from time to time I check the usual outlets like motors.ebay.com, craigslist and autotrader and it seems that over the past 60 days the value of the x308s are creeping up, especially for cars under 100k miles with documented service history. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

I am noticing a slight uptick in the lower end ones- about $500-$1K up for high mileage, not so perfect examples.

 

Funny you mention the lower end ones...usually there's one for $1000 on cl with high mileage and various issues and those have even dried up

 

I think its still a bit too early for the "collectable" factor to kick in. People tend to first collect the cars that they either wished they could have had or did actually drive when they were teenagers or young adults. And while a few people are successful enough to start collecting at an early age, the competition among bidders doesn't heat up until large numbers of those teenagers and young adults pay off their mortgages and get their youngest kids through college, which takes about 30 years. At least that's the way it works for sports and gt cars. Sedans are sort of second line collectibles, the cars that the collector's father or grandfather had or perhaps a car he wished he could have had himself when he was only a bit younger, in his 40s. Such second line collectibles don't appreciate as fast. X308s are probably about as cheap as they're ever going to get though. If they are going up any in recent times, perhaps the fact that gas prices have gone way down, some people in the old used car market are opting for gas-guzzling luxury over fuel-sipping economy. I know I would.

 

The low end "broken, don't know why" ones used to be weekly, now they are more scarce but stil findable. It goes in waves- I figure folks who want to unload their broken cats look first to see the value and then post the ad- thus a wave of low price XJ8's is born. Just saw an XJR with a bent valve for $1500....VERY tempting but I have too busy of a year ahead to take on any more projects.