Hey everyone, I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm considering buying a 2002 XJ8 with 82,000 miles on it and I was wondering if there were any reliability issues I should look out for. I'm a college kid that goes to school close to home so I wouldn't be driving it that much and me any my dad love working on cars so if there are any non catastrophic issues we would most likely handle them. Are there any problems I should watch for in this model? And just out of curiosity...how does this do in snow? haha

 

I am sure it is a beautiful car; I have one very much like it that I have enjoyed these past 5 years. But they are very expensive to maintain. Everything for a Jag costs more, sometimes shocking more. Also you need a competent independent Jag mechanic whom you can trust implicitly. Start by having him check it over thoroughly before you decide. Then, if you or your family have the financial resources, go for it. But please keep in mind that an aging Jag is usually an extremely poor choice for a college student. This applies to all aging luxury cars, not just Jags: Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, etc. Good luck on your decision.

 

I recently purchased a 2003 XJ8 after reading here that the reliability issues, if there are any, were fixed by 2003 -- also I found one that I really like and had only bit over 60k miles and was well maintained.

I say go for it -- if you can verify the maintenance history, all the better. If not, you could ask the local Jaguar dealership to see if they can find any history on the car.

 

Welcome. First, before buying an XJ8, scour this forum for common issues, and read these two books: The Essential Buyer's Guide Jaguar/Daimler XJ by Peter Crespin; Jaguar World on Jaguar X300/X308. They provide a good overview of things to look for in the XJ8. They are great cars in general, but of course have it checked out by a mechanic very familiar with the X308 AND run a Car Fax. Most of the quirks were worked out by 2002/2003, and they're no less reliable than other luxury makes.

Also, do consider Alvin's warning about the maintenance and repair costs. Dealerships charge around $115/hr plus tax for anything they do. Most mechanics won't touch it, and many of those who will shouldn't! Most body shops won't touch it (in my experience). Even some things that an otherwise-capable DIY owner could do, such as wheel bearings, are extremely difficult on the XJ8. It also has very complex electronics, making working on it a challenge.

I wouldn't recommend driving it in poor weather conditions, including snow. For that, opt for a Subaru Outback.

 

Wow thanks for all the positive response, Ill keep you guys posted as to what I decide. Thanks again.

 

make sure it is made after 8/01, lest you need to replace the upper/
lower timing chain tensioners, which is at least a $2000 job.

In response to mrlovt,
If you're familiar with RWD, the 2000-03 models have a fairly competent
traction cotrol, and predictable responses in heavy weather... just
drive like you would any 2wd car in the weather. Interestingly, the
car has 5.2 inches of ground clearance... which is best-in-class.

The gearbox is a ZF 5HP24, so read a little about that, they can
be a bit of trouble as the years go by.

I drive my XJ to college... and as long as the Avalanche-driving
door ding crew stay away, it is a good college car. I live
1200 miles from home with it, but I have a trustworthy
mechanic out there, and parts can often be found for cheap
online. Sometimes, you will have to pony up and go to
the dealer though.

Final note: Most college students are hard on cars, inside
and out. This car has good paint quality, so as long as
you don't ever touch it with the brush at a carwash, itll
be good... the dash will take the sun without any cracking,
but I highly recommend as much cover as possible.

The outer dash parts will warp with extreme sun exposure. The sun
is hard on any car. (except American cars, covered in invincible
hard plastic)

Also, the interiors are beautifully made of fine materials.
That said, subject them to hard use, and they will
degrade quicky. The polished doorsills will be a victim of your
friend's high heels, the seats might get tired looking if a fat
man is a passenger very often. Also, never put your knees
in the seats! The centre console armrest cupholders aren't
that hard to break either.

You have to treat it like it's old. If you don't, it will start to
go from looking mint, to looking, well, old.

Ian