I routinely search the St. Louis CriagsList for Jaguars and in particular XK8s. It seems that there have been a number of low-priced XK8s recently. See: st louis for sale / wanted classifieds "xk8" - craigslist
With one asking price as low as $2,500, it seems XK8s in my area have hit bottom. At that price, I'm afraid lots of XK8s will become parts donors.
Can prices go lower?

 

Honestly I think if they aren't at the bottom, they're darn close!

I'm thrilled, it means I can get used parts easily, I can buy an additional car affordably, and that these great cars can be experienced by more people. I love my XKR convertible and have been tempted more than once to add another one.

 

A $2500 XK is essentially being sold for its parts and wouldn't be a car you'd want to try and drive. XK8/R's are significantly higher priced than they were a couple of years ago, so cheap cars have problems or are in need of so much work to make them nice that $2500 is probably priced too high. Some of the 2005-6 cars are being listed for sale above the 2007 newer model's pricing.

I'm betting that if you saw a $2500 XK8, it probably needs a new engine, a new transmission, new paint, and most of a new interior. It's no bargain!

 

The more issues that certain vehicles are known to have, the lower their used values become.

Low demand = low prices.

That's good for people who like older and sportier cars AND who enjoy working on them continually.

It's bad for the poor suckers out there buying new XK's starting at $85,000 and expecting to get anything close out of them when they want to sell it.

I have heard plenty of people say that owning an XK8 is like owning a horse.

It's always something, and it's always expensive.

 

. . . and I believe the rest of the horse statement is: you shouldn't own a horse unless you enjoy taking care of it.

 

What he said! I'd avoid anything south of several grand at this time.


XK100s are highly reliable and not 'always something' if they've been kept up and driven regularly. See mine. I've been basking in the glory of its dependability and low maintenance costs for almost 2 years now. Let me tell you what is REALLY 'always something'... what it replaced. A 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo. Brilliant car. But always hood-up in my garage weekly wrenching on it to keep it going. Six grand alone in mostly parts, some labor, and much sweat equity a year later and I and my bank had enough. The XKR has been a dream in comparison.

 

Value is in the eyes of the beholder. I don't give a thought to what or how the market drives the cost of a car when it is what I want to drive and enjoy. If I can afford to buy it, work or have the work done on it and its a car of this caliber or greater then I do. When I decided to commence down the road of restoring my 1999 XK8 (and yes I did receive it as an inheritance which gave me a great initial cost start basis) I set a budget and in the end it will be more than what the "Black Book" http://www.canadianblackbook.com/?gc...FYMF7Aodkk8Aiw says its worth but that to me is and investment toward my own personal enjoyment. To date I have over $6500.00 in parts, $3000.00 in a rebuilt transmission and differential and the majority of work I'm completing with a little help from my car buff friends :-)

 

I think that the xk8 that is in good shape, decent miles to low range of higher miles, all there, runs well, around Cincy is 8k to 15k, lower price being the older first model run cars higher price being the real clean ones. You have exceptions for real beaters to real nice loooow mile ones.

 

I like seeing the junk ones out there though because junkyards seem to be having more of them that they part out.

My sister has one and I think a Ferrari Testarossa is cheaper to own and operate. And the poop! It's never ending! It's either lame or needs to be babied to not go lame again.

 

+1 on that... My daughter has one and the TCO so far this year is more than I've spent in total on the XK8 - including new tyres and wheel refurb


There was a time when folks would buy the poop for their roses...


Don't mind too much where we are on the curve as I intend to keep mine forever - or at least until the electronics can no longer be maintained, but that's a whole other can of worms.


Mike

 

My sister has one and I think a Ferrari Testarossa is cheaper to own and operate. And the poop! It's never ending! It's either lame or needs to be babied to not go lame again.[/QUOTE]



An accountant friend once advised me, on the subject of horse ownership for my daughter, "Never put your money into something that eats while you are sleeping"