Being new here I must be missing something. Everything I read about on here is about 1997-2005 XK8 cars. I want to believe my 2006 is flawless but thats not going to happen. Is there differences on my 2006 or am I to assume 1997 to 2005 issues are not on mine an mine has it's own list. Want to thank everyone that puts all this great information at our finger tips.

Rich

 

1997-2006 xk8 is in the same category, but of course, it has the newest gen engine 4.2L starting with the 2003 MYs, plus an updated transmission over the 1997-2002s. Being at the latest end of this model's production, you'll get only the minor, usual maintenance items.

It may not be flawless, but its a solid car.

 

There are several 'generations' of the XK8/R. The first, that I refer to as the early cars' was '97 - '98. They had/have a long list of reoccurring issues. The '99 through 2002.5 resolved a lot of the early issues but still had several major ones. The '03 through '06 cars got a modified engine and new transmission and are as reliable as any other high end car. The '07 ups are even better and are not really old enough to have a really chronic list of issues.

I think of the generations this way:

'97-'98 Hobby/toy cars for hobby mechanics

'99-02 Daily drivers for hobby mechanics

'03 up Daily drivers

That should stir up some posts.

 

I'd say that's a pretty good summarization!

 

Sounds like I have a winner.

 

What is different between the 03-05 and the 06-09s? They seem to be put into different categories. Aren't the differences that the 06-09 are lighter due to swapping some steel for aluminum in the body and a different nose piece? They also made Brembo brakes standard rather than optional? Are they any other mechanical differences at all?

 

There is a difference between model years as identified by UK and as identified in the US. I believe the "newer" aluminum bodied XK was released in the UK in 2006 but not in the US until 2007. So in the US, the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 are essentially the same mechanically (otherwise known as the last generation XK8/XKR with the 4.2 engine and the 6 speed trans). The 2003 model had the older front nose; the 2004 model had the newer front nose plus still had the side molding; the 2005 and 2006 models are virtually identical.

Doug

 

The 03-06 cars are virtually identical. There was mild restyle for 05 and 06, but mechanically there wasn't much changed since 03. And excluding the 4.2L/6-speed auto that showed up in 03, not much was changed since 1997.

The 07 and up XK's are completely different cars with an all-aluminum body. The interior space is increased and chassis rigidity is improved. It's now a modern car.

TTYL
David

 

The confusion about MY2006 year stems from each model year being introduced a year earlier in Europe. The XK8 body style ran from 1996->2005 on home turf. Shift that to 1997->2006 in North America. The XK body style was introduced as a 2006 in Europe, and is known as MY2007 in North America.

 

Right on. There is additional confusion on the forums that are primarily UK in that they further break the model years into 2 parts that I didn't quite understand (e.g., referring to a 52 plate).

Doug

 

Well, to be completely accurate, the new XK was introduced as a 2006.5 model in the UK; thus the reason for the 52 plate, to indicate the half year identification of the production date.