About to buy an xk8 after wanting one for years!

[davidt34]

Hi Everyone
Firstly many thanks for all the useful info I've already learned from reading the forum!.
I've always wanted an xk8 and have the chance to buy an older one from a local car dealer.
I'm a bit nervous as I know nothing about mechanics and I am not exactly flush so any help or advice would be most welcome.
I do a lot of miles during the week as I'm a commercial photographer and I drive a Mondeo diesel for work.
The xk is purely for pleasure and I'm keen to attand meets etc with her when I finally take the plunge.
Here's my dilemma - I've found an xk8 on an R plate with three previous owners and a full service history at a local dealer for £4750 with 89,000 on the clock. The guy has offered me six months warranty (£1000 max per claim) and a new set of tyres at trade price when I need them.
I've also seen similar age car for private sale 12 previous owners for £2500 with 130,000 on the clock.
I know it's impossible to guess as to any potential problems but any advice would be great.
Neither car has proof of timing chain change.
I test drove the dealer car and she started first time and drove beautifully. The engine sounded very quiet and the tryes were evenly worn. I looked underneath and couldn't see any rust.
Many thanks for any thoughts for a total novice!
Thanks - Dave T

[aaj]

Hi David

Welcome to the XK8 Forum

There are 2 books I know of that has sections on advice on buying an XK

Haynes You & Your Jaguar XK8 (published in 2006) &

The Essential Buyers Guide - Jaguar XK8 & XKR 1996-2005 (published in 2011)

Both are written by Nigel Thorley. I cannot comment on the second book as I've not seen it but the You & Your book is excellent.

The Club has a Vehicle Inspection Scheme - give the Bristol Office a call for details

Good luck

AllanJ

[davidt34]

Hi Allen
Many thanks for your reply. I'm going to log into Amazon now and order the uou and yours book.
Best regards
Dave

[davidt34]

Hi Allan
I bought the book as per your suggestion and have read it from cover to cover.
I'm not technical at all so some of it goes over my head but it has been really useful.
The car I've found is a 1998 version and it did produce some blue smoke on startup which the book suggests could be a Nikasil issue. The dealer wants £4750 for it and won't budge an inch which is frustrating.
Not sure wether to walk away or take the plunge.
Thanks for the tip re the book though - very useful.
Cheers
Dave

[mike020150]

Hi David,

As Allan suggested earlier a vehicle check using the Club scheme would be a good way to identify any issues and put your mind at rest. Talk with Graham Searle at the Bristol office for details. Mike.

[robv12]

from my perspective, an R reg car at £4750 is a huge amount of money, I would want the car to be mint for that with all the documents, history and invoices detailing all the problem areas having been upgraded and rectified

the 130K mile car is in that danger area of floor and inner wing corossion, along with gearbox failure, again I would want to see evidence of all the probelm areas having being attended to

to put these prices into perspective, i know of a 23K mile from new 2004 XKR 4.2 Coupe for sale at just £10K

Look at any cars sales site, eaby, Auto Trader, Pistonheads, there are loads for sale, so choose carefully and wait for the right car to come along

and as the others have said use the club inspection scheme

[davidt34]

Thanks again for your helpful replies - much appreciated!
Dave

[oldtimer]

Dave
Take it from me, Jaguars are not a hobby they are an addiction, don't do it.
If you can't do it your self go and check on a few repair costs.
Good luck!?! Oldtimer

[davidt34]

Hi Oldtimer
I'm sure thats good advice but I've got to buy one even if it turns into an expensive addiction.
Ever since the xk8 came out I've loved them and now they have dropped so much in price I've got my chance.
Thanks
Dave

[dhdove]

David

For what it's worth I would suggest you think about what options, colour, interior, toys you want in your new car. There are loads of cars for sale but some are more equal than others.
There's nothing worse than buying a motor and then going to a show and seeing another one with phone fit, xenons, upgraded stereo etc and kicking yourself because you would have loved to have that.
Since you will know your price range and therefore roughly the date of build, go onto eBay and buy one or two original sales brochures from that era, they're not expensive (£8-10?).
You can then sit in the comfort of your armchair and peruse those glossy pages at leisure (which is a real treat in itself) and get a feel for what was available as standard and as an option and make a decision about the spec of the car that you would like to own.
Then....you can go back to the adverts and sort the wheat from the chaff.
At least when you do buy a car it will be one that you are happy with

Best
TonyS

[davidt34]

Hi Tony
Thats great advice thankyou!
I really just want an xk8 to drive at weekends so I'm not too bothered about mobile phone and sat nav accessories etc.
I would like a good cd player and sound system.
My price range is very limited - up to £5000 so that does limit my choice.
I really like the one I've test driven a couple of times and it ticks my boxes although I will get a JEC inspection done before I buy it.
Many people seem quite negative about the older xk8's but it's either an old one or nothing as I can't spend any more on one.
Will check ebay now for brochures - a good idea!.
Thanks again.
Dave

[Nik]

Hi David ,
I know of a 2001 XK8 Coupe , dark blue metallic , LOW MILEAGE in very nice condition , it's a facelift model so has the chrome boot trim , flush fog lamps , jewel rear lamps and separate head rests ETC that could be had for less than £5500 , surely that would be a better bet , it's local to me so if you need me to take another look ,

Hope this helps ,

Nik

[davidt34]

Hi Nik
Sounds interesting please could you let me have the details.
I'm ready to buy the right car.
Best regards
Dave

[Nik]

Hi Nik
Sounds interesting please could you let me have the details.
I'm ready to buy the right car.
Best regards
Dave

You have a PM Dave

[davidt34]

Well I'm still very tempted by this Jag and the dealer has moved a bit and I think he'll take around £4400 for it. I've test driven it and it starts first time from cold and has done on the four occassions I've viewed it (the engine was cold first).
There is some slight rust on the sills at each end and a little bit here and there underneath but nothing major. I went underneath it today in their MOT inspection pit for a look.
The dealer says that the tensioner has been done but has no paperwork to prove this.
It's got a FSH which I guess is reassuring to a point.
Does anyone know how much it would cost to get the tensioners checked?.
Also I did try to book an inspection through JEC but they don't have a JEC local inspector in Buckinghamshire and referred me to a classic car specialist who wants £250 to check it over which sounds a bit expensive.
Also she did sit a little lower to the left when I looked from behind. The front right tyre was a bit flat though.
Thanks again for any advice.
Dave