what is your recommendation for an XK for my buddy who loves my XJ8 but would rather have an XK? He's concerned about getting one too old because it might need a lot of work, and concerned about the newer ones because they cost so much more! I thought I'd ask here for any words of wisdom -- if you want, just tell me the best or worst years! Thanks! I'll pass the info along and maybe we'll soon have a new forum member!

Mike

 

For the best reliability per dollar spent, I'd recommend a 2003-2006. Later cars cost a bit more and don't offer that much more, so I'd settle on a 2003-2004. Spend some time going through through the https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-data-29800/ for all possible issues to watch for. The 2003+ have most of the potentially expensive and catastrophic issues resolved and have come down quite a bit in price, even in the last few years. Since you have owned an XJ8, you are probably aware of potential problems with the AJ-V8 as they are the same on an XK8. An issue that pops in my head that is XK specific is the convertible top hoses (install some form of pressure reduction, I prefer the valve solution)

 

This ^

2003+ for the highest reliability. Green shower of death is the one major problem they didn't resolve.

 

2nd best option ...

A pre-2003 with the final (3rd gen) tensioners. There's a thread somewhere which lays out how to tell about the tensioners from the build date of the engine. Changeover was late in the MY '01 build, I think.

Such a car should be significantly cheaper than an 03+, all else being equal.