2004 Jaguar XJ8

PROS - very low weight keeps a very nimble car, good brakes, very comfortable interior, lush quality interior, good amount of tech, great gas mileage for such a big car, good room for 5, great power, L version has tremendous amount of legroom.

CONS - depreciation is appaling, driver's position is a little snug, not a lot of bells and whistles

All in all I am thrilled with the car. It is definitely not a German Uber-car,.. and not a Japanese bore-mobile. This is a car that has character, that has style, history and class. It is a great highay cruiser and has the chassis and engine to make the back roads a lot of fun too.

All in all I could not be happier with the choice that I have made. A great highway car, lots of power, plush accomodations, enough tech to keep in touch, and great looks.

UPDATE - OK, I've now had the car for 60 days, and I have to say I continue to enjoy the car. I am also not so brash as to overlook some short-comings. In the CONS list I can now mention the relatively small interior for the size of the car. Being 6'3" and 250lbs, I know that my frame is way above the design criteria for the car, but I have noticed that the back seat behind the driver (when I am driving) is a little short on legroom. Getting in and out is relatively easy, but worth considering. I was originally looking for an XJ8L, but they did not make them in this year.

With over 2000 miles on the odo, I can say one thing for certain. This car is very well stuck together. For buying a used vehicle with 40k on it, the aluminum frame and aircraft-style construction make for one tight package. No squeaks, rattles, loose parts... nothing. That is something I was hoping for, but not expecting. Very nice.

I am also averaging 22.4 mpg with about 50/50 mixed driving. Tremendous for a full size V8 vehicle.

Overall, continue to be very happy and am glad for the purchase. I would recommend this car highly and I look forward to having it for quite some time.

I purchased a pre-owned 2004 Jaguar XJ8 on July 3, 2007 and it appeared just as nicely described by the Vendor. On July 5, the car was taken in to a service station for its mandatory State Vehicle Inspection. The brake pads on all four wheels were found to be worn down to the metal, and all four rotors were scored beyond repair. This is somewhat unusual for a car that has only been driven a reported 20,000 miles. All four sets of brake rotors and pads had to be replaced at a cost of $900 before the car was given a clean certificate of state inspection.

Obviously it pays to have an engineering inspection done prior to purchase whenever possible. In this case, however, reliance was placed on the Vendor's description that the vehicle had been given a 'thorough dealer inspection'. This could not have been the case, and if such claims are to be made by 'reputable' eBay vendors, then I recommend that they actually do have the vehicle taken in for a comparable State Inspection (it only costs about $20)before putting them on auction. This could be announced on the eBay descriptions, backed up the inspection report, and give prospective buyers from afar added confidence in making their bids.