I am still regretting of selling my 1997 BRG XJ6 three years ago. It was a garage queen with 100,000 miles since I drive company vehicle. I sold it for $3,000.00. It was pristine inside out. I still see the new owner driving the same Jaguar around town. It was like selling my own kid. I replaced the 1997 XJ6 with a low miles 2004 BRG XJ8 and like the 2004 very much.

Fast forward, I am looking for a second car and I have been religiously, searching for another low miles 1997 XJ6, and almost like searching for my lost kid. I found one BRG 1997 Jaguar XJ6 that only has 52,000 miles. Its two hours away and I have not inspect or test drive it yet. I know all the typical issue related to 1997 JX6 such as dropping head liner, rear mirror fading, cld clock, rear humming noise etc..

I think the owner is willing to let the Jaguar go for $4,500.00. What do you guy think? The owner seems very honest. Radiator fan was replaced and crank sensor was replaced. Cooper tires (yak) . The car look pristine from photos.

I attach photos.
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155296361@N02/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155296361@N02/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155296361@N02/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155296361@N02/, on Flickr

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155296361@N02/, on Flickr

 

I would go take a look at it and see if it is what the seller says it is. I bought my 97 for $4500 and it had 42,000 on the odometer but needed some paint. If it's in good condition and you have some income you can part with. I'd say go for it.

Like you I drive a company van around and only get to use my car on the weekends. I only put around 3500 miles on my car within the last year. I just bought a new motorcycle so now the miles get split between the car and the bike. I'm assuming you'd be in the same type of scenario with the two cars. It's nice not to rack up a ton of miles on your vehicles, but they do prefer to be driven. I plan on letting my dad use my car once in a while to go to and from work, just so it doesn't sit for days sometimes weeks without use. Just one thing to think about.

 

IMO, low miles are not a problem. What's bad is long intervals of total non-use; dead storage.

I'd have no worries buying a 20 year old car with only 5000 miles if I knew it had been driven several times a year for 20 years. If it has been exposed to years of non-use, it could be a problem.

Cheers
DD

 

The car looks nice but one thing I noticed from the photos was the air bag in the steering wheel looks a little odd, almost like it is from another car? It may just be the photo.

 

You are right. Thank you for point that out. It looks like airbag was replaced.

 

You are really asking whether to buy it.....???
Barring a festive display of warning lights, or some horrible mechanical noises, I would buy it, or you will be scratching that itch for eternity!

 

One reason to replace the airbag would be because the former one deployed. That would concern me. It could just be mightily discolored from sun exposure, but I'd think some of the surrounding interior bits would show that as well. Looks like the cupholder is broken, if I had to guess.

More money, more miles, and quite a bit farther away, but you may want to check out Belladad's offering of a white one on the FOr-Sale forum here. He bought that one after regretting selling me his previous black VDP with 62k on the clock....Belladad keeps his Jags in good nick and houses them in a heated/cooled garage.

 

If you're worried about the airbag, see if they'll send you the vin number and run a car fax. If it was in an accident that was reported it should show up. If the accident was bad enough for the airbags to deploy it likely would be. It'll also tell you if the title is clean or salvage. Or you can ask the seller if you feel they are honest and see what they have to say.

 

The problem with Car Fax is IF the accident has been reported, not all of them are. My first XJ6 I bought had been side swiped down the entire passenger side and repaired fairly well. I remember the guy I bought it from starting to look a little nervous when I pulled out a magnet and started looking for body filler. I started to see it at night under the lights, that that side had a problem. That car had a clean Car Fax. The vehicle got rear ended last year and is now my parts car.

Another thing to check is that every body panel should have the same vin# sticker on it. You can see the sticker on each front fender when you open the hood.

 

On my Lady P. it was hit on the right front and they didn't resolve the wiring issues caused by poor workmanship . Resolved wiring with detective work found on this forum . Not saying this low mile excellent shape example has wiring issues but look at the RS3 and LS3 connectors in the lowest most forward part of the front seat outboard foot areas . They're under the interior plastic trim covers .

Cup holder hing points can be repaired easily by yourself

 

What i think is worth to find out when buying this is how the underside looks. They all look good on pictures, but you dont see the underside. Rust is a pain on these cars. Dry joints, dry rubbers etc. They will give you much more trouble at the end and is not easy to repair when you dont have the room or tools to do it yourself.

Also the moonroof, check for good seals and inside if theres no rust along the metal. Dry tracks etc. It says alot about the previous owner and how they maintained it.

To be honoust, for me personally I really dont like the brown interior. the steering wheel looks weird, the carpet has seen better days too I think.

 

price is reasonable for mileage if everything works well.the air bag cover can be separated from the air bag itself.if you can find a blown bag with a good cover it shold be cheap enough and your there. make sure battery is disconnected when working on it

 

The colour you want, 52000 miles, $4500 before negotiations, been looking for ages, Christmas in less than 7 days ......
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good
You know it makes sense!

 

I am meeting the owner this Saturday to inspect the Jag. Is there a thread with check/inspect list that I need to follow for buying X300? I will bring Icarsoft 930 meter specific for Jaguar, jack, some mechanical tools, and flashlight. I did see the "X300 buyer guide" in sticky section. I am no rush or pressure of buying this Jag since its going to be an extra vehicle.

 

annamiata,

try this document attached. Let me know your thoughts!

 

In my humble opinion you will never find another car as good as this one is, baring any major problems you discover with the inspection, for this price. The normal X300 with normal miles is a great car. Mine has 144,000 miles and it has been a great car. Great as far as being reliable with only small maintenance issues which the forum can help with. Great ss the best looking car there is. And great as far as driving. I just love driving my X300. I never will have a better car. And I never will get rid of it no matter what.

 

This seems like a pretty good car. Give it a thorough check out. If it's as good as represented, go for it. I'll bet the price is negotiable.

 

I just got back from a detail inspection. We agreed of selling/buying price of. $4,700.00. I will pay next Saturday if i do not change my mind from now to next Saturday,
The good:

1 Perfect paint, the exterior looks like new. All panels, doors , trunk, and hood still have original vin stickers.
Z
2. Engine is clean. No oil leaks. idle smooth.
.
3. Transmission shifts as it should. No oil leak.

4. No rear end noise and no oil leak.

5. Tires are at least 70% thread remain

6. No rust anywhere.

7 brakes are firm and in good condition.

8 new shocks

9 A true garage queen.


the bad:

1. Wood panels on both front doors cracked. Wood center console clear coat cracked, arm rest cup holder broken, head liner drooping, memory seat not working, both front learher chairs are in good shape with no stain but the stitches are loose ( heavy american), rear brake light lens cracked, no buzz noise when signal
left or right.

2. Owner is firm at $4,700.0

3.code p1333. Knock sensor high voltage. I cannot clear error code.

4. Potential exaust leak near transmission . I Can not pi. Down exact location. I can hear it when car in park.

 

That is a high price for those interior problems. However, they are all repairable. The knock sensor problem I would insist it be solved before sale, if not I would walk. The good things you mentioned are pretty normal if the car was kept inside during its lifetime. The bad things you mentioned are pretty normal also. But that price seems high to me. considering what Blue Book says.

 

A 20-year old car without any oil leak and rust is a rare find, and reflects very well on past ownership. I was only put off by the steering wheel as others have mentioned, which is out of character with the conditions of the rest of the car.

Jaguar X300's Knock Sensor rarely fails, but a new one (LHE1692AA, superseded ERR5594) will cost around GBP80-120. Used ones can be had for GBP20-25.