1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas VDP from North America - Comments

I was recently in a very bad car accident that resulted in my 1999 Honda Civic being totaled. It had over 127k miles and no major problems other that routine maintenance. I met a gentleman who has offered to sell me his 1999 Jaguar Van den Plas for a very reasonable price. It has 57k miles. The only major thing he has had to do is change the front brakes. He says it's in good condition, but after reading these comments about engine problems and other mechanical problems for the 1998-2001, I simply don't know what to do.

Car Less and Confused.

I purchased my vanden plas December 05'with 72k I drove the car from Pittsburg P.A. to Newark new jersey on the highway the car stalled out @ 70 mph. when I got to jaguar dealer he told me it was the the throttle body something or other and said that was a recalled part and they would replace free of charge. I noticed that the brakes squeak, but the mechanic said I had 7000 miles left on those breaks. car seems to not like to sit in traffic temp gauge goes straight to hot, Then I turn on heater and goes back down fast. The sunroof just quit yesterday if anybody knows about a similar problem I would like to hear from you. Now the good stuff it accelerates like a bat out of hell. cruises like a 747 at 30,000 feet. creature comforts are like a private englihmen pub club, class all the way. heads turninig like they are going to spin off effect A1. Transmission smooth like dulce de leche for you non latinos that's sweet cream buttermilk baby!over all I love the car and my wife just adores it. I have noticed something about the steel that this cat is made with it does not ding easily very strong sheet metal. very sharp handling too nuff said the car is not a piece of junk. just needs to be pampered a little.

ENGINE GONE DUE TO FAULTY TENSIONERS JAG XK8.

I was searching for some answers and came across this site. I have a 1998 XK8 with 49K miles. Meticulously maintained. Never had a problem until... drove to grocery store, came out, turned key, engine tried to turn over then a loud popping noise....then... silence.

I have learned the timing tensioners failed causing the timing chain to bust a 50 cent piece size hole in a piston.

Remedy: new engine. Dealership quote: $14000.

This is NOT an isolated issue. This is a KNOWN problem. Jaguar/Ford needs to be held accountable. However, what I am finding is no one wants to speak up for fear of their precious Jag values plummeting.

I am looking for other victims to take a stand and make some noise.

Stay away! Stay away!!

Just lost the engine on our 1998 Vanden Plas do to the same flooding issue discussed by others and found this web site while looking for debating what to do.

It is a disgrace to Jaguar and Ford that they have not treated these engines as a recall, and that hundreds of customers have had to shell out $10 to $12 thousand for replacement engines; which have the same flaw.

Until they admit their fault and take responsibility we will never purchase a Jag or Ford product again.

Hello from Phoenix Arizona

I paid 15k out the door for a 2000 Vanden Plas.

Not bad for a car that cost $90,000 brand new.

Note Super Charged. YES 3 months after I got the car, the tensioner broke and my timing chain snapped!!!

Jag know about the problem with the tensioner. They have not done crap so far!! The tensioner was changed and redesigned in 2001, and people ruin the engine because the timing chains break!!! Now I'm stuck with a $3000 dollar repair. The 3 GRAND is cheap only because my valves were all down and my car was just started. Act of GOD. If not a 15k dollar motor - see http://www.jagservice.net/jaguar_v8_secondary_tensioners.htm

I'm looking to start a class action suit - Call me 480 940 0662 Jeff in Phoenix Now working to get problem aired on The TOM MARTINO SHOW - Nationwide show from Denver.

I have read the comments above with great interest - my understanding is that the V8 engines from 1998 to 2000 had a lining on the cylinders that reacts badly to the sulphur content of the North American gas, and causes them to seize.

I suggest the following remedy rather that replace the 13,000 engine - the engines from 1994 to 1997 were unbreakable and suit the cars well - the bodies are to all intents identical and a joy to be in from 1995 to date - try and find a 6 cyl. engine at a wreckers and use this - they will cost under 1000 to buy and the same to install.

I have owned and worked on Jags as a car lover since 1952 and currently own 6 from 1954 to 1995. Hope this may be of some use to the ones who have suffered.

Scary!...I have a 1999 VP. I bought it with 32,000 miles; it now has 110,000 miles, and has the same problem. The hub caps come off, but I haven't lost one in a year, until now. However, the trunk fuse keeps blowing, and the tag light quit. The engine is great; it uses no oil. The lighter never worked. It is easy to break the right headlamp lens (on the road, from thrown shoulder gravel, so stay way back). The clock bulb burned out; it cost 5 dollars, plus 8 dollars to ship it. Now, the heater blows cold air. I am leaving on a 1400 mile trip to San Diego, for my son's graduation into The Marines. Now, my engine and transmission seem fine, but I am worried about them. Let me say this; I drive this car fast, and while driving in town I use lower gears to keep the engine above 2000 rpm. Sometimes, on the road (a lot, really!) I use that 'Shift' button and run it hard. The one thing I've never done is flood the engine.

I have to say all of this is a little scary. We have a 1999 VP and at 100k miles the tensioners stuck and came apart. I happened to catch them when they just went bad because the valve gaskets were leaking so bad. $3500 to replace the chains and tensioners. Car was fine for few weeks and started to vibrate.. lost a hub cap.. I have a car lift at home.. put it up in the air to find both rear wheels are loose.. bad wheel bearings.. the head liner has fallen from bad glue?? and the Radio cuts out from time to time.. but the CD player works great.. The leather is cracking more than I would expect for a car that is kept in a garage. But the most annoying is some times it just won't start.. the security system decides not to allow it.. we have replaced the security ring, but just live with it now. I would like to know more about this cylinder wall lining thing. Having grown up a mechanic that just does not make sense to me.

David - in Mayer Arizona.

I have to say that after reading all the comments on these cars, I wouldn't touch these cars with a ten foot pole. Can all these people be wrong? I think not, I will be sure to make everyone I know that is considering a Jag to read this site and see if they're still willing to chance such a nightmare of a car according to the people who have written about them on this site. It's too bad because they have the styling right, it's too bad they're not made by Honda, wouldn't that be a dream car?

OK.

Look, Jaguars have always offered equal or better performance than the competition at half the purchase price since before WWII. They do need servicing on a slightly more regular basis than the other cars of this caliber. But overall they are no more and usually less expensive to keep long term than a Ferrari or BMW or AMG or Maserati or an Iso Rivolta with a Chevy V8, or a Pantera with Ford V8, or even an Audi S series or regular (Non AMG) Benz. My special order SuperCharged VDP with 18 inch z series 50 series tires and suspension from the XJR on the long wheelbase is my every day driver. My other car the Wife uses now mostly is an ex SCCA Ice Racer Audi 5000TQAvant. 13.5 psi 3 inch custom exhaust from the turbo (1.5 times normal size) back and Eibach 1.5 inch lower springs and on and on. Put it this way, the Audi is only 1 second slower to 60 mph than the Jag.

You cannot treat these kind of performance vehicles like a Ford Taurus or Toyota Tercel or a base line Hyundai or Chevy XXXX bottom of the line. But then again, they won't be as safe and have the same kind of performance.

I'd rather drive a ten year old engineered care than a new POS with it's design controlled by marketing folks who couldn't pass the curriculum for an elementary school teacher who have over-ruled the engineers.. And I was the, THE guy who developed the robotic drivers for Chrysler and other car companies vehicle durability test tracks. No offense to teachers, you have a thankless job. So I thank you for your service, but I am talking here about the level of difficulty and depth of scientific knowledge.

And I do understand the commitment teachers make as I have been a certified Ski and snowboard coach and instructor and sports coach since 1965 with an average of 40 hours a year in clinics and classes about teaching and learning styles and so on.

I have owned several Jaguars and many Benzes and a few Audis and many MGs and Healeys, and Triumphs, and Dodges and Fiats and Buicks and Oldses, Volvos, and Plymouths and Chryslers and even somewhere around 8 VWs and even two Humber Hemi head Super snipes, including for a while the only Super Snipe Wagon still here alive in the USA. I once was the youngest Chrysler factory certified dealer Assist service Manager in CT at age 17. My Kid brother who is a FedEx pilot has a 1999 XK8 along with a 99.99 percent show worthy Triumph TR6.

We both love our Jags and they are not a problem if you are mechanically inclined enough to listen to them, even if you do not do your own mechanicing. So if you think you have a bad experience because your Jag needs more care than a POS Buick. Well the Jag is safer at 150 mph than your Buick at 55 mph. And at 70 mph your Jag has a documentable advantage in safety and handling that the Buick (owned three of them) does not have over 40 mph.

Two of my all time favorite collector cars (I am a past national level concours judge) I have always lusted after are the Ferrari 330 GTC and the Maserati Mexico. My 1967 Jaguar XK E-Type with the factory hill climb cams was actually faster than either of them. But my lust still is in my heart for the Italians.

No car company in the history of the world has ever offered more performance for the dollar on a continuous basis than Jaguar.

CHK.

Geesh, was planning on buying a newer upper end luxury vehicle for the ride comfort and style that I like, but don't seem like too many modern ones get good reviews. I guess if I am to get a new car, it will have to be between a reliable but uncomfortable unrefined spartan lower end vehicle, or a comfortable good performance yet maintenance nightmare. I'm not old yet, but might be time to start looking for a classic.

I bought my 1999 VDP in 2004 with 53,000 miles on it. It was and still is a real eye catcher.

It's been reliable for the most part. It now has 90,000 miles on it and is my daily driver.

The timing chain adjusters however are a defect that all owners or potential owners should be aware of. At 80,000 miles I had my first experience with them. The car was in "limp home mode"; thankfully that was just a few miles. I had it towed to a local shop that works on jags and was only charged $1800.00. A bargain price I am told.

7,000 miles later, same problem. I had it towed to them again. Warranty was only for 4,000 miles. They wanted another $5,000.00 to fix it this time. I paid them for their time and had the car towed back home. Fortunately, a friend introduced me to a technician who is like a surgeon rather than a meat cutter. He showed me how to disassemble the motor, told me what parts to order; he installed the new timing chains and adjusters and helped me reassemble the engine. Total cost to me $2,000.00 and I made a new friend. The car runs like a wild animal after some prey.

I am looking forward to driving this beauty for many years. It's comfortable and stylish. It gets decent mileage and performs when asked. No one can believe how old it is.

Jim Elliott Reno, NV.

I have two (2) 1999 VDP. My wife drives one and I drive the other. This is the third Jaguar I have owned and the best of the lot. We both have 140K and 135K miles on our respective cars. The interior on both look almost like new. The exterior is still in excellent condition.

Problems: I have had to replace several center caps on both cars. I had to replace the transmission on my wife's car at 130k miles. We settled for a reconditioned unit with a three year warranty - cost $2,500. I just replaced the water pump on my wife's car - cost $176.00. I put it on myself. Other than these few items, we are very happy and proud of our cars. We change the oil every 3,000 miles and I think that has made a significant difference in our performance.

1999 Jag. I need to put a Chevy engine? How and where to find a modification kit? 661-400-2316- zahid.