Every now and then I get the urge to move on from an XJ40 and buy a X308 LWB Sovereign. I picked out a couple on Autotrader and set off to look at them yesterday.
First one a Dark blue 2001 model at Keighly trade centre for £1,875 with about 140k miles. The saleman was willing but the car had a flat battery and had to be started with a power pack, engine smooth and quiet. Then the drawback - a quick look underneath revealed major rust - I could put my hand through the floor in several places.
On to car 2, A 1999 silver car with 121k for £2,295 at Jaggers in Bradford, by now it was drizzling and I did not fancy laying on the ground but a quick run of the hand along the lower sill seam revealed a fair bit of rust. A glance in the engine bay showed significant corrosion where to subframe mounts join chassis. Then I shone a torch through the wheel spokes to look at the outside of the same area - it looked as of an alien had burst out through the metal.
It makes me really sad that Jaguar let down these beautiful cars by skimping on corrosion protection. It also annoys me that dealers continue to try to sell cars that are not fit to pass an MOT.
Cheers

I just slightly fancy a V8, but I would not rule out a good X300LWB if one came along.
Cheers

SV8Predator wrote on 03.10.2011 at 22:12:48:

There are no good ones... Better a good xj40.
The jag V8 was not exactly a muscle car but a rust box.

Geoff.

XJ40S wrote on 04.10.2011 at 11:53:29:


Reading about the X350 on the other forums and they seem to lots of problems with corrosion of the alloy body. Jag seem to be rectifying it and repainting if the customers complain but how long the repair work will last is anyone's guess.

there is plenty of good clean v8 xjs out there .you got to remeber that the newest car is over 10 years old now so you can expect some rust .ive had 2 v8s and the only problem iv had with them is tyres and batterys .ive also seen a fare few x300s with very bad body probs and tired interiors.the x308 has a far nicer interior and is better to drive over all

SV8Predator wrote on 07.10.2011 at 19:23:18:

"so say you...you mean..... i don't like em".give me a good ole 93/94 xj40 with rusty floors,bulkhead etc anytime''''' no need for air/con with all those holes... just a raincoat or leathers.

now an earlier xj40...."thats a different matter..there tasty tasty very very tasty.. and I prefer that model to the V8.unless of course you change the engine for a nice big yankee v8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM0M9YwYmp4

M80XJR wrote on 09.10.2011 at 22:33:42:

just it.. would prefer a nice big throbby v8 in a jag.one that barks when you floor it and sounds like a V8.

M80XJR wrote on 10.10.2011 at 21:41:39:

trouble is the v12 is too smooth and has no "throb".