Have been looking at early 2k XK8s, anybody have experience with them
No experience, but they look to be at bargain basement prices just now, at least in the UK: 2004 XKR,1 owner, 60K miles, sold for under £12K https://online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/115/lot/44058/?url=/m/view-auctions/catalog/id/115/?page=1&view=list&sale=undefined&catm=any&order=highest&xclosed=no&featured=no and a 64K miles, 2 owner XKR unsold at an estimate of £8-10K. https://online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/115/lot/44018/?url=%2Fm%2Fview-auctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F115%2F%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26sale%3Dundefined%26catm%3Dany%26order%3Dhighest%26xclosed%3Dno%26featured%3Dno
My better half has a 2000 XKR that she bought new and put under 10K miles on. Really nice car and they are selling for nothing. She has never had any service done to the car except normal maintenance, a/c recharge and replacement of the headliner which is common in the Las Vegas heat. YMMV She drivers her ML55 all the time to haul her dog. You may see it in the classifieds soon. Really nice car IMHO, lots of pull from the blower. It pulls like my Lightning truck. The blowers actually are very close models. Here are some bad pictures.
I think that model XK is a beautiful car. However they do not have a good rep. As I recall there were issues with the 4.0 engines having an exotic lining material called nikasil. See here as well as loads of Google pages. https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/jaguar-xk8-xkr-nikasil-cylinder-linings Supposedly the 4.2s are better but only just. Honestly I still would like to own a BRG XKR coupe one of these days. Classy.
I’ve owned several and still have a 2007 XK (x150). Join the appropriate forum. If looking at an X100, I’d opt for a 4.2 with the 6 speed (2003+). The cars themselves are not bad but most are quite neglected money pits. Some parts are becoming an issue. I’d “overpay” for a very high quality one. I will say the X150 is such a superior car over the earlier models but not as cool. If you are good with a wrench you can do a lot yourself— tons if youtube videos. Feel free to pm me. Best!
1997 to 2000 are nikelsel engines and PRE facelift. They are great and cheap to buy...… LOWs timing chain tensioners, if not upgraded under warranty , they must be done or the engine will go boom. The transmission is a sealed unit, 100,000 miles and your on borrowed time. ABS brake line joints if rusted will cause dash waring lights Plastic thermostat housings, if not changed to metal will warp and over heat the car. Most of this should have been done over the last 20 years! ANY XK8 2001 to the last are the best, no engine or transmission issues , no dash board fuzz Overall,they are just better cars. FOR THEMONEY ALL ARE FUN NO MATTER WHAT YEARS. Ive owned them all The coupe in supercharge is the cats meow! gtjoey1314
found a perfect 04 xk8, taken care of by an ocd person, blemish free, new hoses, engine had never even gotten grrubby Drove it and the whole experience besides the visual over the hood was meh. Maybe if it was hardtop and an XKR it would have been different. But i realized what i really want is an XJS hardtop in that same condition, or an XJS-C. Where to find one though.
Bring A Trailer has had a run on XJS’s lately. I think the XK8 is a better driver than the XJS but that’s subjective. Best of luck!
