Best year (2000-2005) for a Jaguar XK8
 

Hi experts,
I am thinking of buying an XK - something I was always dreaming about, however I am short on budget.
I wanted to buy a used one and wanted to ask you , from the years 2000-2005, what year would you recommend me of buying ? (A good year model with no known maintenance issues, recalls etc..)
Is the 2006 model change worth the money ?

Thanks in advance for advising me in joining the crowd

elad

I had an '06 xk8 (same as '05) for two years that was bullet proof.
As a general rule of thumb, buy the latest you can afford in a product/model cycle.........

good luck in your hunt !!!!!!!

I have had a 1998, 2000, 2002, and a 2006 and In MHO the 2006 was the best of the lot, they were all great cars but the 06 was perfect, never a problem In addition as the model years went on the little tweaks that were done to the body and interior again make me think that the 06 was the best

Take a look at my pic album they're all there.

good luck

Although my '02 has been a great car with no problems, significant changes were made from '02 to '03 MYs. Bigger engine, new transmission. If you graph the sales prices you will see the change in market value. Stay on the upper end of the '03 up as budget will allow.

If you want less maintenance worries, get a coupe. You'll avoid the hydraulic line issue that all models thru 2006 will eventually, or have already faced. Mechanically, 03-06s are almost identical.

And, if you do go coupe, I think you'll have equally minor maintenance buying an 03-06 MY. I can't see many improvements between the 4 years; there have been some minor interior and exterior changes...but like the front bumper, I prefer the 05 over the 06. Wheels, I like the 03-04 Apollo style over the 19" Atlas and 20" Montreals. For those items, it's all personal preference.

You're biggest decision will be either the XK or the XKr...to supercharge or not. Shopping around will be fun!

Thank you all for your replies.
Additional fact I forgot to add - I am in the US. Is there a difference in the model shipped to the US ?

Performance is less important for me, and while I would love to have the R I dont think I will be able to pay for a good car + insurance..

@h20boy: I am interested in the Coupe (and also in less maintenance..). So your saying finding a 03,04 XK coupe with low mileage would be my bargain ? I dont think I will be able to pay for a 05 coupe with low mileage and clean history.

Sorry, don't know about any European vs US model differences.

Yes on your question about the 03-04. One item that will be noticable on older models vs the newer, will be the front suspension spring fatigue. Not due to anything but age alone, the coils will begin to give under the weight of the big engine. It affects camber in the front tire which will cause accelerated inner tire wear and its not adjustable enough to compensate for it. You'll buy tires at a little quicker pace because of this.

If you find a 30-40k 2003-2004, I think you'll be very pleased with the value of the car in relation to the amount of maintenance you'll have to commit to.