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1998 Jaguar XJ8

Sold Price

£8,216

  • Mileage~24,068
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine3.2-Litres
  • LocationKingston-upon-Thames, London

SOLD

1998 Jaguar XJ8

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Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

With just 24K on the clock and Jaguar main dealer servicing records, this XJ8 has been truly pampered and head-and-shoulders above the rest.

The XJ8 was an important car for the brand. Despite initial observations about the regressive styling and slightly old-fashioned demeanour of the car, Jaguar had gone to huge efforts into improving the build quality and reliability of their products. The introduction of a new series of V8 engines banished any fears of the bad old days yet the new XJ series retained all of the best qualities that the brand excelled in. Launched as three models in 1997, the 3.2-litre V8 version was placed in the lower pecking order, but offered a far better luxurious level of trim than most of its competitors. The fine quality leathers and wood trim, coupled with the luxurious ride, comfort and styling that has improved over the years make these relatively short-run cars something of an under-rated talent.

This 1998 3.2-litre car has to be considered as something rather special indeed, with full credit going to its one family-owned history. With just 24,068 recorded miles, excellent service history from Jaguar and a near-perfect interior present something of a genuine opportunity to own a world-class car for very little outlay.

Most XJ8s that get submitted to us are rejected (as nicely as possible), as in the main they are higher mileage, more owners and not looked after to the standard we search for. This one is of course different, and may also make a sound classic investment at entry level money.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Chris the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I inherited this unique but superb car and carried on the same duty of care that my uncle did.

Chris inherited the car from his uncle and was swayed by the promise of V8 power combined with 4-door practicality and space. He chose to keep it as an occasional driver and used it mostly for longer journeys, including family trips to the North-West.

Those cosseting motorway journeys are where he made the most of the sheer comfort and relaxed nature of the XJ8 charms. Sadly, the loss of garage space, as well as ULEZ charges have forced the sale of the car, otherwise, he admits he would have quite happily have kept it.

Chris will be more than happy to answer any questions in the comment section below.

Chris
Vehicle Owner

Chris saved £1,440* when they
sold their Jaguar with us.

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Exterior

The subtle yet distinctive styling is unmistakably Jaguar.

Wheels and Tyres

The 16" alloys are in good shape, with no kerb damage. A set of new Jaguar emblems centre cap would finish the car's positive presentation off perfectly.

The tyres are all Continentals, all are less than 10 years old, with the off-side rear tyre being fitted around two years ago. The tyres look to be in good shape with even and well above legal thread.

Bodywork

Structurally there's very little in terms of damage to report, with the front chassis legs, inner wings and footwells looking solid. The underside has a typical light coating of surface corrosion, which is in line with a garaged car that has seen very little use. The exterior panel work looks to be solid too, with no significant issues noticed in terms of corrosion - perhaps just the lightest of evidence of age starting to creep through at the very lowest corners of the rear inner wheel arches. The door corners and areas around the front and rear screens are good.

There are a handful of blemishes that have been picked up over the years, with a light scrape on the off-side front wing, boot and near-side rear wing - all are low-impact and worth sorting out to make the presentation close to perfect. The body panel fit is very good, with even panel gaps. All doors open and close perfectly.

We have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Paint

The attractive Seafrost Silver paintwork, which has a hue closer to a light blue / green, is in excellent condition throughout.

The finishing of the paint is intact with no significant paint imperfections noticed on the metalwork other than what has been described above. It retains a deep gloss, with no swirls or signs of ageing and must be due to the car being stored in a garage for all of its life.

The only minor issues are the small series of light blemishes noted on the corners of both bumpers. The car is relatively free from stone chips, with no damage to the paint or the door edges noticed on our visit.

The images taken are from various angles and reflections to show the pain, as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The chrome and plastic fittings are all in good condition, although the front number plate mount would benefit from a replacement. The glass is good throughout, with no lamination, chip or scuff damage.

All of the lights and lenses are intact, with no signs of damage or age. All rubber seals are in good shape.

Interior

Sumptuous and lavishly furnished, the interior has been exceptionally well preserved.

Seats and Carpets

There is very little to criticise in terms of the condition of the leather interior, the seats are free from any significant issues or damage, with just a loosely fitted front passenger door card and stain in the pocket being only small issues we noticed.

The carpets are in excellent shape. All are dry with the over mats in good condition too. The boot is in good shape, with no signs of heavy use.

Please see the interior gallery section for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in near-pristine condition, with no suggestion of damage on the facia leather, plastics or veneer.

All the dials, controls and switchgear are in very good condition and all are functional.

The car has been fitted with an Alpine CD/Stereo player.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Both the steering wheel and gear lever are in excellent condition.

Have a look at the internal gallery and videos to see the cabin in more details.

Mechanics

The XJ8's cruising ability and comfort are second to none.

Engine and Gearbox

As to be expected for a car with just over 24K on the clock and an excellent Jaguar dealer servicing schedule, the car is in great shape mechanically. The car starts up without issue, the owner has taken the precaution of adding a manual battery cut-off switch to preserve the battery.

Once fired up, the engine sounds tight, with no undulations or unwanted noises from the V8. There are no observations of fluid leaks.

The exhaust, once the condensation cleared didn't suggest any issues with the engine's fuel mixture. There were no issues with the gearbox, it engages drive smoothly.

Suspension and Brakes

The car's suspension is in a healthy state, with no issues with its road handling and damping. It soaked up the town centre roads in its stride, longer excursions have proven to be just as positive - the cars motorway performance is said to be faultless. The brakes did not cause any drama in traffic and were reassuringly positive in action. No issues were observed with the steering.

Please watch the 'On the Road' video to see that car being driven by Chris.

The Drive

The XJ8 feels like a car from another era, with the added bonus of safety and security. However, its main strength is the obedient fashion in the way the XJ8 cruises. It has the poise in its road manners but also the power to deliver torque confidently in the greatest of comfort. The V8 is hushed at low revs but even when pushed it never sounds frantic.

No issues were noted from the ride, all felt tight and free of mechanical noises.

Electrics and Other

The car has no reported issues with the electrics, including the air-conditioning and electric windows. The original tape player unit will also come with the car.

The headlining is in very good condition, with no marks but is sagging somewhat at the back of the cabin and while it is in place it may need attention in the future. For those that know these cars, well they know all about sagging headlining :)

The exhaust also looks like the factory fitted original, there's some signs of corrosion that you'll see in the images and videos.

History and Paperwork

If the low mileage isn't enough to convince you, browse through the diligent and regular Jaguar servicing invoices in the media pack.

This car has been well and truly pampered, and it's a credit to the family that the car's paperwork is so good. Every invoice, including its MOTs, have been carried out by Guy Salmon Jaguar - its original dealer.

To give you an idea of how well this car has been cared for, it received a Jaguar service on an almost yearly basis, whether it was needed or not, and generally at intervals of less than 1,000 miles. It hasn't required much in terms of mechanical repairs over its 24-year life because of its low mileage and careful ownership history, but when a technical issue arose (nothing more than a bearing or bush), the owners handled it as part of the car's regular health checks.

The Jaguar retains all of its user manuals in a wallet and also includes the original handover sheet. Naturally, it comes with an MOT, with the ticket lasting up to November 2022.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
01-12-2021 MOT 24,055
20-11-2020 MOT 23,666
07-05-2019 Service 23,391
01-05-2019 MOT 23,391
02-05-2018 Service 22,014
27-04-2018 MOT 22,014
08-05-2017 Service 20,822
08-05-2017 MOT 20,822
21-05-2016 Service 19,758
17-05-2016 MOT 19,758
30-05-2015 MOT 18,722
19-05-2014 Service 17,567
15-05-2014 MOT 17,567
05-06-2013 MOT 16,295
14-06-2012 MOT 13,749
23-12-2010 MOT 12,794
22-12-2010 Service 12,794
05-01-2010 MOT 11,528
05-01-2010 Service 11,528
02-01-2009 MOT 11,208
02-01-2009 Service 11,208
02-01-2008 MOT 10,735
02-01-2008 Service 10,735
04-01-2007 MOT 10,204
04-01-2007 Service 10,204
05-01-2006 MOT 9,507
05-01-2006 Service 9,501
06-01-2005 Service 8,818
06-01-2004 Service 8,101
06-01-2004 MOT 8,095
06-01-2003 Service 7,261
14-01-2002 Service 6,541
03-01-2001 Service 5,503
02-03-2000 Service 4,132
22-10-1999 Service 2,392
Key Details
  • ModelXJ8 SWB
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Reg. Date11-02-1998
  • CC3248
  • Mileage~24,068
  • HistoryExcellent
  • ColourSeafrost Silver
  • Interior ColourBeige
  • Interior TrimLeather/Veneer
  • Chassis #SAJJJALG3CR832575
  • Engine #AC9801261807
  • Last Service07-05-2019
  • RestoredNo
  • Engine RebuildNo
  • MOTYes Exp. 30-11-2022
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers1
  • Tyre BrandContinental
  • Tyre AgeFront 2015/2015 Rear 2019/2015
  • Master KeyYes
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned10 years
  • Key FeatureFamily owned since new







Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions
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5 Comments
DaveM82
DaveM82
2 years ago

Hi Chris, What MOT advisories has the car had over the last few? Kind Regards.

DaveM82
DaveM82
  ChrisP
2 years ago

Excellent – was just making sure it didn’t have anything about corrosion.

MickO
MickO
2 years ago

has the timing chain tensioners been upgraded

MORE COMMENTS MORE COMMENTS

Vehicle Location

Kingston-upon-Thames, London

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