How many red flags am I willing to accept? Talk me out of this XJR

In reply to kb58 :

It's been posted before :)

I would run far away from a deer-damaged hand-written-valvecover XJR.  And I have excercised all sorts of bad decision making with regards to the 130 or so vehicles I've owned to date.

A cheap Jag doesn't end up being cheap.

^Write that down.

In reply to yupididit :

Sliding scale.  I don't mind paying a fair market price for a jag.  My problem is that I can only go to about $4000-5000 for a running version.  My problem is that I need to get in, turn the key, and drive.  I don't have the real estate for something that needs a lot of work.  New seats, maybe.  New water pump, not so much

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Well, mine currently starts and drives but mostly needs new tires and brakes. Maybe fluids cause its been sitting. Every once in awhile it has a "restricted performance" notification cause the MAF. 

I'm just not motivated to put much time or money into it when I have other cars I prefer to spend on. 

And its parked outside now and that makes me feel guilty.

But one thing about owning an XJR, every once in awhile it'll need one of them coolant hoses that's under the supercharger. Even if you just replaced it with a new one less than 1000 miles ago. Just a quirk of having a British machine. 

Regarding the coolant hoses under the supercharger, yes, they can be an issue, BUT there are now cast aluminum replacements for them, so done once, they're a forever-fix.

In reply to kb58 :

Those don't apply to the hoses that I'm referring to. The two rubber hoses the run from the front of the engine to the back of the engine while sitting in the valley of the engine under the supercharger. Also, the knock sensors are there lol. 

Valley hose job

If those could somehow fit to solve the issue that would be a miracle. 

Stampie said:

In reply to L5wolvesf :

I get a different feel.  My guess is an older guy that's always taken care of things.  Maybe not so much that valve cover but the type that wants to send it on in the best condition possible.  Just a WAG and it's worth what you paid for it.

I have to agree with you.   There are some really wonderful Jaguar owners.  ( and a whole lot of poseurs). The wonderful ones are honest decent people who want the best for their car. 
       I can't tell which this guy is for sure but I'm inclined to believe  in he's straight.   
 Doesn't mean the car's a good deal though.  

iansane said:

kb58 said:

You might want to post over here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/

Of course, being a "Church of Jag", it's unlikely that they'll try talking you out of it, but can very likely help confirm whether it's authentic.

Man, that place is just chock full of 'Why would you modify a jag, they're perfect' mentalities...

 Some are.  Mostly those who have others do their work for them and know that the further they get from original the fewer guys will work on it.   
    I'm a save the engine guy, swap out the transmission.   Turn it into a race car.  

kb58 said:

Regarding the coolant hoses under the supercharger, yes, they can be an issue, BUT there are now cast aluminum replacements for them, so done once, they're a forever-fix.

Hey !!! Why didn't Sir William think of that?    Oops  he doesn't run the place anymore.   Of course Sir William would have had all those polished.  

Last year I paid around that for a 2004 XJ, rebuilt title.  A tree fell on the right side.  Repaired pretty well, but it was excellent mechanically, with documentation.  Only problems in the 1 1/2 years of ownership is replacing brake hard lines on the right side, over the engine cradle.  I trust this car to go anywhere.  Sure you're taking a chance, clean or rebuilt, but if he can back up what's been done, it cuts down on the odds. I'd give him an honest low ball number, and go from there, if you truly like this car.  And yes, XJR's are more maintenance intensive. Another thing, the earlier interiors are smaller than the generation I have.  That's the main reason I looked at this one.

Stampie said:

In reply to L5wolvesf :

I get a different feel.  My guess is an older guy that's always taken care of things.  Maybe not so much that valve cover but the type that wants to send it on in the best condition possible.  Just a WAG and it's worth what you paid for it.

A  bit off-topic, but the above describes me. When I sold Midlana, I wanted very badly to pass it on as seamless as possible to a deserving buyer, being completely open about all issues, and admit to feeling a bit butt-hurt when a couple BaT bidders tried saying otherwise. I get it, they don't know me, but to assume the worst, and to then try very hard to make their imagined bad situation materialize, left me with a bitter taste for auctions in general. Back on topic, you need to talk to the seller, preferably in person, or at least on the phone, to get a better idea of his authenticity. 

Dirtydog (Forum Supporter) said:

Another thing, the earlier interiors are smaller than the generation I have.  That's the main reason I looked at this one.

The earlier smaller interior doesn't bug me.  I'm looking at the X308 for two main reasons - to me, it is the last of the XJs that look like a jag, and second, to avoid the ZF trans in favor of the MB trans found in the supercharged cars up to 03.  I have looked at a few X350s and I do like them, but still lean hard toward the 308s.

If the right x350 falls in my lap, I won't turn it down, but a $5000 doesn't get you much of an x350

True. The X308 is more classically styled.  My body shape was more comfortable in the X350.  Deals are out there, you've been patient so far, and that will pay off.  To date, I'm very pleased with my Jag.  As a "car", it performs admirably.

yupididit said:

In reply to kb58 :

Those don't apply to the hoses that I'm referring to. The two rubber hoses the run from the front of the engine to the back of the engine while sitting in the valley of the engine under the supercharger. Also, the knock sensors are there lol. 

 

Valley hose job

 

 

If those could somehow fit to solve the issue that would be a miracle. 

I would try replacing with silicone hoses with heat wrap - I see someone in that thread has tried heat wrap as well.

In reply to GameboyRMH :

The one's I removed had eat wrap as well. I wonder how well that worked. I'm not sure if it was OEM though.