Forums are great places to sort problems out and share knowledge/experience etc, and I've benefited from this one numerous times.

But I thought it would be interesting to see what folks views are on the one thing that makes the XK8/R really do it for them. Could be name, style, power, poise, heritage, status or whatever... but what does it for you?

For me, its simply the looks of the car. Just stunning! Get the chills every time I look at the beast!!

 

love mine goes like SOAS..looks great

 

Absolute terror - wondering what's going to go wrong next!

Graham

 

The car, the whole car and nothing but the car.

 

Like the red-headed girlfriend I had in school, very high maintenance but always kept a smile on my face.

 

I've actually wanted an E type for 30 or 40 years but never was willing to tackle the Lucas electrical adventures and other infamous reliability issues. I only learned about the XK8 a few months ago and bought one within a few weeks. Wow, Ford did me a big favor.

 

I like the whole thing, but I think the one feature that stand out above all is the flat dash with all that wood and the old style analog gauges. Everyone that sees it always comments about this feature.

 

With a body like that, how could you look any further?

 

The massive depreciation that allowed me to even consider purchasing one for my wife....

 

It is a Jaguar for the first thing. Next would be the styling that I don't thing will ever be out of style. Even at twelve years old people still think it is brand new and the green with envy meter is really high with my friends (pegged mostly). No one knows what I paid for it. The only negative is that the Jaguar company/dealer support for parts and service is costly way beyound reason. Of course that is the reason for the great depreciation. But great depreciation ans reliability issues also effects new car sales. Improvement in both of those areas and Jaguar would be the number one car builder of the world.

 

In my town, it's a bit of a sleeper. There aren't the many of them and they're not known by the ricer crowd. It has a respectful appearance, then all of a sudden... whoosh!

 

It's a head turner where ever you go.Truly classic styling that never looks outdated.

 

The look on the passenger's face when you kick down in Sport mode
The lovely sound of French granite curbstone on aluminium when I misjudge the parking

 

Positive reactions from other people.

 

Has the joie de vivre that all cool old cars have. Built by people that cared about cars.

If I had a car collection, it would be full of old oddball survivors. 1957 300c Chrysler, 1950 Volkswagen Beetle, a nice old Karman Ghia, Mercedes 600 grosser, 1960s Dodge Dart with the 413 Max Wedge. Probably each terrible in their own way, but dammit, there is nothing that saddens me more in a car than bland, generic competence or lack of ambition.

 

+1

That's why I decided not to get WhiteXKR's gizmo that makes the 3 centre gauges accurate

 

One more thing I thought of that I like most about these cars. (I gues you can only have a single thing you like most...on well!) I like it because it is a little like maintaining and Indy 500 race car. It is high tech, on the edge for its time, great to mess with, and most of all a damn good excuse to visit this form daily and participate with a great bunch of guys and gals that are having fun solving their problems. And I love the ladys' "T" shirt that says "You are a naughty boy. Go to my room".

 

All of the above and below.

 

I have had a 1969 427 Corvette, 1968 396 Chevelle SS, 1977 12 cyl XJS Jag, 1980 Mercedes 450 SLC, 1980 BMW 735, 1998 911 Porsche and now my 2005 XK8 and when compared to that impressive set of vehicles, I can say there are actually three things that make my new baby stand out from all the others:

1) exterior style - timeless beauty that matches elegance and aggressiveness like no other
2) interior style - (a) a leather with a unique smell and feel that no other car can match (b) a wood trim married with traditional gauges that are pleasure to view every time one sits behind the wheel
3) ride- solid, sure footed, yet smooth elegance that produces a ride reminiscent of a fine bourbon as it warmly courses from your lips

It may not be the fastest, or the best handling... It may not be the most reliable, have the best retention or the best mileage vehicle in the world, but from someone who has had them all, it is a unique automobile that provides the magic to thrill its owner every time one sits behind the wheel!

 

I'd have to say the drivers seat. I've never had a seat fit me as well as either of my Jags do.