I was just over in the 2007+ XK forum because I was bored. I gotta tell you, I don't much care for the look of the new XKs. They look too generic. Sure, the built-in tonneau cover is nice, but in general, the car looks too much like a Sebring/Solara clone. I also like the look of the BMW Z3 better than the newer Z4s. Maybe I'm just getting old.

What are your thoughts? (About the cars, not about my age).

 

Sam,

Two distinctive camps between the XK8, a more retro traditional look, and the newer XK with a more modern look. Having spent time with both, I too prefer the more traditional look of the XK8.

Same with the Z3/Z4. For the longest time I was traditional look Z3 over the more squarish modern Z4....but lately....I'm moving more into the Z4 camp. I still do a lot of work on BMWs and see both of these cars from time to time.

 

I had an 03 Blk XKR and I loved that car. I test drove the newer models and didn;t like it But when my warrenty finally ran out I was "forced " to move up. I have been completely surprised that I LOVE the new XKR

 

Interestingly enough, I saw one at a red light today. I have no doubt that they are superior machines, as the engineers have progressed with the engineering, but, to me, it just did not have that distinctive Jaguar look of the original body.

 

Exactly! The new XK's just look like any other car. They don't stand out. I have no doubt that they are technologically superior, but a Prius is pretty technologically advanced, too. I may have seen a new XK driving around, but if I did, I didn't notice it. And that's what I don't like about them. The curves are just too generic.

 

Here is a pic of both cars together in my garage. I had this 07 red XK to drive for about 1,000 miles. Although technologically superior, I still prefer the traditional look and ride of my XK8.

 

Thanks for the side-by-side picture.

I vote for the earlier model. The new one probably would not provide as much repair entertainment nor as active a forum.

 

I like the style of the older models too. Technology aside(we have enough!), have you ever tried to put anything into the boot?? There is not much room in the new one except for maybe a pic-nic basket and a small one at that!

 

New ones are ok, they look beefy, fast, etc. But the xk8 97-what ever, is just plain pretty. I think it has a look in and out that will NEVER age. I think they nailed it with that cars looks.

 

Dude... seriously, put some tools in that garage. Buy one of those giant tool boxes, or hang some shovels from the wall. DO NOT let your friends see it until you masculinize it a little.

 

I'm afraid I may get cyber-lynched if I say this, but what the hey... I like the newer style better. Front end just looks meaner to me, and I suppose I prefer the sharper angles than the curvey lines of the one I have now. (nobody mention this to Beth <- my car, she is already PMSing lately with this hub noise.

Personally, I like steve's garage...wide open spaces! I am a minimalist at heart myself.

 

By the way, Steve, your XK is the color I wanted to get. I just love the Carnival red with the beige interior.

 

I very much like the Carnival Red now, but originally it was my wife's pick. I'm more BRG or black as a personal preference....somehow I ended up with Red, Black and White Jags, and a black BMW tossed in.

 

I looked at both a 2006 an 2007. Bought the 06. Friend bought the 07. I paid less than half what he paid. Both had bumper to bumper warranty, mine had 29,000 miles his 37,000. We took them on a little weekend golf trip he had to put his second bag in my trunk. Since we bought them he said several times should of bought the 06. He had to stop driving it on sales calls no place to put his stuff but loves the car. This is the first car I love to drive. Sure the upgrades on the 2007 are nice but not at double the price.

 

When I decided to jump in and consider buying a used XK8/XKR the new ones had just come out. At first I really did not like them compared with our generation and, as far as our generation goes I actually preferred the look of the pre-2004 models versus the later ones.

Now that I have seen more and more of the next generation, I notice that I sort of like the overall shape (I definitely like the shape of the rear compared with ours) but the shape exudes something much more different than ours. The XK8/XKR series are sleek, classic, refined while the XK is aggressive, more "brutish", but still unique enough from the competition that you know it is a Jaguar. The other thing is that while I like the basic shape of the front of the new ones, there is something cheaper looking about the details. For example, the grill has a plastic-like look, and there is something not quite right about the headlights (some people have said the front looks like a Mitsubishi and I can see that).

Anyway, both models look great but the personalities are quite different.

Doug

 

I much prefer the older style, both inside, and outside. That said, if I had the money and was somewhat eccentric, I'd redo the old body in aluminum and drop in the new supercharged 5.0

 

I'd skip all of that and just buy an Aston Martin.

 

This is my home garage, not my shop. The shop is where I work on cars, my home garage is my cars' bedroom...It is, btw, pretty man-caved out already. You're only seeing about 1/4 of it in that pic.

 

I do prefer the look of XK8's. The overall shape of the new XK is perfect, but... the head and tail lights just look out of place to me. The body of the car is smooth and flowing with gentle continuous curves but those stupid triangles on the lights totally ruin it all for me.

 

I have been looking at 1997-2006 XKR models for a future purchase. I do agree with h20boy about the front end looking meaner on the 2007 forward XKs, but the rest of the car doesnt catch your eye like the 1997-2006 models do. Dont worry Reverend Sam your not getting old, I myself am 21 and dont care for the looks of any newer Jaguar model, or for the fact many new cars in general. Not to mention the interiors have no class anymore either in the Jaguars, but that in my opinion started with the s-types, x-types, and X350 Jags. A bit before the body styles started fading to the norm.

All the good styles are getting cheaper, and with aftermarket warrenties and revised failure parts you can run long with a good bill of health. If you want power the aftermarket world is opening up more for the older model Jags. The style and presence is worth it anyday over reliability and power though.