Jaguar for your 2 grand budget will almost certainly be a 6 cylinder 1994-1997 XJ known as the X300. This particular XJ variant is absolutely bombproof and capable of space shuttle mileage if looked after. Easy enough to service and repair too - the X300 is a re skinned earlier XJ with design roots in the 1970's and powered by uncomplicated 1980's running gear. Your only problem will be finding a good one that's not rusted or battered to bits. Expect around 28 MPG at very best, more like low 20's in daily use and even less in city trafic. Mid price tyres are £100 a corner and insurance should be reasonable. You may have the odd electrical fault and soggy suspension bushs to deal with but otherwise for a 15 year old car they are pretty good.

Personally I much prefer the later V8 XJ - although visually similar the two cars are very different in terms of refinement and driving dynamics but finding a good V8 within your budget will be a bit of a challenge.

Try looking in the jaguar Enthusiasts Club or Jaguar World Classifieds, or cars and classics. The key to buying any old XJ is to buy the very best one you can find - whatever you do don't just buy the first one you see.

[Synbios]

Great just seen an 02 XJR for £4000. Wish I hadn't opened this thread, bad influence.

[Six Fiend]

smartphone hater said:

Thanks everyone.

Thanks Six Fiend, That's more MPG than I was expecting. When you had your transfer box problems what were the symptoms? Did it simply cease to proceed in a forwardly direction or was there clonking & vibration? That's the sort of thing I'm trying to avoid.

Edited by smartphone hater on Monday 9th July 20:43

It started as a teeny whine which grew very quickly to a vibration which over a few hundred miles turned into a loud rumbling, whining and horrendous vibration. All this was with a fluid leak I'd thought was the sump gasket and which it had obviously had for some time.

The Jag specialist let me play with the stethoscope so I could hear the grinding of the prop bearings and the transfer box, sans fluid, chewing itself up.

The company selling the recon boxes to Jag is in Bristol. Buying direct from them the garage save a couple of hundred quid. Had the leak on mine been seen to at once I may not have needed the new box (the seals can be done) but I think it may have been a few years in the process and they don't hold much oil so the damage is easily done. The prop is a weak spot but should last well now. You can't just do the bearing in them either, it's all or nothing.

Get right under any Xs you look at and check for leaks. The box may have been done already. If there are no leaks and no whine or rumble then you should be fine.

Oh and if you like cars, don't get an auto, it's alleged to be a really awful box. I like the manual. se spec cars are quite softly sprung and gentle on their 16s but can still be hustled along.

Happy hunting

[mcford]

I've seen a few X types that look to be in lovely condition, only to find MOT failing rot in the sills.