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Drove a coupe for 9 years, now have convertible. Looks is a personal thing, so that depends. But as far as experience, convertible is way more fun. The coupe is a bit of a boring drive, nothing really special
i do think she is quite lovely as well! i am toying with the idea of some chrome from Mina Gallery, but really love the simplicity and modern look of the Platinum Paint alone. I plan to change out the orange lenses for some smoked, and will tint the head and rear lights a little darker for some edge (but not too dark) and i want to have the hood vents re-painted just a tad bit deeper silver/grey so they stand out a bit.
i do miss having a sunroof that opens, i used mine in the X-Type daily!
but that would take away from the long, sleek line...
i hope you get your cars running
Originally Posted by Chuck Schexnayder
The Coupe is beautiful, but if only Jaguar would have made just a little different tail light, it would be fantastic. But to me, those tail lights just don't do anything for the rear end.-- maybe a more vertical lens--something---just not the ones there.
They don't look the same on the convertible--on the Coupe, sort of bug eyed, but still beautiful cars. I just wish I could trade the two cars I have-- for one that runs--
That car of "prettybluefin's" above is just gorgeous. I think the chrome surround around the tail light lens is a much better presentation. Helps a lot and looks much better to me---but still----
I agree the coupes look gorgeous. Just couldn't find one when I was ready to buy. Had to "settle" for the convertible.
Would still prefer the coupe, but it was 83F today with sunny skies (apologies to my friends in the NE US). Hard to beat the top down experience on a day like today. Plus no blind spots out the rear or sides.
The coupe has a more determined and cohesive look imo, and has always been my favorite on the xkr and my e-type. The convertible is certainly nice to toodle around with the top down, but I've never been able to get past that lump of fabric sticking up on the rear, just like the XJS.
I feel it's inevitable that I will end up with both !! I have the 98 XK8 convertible but have my eyes out for a 2002-2006 XKR hardtop !! Together they will complete me.
I just bought my first Jaguar this week. I'm a newbie. I bought a 1999 XK8 Coupe. I like the convertible but really like the styling of the coupe. It has a few issues I need to sort out.
Its British Racing green too. I haven't even taken a picture of it yet. Wife had surgery yesterday and haven't had time yet.
For a daily driver, I would choose a coupe - no top maintenance issues.
For an optional car, I would only shop condition, color, and price, looking equally at coupe and convertible alike.
The Coupe has the roof flowing into the haunches in lines that look great from outside the car, the convertible can put the top down. *shrug*.
I'd leave my desk to walk and take a look at my coupe in a parking lot, more than I'd do the same for the drop top. I might leave my desk when the weather is nice, and fire up the car to run up the street for no reason a few more times in the drop top than I would the coupe.
Last edited by Tervuren; Feb 16, 2017 at 09:36 PM.
While I can certainly see how someone might prefer the looks of the coupe and there is no question that it is a far better looking car than the vert with the top up, with the top down, the vert makes up a lot of ground. I also don't doubt that the coupe is more rigid and can be pushed harder, so that there are undeniable advantages to the coupe for someone who is looking for those attributes.
However, when it comes to cruising along down a nice country road on a beautiful day with the top down and enjoying the scenery and the ride, that is something that the coupe just does not match. Coming from South Louisiana, I grew up going in boats and going out in a boat on the weekend to fish or ski or just to go for a boat ride is what we did for fun the whole time I was growing up. I still have a boat, but don't get a chance to go out in it very often any more, so the open air ride in my vert is the closest thing to going for a boat ride. I never had a vert before, so I decided this was the one to get.
KevinD,
I think you hit the nail on the head with the comparison of a vert and a boat. The only difference is the occasional spray of water in the face.
At times, I think I can smell the fresh scent of the open ocean water while I tool along a beautiful country road---- or is it just my imagination?
KevinD,
I think you hit the nail on the head with the comparison of a vert and a boat. The only difference is the occasional spray of water in the face.
At times, I think I can smell the fresh scent of the open ocean water while I tool along a beautiful country road---- or is it just my imagination?
Cheers
Oops, edit after I looked at where you live. You know EXACTLY what I am talking about!!!
Well, I got to do one of my bucket list things a few years ago. I don't know if you are familiar with the Emerald Coast in Alabama and Florida, but starting at around Orange Beach in Alabama the beaches are incredible and the highway runs right alongside of it for miles and miles where there are no buildings between the Gulf and the highway. I can assure you that I did, in fact, smell the fresh scent of open ocean water. https://www.google.com/search?q=oran...+coast+florida
On a country road? Be careful when you see a bunch of cattle........
There is a 1998 Anthracite coupe with 67K miles that has been sitting at $5500 for a long time on Bring a Trailer. The auction ends in less than 8 hours. It looks to be in good shape and at that price, quite a bargain. Please go and bid on it, I'm afraid if it doesn't double that price I will be forced to buy it myself and I have 9 cars. My wife says one more and she is gone. So please, save my marriage, buy the coupe.
To each his own. Or as a pal says: "some like chocolate, some like vanilla".
We have had our 98 XK8 coupe for one season and enjoy it immensely. We look forward to April when it can be released from the barn and be driven again.
Many of you who lust after big wheels, flashy colours and loud exhausts would probably think ours is boring: Topaz paint, Oatmeal interior and the chrome revolver wheels (as an aside, I think the 17 inch revolver wheels look just right on the car...the metal colour is perfect on the BRG, blue or red but I think the chrome contrasts better on black or topaz; I just don't get the fashion of oversize wheels and hard riding tires just for looks). I got the car last March for about $6500 USD (adjusting currency for the Canadian Peso) but have sunk about that much more into it for all the standard items reported on the forum to bring it up to an almost new driving experience: the new timing gear, cooling system updates, most of the suspension work, transmission flush, upgrading the standard stereo to 7 speakers and 500w amp (while remaining to appear factory bog standard), plush riding 245/50x17 Michelin Primacy tires - the Assimetricos looked great but were old, hard and lumpy - and loads of the small things we all must do.
So now we have a classy, dignified GT that we can set the cruise control to 80 mph for our 250 mile drive to the lake and cruise in smooth comfort in the way the coupe was meant to be used.
I am lucky to also have a 92 Mazda MX5 Miata Limited Edition in Sunburst Yellow that I have owned since new to allow us to go for back-road drives, picnics and outings with the top down. It is light, nimble and a joy to drive despite being not particularly fast or powerful.
So for us, the style, smoothness and highway driving experience of the coupe matches our desires. Maybe, without having an open top car in the driveway, the convertible XK8 would check all the boxes better, but we are enthralled with the coupe.
But, as I said at the beginning, chacon a son gout. They are all fabulous cars and choose whichever you like or can find: coupe or convertible, 8 or R, customized or standard. Fill your boots!
Wouldn't given a coupe the first look! I was looking at Crossfires when I saw an XK8, then vroom vroom, here kitty, kitty!
Last fall when I had to put away the 2004 XK8 convertible for the Canadian winter, I dreaded driving the minivan again. I found a 2008 S-type 4.2 to get me through until convertible time again. I still get my leather, wood and power that makes driving special until the temperature gets back to liveable.
Still love my coupe, year 2000 BRG XKR found in 2012 with 18k miles on her. Now 28k miles (five years later). People come up to me at rest stops to ask about the car. Never had that happen with any other car. Here she be at Lake George
