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I just checked an item off my bucket list and purchased my first XK8. Since its debut in 1996, I've dreamed of owning what I consider to be the most beautiful car ever produced and I still have to pinch myself when I see it parked in my driveway. My XK8 is a 1997 with 71,000 miles and its in amazing condition which is a testament to the loving care its previous three owners bestowed on this lovely car. I'm looking forward to this forum and the joy of owning this iconic car!
Congratulations on your new old car, and welcome to the Forum. That’s a lovely pic and hope this Forum provides advice to help you keep it on the road. It’s a beautiful, powerful, comfortable Grand Tourer with many easy modifications possible for home DIY. Some are purists and want to keep the car as original as possible, while some like to tinker with the car.
However bear in mind some Forum members thoughts. As with all beautiful things, the car will need love, care, and a wallet for parts. Some Forum members have said:
1. It’s like a blonde, give it something and it’ll want more
2. Mine was on the XKR swim team! (Genius quote as his car was flooded)
3. It’s like being married to an alcoholic stripper - pretty, fun, goes well but there are fundamentally problems
4. Why does our X100 lie to us? There are Warning messages but all seems fine.
I just checked an item off my bucket list and purchased my first XK8. .....
Welcome to the forums fitrunner2500,
It certainly looks a well cared for example. You've come to the right place to find out how to keep it like that. The 'HOW TO' stickies at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues.
As you made your first post here instead of the more usual New Member Area - Intro a MUST forum, I've added vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. If you want to change these, go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.
Beautiful car. Coupes are more rare than drop tops. This is a great forum with helpful people and massive amounts of available information and other resources. Mine is a later model , but I understand that it's considered vital to have the timing chain tensioners replaced in early models ( assuming the original owner has not done it already )
Congrats on your "new" car. She looks like a real beauty. I bought my coupe last summer, same model year and colour scheme.
It's a great car to drive and easy to work on. This forum is a great resource. The people are very friendly and super helpful and have
already helped me fix a few little things. I suggest that you check out the stickies at the top of the X100 page. They contain a ton
of useful information and some interesting reading. Good luck and I hope you have years of enjoyable and trouble free driving.
When I first saw the above Photo of your 97 XK8, I thought it was a photo of my first XK8....It was Topaz also and I still think it was one of the best colors they made. Mine proved to be a Headache after some mileage and the right Chain Tensioner gave way causing my pocket book some problems.....but it all worked out in the end as shortly after the repairs a Lady chased me down and just had to have it....Got my money back and a little more.....Everyone had to take a look at it as it was a Beauty....Just like yours!
Enjoy!
Congrats on your new Jag and welcome to the forum. I know exactly how you feel as I bought my 1st xk8 about 4 months ago. You'll find there are some tremendously helpful folks on here with loads of D.I.Y. experience.
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, I'm finding out very quickly that these XK8's turn heads for sure. I was at the car wash today and young guy in the next stall came over and was raving about it. Looks like you have a sweet XKR judging from your signature photo!
Welcome and congrats ! I'm in total agreement with you as far as these being one of the more beautiful cars ever made , especially the coupes! I always said that if I ever got an xk8 it HAD to be british racing green with a tan interior, and it HAD to be a coupe! It is satisfying to me to see other people turn their heads when I go by, and I have a good feeling that some of them, especially guys in mini vans, "wish they could have one too!" Little do some of the people know that they could have one for a lot less than they would think!
Yeah, the XK8;s are a work of art, especially the coupes. Every so often a car manufacturer hits a home run and Jaguar certainly did with the XKE and then with the XK8 that is so reminiscent of the XKE. And you're right, for so little money you can own a classic!
New XK8 Owner
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