Talk me out of it...

Why can i not stop looking at Jaguar XJRs even though i know it would be a terrible idea to buy one when I only can have one car that actually needs to run so i can get to work everyday? http://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/4237110898.html

You're asking a bunch of GRM enablers to talk you out of it? Not gonna happen. That's a beautiful car!

However, it would be good to have a Hyundai behind the barn for the days that it won't start.

Are you a classy motherberkeleyer who likes to wear corduroy sportcoats? Then you, my friend, need a Jag.

Buy it!

Now that's out of the way, go do some digging on various regular maintenance requirements and how much it costs, either DIY or not. Then search out various potential faults. If none of that scares you: Buy it!

That's about all the help I can give you.

Yea, we're not the ones to talk you out of it, so buy one already. One piece of advice I was given about Jags that seems to ring true: If you own a Jag, you own two cars.

i want that.

i need another unreliable, expensive, black hole of time and funds that is abso-berkeleying-lutely beyond cool.

buy it so i dont have to figure out where the hell the monterey craigslist is and how to get it home.

In reply to Dusterbd13:

I'm assuming Monterey, CA... which is a hell of a long ways from NC (and PA).

any schmuck can DD a honda. only real mechanical badasses can do the same in a Jaguar.

Only REAL men drive jags.. buy it and look down your nose at the lowly vet owner !

Buy it.

Apparently, it wouldn't even be that crazy. Make sure the fluid was changed in the "sealed for life" mercedes trans. It already had the timing chain and head gaskets replaced. Just make sure the water pump was changed also. Those are the big items to look out for.

And smile as you enjoy being the classiest mofo stuck in traffic. You might even forget the single digit mileage you'll probably get.

Nothing an LS1 and T56 can't fix.

mazdeuce wrote: Are you a classy motherberkeleyer who likes to wear corduroy sportcoats? Then you, my friend, need a Jag.

Hahaha!

The main reason not to buy that one is that the prior gen ('94 - '97) was available with a manual transmission. You're welcome.

I would keep my eye out for one with service records. I have found that they are easier to find with service records then a MB or BMW. Personally I would recommend sticking to post-00 due to the Niksal cylinder liner problems and timing chain problems both of which were fixed by then but if the Niksal problem hasn't shown up by now it shouldn't because of the change in fuel. There are a number of buyers guides on these cars if you google it that provide great info. These guides should provide info on how to tell if the chain tensioner is bad on a pre-00 model. If it isn't bad, you should go ahead and replace preferably with guides from an aluminum bodied model (these are the strongest of them). The XJR has a much stronger transmission then the standard XJ8. Honestly these cars (especially post '00 cars) seem to have a lot fewer problems then comparable BMWs and MBs.

dculberson wrote: The main reason not to buy that one is that the prior gen ('94 - '97) was available with a manual transmission. You're welcome.

Good luck finding one. The X300 is a great car with very few problem areas though and an XJ6R is a bucket list car for me.

93EXCivic wrote: I would keep my eye out for one with service records. I have found that they are easier to find with service records then a MB or BMW. Personally I would recommend sticking to post-00 due to the Niksal cylinder liner problems and timing chain problems both of which were fixed by then but if the Niksal problem hasn't shown up by now it shouldn't because of the change in fuel. There are a number of buyers guides on these cars if you google it that provide great info. These guides should provide info on how to tell if the chain tensioner is bad on a pre-00 model. If it isn't bad, you should go ahead and replace preferably with guides from an aluminum bodied model (these are the strongest of them). The XJR has a much stronger transmission then the standard XJ8. Honestly these cars (especially post '00 cars) seem to have a lot fewer problems then comparable BMWs and MBs.

+1, this is great advice. From a reliability standpoint, I'd have one of these over a BMW or Merc any day, though I also second buying the later ones. Jaguar's reputation from earlier years (though much deserved at the time) still unfairly colors perception of the newer ones. That said, they are expensive cars and fixes can be expensive.

Basil Exposition wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I would keep my eye out for one with service records. I have found that they are easier to find with service records then a MB or BMW. Personally I would recommend sticking to post-00 due to the Niksal cylinder liner problems and timing chain problems both of which were fixed by then but if the Niksal problem hasn't shown up by now it shouldn't because of the change in fuel. There are a number of buyers guides on these cars if you google it that provide great info. These guides should provide info on how to tell if the chain tensioner is bad on a pre-00 model. If it isn't bad, you should go ahead and replace preferably with guides from an aluminum bodied model (these are the strongest of them). The XJR has a much stronger transmission then the standard XJ8. Honestly these cars (especially post '00 cars) seem to have a lot fewer problems then comparable BMWs and MBs.

+1, this is great advice. From a reliability standpoint, I'd have one of these over a BMW or Merc any day, though I also second buying the later ones. Jaguar's reputation from earlier years (though much deserved at the time) still unfairly colors perception of the newer ones. That said, they are expensive cars and fixes can be expensive.

Yeah parts aren't cheap. But there is some parts common with Fords (IIRC things like window motors) and are much cheaper when labeled as Ford parts.

Also premium gas in the mid teens for city driving, high teen lows 20s highway. The post '04 aluminum bodied cars better mileage. 18 combined instead of 16.

Sorry, can't talk you down on that one. I know little about them except I think they're muther berkeleying badass cars. IMHO YMMV etc etc. Seems like lots of car for the buck.