Besides a E-Type OTS, the '05 XJ8L I acquired w/42,000 miles two months ago is the only modern Jag I have owned. I'm impressed. A bucket list car for its heartachingly beautiful lines and grossly undervalued on the market, it has proven to be generally sound but definitely the kind of car you need to reserve for repairs. At a $14k purchase price on a car that looks to be worth thousands more (the man on the street thinks it's years younger ['07-08] and worth $25-30k, before checking the value guides), a couple thousand for repairs isn't the end of the world.


Perhaps the best feature to me is the aluminum body which brings it in at something close to 3,700 lbs, giving it a litheness at 300 hp that more highly powered but heavier BMW competitors like the 7 series can't match. There's no getting around the laws of nature - even with greater engine hp, you still have to get the 4500 lbs of the 7 series around a curve and the Jag just dances where the other grunts it out.


I had a PPI done by a reputed local Jag guru and, frankly, it screened out only major problems like one person ownership; no body panel separation problems; confirmation of vin, warranted work, and service history; no collisions or body work, and that the drivetrain was excellent. I received purchase price credits for various fungible items like tires, brake rotors and pads, and a nonfunctional fog light. The rear dampers/air bags had been recently replaced which was confidence inspiring.


However, two months into my ownership, the front dampers/airbags failed (predictably in a 9 year old car) and brake switch failed re cruise control. All other work (i.e., Bluetooth, aux cable for Ipod, mandatory Mina mesh grille, 10,000 service to establish a maintenance baseline; Ebay replacement rear seat bottom [so my german shepherds didn't mar the original], and a few other piddling trim parts) was elective but raised it to the next level.


The Jag is magnificent for its intended purpose and certainly supports my sense of its greater inherent value. Aesthetically, it is unmatched for its beauty and is remarkedly fuel efficient for a large car (20 mpg city and 26 or more mpg on the highway). The 4.2 liter is whisper quiet but responsive, the ZF trans shifts seamlessly, and there are zero rattles, sweaks, or NVH. Interior trim is virtually perfect and the leather has held remarkedly well like a 2-3 year old car. The limo-size rear seat is a pleasure for my human and canine passengers.


Barring future repair calamities (I'm knocking word as I write), I think I've found a good one and can probably drive her another 20-30k miles easily without incident (more knocking. Things happen in a 9 year old car but, so far, the Jag has met my expectations in every way.


JCH