opportunity to trade for a '99 Jaguar XJ8 4.0l supercharged.

[Eddo Rogue]

My buddy wants to trade me his '99 Jag for one of my motorcycles. Its the 4.0l supercharged engine.

It needs head gasket(s)....rest of the car is clean and works. Clean title but has about $700 in back dmv fees (which I could probably get covid waived)

How much of a PITA would it be to do a head gasket job be on this motor or have it done?

I would be "paying" about slightly over $2k in trade value.

Any info on the supercharged 4.0? I heard they are good motors

Would you do this trade and take on this project?

 

[adsm08]

He's not really your friend. He just thinks you are a sucker. I'd say hard pass.

 

[Blmpkn]

Oh man, is it green? Definitely one of my "dream" cars.

Go for it. Lower it. Big dumb wheels. Tint.

It'll break, and it'll be dumb, but... You'll have a JaAAaAg.

 

[cbxer55]

PASS!

Sounds like a future money pit.

Keep the bike.

 

[Curious Hound]

I think you should take it and send me the supercharger for $50

 

[Jim Oaks]

California is such a screwed up state. I knew the car was in California as soon as you said 'back dmv fees'.

 

[Dirtman]

You have any idea what it would cost to maintain a 21 year old Jag? Unless you're a millionaire it's not worth trading a half eaten sandwich for it.

 

[adsm08]

PASS!

Sounds like a future money pit.

Keep the bike.

What do you mean "Future money pit"? Sounds to me like it's a current money pit.

I had the same car on my lift for state safety inspection a few weeks ago, and I was going to say it needed inner tie rods due to the play. Then I found out two things:

1) Jag issues the play specs for the inner tie rods not in inches or millimeters, but as "perceptible, excessive, and extreme".

2) The aftermarket does not service the inner tie rods of that car, and they are only available from Jag as part of the $5000 steering rack assembly.

After seeing those two things, doing a little math, and figuring out the car gets driven about 500 miles a year, I decided those tie rods would make it through at least one more year. And yes, in my state when there is no numerical play spec published it is to the inspector's discretion to decide if the part should fail or not.

 

[Dirtman]

When my sister lived in Germany they owned a jag. Over there they are much cheaper to maintain but in the U.S. good effin luck. Even doing the work yourself, like adsm mentioned parts are astronomical. One stupid thing that would cost you 50 bucks to replace on a Ford cost you 5 grand on a jag. They are simply too expensive for a normal person to own even if you got it for free. And your talking about a car thats 21 years old. Many parts are probably obsolete and there's no such thing as "junkyard jaguars". Its a money pit start to finish.

If you can get it for the 700 dollar dmv fees and you hate your bike, you might be able to flip it for some cash since they are still "status symbol" cars to alot of people who don't consider the cost of the upkeep.

My buddies dad bought a 2012 austin martin v12 a few years ago that was wrecked and repaired. Car looked beautiful and had only 10,000 or so miles. Got it for a good deal he thought (25,000). Work was crap and it needed so many repairs after a few months that it ended up being a disaster he couldn't afford to fix. Its still collecting dust in his garage with a for sale sign on it. He will never recoup his money. Eventually he's just gonna have to do what your friend is trying to do to you... pass it off cheap and make it someone elses problem.

 

[sheep herder]

Don't listen to the naysayers. Just do it! The Prince Of Darkness awaits you.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

yea sounds like I should pass...It is the green one...

the dmv fees and risk of not passing Smog check not worth it.....and parts hunting/cost...It would probably need machine work too.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Maybe I should mention the bike is a harley shovelhead FLH, not sure what year but its late 70's/early 80's
it needs to be cleaned up, a carb tune, and oil pump check ball repair. It also has no tags or dmv record, so it would have to be trailered to the dmv and registered.

He would be trading me the jag and cash on top. I already have the harley posted for $6500

BTW yes its the green jag, paint is nice too

 

[19Walt93]

Please explain "back DMV fees".

 

[Dirtman]

Please explain "back DMV fees".

Its a California thing... there's no point trying to asign logic to it. You just give them money. If you own a steering wheel in the state of California you owe them money somehow. And if that steering wheel isn't made from vegan tofu, you owe them even more money. If you walked home carrying that vegan tofu steering wheel in a plastic bag, you're going to jail.

 

[cbxer55]

I lived in Ca for 26 years. The DMV there has always been a nightmare. It makes my current state, Oklahoma, seem tame in comparison. I even have 30 days after tags are due with no penalties here. And way cheap compared to CA. My 98 Ranger is under $20.00. My 04 Lightning was like $25.00. And no smog or safety inspections. Run what you brung! Heaven!

The OP is in Burbank. Yuck! That place was nasty back when I left CA in 2002. In CA there is no excuses. Pay it on time or the penalties just go up and up and up, to the moon and beyond. There's no, "I haven't driven it in five years". Get out your wallet and pay up. That's all folks.

I know, you see Oklahoma and you think Flyover Country. And what's wrong with that. It's a red state, every county here voted Trump in 2016. Bet it happens again this year. You can't believe what a slice of heaven Oklahoma is after living in CA for 26 years! We can even carry firearms with no permit. Knives? Anything goes. I collect blades. Have more than I know what to do with. I carry two matched Spyderco Militarys , one left hand, the other right and a Kimber Grand Raptor in .45ACP. Switchblades are legal here. Bowie knives. You name it, you can carry it.

I'll never step foot in CA again in this lifetime. There's no amount of money!