These cars are VERY reliable.. Take of a few parts off, and you'll see Ford stickers everywhere.

Ultra cheap to maintain(except the XKR). These are basic cars, nothing fancy. The interior is almost all plastic and vinyl, so it's very durable. That beautiful center console with all that stitching, it's vinyl... Those seats, only the fronts facing portions are leather..

I think Jaguar really got this car right. I see how other cars age, then I see the XK8's.. Besides wear/tear, they are bulletproof. Just look at those headlights, will they yellow up like on every single other car? Nope, they are glass..

 

CXJ

It's a bit like this.

You either want an XK8 or XKR or you don't.

If the answer is no. Stop looking.

If the answer is yes, take your time , look around and find a good one with a full documented service history and put $ 5000 aside to make sure everything is 100%.

I sold my 2004 , TD5 Land Rover Discovery to the nephew of a guy who owned and ran a Mercedes workshop.
Uncle loved the Mercs. They paid all his kids Private School Fees and a 21 day cruise every year for him and his family.
He hated the Merc (every single one ever built) as an ownership prospect and warned his own nephew off ever buying one.

Mercs , BMW and Porsche are like bums and opinions. Every one has one

Pete

 

That is the funniest thing I've ever seen in print.

 

I can't say that the Super Charger has caused me any more maintenance than those things I've fixed which would be common to the XK8.

I have a friend whose been working on his V12 XJS for three years in the same shop I use. I drive mine away and enjoy it when I'm finished. He leaves his in the shop parking lot until the next time he returns.

That said though, if both cars were comparably reliable, and I had to choose between an XK8/R Convertible or a late model XJS Convertible, ..... man, just for "coolness" alone I'd be cruisin' in style, top down, in that sweet straight 6 XJS.

 

Three years? As likely as not, this is a reflection on your friend and not the car

Cheers
DD

 

Sorry, but walk away now. Increase your expectations and budget tenfold, then let's talk about you being just fine with one of these.

That being said, less the purchase price, divide these numbers by 12 for a monthly upkeep cost... and it's not that bad compared to a car payment. These fine machines are not dear to run, but this is not a Toyota Solara.

Day In The Life Example: mine has been down for 2 months because of a cyl. 2 misfire. I discovered it was a bad coil pack. I bought a good replacement on eBay for under $60, but I haven't had the time to get back in there and swap it out yet. In the meantime, the cats are also blown out but I have a set of Nameless Performance cats ready to go in, but the state inspection has invalidated in the past month. So even when I find the time to swap in the replacement coil pack, I can't legally drive it until I get the cats put in and get the thing re-inspected for 2016. An annoyance, but it otherwise runs like a top and has no major issues. The biggest failures I've had in the nearly 3 years (!) and 15k mi. I've had it now are leaking heater hoses under the supercharger leaking coolant, then a head gasket that was further leaking coolant a year later, and having to rebuild the hydraulic rams for the top the summer after I got it. The cheapest XK100 to own is probably going to be a XK8 Coupe, only because the supercharger can be a pain to get off to replace heater hoses! Otherwise XKR Coupe, especially for the beefier trans.

It's not my only car, but I typically daily it, and it's never left me stranded. I love this car, and it's boatloads cheaper to run (and less time in the garage) than the Porsche 944 Turbo I left before it to get this instead. I miss the intuitive driving experience, but that's about it. And as a family man with an hour-long commute now, automatic trans (by AMG!) and airbags FTW...

 

I've had almost my entire car apart and I've seen very few Ford stickers on parts. Mostly, they say Jaguar, made in ........ I see Ford stickers on mostly things like switches and such.

I do find it true that the interior with the exception of the seat faces (leather) do wear well.

 

I don't normally post here. I don't even own any Jaguars anymore. But I wanted to share my experience with the OP because he seems to be where I was a few years ago.

I have had a 77 XJ Coupe, 91 XJS V12 and 2002 XK8. If I can give you any advice about old Jaguars, don't walk away from them. Run!

After many years of being a masochist and saying to myself it was all worth it because it's a Jaguar, I finally gave up on my last one. It was exactly the XK8. I then bought myself a 2010 Mustang GT. Yes, it's not a Jaguar, it doesn't have the same status one may say. But you know what? It works and it works well. It has been bullet-proof. I'm now on the process of buying a Challenger too. But will not sell the Mustang.

Everybody is right too when they say you should be prepared to spend a lot to keep the car. To be honest, I regret having persisted as long as I did. I could have bought a couple of cars with the maintenance money from my Jaguar ownership years. But it's not even the money. If you really like the car you just pay up. The frustrating side is the downtime. We are car guys and we want to drive our cars. Not have it sit for repairs with any frequency.

A friend of mine who is into Mustangs used to tease me, "Your Jag has it's period again?" when my XK8 was at the shop to repair something. He was the one who got me into Mustangs. I have him to thank for that I know have a fun car to drive which doesn't breakdown. I can even do silly things like burnouts and other things if I wanted without having to worry about my little darling breaking something.

Some say you have to be truly in love with Jaguars to put up with them. Believe me, I was. But it's like a divorce. At some point, regardless of how beautiful she is, if it's only hell, all love dies. I just decided that despite the looks, no car looked good enough to be worth all the trouble. Once you get over the poor-man's Aston Martin thing and see it for what it really is, a money pit which you have not even enjoyed as much because all the downtime, the sad truth starts sinking in. You start seeing the light in the end of the tunnel and seeing the inevitable. Then you start feeling frustrated for not having given in years ago and saved money and headaches.

I couldn't be happier to be out of the Jaguar game. I'm enjoying the Mustang way more because, first I can drive it year around all the time without down time. Second it has what the XK8 should always have had, a manual gearbox. Third it's also a V8 and a much better V8 at that. All together makes me kick myself on the behind for not dropping the whole "is a pile of pool but at least it's a British sports car" mentality years ago when I had my first Jaguar.

I can only wish you good luck. I know most of us have to feel it in the skin before we actually see the truth. I know I did. We always try to be optimistic and hang on to the few successful stories to give us hope because we just love the way the cars look and because we want a Jaguar. Never mind that for every successful story there are like 10 horror ones. It will never happen to me we think. Till it does and you get burned. Then you think, the problem is not that it is a Jaguar. The problem is that it's older. I will just get the next generation. And then it happens again till enough is enough.

Well, just wanted to share my experience.

If you want a V8 with a manual gearbox, very powerful, fun to drive and bullet-proof, look no further than the current crop of American cars. 2005 and up Mustang, 2007 and up Challenger and 2009 and up Camaro. Can't be beaten for the price, fun factor and robustness. And they will smoke any XKR and they leggy slush boxes. Not to mention how much better they sound too.

And if you are thinking they are not as luxurious as the X100, think again. They don't have the grandfather wood interior. But everything you need is there for a car of this class. You won't miss anything when you are smiling for finally driving a stick and not having to repair something every couple of months. Lot's of people are snobs when it comes to American cars. But this is not the 1980's anymore. Let the Jaguar owners who want to be snobs do so looking at you having fun with your American V8 while their car sits at the shop. Then when they get the car out just smoke them. The fun is in the driving not in the ownership.

Forget Jaguar, Porsche, BMW 850i and the like. They are all nice. But very expensive to keep, breakdown often and all together not worth it for what they are outside of their name. But like the beauty of a beautiful woman which is only trouble will wear out, so will your enthusiasm for owning a prime European brand. At some point you just want something that works and lets you drive it.

Best of luck!

 

Troll alert...

 

Load of crap! ANY car can be trouble.
I have two brothers that have American muscle cars, one has a Muatang, other has two Corvettes. They constantly poke me about my Jaguars, even though we grew up with Jags!
Yes, my jaguar has had two major expenses, coolant system hoses which I changed many of them so cost wasn't crazy, and my convertable top hose blew in trunk so I did a total hose replacement (well my mechanic did) and both issues cost me about 1800 in total. Most of the other costs I poured into my XK8 was cosmetic and modifications. A few switches here and there from ebay or Gaudin Jaguar Parts but nothing crazy expensive. I also had trans fluid changed, mostly preventative as are most of the elected things I have done.
Now, as for my brothers mustang. It was totally serviced at ford, 40k on it when he bought. It's been on the road 3 months out of 2 years. Still in pieces while he and my mechanic brother work on a crap engine (my older bro's own words, the mechanic)! It's cost my brother probably about the same as I've spent on my XK8.
My older mechanic brother has two corvettes. Yes, it runs better but not by much. He's constantly doing something, replacing something, pushing body panels back in as the pop loose. And the second corvette you ask, hasn't run a day in 5 years. Now, I'm noticing it being used for parts for the other one. my brothers excuse? "I'm tired of spending money on parts!"
Here's the best part!
All of our cars are the same exact year!! 2002's!!!!!!!!
So, while you have had great results with your mustang, there are plenty of others that don't. Say what you will but when cars get 10-12-14 years old, they ALL need more and more issues delt with.
I've owned 25+ Jaguars, BMW's and Mercedes over the years. A 69 corvette, three Porsche, several Cadillacs, every single one was in the shop at some point with a healthy invoice waiting for me when I picked it up. The only car I've owned that was almost trouble free was my damn old miata! Thing just never faltered! (And a 96 Mazda B3000 Mazda truck, still running, bought brand new.)
So, as far as I'm concerned, if upkeep is the main issue, trouble free, don't look at any older car. They all deteriorate an need work. Even the miata needed new switches and hoses from time to time. But always ran!


I couldn't imaging not having my XK8. Oh, and my daily driver? 09 XF, yet another much maligned Jaguar. Only been in for service and one issue with a sensor. Almost 90K on it!

 

Wow philhef I have not seen the most recent photos of your car. It looks excellent, you have really refined the look over time, keeps getting better and better

 

I think I've found the problem right there... You pay other people to work on your car... This will always be a problem in my book. If you are the type of person who can not take care of little troubles that any 13+ year old car, it's best to get a newer car.. But please, do not be giving advise on cars.... Especially if you don't do your own work.... ca

 

AndiV8, that is one of the truest, most insightful posts I've ever read.

 

Well, lol. It's gone up and down! I had it striped with the Union Jack in the matte silver and black, for a big event in Pine Hurst NC. Got tired of it after a few months so took most off but liked the main center stripe.
Also, Saul at British Autowood found a new old stock XK8 fascia in a very unusual veneer, we think from a special edition, so I lost the aluminum wrap and installed that and had him refinish the shifter surround and steering wheel in piano black, and added a piano black detail on the fascia. Much more classic.
Thanks for noticing!

(The piano black on the fascia was inspired by my XF fascia veneer blade, and it made the other black veneers make sense.)

 

While I agree with you, I think finding an independent mechanic that works on european cars is key for anyone that can't do their own work. Usually 1/2 or less than dealer service costs.
Even though I or with my mechanic brothers help, can do much of thework, I still use my mechanic for jobs we just don't want to do.
I'm not rich, yet still own two Jaguars.
(I would also get AAA! Just in case!)

 

AndyV8, Just out of curiosity, if you disdain Jaguar so much, why are you still here. You've said yourself you're done with Jaguar and in fact proudly trash the brand. Possibly you should make peace with your issues and move on, let go of the pain! Focus on your new auto passion and be happy!

 

I totally agree philhef. Why come here and relive painful memories. Move on.

 

CXJ, I was with you about the whole automatic thing....I never wanted an auto car ....however, the XK8 ZF tranny is actually not too bad, I use the J gate a lot to shift my own.....it's still annoying at times (2nd to 1st slam, cold morning P to D and etc) but some members changed to Mercon SP and that seems to fix it....all in all by just looking at the car, I felt that I can live with the auto and at times I still miss the "Man" pedal but it'll do for now.

 

Wow, quite the differing 'opinions' in this Forum.

All I know is that for the many years that I owned my 2000 XK8, I had to do all the following repairs........
1. Cup holder (who doesn't)
2. Driver visor mirror door
Both of these repairs were done on my kitchen table and took less than an hour each.

I think maybe some people are a bit rougher (or neglectful) with their cars than they otherwise could be, but believe me when I say I certainly didn't baby mine.
The rock-solid reliability of my XK8 (other than the fantastic styling) was a big reason I stepped up to the 2010 XKR when it was time. Now, however, I miss the XK8 and wish I hadn't sold it, but kept it somewhere for the occasional drive. I still think the XK8/R looks far better than the newer versions.

 

Now, now, fellas.... AndiV8's point has some relevance, but it needs perspective.

I would expect an American car to be a bit more reliable out of the box. For one, just take a close look at our suspensions and appreciate what's been done to keep the center of gravity low and reduce unsprung weight. You don't find that level of finesse in American cars, but some of that engineering comes at price - some parts may be less substantial; some parts may be exposed to much higher stresses. And there may be some reliability issues out of the box as well. Looking at the original maintenance records for my XKR, I might have been a bit ticked if I had to bring it in as often as her purchaser did. However, when it comes to keeping a car on the road for way passed the warrantee, I must go with upscale foreign cars. Especially given that my friends in the Industry (Detroit) have told me more than once,

"We don't build cars for you (meaning someone who buys a really cool 100K mile car and drives it for ten years), we don't want you to buy this year's car 10 years from now. We want you to buy a new car now, and again every five years afterward." They have no concern for the public perception of their cars beyond this paradigm. They want them all junked and replaced with new ones.

This is why you hardly see any Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Plymouths or Mercurys on the road any more. In the few short years since they were discontinued, they've almost all headed for scrap. Don't get me wrong though - I believe American cars are VERY well "engineered", however they're engineered akin to the proverbial "Perfectly engineered race car", which after having won the race, completely disintegrates. We still see eighties vintage BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars (etc.) on the road once in a while. Try and count the number of American cars you see from that era on your next road trip. Where'd they all go? - lol.

Bottom Line: If you can maintain them yourself and want a nice car for a long time, bimmers, merks and Jags aren't such bad choices. If you're going to drive relatively new cars and don't mind a total lack of style or panache (maybe excluding the new Mustangs, but they're still too clunky/chunky looking for me), then an American car is just fine (for a while - lol).

FWIW: My resume not only includes the work done to Kitty for the 70K miles I driven her in three years (175K total miles), but also taking an '85 BMW 635 to well over 200K miles, completely rebuilding an '87 Mustang GT, a '64 & a '65 Corvette, and maintaining eighties/nineties/aught era Roadmasters, Suburbans and Cadillacs into old age. The difference in the quality of materials and the quality of assembly has been noteworthy (and disappointing). Personally, I think ford makes the best American cars. But that's fuel for different Flame-fest!

Ciao Y'awl!