I live in Marin County, California. I'm 60, a college professor and department manager, and I build acoustic guitars in my spare time as a second career.

I recently acquired my first Jag saloon, a 1999, one-owner XJ8 VDP, with 113K miles. Before forking over a ridiculously low amount of cash, I still went through a dealer check and also ran a Carfax.

Here's what I found out from the original selling dealer:

Car had been owned by local elderly couple and had been put on consignment by their son-in-law, as they had moved out of area in mid-'08. It had originally been purchased Christmas week of '98 by the husband as a gift to his wife, who drove it daily. The memory seat's #1 position was set for someone barely 5 feet tall.

It had been regularly maintained and updated. Most recent work was brakes on all 4 wheels, new Dunlop tyres, cam chain tensioners (all 4) and a new rear axle in late '07. It had service records going back to new, although these won't be released to me without the owners' permission.

The car had covered only 6K since this service and had been on the dealer's showroom floor since May, '08, priced reasonably but a victim of the economy. Two weeks ago the price was cut in half (to way below Blue Book), and that's when I stumbled onto it. I went over it with a fine-toothed comb, and was very impressed with its unmolested condition.

I picked it up, filled the tank, and immediately had the oil changed. It drives 100% like a new car, idles smoothly, and has been getting 23 mpg on the freeway, which seems to be where it spent most of its time. The cigarette lighters and ashtrays have never been used. It smells new inside. The leather is unmarked, except for some wear on the driver's seat side bolster. The trunk is as new, with all manuals and unused original spare.

It is Amaranth Mica in color, with an Ivory interior. I cannot ever remember having seen this color on an XJ8, so I assume it wasn't very popular.
I'll post some photos soon.

A couple of questions: There is an instrument bulb out (far right--behind the temp gauge) and also a dead bulb in the LED CD information panel. How do I get at these?

Second, I was getting a message the there was a "rear bulb out" every few times I depressed the brake pedal, but of course the brake lights are fine, so it's a wiring glitch. This has been getting less and less frequent, though. I plan to just wait and see if it goes away. Is this a good strategy?

I've always maintained my own vehicles, which in the past have included a Maserati QP, 2 Citroen SMs, and a Silver Shadow, so I do know my way around vehicles.

I'd like to pick up a service manual for the Jag--are there any sources?

Thanks to all for their assistance.

--Paul

 

Thank you both!

Update this Monday...drove about 200 miles over the weekend, a mix of slow suburban and short freeway jaunts, just running errands. My thinking is that now's the time to put some miles on, in order to familiarize myself with the car's feel, and possibly expose any shortcomings.

Verdict: Flawless. No rattles, quieter than my '69 Silver Shadow, impeccable handling for a 2 ton large car, gas mileage averages better than 18 so far. My Miata gets 18 in the city. Climate control is excellent, H-K sound system functions perfectly. All systems a strong go.

I had hoped for a nice, usable modern luxury car for occasional use. This Jaguar far exceeds my expectations!

 

Thanks, Jim. Keep the heid; too busy drivin' it to snap it.

It's parked today and cooling down..time for a wash and some piccies!

Stay tuned.

 

San Jose car all its life. Used it daily in its first week (500 miles total so far), performed flawlessly. Returns 17+ MPG in town with lots of stop and go, 23 MPG on the freeway@ 70-80 MPH. A keeper.

 

Thanks, Cadillac. I've not seen any others with those wheels, although I did spy an older XK8 with something similar.

Personally, I love the stock VDP wheels for '99--they're subtle and understated. But this is how it came from the dealer...my mind boggles (only slightly) at the thought of an 80-something lady wielding this chrome-laden weapon in heavy traffic on the freeways around here...

Incidentally, I had a set of the Falken FK-452s installed a few days back. Numnutz at the tire store put 34PSI in 'em; I could feel every bit of gravel on the road, and they were jumpy as hell. Knocked pressures down to factory recommended 26F/28R and ride and handling improved.

They are quieter than the worn Dunlops with which it was fitted when I got it. Wear/wet performance remain to be evaluated.