I found my unicorn... sorta.
02 Jag Super V8. Guy selling it is open with information, but there are some red flags. Before I buy a plane ticket, I'd like eyes on it. I'm also not going to be available to fly out to get it for a hot minute.
Car is in Elkhart IN
The good: Clean cosmetics, minimal interior wear, great color combo, sweet wheels.
The red flags: He's only owned it for a month, it has a salvage title, and he has no idea if the tensioners have been replaced.
I'm not sure it will last long at his price (which with me is currently $5500)
Marketplace - 2002 Jaguar XJ · XJ Super Sedan 4D | Facebook.
I asked for the VIN thinking I might be able to check service records (and if it was an AZ car or a MN car) and see what the cause of the salvage title is. He said it was just a bumper, but I call BS.
SAJDA25B92MF40984 in case any of you have better google-fu at finding service records and title history
I thought by 02 the tensioners were revised and didn't need replacing?
And I agree 1 month is a red flag. The seller must be a flipper then?
August of 2003 the tensioners were revised, but there were still a lot of unrevised engines on the shelves after August. Just in time to design a new engine for the x350 
Yes, likely a flipper, but if I can get confident in what I'm looking at, I might be able to snag a unicorn ... as long as it's not stolen.
The vin is bringing up nothing via google. Like, absolutely nothing. I guess I'll just ask for a typo check on the vin.
That is a pretty car. That said there is some red flags there. If he has only had the car a month how does he have pics before and after the window tint? He also has pictures from the middle of summer, including the one from the car show where the windows were tinted (most the other summer pics they are not). Just another flag if there are flags.
What I see...
The seller has the car listed in Elkhart and Chicago. Not so surprising becasue Chicago would be the next closest largest market. But, some words and pictures are slightly different in the two.
Elkhart listing
Chicago listing
The Elkhart listing has the most photos as well as the Elkhart photos include a Martin's Super Market in the background that is a chain in Elkhart. He keeps the license plate obscured but in the few pictures where is can slightly be seen, it is a paper license plate (temp tag.) He is then probably not a dealer (who would have access to a dealer plate) but likely just a flipper. Or, he could be just genuinely selling. Given the trees in the pictures, most photos were taken in early fall. There is some color change to the trees but generally the trees have all their leaves. Currently in Elkhart there would be zero leaves on any trees. This leads me to believe the car has been up for sale since October. Could also be that all the pictures are from when he bought the car. But, there are a couple pictures of full greenery implying he's has the car more since the summer. Unless, those are pictures from when he bought.
Salvage: Curtis says "salvage" but the ad states "rebuilt." Just to be clear. Salvage often means, "not road legal" and Rebuilt means, "road legal in all states."
Seller also has listing for a second set of Jag wheels. Get those thrown in if possible or at least a negotiation tactic.
Seller also had a 2015 Genesis listed for $15k. It too has a rebuilt title. Is our man in the rebuild business? That ad also uses a phrase that gives me some "sketch." He says, "unfortunately am in a bad situation right now and I desperately need the money and this car is worth more So my loss is your gain."
So, the Jag ad says, "moving out of state..." but different words of desperation used in this ad????
9 weeks ago, he sold this Ford Expedition but no mention of rebuilt or moving/leaving.
16 weeks ago he sold this Mazdaspeed 3 that clearly had a bumper/fender replaced.
From profile, my guess is the seller is about 20 yrs old and likes cars. He's more like us than not. I'd just presure him for some more backstory about the car.
It's about 2.5 hours from me, but I can probably check it next weekend?
One note on salvage vs. rebuilt- Curtis is in PA, which as far as I know means it will revert to a salvage title regardless and need an "enhanced inspection" to be registered. Not a huge deal but definitely an added cost.
In reply to John Welsh :
You did the flag search way better than me, take home message you want John Welsh on your team...
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:
SAJDA25B92MF40984 in case any of you have better google-fu at finding service records and title history
Questioning the VIN, I found this decoder that looks right.
25: Vanden Plas
B: XJR/Super V8
M: 4.0L SC
But there could be error in final digits
$5500 seems like all the money in the world for a rebuilt salvage 2002 Jaguar. I know the Super v8s aren't common, but are they valuable? Plus, you're single, why do you want a massive rear seat area?
In reply to dculberson :
It's not the worst price. I hold the ideal that what was $3k, pre-covid is now $5k. So, at $3.5k previous this car could be right and that then makes $5.5k right for now. It is afteral just 85k mile. Sure it's rebuilt but if done right that's not the end of the world. The old $3.5k got you a good car that might need something or with a something in its past.
If this were a '02 CRV with just 85k and even with the rebuilt it would be $10k. If it were a Honda Element it would be $14k. Sure, its a Jag and therefore the risk of that "needed thing" costing more is there and driving down the price.
Try sorting your local CL/FB for anything running with less than 100k miles. You'll get manual trans cars and 2 door cars (which are harder to sell) if you get anything. Lots of what's there will be boring.
Generally, its priced in line with what the world is asking for a Buick LeSabre of the same vintage.
$7,900 and $5,500 or $5,500 Impala
Duke
MegaDork
12/20/21 11:41 a.m.
dculberson said:
Plus, you're single, why do you want a massive rear seat area?
C'mon, man, connect the dots here...
I think it's a lot for that car given it's title status and unknown why the title is that way.
They're rare but not many people are looking for them, except Curtis lol.
In reply to John Welsh :
OK, that makes sense. I can see it..
@Duke: A sedan really isn't the best for that. I would think an suv, wagon, van, hatchback, etc would be a lot better. Sure the Jag has a big back seat, but it's still tiny by acrobatic human standards.
wae
UberDork
12/20/21 12:16 p.m.
dculberson said:
In reply to John Welsh :
OK, that makes sense. I can see it..
@Duke: A sedan really isn't the best for that. I would think an suv, wagon, van, hatchback, etc would be a lot better. Sure the Jag has a big back seat, but it's still tiny by acrobatic human standards.
Yeah, he's already got the van....
Duke
MegaDork
12/20/21 1:34 p.m.
dculberson said:
@Duke: A sedan really isn't the best for that. I would think an suv, wagon, van, hatchback, etc would be a lot better.
Yeah, but nobody ever came outside in answer to the question, "Wanna go for a ride in my hatchback?"
Id hold out for a nicer example - salvage title 20 year old luxury car is a hard sell. Price seems about 2x what I would be willing to pay.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
We're talking about a vehicle that (for it's entire production run) there were only 788 made, up until 2001 they were only by special order, and they are rare as hen's teeth. There is no waiting for a nicer example.
In two years I've found three; one sold before I could get it, this one, and one that was very clearly not for sale. This is like if Katy Perry says to you, "I'm single, you want to take a turn?" You don't say, "nah, I'll wait until the next time you're single."
So, courtesy of a lovely friend, I got a carfax.
Totaled at 7500 miles in 2003
rebuilt title issued in late 03
pretty good dealer service history from 8000-24,000 miles
from there it's like the town prostitute. Everyone paid their money and got a ride. 7 owners total.
The big red flag is.... what was the damage like to a $75k car that would cause it to be totaled? Even if they depreciated it to $60k and totaled it at 75%, that's $45,000 worth of damage. Dayum.
