Hi XJ brethren. I am a regular on the XK8 (X100) Forum. Quick background -- I have owned a 1989 XJS, 2007 XJVDP, 2007 XK and now own a 2005 XK8.

I bought the XK8 two years ago with 75k miles on the clock. This car is the most reliable and fun car I have ever owned - by far! I've had BMWs, Mercedes, Hondas, Ford, Mazda etc and three other Jags.

We had the 2007 XJVDP and 2007 XK at the same time and one of those cars was only in the shop. The "engine"light would come on almost all of the time. The cars were just a pain and we sold both. We bought both cars as "pre-owned certified" from a dealer. We thought we were minimizing our risk.

I jumped back in and bought the 2005 XK8 from a private seller and a totally different story. Love the car so now I am contemplating finding a 2004 or 2005 XJ8. Any buying tips on what to look for or avoid or preference 2004/2005? VDP, XL? Thanks so much!

 

Read the things to look at pinned thread at the top of this sub forum.
I won't go into the luxury car, expensive repairs etc, as you already know that.
If it was me, I would always look for the latest year of that particular model as by then a lot of the issues will have been resolved and it will typically have less miles on the clock.
However, at the end of the day you will by whatever you want, no matter what anyone else says good or bad about a vehicle.

 

As you've already owned a 2007 XJ VDP, you will be familiar with the car, surely ? This would have been an XJ8 with the VDP trim level.

I always say buy the best car you can afford in that make-model you want. Best could mean a slightly older car that has been very well looked after and has a lower mileage than a younger car. Unfortunately, not everybody looks after their car despite the high purchase price, something that always puzzles me.

 

As far as I know there is no difference between a 2004 and a 2005, the first noticeable changes came in 2006.

 

There were no LWB XJ cars for the 2004 model year in North America, even the Vanden Plas was SWB.

 

Aside from the LWB & SWB differences, you couldn't say that a 2004 is any better or worse than a 2005, they are the same.