Vin is SAJDA14C63LF57785
It is an 03 Model. 69k
1st question is do most of them have a ski pass thru or can I have one put in with jag parts?
2nd I'm assuming that the cam tensioners should be all metal right?
3rd No Nikasil right?
4th Pricing for a plain jane XJ8 with heated seats from a dealer/wholesaler? MMR is about 8k so I'm thinking of offering 8.5-9.5 if I like and the carfax checks out. If anybody has an unlimited car fax account I'd love to see it for this car.
5th Where if anywhere is there a ATF dipstick in the car. Would love to be able to smell what's there. Do plan on changing it immediately but want to know if its cooked.
What else should I pay particular attention to aside from normal used car stuff?

Thanks!

 

No plastic tensioners.

No Nikasil.

No dipstick - sealed for life (of the warranty or the transmission) Needs 60k mile change.

There is a post in the XK8/R forum that discusses all the issues but most do not apply to the '03 and up. https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=

I have two suggestions; Suspension - look carefully at the tire wear, drive slowly over bumps looking for bumps, clunks and knocks and run through the Owners Handbook and check each and every function of the car.

By '03 most of the engineered-in issues had been resolved.

 

So how do you change the atf fluid if it is sealed for life. Is there any way to access it with a stick to smell it.

 

You drain it by removing the pan and while there replacing the filter. You fill it by pumping new ATF into a hole in the side of the transmission. The XK8 has a drain plug on the bottom of the pan if you want to loosen it just enough to get a drip.

 

Well when I called the dealership (wholesaler) I found out it sold at auction on Friday. But I did stumble on this today. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1790524401.html
Just sent the seller an email. Just hope it has heated seats as that's a deal breaker for my wife. Wish it didn't have a nav system though.

Also am entertaining an 04 in Philly but I can't seem to find a hitch manufacturer who makes a hitch for it.

 

yah, that 03's gonna have heated seats, guaranteed. That's a good year, in fact, my dealer recommended that 03XJR as one of their best in the lineup for reliability. One of our resident jag techs - Brutal has one just like.

 

It will have heated F and R seats. I have an 02 and I can not remember the option list -- other than the B brakes I can not think of one. I believe the Nav was standard -- but I could be wrong. I have only used it a few times on that car -- it is not a map based unit. Thankfully, it does not intrude on the operation of the radio when off.

My 02 has been a great car.

 

Sounds like a great bargain. Let us know how it works out. Good luck!

 

If you have more trouble finding a hitch, try looking at Australian hitch/accessory companies. Those Aussies put hitches on everything. :-) I guarantee you'll be able find one for it.

 

As you have heard from the others that the '03 is the best overall year of the x308 model. That was my first choice for my search for an XJR for all of the issues that it corrected over the course of the prior 5 years of the series.

Good luck in your negotiations!

 

Car fax came back clean. Owner says the only thing wrong is the rear pass door doesn't auto lock so I'm guessing it needs a new motor or the wires cleaned up. Shouldn't be a biggie right? There are even a few for sale on flebay right now. I'm excited to go look at it! How bad is the insurance gonna be on it married, clean driving history. I'm hoping not double what it is for our Legacy.

 

I don't know what its like in the US, but here in the UK 7-8 year old Jaguars are not generally that expensive for insurance. It is a big saloon and not an sports car generally used by young and reckless drivers.

According to Wikipedia, the Legacy is a competitor to Honda Accord, BMW 3 series, and Audi A4, so I would not think you will be paying too much extra for the Jaguar which tends to be driven by more "mature" drivers.

 

That is a nice color combination -- I like the darker silver with the light interior. Mine is silver with black leather -- I like the light Jaguar interiors.

The Jags are normally equal to other high line cars as far as insurance -- It can add a couple hundred dollars to the cost of the comp/collision portion of the policy vs a regular sedan. But every company is a little different. You may see some increase with an R on the liability.

 

When we bought our naturally aspirated jag back in January, I cross shopped it with an '08 Ford Fusion, among other things. I was rather pleasantly surprised when my insurance agent told me that the insurance premium was essentially the same for both cars.

 

Cool, I looked at a fusion a while back. Nice car but I won't buy a car that is made in Mexico no matter whose badge it wears. Its the whole living wage thing to me.

 

Bought it, even better shape then described!

 

Congrats on the new kitty! Post some pics soon!