Hey all! I've been on this forum for a couple years now in the XJS section, My '83 Coupe was my daily for a long time, until I got my winter beater SAAB. I've recently moved to California from Detroit and the SAAB will not be joining me out here. I'm looking at getting a 2007 XK convertible. 90,000 miles for $14k. Having daily drove an XJS for over a year I am obviously okay with having to work on my car for time to time, but all in all I am looking for a reliable daily driver to cart me to and from work. I've heard very good things about the XK, and it's an absolutely gorgeous car but I'm wondering if you folks would deem it reliable enough for daily use? I just don't want to end up with a second project. I don't mind replacing an occasional bushing though. What do you owners think? I understand it's more dependable than an XK8 anyway. Thanks in advance.

 

Rock solid, other than a few nitnoid things that happen to nearly every vehicle made. Being 10+ years old some bushings tend to go bad but are definitely not a deal breaker. Possible dash pulling from around the top-center speaker on some cars, a clogged A/C drain (duckbill) which could leak condensation onto the pax footwell carpet. Uh...... a Trans Fluid change is recommended and not expensive, along with possibly a read diff fluid change; again not expensive.
Go ahead and drive an XK for 100k miles, it'll take it, easy.

 

Talk to Tberg. I believe he has over 150K on his 10 XKR and there are several other owners with high mileage XKs and XKRs who use them on a daily basis.

 

The 4.2XK is a very sound mechanical design.

There may be a slow coolant problem here or there.

Then there is age catching up on rubber/plastic(And this will effect any brand/make of car!)

I now work from my home, but I got my XK to put miles on as a reliable workhorse originally.

I think the good things you'll read are true; but there is always the exception.

Get a well cared for car and you should be fine.

 

The XK is a nice upgrade from the XJS. I went that route after my '91 XJS was totaled about a year ago. A LOT less maintenance is required, the A/C actually works, automatic hood cover, and 2X the gas mileage with an XK. The downside is you see many more XKs, especially in California, you will lose the great XJS lines and the ultra smooth V12 engine.

 

Night and day for reliability from XJS to XK. Good luck. Major step up.

 

Oh, I'm keeping the XJS. We're joined at the hip. The XK would just become the new daily. Thanks guys! I think you've successfully talked me into it.

 

Well, I did it. Made the deposit today. Paying for the rest of it and picking it up Friday. Thanks for all your help guys!

 

Be sure to post some pics when you take possession...

 

My XK had a small coolant leak I could never pinpoint where, what or why? Nothing jumped out to my Jaguar specialist either. No drops, smells, overflow... Once or twice a year it would need a little coolant...

 

Congratulations, post pics and then go out and have fun in it/with it.