2000 Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Executive (X308)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lovely, original X308
  • Desirable later specification
  • Full service history
  • Enthusiast owned for several years

THE APPEAL

In late 1997, the Jaguar ‘X300’ XJ6 became the car it should have been at launch thanks to the launch of the new AJ 16 V8 engine line-up. 

Along with the new engine, the new ‘X308’ had a few visual tweaks – a new dashboard, better wood, clearer dials and rounder bumpers. 

But beneath the exterior, which didn’t have an awful lot wrong with it anyway, the X308 was a thoroughly different beast, with a new V8 engine and heavily revised suspension, giving it delightful agility alongside the best ride comfort this side of a Rolls-Royce.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Jaguar, though, as early X308s were beset by reliability issues, all of which were ironed out for the 2001 Model Year facelift in late 2000. The second-generation cars had stronger cylinder liners and timing gear and were better finished, while they were also better specified in general. 

This one is a 2001MY 3.2 Executive, first registered in December 2000 making it one of the first of the facelift cars. The Executive was aimed at Jaguar’s core fleet customers, with the smaller of the two V8 engines for tax efficiency but a level of specification not far behind the uber-luxurious Sovereign models. 

This one began its life ferrying very important bums around on behalf of Jaguar’s then owner, Ford Motor Company, as was registered new to the Ford Executive Car Fleet at Brentwood in Essex. In early 2002, at just over a year old, it was sold to a private owner by the Guy Salmon Jaguar dealership in Northampton, who maintained it for the next three years. 

In 2013, the car was purchased by a Jaguar enthusiast who used it for Jaguar Enthusiasts Club events for the following nine years, covering a low annual mileage and keeping the car maintained by a specialist during that period. It comes with a full service history up to 121,216 miles and every MOT certificate from new.

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THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

  • Original Jaguar leather wallet, book pack and service history
  • Large file of invoices
  • UK V5C
  • MOT until September 2023
  • Originally supplied to Ford Executive Car Fleet
  • Fully service history all the way to 121,216 miles, 15 stamps in the book combined main dealer and independent
  • Every old MOT certificate from new
  • At last MOT advisories for perished tyres and inner wheelarch corrosion were addressed, with two new tyres. The corrosion was cut out and new metal welded into the inner arches

THE INTERIOR

  • Lovely Oatmeal leather
  • Minimal bolster wear – gentle patina to driver’s seat but no damage or holes
  • Walnut veneer dash and door-trims
  • 16-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat
  • Original factory sat nav with disc – works perfectly!
  • Cruise control
  • Factory stereo
  • 6-CD changer
  • Excellent carpets and door cards
  • No damage to armrest
  • Genuine Jaguar factory floor mats
  • Original accessory Jaguar-branded Motorola car phone – still works with standard SIM
  • Headlining has dropped in places and has been pinned up – a common XJ fault
  • Complete, original and unspoilt Jaguar under-bonnet tool kit
  • Full-size spare wheel

THE EXTERIOR 

  • Pacific Blue Mica paint
  • Very smart overall order
  • Original 16-inch ‘Corona’ alloy wheels, no kerb marks or damage
  • Excellent paint finish – one small patch of fading on rear scuttle 
  • Some very minor stone chips and one coin-sized area of broken lacquer on bonnet
  • Factory option mudflaps
  • Inner front wheel arches professionally repaired and undersealed
  • Small rust bubbles under paint behind one mud flap and on leading edge of lower nearside rear arch (see photos)
  • Sills and floor appear to be in very good order
  • Presents superbly overall, with wonderful shine and deep, glossy paint finish
  • Excellent chrome and trim

THE MECHANICS 

  • 3.2-litre V8
  • Five-speed auto transmission
  • Starts on the button
  • Runs very well, with lively performance, smooth cruising ability and excellent ride and handling
  • New MAF sensor, recent plugs and coil packs

SUMMARY

The X300 and X308 generations of XJ are rapidly gaining classic appeal – the last traditionally styled, steel-bodied big Jaguar saloons and, by nature of evolution, the best of the breed. A good one is a really nice car. Eminently usable, surprisingly affordable to run and with unrivalled levels of comfort, coupled to great driving dynamics, they represent a fantastic era of Jaguar engineering that is absolutely core to the brand’s DNA. 

They’re at an age now where the bad ones are rapidly disappearing and the good ones are shooting up in value. This one is certainly a good one – an original, well-presented and entirely honest car that has clearly been loved, it’s a fantastic choice of charming, usable and really quite special-feeling modern classic. 

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

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Vehicle specification
  • Year 2000
  • Make Jaguar
  • Model XJ8
  • Colour Pacific Blue
  • Odometer 124,200 Miles
  • Engine size 3248
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Town Chatteris
  • Location Cambridgeshire
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
45 bids
  • pa•••• £4,200 30/03/23
  • ba•••• £4,100 30/03/23
  • pa•••• £4,000 30/03/23
  • ba•••• £3,999 30/03/23
  • pa•••• £3,900 30/03/23
  • pa•••• £3,800 30/03/23
  • ba•••• £3,700 30/03/23
  • ba•••• £3,600 30/03/23
  • pa•••• £3,500 30/03/23
  • ba•••• £3,499 30/03/23
Message C&C Auction Team

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