My 2004 XJ8 with 148K goes like a bat out of hell. Previous owner kept it in tip-top shape.

Great value as well.

 

http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_JAGUAR_Air_Suspension_Parts_yid20_pid136.html

Remanufactured Jaguar air shocks $399.00 Lifetime guarantee, complete instrution manual.

 

IMHO the 2001 series was the best looking body. The 2008 is sure growing on me just fine.

 

I have an '05 XJ8L, great car. Main problem I have is NO local dealers will perform any service on it. They tell me it's 'too old'. Was able to find a good indy. Suggest you ask around your area what other owners of 'old cars' do for service. Wish you luck.

Roger

 

The 2006 update was much more than cosmetic. There were a great number of changes that were not visible, but improved on the earlier cars. See attached guide.

 

I have an 04 XJR I bought in July 2012 with 87k miles. It now has almost 170k. It's been cross country and back twice. SC to Oklahoma multiple times. $17k in maintenance in those 11 years, but that includes tires and I replaced the entire suspension when I bought it using the Black Dog kit. Not so expensive then. Have had no issues with the coil overs. I bought an 09 Super V8, so that should give an idea what I think of these cars.

I've been told 2006 and up to avoid the suspension issues, though all air suspension cars will at some point need attention. That said, I'm leaving the air shocks on the 09 alone until they give me problems. Wonderful ride.

Front seats in the face lifted 08 and 09 are flatter and more comfortable to me than the seats/side bolsters of the 04-07 XJs. And the seat frames are the same for all XJs then, so VDP seats sit the same as XJR.

One point to check is to make sure the differential is silent. There was a TSB that replaced the diff in some 04-09 cars. There are no parts available. I found a used diff on ebay for my 09 and it appears to have been a good one at this point. TSB attached.

It is best to be handy with tools. I love these cars but do not recommend them to friends who cannot work on them. As mentioned, dealers aren't interested. Best to find a good indie first if you can't work on your own.

They are more reliable and less troublesome than the other premium brands, IMO. I've had Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, VW and have no desire for more. I'm sticking with Jaguar.

Try to find one without Adaptive Cruise control. I have grown used to it and like it, but if the radar unit fails you have no cruise at all and odds of sourcing a compatible used unit or repairing yours are nigh on impossible. Best to avoid it if you can.

Supercharged models are the only ones I consider. The performance is wonderful.

No need to check tensioners and chains. 02-03 4.0 liter and 04-09 4.2 litre engines are as bulletproof as they come.

Had the transmission serviced @ 119k miles. No issues.

So, personally I'd look for 06-09 and I prefer the look of the X358 face lifted version.

This is obviously all just my opinion and experience. I don't know what else I could buy that would compare. I still look back when I walk away and look for excuses to take them for a drive or on a trip. Can't say much more than that.

 

I had a 2004 XJ8 SWB in 2009, it was ok but not great, bought a 2006 VDP in 2021, which has been a money pit not because of the car but because of this fool who bought it in at an insurance auction. Anyway, it's a sweet to drive when it runs. For me 2006-2007 are the sweet spot: thicker windows, better electronics. 2008-2009 are great but the Callum facelift does not work for me. Those gills are tacky in my opinion.