The X300/308 revived Jaguar’s fortunes and put it above some German and Japanese makes in customer surveys. They are excellent cars and can still look almost new a decade later. They were made in large numbers apart from models such as Daimler Double Sixes or XJ12s. You therefore have plenty of choice, even restricting your search to good cars at a wide range of prices. Unless you have special reasons, avoid buying a project or scruffy car and save your inspections for good candidates. Sift these carefully by phone beforehand, since sellers can get carried away in advertisements and give ‘optimistic’ descriptions.
Ask direct specific questions, not general enquiries such as whether the car is ‘good’. Ask instead if the rear wheelarches are rusty, or the jacking points or screen surrounds. Are the sills good and the bottoms of the doors and the roof around the sunroof aperture? Does the boot leak, or the suspension rattle over bumps? If the seller says there is no wear on the driver’s seat are they really sure their car is perfect? They may admit to some scuffs or minor body rust, which opens up the discussion. Few sellers will misrepresent a car when questioned directly. The credibility and attitude of the seller will hopefully become apparent during such questioning, which nobody reasonable should object to.
Body rust is not the major problem that it was on earlier Jaguars, although it needs checking. Instead, on V8s cylinder bores, timing gear and water pump are weak points and the gearbox on all cars has to be looked after, so ask about these areas. On the earlier sixes ask if there are any oil leaks from the front of the engine or anywhere on the transmission. In all cases ask about wheel bearing noise or suspension clonking. Ask if every single window, lock, switch and control works properly and if the air conditioning blows cold. For V8s, ask if a replacement engine or gearbox has ever been fitted.

Where is the car?
You should find plenty of standard models in your area but may need to look further afield for rare models like Double Sixes or Super V8s. If buying from a specialist dealer, even long distance, you should be able to get an excellent picture of the car from a telephone conversation and emailed photos. Try to avoid cars from salted road or maritime areas, unless they have been winter stored – the X300/308 has lots of zinc-coated steel but is not rustproof. After the ‘96 model year the rear arch underseal was improved and these cars are usually solid.

Dealer or private sale?
A good dealer should only offer solid cars for resale, although Jaguar club advertisements also contain many good private sales. Not surprisingly, the more you pay the better the car – especially from long-established Jaguar specialists with reputations to protect. The cars are past the point where Jaguar offered replacement engines for early V8s, and electrical or transmission gremlins can strike at any time, so warranties from dealers can be useful.
Dealers usually also offer finance, which is another good reason for using them for higher-priced cars. However, if you need finance just to buy the car, check that your budget can stretch to likely repair, service and fuel costs.
The dealers buy and sell through trade auctions and you can do the same (see Chapter 10). Often you’ll find superb value privately, especially from long-term owners or fellow enthusiasts who have looked after the car with pride.
Ask sellers about service history and paperwork. Good ownership involves significant maintenance, so there should be either receipts for parts or bills from a service establishment.

Viewing arrangements
Avoid viewing at the roadside or a car park if possible and try to view at the seller’s business or private home (a private seller’s name and address should be the same as on the title document). View at least once in daylight and in dry weather, to detect paint and body flaws. If you have to view in wet weather, use the opportunity to check for screen or boot leaks.

Reason for sale
Good sellers always explain why they are selling, even if it’s just for a cheaper car. If this is the reason, be careful to check for shortcuts in servicing records. Avoid cars with an inspection certificate which is about to expire as the owner may have just discovered problems needing fixing to pass and decide to sell instead. Some inspection authorities, such as VOSA in the UK, permit on-line viewing of the reasons for failure, as well as the advisory notices issued at the last test, even if the car passed.
Originality
These relatively new cars are usually in totally original specification, apart from minor changes such as wheels or exhausts, etc. Originality is desirable for ease of servicing and trouble-shooting as X300/308s are complex cars and deviations from standard can introduce problems. An upgraded stereo, or Jaguar additions such as a half-wood steering wheel or cup-holder are fine, but lowered suspension, ultra low-profile tyres or heavily tinted windows can lower value.
Very occasionally a normally-aspirated X300/308 can be tuned or given the supercharged engine from an XJR or Super V8. Be sceptical of the quality of work, as it is more cost-effective to buy a supercharged car in the first place. The cost of conversion is higher than the difference in price between normally-aspirated and forced induction.

Matching data/legal ownership
The X300/308 has a modern Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) visible through the screen on a tab, and stamped on the front bulkhead seam, so checking the car versus documentation is easy.
Does the vendor own the car outright or is money owed on it or is it even stolen? Finance checks can often also confirm if the car has ever been a write-off.

In the UK the following organisations supply vehicle data –
HPI − 01722 422 422
AA − 0870 600 0836
DVLA − 0870 240 0010
RAC − 0870 533 3660
Other countries will have similar organisations.

Roadworthiness
Does the car have a roadworthiness or emissions certificate? Test status for UK cars can be checked on 0845 600 5977. Similar checks are available in some other markets. North American cars are no longer divided into California or other states and all share common emissions equipment.

Unleaded fuel
All X300/308s use unleaded fuel and have knock sensors that automatically retard the ignition if detonation is encountered. This keeps the engine safe but reduces power and economy, so use the recommended fuel for your market.
Payment
A cheque takes time to clear and sellers may prefer a cash buyer. Cash can be a valuable bargaining tool but a banker’s draft or money order may be acceptable, so ask beforehand.

Buying at auction?
See Chapter 10.

Professional vehicle check
X300/308s are complex, refined fast cars and need to be fully roadworthy for use in modern high-speed traffic. Your local motoring organisation or marque/model specialist will usually conduct a professional examination for a fee. For V12s, try to perform, or pay for, a full compression check. One or two poor cylinders can be missed, even on a road test, if you are unfamiliar with V12s. On older V8s ask for a blow-by check.

Other organisations providing car checks in the UK are –
AA − 0800 085 3007 (motoring organisation with vehicle inspectors)
ABS − 0800 358 5855 (specialist vehicle inspectors)
RAC − 0870 533 3660 (motoring organisation with vehicle inspectors)
Other countries will have similar services.