Hello all! I’m going to test drive a 2003 XK8 coupe. I live in Sacramento, California and i’m wondering,

Has anyone in a similar or the same area dealt with rust? is that something to check for on these in the US? I’ve watched a few buyers guides on youtube (Modurol, Classic’s world, XK-R-US) and a few other videos and am itching to get behind the wheel of one to see if it’s the car I want to move towards! so truthfully any california XK8/XKR drivers please i’d love to hear all about your experience!​​​​​​

though anyone please give info as to what I should look at in a test drive for long term, daily driving!
With incredible thanks!!

 

Is it the 4.0 or the 4.2 engine? The 4.2 is preferable.

I don't think that rust will be an issue if the car has spent its entire life in California but members who live there will advise.

Richard

 

My advice may not be what you want to hear, but has to be said regardless.

you cannot make a good enough decision based on what you learn from an Internet forum!or utube videos.

once you find a car that is interesting to you, and has a decent repair and maintenance compiled, then you must have the car examined by a professional who knows these models completely. Yes, a comprehensive inspection will cost you several hundred dollars. But it has the potential to save you from making a mistake costing thousands of dollars.

Avoid making generalizations. For example, like which is better, 4.0 L cars
or 4.2 L cars. A well maintained 4.0 car that’s had the known issues fixed, and with a maintenance history will be contender. And conversely, a 4.2 car that had hidden faults, should be a reject.

Each car you observe must be evaluated on its merits, or lacking of them. This is something that requires knowledgeable guidance.

Z

 

Let's try a little thought experiment.

Imagine that you are presented with two sealed packing cases and the only information that you are given is that in one box is a used 4.0 litre V8 and in the other is a used 4.2 litre V8. If you had to choose one of the two based on the limited information provided, which one of the two would you prefer?

Correct.

Richard

 

I'll give both a miss thanks and look for the exact car that I want - coupe or convertible, colour (in and out), supercharged or NA and buy the best one of those that I find. If you are comparing the 4.0 XKR to the 4.2 XKR there is zero difference in reliability as the last of the 4.0 cars had the same timing chains and tensioners as the 4.2 cars. Even the earlier XKRs, once the timing chains and tensioners have been updated, are exactly the same in reliability as the 4.2 cars.

One final question for you - you have two sealed boxes with identical non working modules that you have to get working - do you choose the one with a VID block or the one with a VCATs label?

 

Thought experiments don't work like that. You have to choose one or the other. That's the whole point of the experiment.
Don't worry. It's not going to cost you anything as it's just a thought and it's not a car. it's just an engine.

Richard

 

First thing to look for is a good reliable independent mechanic

 

We purchased a ‘99 XK8 with CA-NV provenance and well-documented maintenance. Documented maintenance history beats “gorgeous but mysterious” every time. We were very fortunate. A 4.0 V8 with no supercharger is fine for us — it’s a GT not an F1. The 2nd Gen and later cars don’t have quite the same “echo” to the famous E-series styling. Low miles is not necessarily a bonus as these cars like to be driven, not stored. Be sure your budget includes extra for “yet-to-be-discovered” repairs.

 

This!
wj

 

Concerning rust, mine AFAIK has always been a CA car. Zero indications of rust. I think that's the least of your worries, unless the car lived next to the ocean.

Echoing what others have said, my XK8 sat in a garage for 8 years so I can assure you that getting a car that has been sitting most of its life is no guarantee that it's in good working order.

 

Not to play is an option, as you don’t have any authority { } to be making up the rules of a game which has zero bearing on the OP’s situation. I might as well say here are 3 boxes with only one of them having the Crown Jewels inside. So which box do you choose ? Just as relevant.

The realistic choice is to advise the OP not to buy any car without a maintenance and repair history. Likewise, without extensive knowledge of these cars, hiring a professional inspection is prudent.

As a buyer in a limited market, the OP should be in no hurry. Look at several cars and do a few months of research. Theres a lot of good information on this forum on typical issues and information on troublesome areas that can cost $$$ to resolve.

Z

 

For God's sake, lighten up man.
The OP asked a specific question about rust and I answered that as helpfully as I could.
Is there now a rule on this forum that if you decide to answer a post, you have to provide a 100% comprehensive answer addressing every possible issue? If so, I'm out of here.

Richard
PS It's really interesting that you don't actually answer the question of the boxes with the two engines. Why is that, I wonder.

 

I bought it online sight unseen (well, I did see a video showing the scratch that I later had repainted). The seller had everything stamped by the official service center. Based on a previous car that broke down after more than 300,000 km, I knew problems would arise. Changing the gearbox oil (it's not a lifetime oil change) was the first thing I did. The headliner, if it hasn't fallen off yet, will; the lock will fail, and so on. If you're handy, you'll find plenty of DIY solutions on the forum. A car of this age and with these features requires either money or the right tools. If you love it and have either, go for it. It's more about passion than logic.

 

“It’s more about passion than logic…”

I think I like that!

 

did you see the “ ” in my post in multiple places ? That’s the defining “lightening up”.

I didn’t answer your game question as it doesn’t move the OP toward any solution. FWIW, there are enough flies on both the 4.0 and 4.2 engines to make setting both “the boxes” on fire and walking away from trouble.

the perfect engine ? I haven’t seen it yet.

Perfect “enough” is the one that gets you from A to B and back home again.

Z

 

First, tell the owner to NOT start it that day, you want it COLD. Open the hood, check the fluids for level and quality.

Have the owner start it while you listen at the front of the engine. A ticking or clattering sound from the front of the engine can indicate cam chain tensioner issues (it SHOULD have the newer ones, but might not).

Rust shouldn't be a major issue. Look at the underside of the body and rocker panels, and in the wheel wells. A little bit of surface scaling isn't an issue, you're looking for any sign of lost metal or blistering.

If it's not in registration, find out when it expired, and why not renewed. There in the People's Republic, you may have to pay back registration fees.

Hook up an OBD-II reader and see what codes or messages might be shown -- look more deeply into any issues. There's an absolutely beautiful red convertible over there that I passed by because the messages indicated a problem that could just be low trans fluid, but might mean a whole rebuild or replacement. If I weren't already stacked up with projects and gotta-dos, I would have taken the chance.

 

I can't be bothered with this nonsense. I would prefer a 4.2 to a 4.0, all other things being equal. You presumably have no preference. The end,

Richard

 

Why does the pot always call the kettle black ?

Z

 

And that is the flaw in your argument: "all other things being equal". No two cars are equal - coupes, convertibles, colours, wheels, supercharged or not, standard cruise or adaptive, mileage, service records, overall condition, how rusty and price.

There is a world of difference between the original 1996 4.0 cars and the last 4.2 cars in 2005. There is only a tiny difference between a 4.0 XKR and a 4.2 XKR. You are also ignoring my question about the VID block versus VCATS, just like supercharger versus VVT, and Mercedes versus ZF - there are pros and cons to every car. There is no single thing that makes one car more desirable than another, and no single thing that makes one car a sensible purchase and the other a guaranteed disaster. Your two sealed boxes thought experiment is irrelevant in the real world of car buying.

 

For Christ's sake, give it a rest.

Richard