XF SV8 - any reason not to?

[ChrisDixon]

My wfe made the fatal mistake of buying me the latest Jaguar World, which features the XFR, but makes reference to the SV8 with its mere 410BHP. As these cost about half an XFR, what's not to like? Any rust issues showing up on these cars as they approach 10 years old?

[3.8etypephil]

The XF SV8 is a super car, I have not seen any serious corrosion on any XFs but a prospective purchase should always be thoroughly inspected. Pay particular attention to the rear subframe, and the sills (hidden to an extent behind plastic mouldings); these were the vulnerable areas of the S type, on which the XF is based.
There are some decent looking high mileage early XFRs coming to market at £12k ish now; if the car is sound and well cared for, it will take the miles in its stride, and as wonderful as the XF SV8 is, the XFR is much better; faster, more frugal, handles better, and comes with more gadgets, few of which seem to give any trouble. If you go to see one, take a syringe and some 6/8mm plastic washer pipe with you to draw off some oil to check its condition, and familiarise yourself with the oil level checking procedure to ensure that it has not been running on a low (nor too high) oil level.

[ChrisDixon]

Thanks Phil. Point taken on the merits of the XFR but 410BHP is enough for me and my thinking is that if i can get an 80K miler for £8K that's about the same as a decent example of its predecessor the S-TypeR, or an older X350 XJR (with the same engine, but which is too big for my needs) almost half what it would take to get into a similar mileage XFR. And I can always upgrade later if I like it ......

[J44EAG]

I agree fully with Phil.

Essentially, the running gear, suspension wishbones, drop arms etc are as per the modified "banana arm" 4.2R X350 and later S-types. Dampers are conventional coil over shocker rather than air-springs as found on the X350. The body is steel and being really a rework of the S-type, needs careful examination around the back ends of the sills. In essence, the 410hp SV8 is really an S-type R in drag.

Inspect carefully especially the underside and be aware that suspension bushes will need replacement from about 60k miles, the gearbox will need an oil and filter change, supercharger will need new oil and front wheel bearings will need replacement from around 80k miles.

The set up is conventional Jaguar and the 4.2 is a relatively bullet proof engine apart from the dreaded valley pipe under the supercharger. Not a nice job to get to. About 80k miles for valley hose replacement which I strongly advise should be carried out if the car has accumulated that sort of mileage. I`m told space is very tight at the back end of the engine. This makes charger removal difficult as this needs to come off to get to the valley pipe...in fact that lack of space makes parts removal in that location far harder than in the X350R. You might like to use that as a bargaining point as you agree a price.

Mike K

[ChrisDixon]

Well as luck would have it an 08 SV8 came up for sale locally just at the right time ...... so its hello to XF ownership. A couple of things to do, rear discs and pads, and an erratic coolant level sensor. Will also get the transmission fluid changed and the valley hose looked at.