Agree. They're 10-15 in CA for a 2003-2006 well maintained, reasonable (under 100) mileage. It's supply and demand. Earlier years? Prices varies quite a bit but generally less than the newer years. Am going to repair my 2000 (all tensioners) betting that it's worth 10k now. Sooner or later, a luxurious car that always gets compliments will increase in value.

 

Ok there's an on line auction site called "Bring Your Own Trailer". Lots of very expensive classic cars. I've attached screen snaps of XK's sold recently. Sorry not in order. Prices vary wildly. Log on to BYOT to get more detail on each car.

 

 

I have had women offer to trade sexual favors with me for a ride in my Jag, no lie. People stop, look at it, walk around it, turn around and look at it again.....I hear beautiful car several times each and every time I take it shopping. A guy last week came into the bar, asked who had the blue Jag convertible, and said to me, "That is a real sweet ride. " I said, thankyou. Then he said, "No, I mean that is a REAL SWEET ride." It drives my son nuts. He is a BMW freak and hates when we drive somewhere the people always want to look at my car.

 

Chris- How did the engine swap work out in your XK*? How many HP?

 

As the Brits say, Smashing. That puts it rather well.

 

Arland Green - The swap has worked out PERFECTLY! I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out... the RWHP came in at 390HP and 440+ ft lbs torque (equates to ~470hp and 530 ft lbs at the crank) - FOR NOW It is like a brand new car to me!!

 

One thing I'll say having had a breadth of different cars is that Jaguars typically get fairly positive responses from either sex, and a variety of ages. Typically it's low key positive responses or none at all. That's my favorite kind of response. Jaguar cars seem to be viewed as restrained, muscular, and elegant. So they can be shouty when you want it, but they're classy and tasteful even when they do so. English luxury performance vehicles seem to have this characteristic; Bentley, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Jaguar, etc. McLaren is a little louder but still seems to be a little different than the defacto Ferrari and Lamborghini.

I don't like the attention the flashier italian exotics get that much. I generally daily drive toys and when I'm at the gas station to grab a beverage or use the restroom, sometimes I just want to get in and out, and not talk cars. With the exotics, often a conversation is attempted and the starter can view you negatively if you don't indulge their interest. Sometimes you're the jerk and the car suffers vandalism.

 

I think the X100 is a classic now, just not a valuable classic. I bought my ten year old ~ten years ago for £10k with 100k on the clock, tons of work done on the car since, lots of welding and money spent, the car is now worth less than £10k with £145k on the clock and 19 years old.

Aproximately 11 years ago I bought my 30 year old 450SL for £4500 with 145k on the clock, and have also done lots of work to it, lots of welding, other repais and painting etc. Now it's 41 years old with 160k on the clock and has just been valued at £35k. Practical Classics magazine actually valued it at £45k but thats probably too much.

The main difference is age and rarity, the XK8 is infinately better to drive and better in almost all respects, however it is less desireable and hence lower value. Interestingly the 450SL gets 10x the atention the XK8 does.

Given another 20 years the values will increase, the problem there though lies with the green movement. At some point the bottom may completely fall out of the big engine ICE market if fuel costs £20 a litre.

 

Agree right now but at some point it's simply supply and demand. It's a gorgeous car. Also depends on why someone buys. Daily driver? Collectible? Range at one national auction site is 8 - 30k. There's a 1997 (I think) Concours winner for 17k. The 30k has virtually no miles. Craig's list is generally 7-10. Right now it's convertible weather so they sell quickly. Dealers are overpriced (typically 15k for 2003-2006 w/ mileage) so they sit. I've learned my lesson. I will not buy another XK w/o detailed service history or at least looks great, sounds good and drives well. A well maintained XK w/ the typical problems repaired is a valuable car whatever the market price is.

I had a 380SL. Put tons of money in. It still wasn't much fun to drive and it wasn't all that reliable. However I couldn't tell it was idling because super smooth. An XK is a LOT more fun to drive!

 

A "non valuable Classic" is a pretty good description of most older special interest cars. An XK8 is a gorgeous car almost everybody would agree, but as they age they fall further and further as a consideration of an actual purchase. for a non enthusiasts.. The XK8 is starting to fall into the, just another old used car category. This period of low monetary value, can easily last for decades, just ask any XJS owner! I still gets lots of compliments on my XJS and my XJ6 whenever I take them out. Beauty doesn't have anything to do with monetary value. It's hard to hold onto a car through this period of little value, though we all delight in stories where an owner has kept and cherished a special car over a lifetime. Not an easy thing to do. The best thing is just to enjoy the car.