Good morning, I am the proud owner of a 1997 XJ6L. It has been a great car but it is way to much room on the inside and it is getting older. I have been looking at staying in the Jag family and really like the XK8's. My question for all of you is for those of you that have a XK8 convertible would you recommend this car or stay with a hard top? Any issues associated with these beautiful cars that you would flag me off?

Thanks for any input.

 

I've moved your question from Jaguar Forums Advice / Feedback & Suggestion Center to XK8/XKR forum. The Advice / Feedback forum is for posts about the forum and not for technical questions.

You'll get a wider viewing/response from members with XK8's here.

Graham

 

I had two XJ's in the past and now the XK8. There are very different cars, but both very much Jaguars. Depends on what you expect from the car, so first ask yourself, what do I want from my next car?

Since you say the XJ has too much room, the XK8/R will certainly solve that problem. You will also swap to a V8 and it is very different from the 6-cylinder in all ways. Ask any hot-rodder who used to sneer at your big 6.

The XK8/R cars are very much in the road-eating GT class. Very smooth at speed and capable of maintaining high speed for many miles. These cars love to be driven fast…and often. While not a true sports car, the XK is a better handler when set up right and it "feels" much more sporting.

Both are great cars, just different.

 

. . . and as to the question of coupe vs convertible . . . I would choose the convertible again even though I think the coupe looks better. Mine is a 'beautiful day with the top down car' with a nice garage to live in. If it was a 'commute to work in all weather car' I would definitely go with the coupe.

Either way I would recommend that you buy the latest model year you chose to spend your money on, preferably '03 up even though there are really great, low mileage, well cared for earlier cars found all the time.