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Jaguar XJ-Series

2801 messages,  Last post on Oct 25, 2012 at 10:12 AM

You are in the Jaguar XJ-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? Jaguar XJ-Series, Sedan

Messages Page 268 of 281

#2669 of 2801 1999 vadam plas lots of problems by nomasjag

Dec 03, 2007 (6:06 pm)

I purchased a 1999 Vadam Plas brand new. I had all maintenance done at all regular intervals. In spite of doing all that I could do I have placed 3 throtle bodies on the car and just had my ABS module go out along with the throtle body again. This time the throtle body was three months out of warenty. Jaguar corporate no help, jaguar local no help. I am done with Jags. The British were no good, Ford not much better and India will probably be worse. Anybody with similar throtle body problems, ABS module problems or acceleration problems. Any class action law suites against Jaguar for any of the above problems?
 
NOMASJAG

#2670 of 2801 Re: 1999 vadam plas lots of problems [nomasjag] by rvevea

Dec 03, 2007 (8:25 pm)

Replying to: nomasjag (Dec 03, 2007 6:06 pm)
I've had three Jags since 1980 (currently own an '01 XJ8 & an '05 XJR) and spent my working years in the car business. Having started from the ground up, doing every part of the business in between, managing in new car stores and then owning my own, I feel very confident that it is not your car that has been the root of most of your problems. I would bet just about anything that it is the dealer and/or his service manager/writer or techs that have been doing a number on you. It's probably too late to tell now or to prove anything but I've seen this happen to others. NOT very often with Jaguar though.
The XJ series have been very trouble free cars for the last 10 or 12 years. The X-type and S-Type are not so trouble free. They are more Ford than Jag, but the XJ has been and remains a vehicle built only in England and to higher standards.
   If you have used more than one Jag dealer to do these repairs it could also be that one of them "sabotaged" your vehicle, setting it up for problems. This can be relatively easily done on any car via the ECU or other ways. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens way to often and is actually a result of cars being built better and better and, in truth, not needing as much maintenance or repair. Consequently some of the "low lifes" generate their own work and a big paycheck. A rash of similar and related problems like you mention is more common in more vehicles than one would imagine. And they virtually always (when there is a THREE time failure of a specific item or a related component especially) are the result of the human factor rather than the machine. I've driven nearly every foreign and domestic vehicle except for the really exotics or stuff we can't get stateside. I'm 62 and will own and drive at least one Jag as long as I live. But I WILL stick with the genuine article, the XJ series. I just tell it like it is. There are both good and bad wrenches and dealers. You can get a real lot of fine automobile if you buy a one or two year old model, because, unfortunately for some- fortunate for others, they depreciate a lot. Their poor reliability record from many years ago still haunts them. Good luck to you... but don't give up on Jag.
Robin (they call me "The Car Father") 8>)
PS... if someone has done a number on your '99 you could continue to have problems so after 8 years it may be time to bite the bullet. Buy an '05 or '06 XJ8 with low miles, certified and with a clean carfax. The V.P is nice too but the extra $ is hard for me to justify. (Even though the XJR brings as much- but it has GOBS of guts!) And find another dealer. Remember, you don't have to see them more than roughly once a year during the 4 year warranty so if you have to drive a ways, so what.

#2671 of 2801 Re: 1999 vadam plas lots of problems [nomasjag] by nomasjag

Dec 04, 2007 (3:44 am)

Replying to: nomasjag (Dec 03, 2007 6:06 pm)
Robin(Te Car Father)
Thanks for your reply. I agree the new Vadam Plas are too much $ for what you get. I DID like Jaguar but not all the problems. You might be right about my dealer but there is only one dealer within 100 miles. The reliability problem is confirmed by consumer reports, thus the depreciation. Any suggestions on how to make my local dealers life miserable. After all I invested a lot of $ and received a negative return? Still afraid of Jag especially the cost to repair the new aluminum bodies and the bad experience with the dealer. By the way this dealer was the only one that worked on my car.
Maybe time to bite the bulet and go to a reliable car. I hate to say it Infiniti M35 highest rated. Hate to do the Japanese thing but tired of spending time with my car in the shop. Besides there service is a 100 times better than Jag, they actually care about retaining customers. I don't think the Indians(tata motors) will be any better. Besides with the high value of the English pound the car and its parts will be more expensive!
 
Thanks,
NOMASJAG

#2672 of 2801 2001 or 2003 XJ8? by mstender

Dec 11, 2007 (8:33 am)

I am currently looking at two XJ8 (the VDP's I looked at recently were both crappy). One is a 2001 with 40k miles, one owner, a former Jaguar lease bought by a used car dealer specialized on Jags from Jaguar credit. It has a clean carfax and was always Jaguar serviced. The 2003 has 50k miles, is also a one owner car but there are no service records (neither in the carfax). It was traded in at a new car dealership and those guys don't have a clue about Jags. They are very similar in price (the '03 is listed $1k higher) and both seem to be good deals money wise. Which car would you guys go for?
Any comments or advices are appreciated!
Thanks, Matt.

#2673 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [mstender] by hofiii

Dec 11, 2007 (9:28 am)

Replying to: mstender (Dec 11, 2007 8:33 am)
I would seriously consider the 03 because it is only 1K more and you would not have any chance of purchasing an auto with a potential Nikasil problem. It was a known problem for late 97 - 01 4.0L V8 Jaguars and BMWs as well. The nikasil liner was abolished by the '02 -'03 models. You can read about it on the internet if you'd like. Also, I'd like to suggest the jag-lovers.com website. A wealth of info can be found there. BTW, for your information, the '98 - '03 models are technically referred to as X308 and included in the X300 forum on jag-lovers.com.

#2674 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [hofiii] by mstender

Dec 11, 2007 (12:06 pm)

Replying to: hofiii (Dec 11, 2007 9:28 am)
Thanks for your response hofiii!
It seems like there are some conflicting reports regadring when Jaguar stopped using the Nikasil engines. What I found in my research was, that if the last 6 places of the VIN start with the letter 'F', then the vehicle does not use Nikasil and is fitted with steel liners. According to this the '01 i was looking at does NOT have the Nikasil. Do you have other info on this hofiii?
I am just checking out the jag-lovers.com forum; a lot of info there.
Thanks, Matt.

#2675 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [mstender] by hofiii

Dec 11, 2007 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: mstender (Dec 11, 2007 12:06 pm)
I believe you could be correct. Post this question and any other concerns on jag-lovers.com and you will get a definite answer. They know what they are talking about and are VERY helpful, I've found. Good luck!

#2676 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [hofiii] by mstender

Dec 11, 2007 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: hofiii (Dec 11, 2007 12:22 pm)
Thanks hofiii for your tip. I just posted it at jag-lovers.com.
Matt

#2677 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [mstender] by hofiii

Dec 11, 2007 (1:12 pm)

Replying to: mstender (Dec 11, 2007 1:06 pm)
You are welcome. I've found the website to be invaluable. They know their Jags!

#2678 of 2801 Re: 2001 or 2003 XJ8? [mstender] by pat

Dec 11, 2007 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: mstender (Dec 11, 2007 1:06 pm)
Please come back here and let us know what you find out - that would be helpful to many others in your situation.

Messages Page 268 of 281

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