Challenge friendly '98 XJR, or just light my money on fire?

It runs, drives, and stops. This has been confirmed in person. It's not in horrible condition. It what I'd consider to be true Jaguar sales fashion, it's a friend's grandmother selling the car after her husband died. It's been carported for all of its life.

I'm terrified, intrigued, aroused, and feel like I'm sitting on 16 at the blackjack table- the price is right and I'm reasonably mechanically inclined and have a well equipped garage. I've been looking for a fast luxury 4 door for a little while now.

And I'm terrified because it's a jag. And it's supercharged. It's a supercharged jag.

WWGRM do? It's comical to think this is a sub-$2k car, considering the window price in 1998 was a staggering $71k. I'm completely naive to the world of Jags. Do they all depreciate this poorly?

That's pretty cheap for one of those, but the X308 cars (like the slightly older X300 and XJ40) aren't total nightmares like some of the older Jags. They handle surprisingly well for their size too and the ride quality is pretty awesome.

If I were in your shoes, I'd buy it, mostly because it's a land barge with blower whine

You should do it because it's one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created.

Depends...Some people can walk away from 2k and call it a fun date. If 2k is actually rent or food money to you, stay away from it.

If you buy it, do you still have a car to drive to work everyday that you will keep?

NOHOME wrote: Depends...Some people can walk away from 2k and call it a fun date. If 2k is actually rent or food money to you, stay away from it. If you buy it, do you still have a car to drive to work everyday that you will keep?

Yes. Much with this horde of forum members, I've got nearly a fleet at this point. This would be the 4th road-worthy and inspected vehicle in a family of... 2.

Regarding the $$. $2000 for a fun date and I'd be expecting some seriously impressive... dessert. Haha. In reality, I'm somewhere in between- It's not rent or food money, but it's also not a valet'ed evening at the steeakhouse with 1 too many old fashioned's...

You only love once, go for it if it won't put you in the poor house or at food pantry.

When that fateful day comes where it needs ample amounts of money thrown at it (and you decide not to put in more money) I'll bet there are 10 parts on that car that will bring $100 each on average (which will get you back half your money quickly)

I would imagine that, even in a worst case scenario (perhaps a somewhat likely scenario for a 18 year old supercharged Jag) you could move it for what you have into it, so I say why not?

GIVE THEM THE MONEY NOW.

I know what we're doing on Saturday, now!

no, for real, get it, see what it needs, proceed from there. I'd be amazed if you can't make your money back come tax-return time in the spring at least.

If you do bring it to the challenge, I'm in. We'll need to verify the purchase is fairly sub $2k in that case, though.

Gah. I really wanted a slushbox though, but maybe this is worth dealing with the automatic...

I could probably rally-x this too... supple rwd barge with copious suspension travel and room for meaty tires...

hmmm.

No stock LSD, but you can add one. And the slushbox in those is pretty good. And pretty indestructible. Merc used the same trans behind those boosted V12s...

Only sold autos unfortunately. I have a similar lust/trepidation factor with these blown kitties as well.

How is the manual auto-shift on these? Is it something decent enough for the average autocross/rallycross, or is it a 'just keep it in 2, dummy' type automatic?

The lines on this car are pretty, um, awesome. Nothing like the bubbly late-models. How have I overlooked this car until now?

ohoh! golfduke just texted me about rallyxing it! he has to do it now!

edit: well there ya go!

if it'll hold a gear, you're not going to need more than 1-2 for rallyx.

IIRC, the shifter on these doesn't let you manually hold first, but there's a spot for 2nd. I'm not sure if that locks it only in 2nd or if it'll use 1st and 2nd though.

yep, gotta buy it. I missed one for sale locally about a year ago for $1500 and I regret it almost daily.

should be a GM 4l80e trans I think. If it won't hold second stock there are easy ways to override and make it do so.

Robbie wrote: should be a GM 4l80e trans I think. If it won't hold second stock there are easy ways to override and make it do so.

The X300 XJRs (95 - 97) had the 4L80E. The X308s (98 - 03) use the Mercedes W5A580 (also known as the NAG1 or 722.6).

Why are we still discussing this?

rslifkin wrote:

Robbie wrote: should be a GM 4l80e trans I think. If it won't hold second stock there are easy ways to override and make it do so.

The X300 XJRs (95 - 97) had the 4L80E. The X308s (98 - 03) use the Mercedes W5A580 (also known as the NAG1 or 722.6).

Good catch, thank you.

Also, see the article behind the pic that java posted. Supposedly the XJR is sub 14 second 1/4s and 0-60 in 5.2 stock, matches the M5 in braking and out skidpads and out slaloms the M5 too.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/jaguar/xj-series/1998/1998-jaguar-xjr-long-term-wrap-up/

We are not. I am currently in negotiations with SWMBO. This part might get expensive...

This is going to be good!

In reply to golfduke:

When you sell it, she gets 75% of the profit to buy whatever the hell she wants. That should be an easy sell.

golfduke wrote: We are not. I am currently in negotiations with SWMBO. This part might get expensive...

uh, you should do that sooner rather than later.

whoops.

edit: nevermind, I think I fixed it. for now, anyways. she'll know i was lying after

I know this is not the car we are talking about here, its 6 vs the 8, but oh my:

Jaguar XJR - 62,476 - $3000 (NW Columbus) NMNA