I'm on the brink of picking up a 2003, as opposed to prior three years due to the improvements that year. I am hearing that the 1995, 1996 and 1997 years for XK8 were particularly good ones. Should I be looking at saving on the purchase price and finding one from those years that is in great condition with reasonable miles?

Thanks -T

 

Not sure how you got the history of the XK8 turned so upside down but the standard advice is to buy a '03 or later car. The early cars came with a number of issues that Jaguar re engineered over the years until by '03 they were pretty reliable. Check the FAQ Sticky above for many issues that slowly went away. And the UK introduction of the XK8 was '96 with the first MY in the US a '97.

 

I'm aware of the issues after Ford bought them but believed those were related to the 1998 through 2002 cars which is why I said was looking for a 2003. In a conversation this morning I was told that the 1995, 6 & 7 years were particularly good; hence the reason for my post and the question.

Thank you.

 

No, the later the better. Ford owned Jaguar well before the introduction of the XK, and many of the improvements they brought to Jaguar's factories help pave the way for the XK.

 

. . . and find some more knowledgeable folks to have breakfast with.

 

Main improvement on the '01 was replacing the plastic chain guides for the valve and cam tensioners with metal ones. '03 was the introduction of the 4.2 litre V-8 over the previous 4.0 litre version, and the intro of the stronger ZF 6 speed automatic transmission.

 

I suspect that the mixed message may come from the opinion that the 1995 to 1997 models of the XJ6 ie X300 is considered by many to be a superior car to the XJ8 or X308 that followed it.
This however doesn't apply to the XK's as they were all 8's
Just a thought.

 

hehe...which is why I posted here Just wanted to understand his comment.

Thanks folks.