XKR buying and inspection advice please
Discussion
Hi , just joined and looking for some advice if possible please. I currently have an Audi A8 4.2 with LPG but I fancy an change and I have always liked the look of the XKR. I drove a friends last year and i have found this car local to me. Can anyone give me any pointers , what to look for if I view it ? If I do like it I would probably want a pre purchase inspection. Any suggestions in the Milton Keynes area or slighly further afield ? Any help much appreciated
XKR
XKR
Looks like a nice example. At that sort of mileage it should be near as dammit immaculate if it's been looked after correctly. Servicing should be up to date (every year or 12k miles, whichever comes soonest).
Check all the electrical stuff works correctly but don't necessarily write it off if anything is slightly amiss - these cars are hard on batteries which often results in slightly strange behaviour when they get tired. That car clearly hasn't been driven much so if it's on the original battery then given it's age I wouldn't be totally surprised if it wasn't holding charge perfectly.
Gearchanges should be smooth, both in D and S (Sport) mode and equally when letting the car change automatically or using the paddles. If you can, drive down a narrow street with the windows down and listen for knocks - aside from electrical gremlins worn bushes are almost the only other thing that is not uncommon.
Oh, check the aircon works properly and check the passenger footwell for any signs of damp/water ingress; some owners have found that something to do with the aircon (a drain maybe?) behind the passenger side of the dash can block and overflow, leaking water into the footwell. This is a potentially few hundred quid at a dealer to put right.
Speaking of dealers, I've no idea which ones are in your area but some of the better ones will happily inspect a car for a potential buyer, obviously with the seller's agreement. If you want a third-party inspection then AA and RAC both offer these, I've never had one done though so can't really comment on this.
Oh, I'd ask to see the MOT history too - the DVLA MOT history site only shows the most recent test (pass, no advisories), I guess other tests may be connected to a previous registration on the car. Either that, or the car was SORN'd for a few years.
In general, these cars are solid; the 4.2 V8 has been around forever and this is the last iteration so they're mostly gremlin-free. Don't expect the satnav/infotainment system to impress you, however - it's pretty outdated and lacking more modern features but it's perfectly funtional for most purposes.
Good luck!
ETA: Oh, PS - www.jaguarforum.com is a good start for info, halfway reasonable chance that one of the members there knows the car and/or dealer too.
Check all the electrical stuff works correctly but don't necessarily write it off if anything is slightly amiss - these cars are hard on batteries which often results in slightly strange behaviour when they get tired. That car clearly hasn't been driven much so if it's on the original battery then given it's age I wouldn't be totally surprised if it wasn't holding charge perfectly.
Gearchanges should be smooth, both in D and S (Sport) mode and equally when letting the car change automatically or using the paddles. If you can, drive down a narrow street with the windows down and listen for knocks - aside from electrical gremlins worn bushes are almost the only other thing that is not uncommon.
Oh, check the aircon works properly and check the passenger footwell for any signs of damp/water ingress; some owners have found that something to do with the aircon (a drain maybe?) behind the passenger side of the dash can block and overflow, leaking water into the footwell. This is a potentially few hundred quid at a dealer to put right.
Speaking of dealers, I've no idea which ones are in your area but some of the better ones will happily inspect a car for a potential buyer, obviously with the seller's agreement. If you want a third-party inspection then AA and RAC both offer these, I've never had one done though so can't really comment on this.
Oh, I'd ask to see the MOT history too - the DVLA MOT history site only shows the most recent test (pass, no advisories), I guess other tests may be connected to a previous registration on the car. Either that, or the car was SORN'd for a few years.
In general, these cars are solid; the 4.2 V8 has been around forever and this is the last iteration so they're mostly gremlin-free. Don't expect the satnav/infotainment system to impress you, however - it's pretty outdated and lacking more modern features but it's perfectly funtional for most purposes.
Good luck!
ETA: Oh, PS - www.jaguarforum.com is a good start for info, halfway reasonable chance that one of the members there knows the car and/or dealer too.
Edited by 8bit on Friday 3rd June 14:10
Hi , thanks for the info. From what I can find out via internet they do have a decent reputation for being solid cars. I will check out the history when I get a chance to view and let you know how I get on. The main dealers seem to get mixed reviews regarding customer service so hopefully someone on here or on the jag forum you suggested will be able to give an opinion or suggest an indy.
Erm - seems you missed PistonHead's Buying Guide which you can find here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... also a sticky at the top of the forum. Good luck and enjoy - they are fabulous and rewarding.
I did read the guide but I think its good to also have personal tips , perhaps from current owners. The guide didnt suggest anyone who can provide an inspection service. Perhaps I should have posted that as a seperate topic. I did a search on this site and a few names were mentioned but they were a few years old and although I will contact them I thought there may be a few more recent suggestions. It seems there isnt so hopefully the older suggestions will work out .
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