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XJR Four Years Later 1 Saabers Like This Post! Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email] (#32) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Wed, 7 Jun 2017 21:06:48 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Four years ago...
http://saabnet.com/tsn/bb/othercars/index.html?bID=8220
... and I said I'd follow up. I was kinda thinking about waiting exactly four years, but I may not have the XJR much longer so here we go...
In the four years I've had it, I've driven it just shy of 6,000 miles. Not much, but about what I expected. In that time, it's been *pretty* reliable and fairly affordable:
1. I bought it leaking coolant, though I didn't know that til I got it home. I ended up replacing a gigantic hose assembly, a small plastic pipe, and the expansion tank cap. Total bill was about $350, DIY
2. I replaced the serpentine belt and supercharger belt as they looked like they were getting old. IIRC $80, DIY
3. I bought it with some damaged interior trim, and at some point it threw off one of the wheel center caps so, oddly, I bought a 2003 XJ8 for parts. It had a dead transmission and had been keyed, so I got it for $750. I sold the long block engine for engine for $1200, so it was a good deal.
I kept the entire spare sunroof assembly as the XJR had some broken plastic up there. I *still* have not fixed that. I have never opened the sunroof!
4. Maybe two years ago the instrument cluster developed a weird problem - the fuel gauge worked intermittently and then, annoyingly, set a check engine light. I sent the cluster to BBA Reman who fixed it for $120...
5. While it was out for repair, I installed a used cluster purchased from a dismantler in Sun Valley, CA. That one had a broken temp gauge, so clearly gauge stepper failure is a thing with these cars. :)
6. While driving around with a broken recycled instrument cluster, the ABS module failed. Similar in effect to what happens on Saabs. I dismantled the module, repaired the solder joint, and it's been fine since. $0 DIY.
7. Last month, the electronic throttle body failed - again similar in effect to what happens on Saabs. I bought this car with the understanding it had already failed and been replaced with a reman. Although the throttle body did have a reman sticker on it, I dunno - that's a really short life for a reman. This is as close as I got to stranded, but it failed one mile from my house and I was able to limp it home at 5mph, idling in D! Fortunately I had the throttle body from the XJ8 I'd bought for parts, so $0 repair... well, a $17 gasket.
And that pretty much brings us to today. Taken over four years, it's been fairly reliable and pretty darned cheap. Taken over 6,000 miles... well, that kind of hurts. LOL
No major mechanical issues, not even any major electric issues. Primarily normal old car problems, primarily inconveniences... nothing catastrophic and no real obstacles. Maybe most importantly, no signs of any of those things - engine is strong, transmission is strong, everything save the sunroof works as it should.
It's still gorgeous, it's still a pleasure to drive, and people still generally like to see it. I've really not gotten tired of it, which is a surprise. It's not new, but it tends to be the car we take out or downtown because, hey, it's a Jag and a classic looking one at that.
However, I'm probably going to get rid of it soon - I do love having it around, but I don't plan on keeping it forever and I might as well sell it while it's still worth something. There are some other luxobarges I'd like to try out, and unlike Saabs you just can't have two. Or five. Or whatever. ;)
posted by 12.195.130...
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