I'm so anxious....
#1
08-27-2011, 04:06 PM
I'm so anxious....
Greetings!
I've heard Jaguars have lots of problems. Is that true?
Just kidding <my signature could also be "stupid sense of humor Jim".>
Firstly, thanks for the forum & thanks for ALL the input from the posters. I've been hanging here for some time & am about 98% certain that I'm going to acquire a Jaguar soon. Per the "New Members email" that I actually read, a little info about me:
early 40's married father of two in southwest Ohio. I'm anxious for several reasons: 1. Have mostly been a Honda Toyota guy throughout my life. I've always thought "I want a car that is 100% reliable because I live pretty far away from any major cities with decent repair shops." However, I've reached a stage where I can say "I don't mind if I have to put a few dollars extra maintenance into my car if it provides a great driving experience. I truly haven't enjoyed a car for years (have had trucks & SUV's for a few years.) 2. Am slightly concerned that my Jaguar experience could be bad, but only slightly. I'm sure most of the REALLY bad situations are pretty rare. But I'm mostly anxious because 3. I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH CAR TO GET!.
I can tell you this - I was absolutely set on either a 3-series wagon (I love wagons), or a 7-series, or an S-type Benz. But after a lot of research, the forum posters have convinced me that typically 2003 & up models are quite reliable and much less common, and overall GREAT CARS. So then, I was dead set on an S-Type, but they are very difficult to find with my criteria. It seems the XJ8's are much more available, so now I'm considering either. My criteria is this if it's all possible: 1. 2004 & up model, either XJ or S-type (not int'd in X-type). 2. Maximum of $21,000 price. 3. Maximum of 60k miles, and preferably quite a bit less. 4. V-8 only; not int'd in the 3.0. And not interested in the Supercharged model; I tend to keep my cars WAY too long, like 140k miles and at that point, they are almost an expensive liability, based on the value that it will be worth at that time. 5. Will not own black (I don't keep them clean enough), will not own white (I just do NOT like white vehicles). My preferences are BRG (JRG?), then probably the burgundy, then maybe the gray or silver. Possibly the seafoam green (I think it's beautiful, but do men drive that color?) and light blue. Must be in Very Good Condition. 6. Really want the back seats that fold down, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe both models do.
That's my criteria. My needs are mostly this: mostly just me commuting to work about 50 miles round trip daily. However, would also be a church car on the weekends (1 teen & 1 pre-teen). Son is 6'1" so most likely, mom will be in the back with daughter. It'll likely be the vehicle we take to occasional dinners, etc.
I've tried to locate a green V-8 S-type but am having some troubles. I've found them 300 miles away, but I dread taking an entire day off only to get there & find it's full of dings, etc. I drove a 4.2 S-type & LOVED it; I must admit I haven't driven an XJ yet. However, since the S-type that I want is such a rare bird, I've also been stronly considering an XJ & will drive one when I find one available.
So give me pointers, tips, etc, based on what you know about what I'm looking for. As a side question, there is a local dealer (cincinnati) who has a 2000 XJ8L with 91k for $8k. My budget could be over double that, but is it even worth looking at, perhaps as an entry-level thing? Obviously it has the 4.0 liter & 91k miles, so I know I could pay the asking price in maintenance if I'm not careful. But I was thinking that since it's at a dealer, it might be top notch.
As always, thanks for your pointers.
-Anxious Jim
I've heard Jaguars have lots of problems. Is that true?
Just kidding <my signature could also be "stupid sense of humor Jim".>
Firstly, thanks for the forum & thanks for ALL the input from the posters. I've been hanging here for some time & am about 98% certain that I'm going to acquire a Jaguar soon. Per the "New Members email" that I actually read, a little info about me:
early 40's married father of two in southwest Ohio. I'm anxious for several reasons: 1. Have mostly been a Honda Toyota guy throughout my life. I've always thought "I want a car that is 100% reliable because I live pretty far away from any major cities with decent repair shops." However, I've reached a stage where I can say "I don't mind if I have to put a few dollars extra maintenance into my car if it provides a great driving experience. I truly haven't enjoyed a car for years (have had trucks & SUV's for a few years.) 2. Am slightly concerned that my Jaguar experience could be bad, but only slightly. I'm sure most of the REALLY bad situations are pretty rare. But I'm mostly anxious because 3. I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH CAR TO GET!.
I can tell you this - I was absolutely set on either a 3-series wagon (I love wagons), or a 7-series, or an S-type Benz. But after a lot of research, the forum posters have convinced me that typically 2003 & up models are quite reliable and much less common, and overall GREAT CARS. So then, I was dead set on an S-Type, but they are very difficult to find with my criteria. It seems the XJ8's are much more available, so now I'm considering either. My criteria is this if it's all possible: 1. 2004 & up model, either XJ or S-type (not int'd in X-type). 2. Maximum of $21,000 price. 3. Maximum of 60k miles, and preferably quite a bit less. 4. V-8 only; not int'd in the 3.0. And not interested in the Supercharged model; I tend to keep my cars WAY too long, like 140k miles and at that point, they are almost an expensive liability, based on the value that it will be worth at that time. 5. Will not own black (I don't keep them clean enough), will not own white (I just do NOT like white vehicles). My preferences are BRG (JRG?), then probably the burgundy, then maybe the gray or silver. Possibly the seafoam green (I think it's beautiful, but do men drive that color?) and light blue. Must be in Very Good Condition. 6. Really want the back seats that fold down, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe both models do.
That's my criteria. My needs are mostly this: mostly just me commuting to work about 50 miles round trip daily. However, would also be a church car on the weekends (1 teen & 1 pre-teen). Son is 6'1" so most likely, mom will be in the back with daughter. It'll likely be the vehicle we take to occasional dinners, etc.
I've tried to locate a green V-8 S-type but am having some troubles. I've found them 300 miles away, but I dread taking an entire day off only to get there & find it's full of dings, etc. I drove a 4.2 S-type & LOVED it; I must admit I haven't driven an XJ yet. However, since the S-type that I want is such a rare bird, I've also been stronly considering an XJ & will drive one when I find one available.
So give me pointers, tips, etc, based on what you know about what I'm looking for. As a side question, there is a local dealer (cincinnati) who has a 2000 XJ8L with 91k for $8k. My budget could be over double that, but is it even worth looking at, perhaps as an entry-level thing? Obviously it has the 4.0 liter & 91k miles, so I know I could pay the asking price in maintenance if I'm not careful. But I was thinking that since it's at a dealer, it might be top notch.
As always, thanks for your pointers.
-Anxious Jim
#3
08-28-2011, 06:13 AM
Veteran Member
Welcome to the forum Jim!
Sure glad to read that you have (are) doing your homework.
Here is a very fine STR for sale in the Pittsburgh area, that belongs to a fellow member here. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-chance-59209/
Many of us S Typers were able to see it in person and IT IS CLEAN and available at a GREAT price, the best part is its only up the street from you! Another plus is its a nice 4 door covette for that up coming mid-life crisis (
), that wifeys seem to understand.
I would contact Jason quickly!
Sure glad to read that you have (are) doing your homework.
Here is a very fine STR for sale in the Pittsburgh area, that belongs to a fellow member here. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-chance-59209/
Many of us S Typers were able to see it in person and IT IS CLEAN and available at a GREAT price, the best part is its only up the street from you! Another plus is its a nice 4 door covette for that up coming mid-life crisis (
), that wifeys seem to understand.I would contact Jason quickly!
#5
08-28-2011, 09:40 AM
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#6
08-29-2011, 07:56 AM
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welcome aboard Jim, great to have you here with us.
Great intro, full of info and I really hope we can help with any info you need on getting the car you want.
Hope that you enjoy the site.....
Loads going on, plenty of very friendly and helpful members as well as some excellent tech advice......all good!
In the meantime I've manually upgraded you to full forum access so you can better view the site
#7
08-29-2011, 03:47 PM
Veteran Member
Trending Topics
#8
08-29-2011, 09:45 PM
How many times can I search Autotrader dot com each day?
Thanks for the warm welcomes; the Honda forums said you guys (and gals) were all jerks. Just kidding again (there's that stupid sense of humor that my wife loves so much.)
Rick - was just in Rutherfordton, NC about 2 weeks ago - sorry I missed South Carolina (of course we dropped over across the line to get cheap gas and get a pizza at the Pizza House.) At that time I was really looking hard for a Jaguar & was boring the wife about specs, aluminum bodies, 60's heritage S-types, etc, which models to stay away from "because the guys on the forum said so..." Luckily she had her iPod earbuds in most of the time I was talking. She is as interested in my car passions as she is in ...well.... I don't know what, but she's not interested. All of a sudden a STUNNING black XJ8 with tinted windows passed us - I don't know the years very well but it had the silver vertical vent on the front fender; it was super-fine. I said "look - that's the XJ!" And she says "wow - that looks really good. But don't they break down a lot?"
Of course I had to repeat 200 miles of facts & data that I had gleaned from Jaguar Forums again.
Thanks for the heads-up on Jason's S-type, but based on what I'm looking for, I'm not sure it's for me; I did, however, PM him.
It's almost like an obsession now - I check traderonline.com, cars.com, & most of the Ohio Jaguar dealer about 2-3 times a day; but as Bono from U2 would say, "I stiiiiiiill haven't founnnnnnnd what I'm looking forrrrrrr."
I'll keep looking & learning. Thanks again. -Anxious Jim
Rick - was just in Rutherfordton, NC about 2 weeks ago - sorry I missed South Carolina (of course we dropped over across the line to get cheap gas and get a pizza at the Pizza House.) At that time I was really looking hard for a Jaguar & was boring the wife about specs, aluminum bodies, 60's heritage S-types, etc, which models to stay away from "because the guys on the forum said so..." Luckily she had her iPod earbuds in most of the time I was talking. She is as interested in my car passions as she is in ...well.... I don't know what, but she's not interested. All of a sudden a STUNNING black XJ8 with tinted windows passed us - I don't know the years very well but it had the silver vertical vent on the front fender; it was super-fine. I said "look - that's the XJ!" And she says "wow - that looks really good. But don't they break down a lot?"
Of course I had to repeat 200 miles of facts & data that I had gleaned from Jaguar Forums again.Thanks for the heads-up on Jason's S-type, but based on what I'm looking for, I'm not sure it's for me; I did, however, PM him.
It's almost like an obsession now - I check traderonline.com, cars.com, & most of the Ohio Jaguar dealer about 2-3 times a day; but as Bono from U2 would say, "I stiiiiiiill haven't founnnnnnnd what I'm looking forrrrrrr."
I'll keep looking & learning. Thanks again. -Anxious Jim
#9
08-29-2011, 10:31 PM
Veteran Member
Jim,
Find 'em and drive 'em. It's the only way you'll ever settle it. As you can see, I have both....ok...my XJ is a coupla generations older than what you fancy....hopefully, making them uglier is the only progression they made in the wrong direction in the ensuing years. The experience I have made is that the XJ is less finicky than the S-Types and generally happy with an oil-chg and go. S-type's more like a woman...gotta be constantly reminded that you love her, that she's pretty, that the dress doesn't make her look fat, et al. But maybe that's just because my S-types are driven almost exclusively by women and the particular rigors that such service entails? Whereas my XJ is exclusively my province and is more precisely worn to work on a daily basis. Both cars are exceedingly smooth, and, in my opinion, very amply powered. S-type is taller, and I believe has greater headroom, whereas the XJ seems to have greater legroom, though I haven't looked at the specs to confirm it.
Drive several copies of both, then it will all be clear.
Find 'em and drive 'em. It's the only way you'll ever settle it. As you can see, I have both....ok...my XJ is a coupla generations older than what you fancy....hopefully, making them uglier is the only progression they made in the wrong direction in the ensuing years. The experience I have made is that the XJ is less finicky than the S-Types and generally happy with an oil-chg and go. S-type's more like a woman...gotta be constantly reminded that you love her, that she's pretty, that the dress doesn't make her look fat, et al. But maybe that's just because my S-types are driven almost exclusively by women and the particular rigors that such service entails? Whereas my XJ is exclusively my province and is more precisely worn to work on a daily basis. Both cars are exceedingly smooth, and, in my opinion, very amply powered. S-type is taller, and I believe has greater headroom, whereas the XJ seems to have greater legroom, though I haven't looked at the specs to confirm it.
Drive several copies of both, then it will all be clear.