I sold my 2000 XK8 about 9 months ago - I am now ready to purchase another Jaguar, and was thinking of upgrading to an XKR. Are there any inherent issues I should ask about and look for? Is there any reason an XKR would not make a good daily driver? Any advice is appreciated!

 

I have used my 2002 XKR as my daily driver for the four years since I bought it. I have put nearly 80000 miles on it since then (closing in on 140,000 miles total). It has had all of the usual XK8/XKR issues (tensioners replaced, "green shower" hydraulic lines, Supercharger rebuild, asc/traction control warnings and module rebuild..., however, it has only twice left me stranded, still looks almost new, and is a pleasure to drive with the top down every day. I would do it all over again.

Find a car that has had the tensioners upgraded, hydraulic lines replaced with braided steel ones, has a documented service history with as low a mileage as you can afford, and you will be rewarded with a reasonably reliable, extremely powerful joyride.

 

Reliability may be better with a 2003-and-newer model. No tensioner issues, a better engine, and a number of other improvements as well....

 

The color combination on yours is beautiful!!

I ran into a couple of"the usual suspects" on my XK8, and they were manageable. How expensive/complicated is the supercharger rebuild?




Find a car that has had the tensioners upgraded, hydraulic lines replaced with braided steel ones, has a documented service history with as low a mileage as you can afford, and you will be rewarded with a reasonably reliable, extremely powerful joyride.[/QUOTE]

 

That's something to think about. What improvements were made? Would it make more sense to look at a 2003+ XK8 than a pre-2003 XKR if price is an issue?

 

I've only done 3 things to my XKR. Supercharger rebuild,replaced the 2 fuel pumps, and changed the fuel filter. I change the oil regularly. I went on vacation and put 3k miles on it this past November in a weeks time. This is hands down the best car I have ever owned. The S/C rebuild and getting the smaller pulley installed was about $1500 I think. It ended up being an exchange as they had one on the shelf that way so turn around was a week. Next project will be to replace the valve cover gaskets as they are starting to weep the oil mist.

 

Well, that is arguable, esspecially for the XKR.
I would go, and I did, for the pre 2002 with the robust Mercedes transmission!
On top of that, I do not like the plastic side skirts and latest bumper on the 2003+ models. Makes it too much of a boyracer.

 

Is the transmission in the XKR different than in the XK8?

 

JajJohn do you notice a significant power increase with the underdrive pulley?

 

XKRs up to and including 2002 have a 5 Speed Mercedes Transmission.

XK8s up to and including 2002 have a 5 Speed ZF Transmission.

03 and up XK8s & XKRs have the same 6 Speed ZF Transmission.

 

Members who use any of the V8 engine Jaguars as daily drivers post far less problems than those who use theirs infrequently.

Graham

 

Jochem00,
Your reasons for buying a 2002 or older XKR are precisely the exact ones that I have mentioned on many previous posts, better Mercedes 5 speed trans, rounded (XKE style) rocker skirts instead of the squared off ones, and the subdued front grill/bumper combo as opposed to the "big grin." Great minds think alike!

 

My 2002 has become my daily driver but also is a monthly repair car. I hope I'll eventually get it all done. But it is taking its tole on me.

 

2006 XKR and very happy with it as a daily driver. Had to replace the fuel injectors and fuel rail (seems to be a common problem) for $2500 but otherwise sound.

Remember the 2005-2006 engine has a Ford bottom (used on the Lincoln LS) with a Jaguar top and it's quite strong.

 

I'm in the same camp. I have a 2000 XKR Convertible and it's been such a great car to me (same color exterior as you, but Cashmere interior, I've never seen a combo like yours before, its nice). I daily drive it from salt washed away to snow each year. It's been fantastic. I'm looking up to you, because I plan to do like you have and drive the wheels off of it into high mileage!

Given what I've learned, XKR is the only option for me, and the early ones fit the bill quite nicely. Very good daily driver.

 

As written by Marc
The 2005-2006 engine is all Jaguar designed by Jaguar. The lower end of the Lincoln LS is a smaller displacement. and was copied off of Jaguars design.
This is documented by a few of the books written about the XK-8. It's true that a few parts are same, Ford took the design from Jaguar. (considering that they owned the company at the time.) The LS engines also were built stateside.

 

Used my xk8 as a daily driver for 5 years. Biggest issue I had was a transmission rebuild at 140k miles...and that was only due to a valve body issue, not the 'hard parts' (clutches/drums). On my superv8, i've already changed the supercharger oil at 45k miles, and it was nasty. I'm hoping this regular maintenance will increase its life span indefinitely.

 

I love using my XKR as a daily driver. 34,000 miles in 20 months. I hope that one of my experiences is unique though: At 131,000 miles I spun at least one bearing in the engine and had to have the engine replaced. I'm pretty sure I inherited the impending "grenade" from one of the IPOs. Otherwise, I've only experienced the usual high mileage sniggles: ABS/DSC warnings (cleaning the ABS sensors occasionally seems to help), fuel filter, and she's starting to "sing" the front wheel bearing song.

Except for the engine, she's been great. Usually, the only reason I "hangar" her is because I'd recently polished her up and the roads were yucky.

My typical policy when it comes to high-end cars is to thank the IPO(s) for absorbing all the depreciation while hardly ever driving the car, so that I could afford to buy it and enjoy it daily. (And there's a particular Ferrari out there that's slowly depreciating its way toward my garage as well - ahhhh.....)

ENJOY!!!!