Love my 1999 XJ8. I live in a large city (Houston) and notice that I rarely see any on the road now. I know the cars are now about 12 -15 years old, but considering the classic styling, great performance and ride, I wonder why there are so few left. I can go weeks without seeing another one. I continually get compliments on my car. I assume that people are not keeping these on the road as the parts and repairs are relatively expensive. Does anyone think these cars will be considered classics worth restoring in 20 years?

 

I live in SoCal and I see these beauties all over. They have the classic lines of the glory years of Jaguar. Somehow todays just don't stand out to me. Not saying I wouldn't drive one. I think when you own these cars you become more of a garage mechanic and fix things you might not on other cars. Maybe price and the satisfaction of doing it yourself is a factor.

 

They're all reaching the point where they're needing major repairs that are often costlier than the car is worth. This means a lot of them are parked to be repaired but it never ends up happening (what's happened to basically every 80's XJ), parted out, or are simply crushed. They're pretty cheap to own if you can work on them yourself, but labor is costly if you have to farm it out. Most people are scared of the maintenance costs, and many of those that buy them cheap don't realize the maintenance costs until it's too late. This happens with every flagship luxury car. It's why you don't see as many W140 or even W220 S Classes any more. They're getting to the point where they're not easy any more, so only the dedicated still go to the effort of having one.

 

I'm going to look at one today, it suffered the tensioner failure. He's selling it as a parts car, but I may just use my XJ8 as a donor and get the "new" one going as it appears to be in better shape.

The upside is, maybe eventually the survivors may be worth something!

 

I live between Denver and Colorado Springs and I know of one other XJ8 in the area - that's it. I also don't recall seeing any on the highway around here. I can't say I've seen that many while driving around Denver either.

 

I have just bought a 2001 XJ308, Silver, 4.0Lt and it goes great. Recently (September 2014) I was driving in France and while in a snarl up on a roundabout, the Gendarme pointed out my Jag to his buddy. He stopped an other car and waved me through. Yes, they're getting rare and will be a classic. Hang on to it!

 

I live in NE Oklahoma, and this is not exactly a Jaguar market stronghold, but I see an X308 almost every day, be it a Vanden Plas or XJ8 etc. They seem to be daily driven with some frequency in Tulsa. The dealer and my mechanic state that people don't seem to mind spending huge fractions of the cars value on repairs much of the time.

 

Likewise in Wisconsin… There's another XJ8 in my village owned (no kidding) by the bank president! Otherwise I don't suppose I've seen fewer of them in my travels than before. I can't say the same for XJ40s though. When I bought my '91 almost six years ago, I'd still see them out and about - mostly beaters, though. Now they are nonexistent in my neck of the woods. What a difference a few years makes as owners decide whether to repair or discard.

From time to time I think about selling my '98, but it's only "worth" about $2400 now. It's gorgeous and in perfect working order (except for that dang intermittent airbag light). Now it just seems to make most sense to drive it, enjoy it, fix it from time to time, and, when the time comes, let it go. My particular car is never going to be preserved as anybody's classic…

Scott

 

The worst thing about owning a XJR is that you rarely get to see one in motion which is when it is at its best ... you're inside and it's other people who get the treat!

 

High-end luxury cars, as their age increases and their value decreases, pass from the hands of ballers, to posers, to connoisseurs

 

And sometimes they become parts cars like the VDP I just bought. Sad, but they die so that others may live....................

 

All of you can consider yourself happy. I am from Slovakia and have never encountered an x308 other than mine...

 

I'm out there daily. 70 miles a day on Houston roadways.

 

I'll look out for you on the Gulf Freeway where I drive about 40 miles/day

 

I agree. I happen to live in a town that has a few. If I leave town the sightings are rare. This classic style catches my eye the most. The lower stance with the leaper on the hood is my preference. The cost of maintenance can deter some but for garage mechanics it is a fun project. Love my XJ8.

 

Over in the UK here and you would imagine our roads would be littered by XJ with drivers smoking on their pipes wearing tweed hats and slippers. Truth is my XJR is the only one in the city and has been since I moved here 5 years ago, there’s 2 other XJ8's I see around but in really poor condition, wheel arches falling out due to our salty roads and havent seen a good cleaning in some years, certainly not kept by a true blooded Jaguar enthusiasts.

 

Here's one to add to the roadways:

2003 Jaguar XJ Sport Saloon

 

OK,
The obvious solution for you is to move to the San Francisco Bay area. Since Jaguar LTD never made a pickup truck, you're doomed in Houston. Out here, we're crawling (literally) with XJ's. Even in my nowhere East Bay hamlet of Orinda, I see a dozen or so on a regular basis. Cons: the gas sucks and the police are ****'s.
Regards,
Buck (VDP SC - The last car I'll ever buy)

 

I live in lower Hudson Valley in New York and I know of three other x308's in my town alone. Two are in good shape, one not so much. I'm sure they all get garaged when winter comes since we get alot of snow. Also, a few XKR's and S-Types. The Jaguar presences is strong like the force in my town.

 

I think I fit into the poser category!