I suspect every engine will be different based on it prior treatment.Nikasil is continually discussed as being better than steel when not exposed to sulphur in the fuel and trips too short to reach operating temperature. My Nikasil 2000 XK8, with 110k miles on the clock had compression readings within new car specifications.

It is not safe to assume that all 2000 MY cars will have steel liners. Changeover is reported to be in August 2000, at the engine factory. Nikasil engines will have continued to be installed into carswell past that date. And since assembly dates bare little relationship to model year, at least in the US, many 2001 MY labled cars may have Nikasil cylinders.

Buy the car based on it overall condition, not on fear of Nikasil.

 

If you really like the car, have it subjected to a compression test; or better yet, a blow by test. Either of these will confirm your cylinder walls are OK.

However, I think the conventional wisdom is coming to the conslucion thatif a Nikasil engine has lasted this long with no oil consumption, or blow by issues (build up in breather tubes), then it ismost likely OK. I will add, that IMHO the Nikasil is a more desirable cylinder liner. Not withstandingthe sulpher issue, I am glad to have such liner coating in my '97 vert.