come on you flash car experts...
Discussion
What's Bad
May suffer from infuriating build quality problems. No easy means of checking 5-speed autobox oil level or refilling it. Jaguar says 'sealed for life', but no oil changes mean a 'life' of 10 years tops. (XKR has a stronger Mercedes box.) Whine of Eaton supercharger pf XKR sounds great at first, but can end up getting on your nerves. Don't handle as well as saloons, mainly because you can't see out as well. These cars gulp gas, of course. Rear passengers need to be legless. Nickasil bore liner sulphur erosion problem with pre-2000 model year Jaguar V8s. 1996s, 1997s, 1998s and 1999s could all have residual damage from before mid 2000 when sulphur content of UK petrol was reduced. (Definitely OK from from September 2000 build, or if fitted with a post Sept 2000 build replacement engine as these have cast iron bore liners). Reports of tensioner problems leading to timing chain failures. Front wishbone bushes can go after only about 20K miles causing steering problems, unven tyre wear and, if left unattended, possible suspension damage. Cost to replace can be £700. Jaguar's extended warranty does not cover this, but Warranty Direct's does. Jaguar had fifth highest warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 126.91 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
What to Watch Out For
Vital to buy the right trim combination - the 'Classic' rather than the 'Sport' or the base model. Lumpy feeling engine is a sign of the bore problem above. Don't buy a 1996 - 2000 VIN from 001036 to 042775 inclusive unless the engine has been replaced indicated by a special tag to the nearside of the engine block on a reconditioned engine. Beware of rattles from timing chain as tensioner could be about to let go.
Recalls
1997: rear suspension. 1998 (July-October 1997 build-11,221 cars): may suffer sudden deceleration due to weak retention bracket on accelerator cable. Extra clip 'costing pennies' solves the problem. (Announced on radio 7/2/98.) Defective timing chain tensioner apparently subject to a recall, but cannot give a date. April 2004: Recall because 6-speed automatic of latest cars can slip into reverse at high speed due to computer software problem (per 'Auto Express' 21-4-2004).
May suffer from infuriating build quality problems. No easy means of checking 5-speed autobox oil level or refilling it. Jaguar says 'sealed for life', but no oil changes mean a 'life' of 10 years tops. (XKR has a stronger Mercedes box.) Whine of Eaton supercharger pf XKR sounds great at first, but can end up getting on your nerves. Don't handle as well as saloons, mainly because you can't see out as well. These cars gulp gas, of course. Rear passengers need to be legless. Nickasil bore liner sulphur erosion problem with pre-2000 model year Jaguar V8s. 1996s, 1997s, 1998s and 1999s could all have residual damage from before mid 2000 when sulphur content of UK petrol was reduced. (Definitely OK from from September 2000 build, or if fitted with a post Sept 2000 build replacement engine as these have cast iron bore liners). Reports of tensioner problems leading to timing chain failures. Front wishbone bushes can go after only about 20K miles causing steering problems, unven tyre wear and, if left unattended, possible suspension damage. Cost to replace can be £700. Jaguar's extended warranty does not cover this, but Warranty Direct's does. Jaguar had fifth highest warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 126.91 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
What to Watch Out For
Vital to buy the right trim combination - the 'Classic' rather than the 'Sport' or the base model. Lumpy feeling engine is a sign of the bore problem above. Don't buy a 1996 - 2000 VIN from 001036 to 042775 inclusive unless the engine has been replaced indicated by a special tag to the nearside of the engine block on a reconditioned engine. Beware of rattles from timing chain as tensioner could be about to let go.
Recalls
1997: rear suspension. 1998 (July-October 1997 build-11,221 cars): may suffer sudden deceleration due to weak retention bracket on accelerator cable. Extra clip 'costing pennies' solves the problem. (Announced on radio 7/2/98.) Defective timing chain tensioner apparently subject to a recall, but cannot give a date. April 2004: Recall because 6-speed automatic of latest cars can slip into reverse at high speed due to computer software problem (per 'Auto Express' 21-4-2004).
Do your homework and research properly, and you can find good pre 2001 cars...I did.
Absolutely fantastic. Best car I have ever owned.
Still haven't stopped smiling yet. Supercar for Mundano money...sounds like a fair swap to me! Loads of style too
.
You can keep your TVR's(P/H Blasphemer
... "look all I said was 'if its good enough for Jehovah'..."). The only TVR's that pass me, usually do so on my nearside parked on the hard shoulder with their bonnets up! 
paper...blue...touch...light...the!!!
Rgds to all
If that doesn't get us past 6-figure posts on SP&TL, I don't know what will
Absolutely fantastic. Best car I have ever owned.
Still haven't stopped smiling yet. Supercar for Mundano money...sounds like a fair swap to me! Loads of style too
. You can keep your TVR's(P/H Blasphemer
... "look all I said was 'if its good enough for Jehovah'..."). The only TVR's that pass me, usually do so on my nearside parked on the hard shoulder with their bonnets up! paper...blue...touch...light...the!!!
Rgds to all
If that doesn't get us past 6-figure posts on SP&TL, I don't know what will
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