Jaguar XK8 – The Time is Now

There’s something thrilling about getting a little bit of ‘posh’ for not a lot of dosh (that rhymes, we should trademark that). This is especially the case when it comes to cars. Yeah, buying something for big money when it’s showroom fresh is nice, but waiting for a bit and buying the same car for a bargain price is always better. Especially if it’s a luxury car, as that feels like even more of a win. Take the Jaguar XK8 for example. A car that would have once cost north of £40k can now be had for under £10k, and that’s tempting. Plus, the Jaguar XK8 is a beautiful car, one that you will always look back at as you walk away. And it’s fast becoming a recognised modern classic. We hate to be the ones to tell you this, but the Jaguar XK8 was launched in 1996. That’s 26 years ago. Ouch.

Anyway, we’re not here to dwell on the advances of time and the fragility of the human condition, instead we’re here to enthuse and excite about all things ‘car’, and the XK8 is a car that should give you ‘the fizz’. It’s beautiful, it’s fast, it’s comfortable and despite being old enough to start a family, it still cuts a dash and can still mix it in high society. But you don’t need to have high society money to play. The Jaguar XK8 is still a bargain, but that’s all changing. The clever money can see that this curvy coupe has ‘future classic’ written all over it, and so the good ones are being snapped up fast. If you want one, the time is most definitely now.

An introduction to the Jaguar XK8

Jaguar has always had a hand in the waters of luxury coupes. The XJS was getting old by the mid ’90s though, and despite various facelifts and upgrades, it simply wasn’t bringing punters into showrooms. Jaguar needed something fresh and exciting, so it, um, raided the parts bin. That sounds harsh, but under that sculpted body, the XK8 was a collection of old projects mated with new features. The first-generation XK8 shared its platform with the Aston Martin DB7, which in turn was derived from the XJS. The rear suspension was the second-generation IRS from the XJ40. The design of the car can be traced back as far as 1991, with a design being frozen for production in 1993. Jaguar started making prototypes for the X100 – the internal nomenclature for the XK8 – in 1993, and design patents were filed in 1994. It didn’t hit dealerships until 1996, though.

Buyers could get a Jaguar XK8 coupe in October of 1996, along with the convertible. Early cars were fitted with an all-new 3,996cc 32-valve V8 engine, mated to a slick five-speed automatic transmission. The car was billed more as a GT car than as a performance weapon, at least to begin with. In 1998 the supercharged XKR came along, and gave us 370bhp and a lot more visual impact thanks to mesh grilles, bigger alloys and brakes, and plenty of badging to remind people what it was.

In 2002, the engines were upped to 4,196cc and the power went up, too. The standard XK8 jumped from 270bhp to 300bhp and the XKR went up to a monstrous 400BHP. But it wasn’t just about power. Refinements and improvements were made to make the car better and more usable. The engines became more reliable, the electrics improved, safety increased, the XKR got Brembo brakes, timing chain guides were metal, not plastic. It was the first-generation XK8 at its best. And Jaguar, never afraid to build limited editions, had some fun with it. The XKR Silverstone, the XKR 100, Carbon Fibre Edition and Victory Edition all appeared in the line up.

What should I look out for? 

The first thing to consider with a car like this, is not an inherent issue with it (though we’ll get to those), it’s whether or not you can afford it. Buying it is one thing, keeping it going is quite the other. The car might be cheap, but it’s still a highly strung sports coupe, and one that needs expensive parts. On that note, the first thing you need to look at it is the car’s history. Has it been looked after accordingly? Has it had ‘proper’ parts and fluids? Is it on a matching set of brand name tyres? If not, it might be one to avoid.

Also, its best to steer clear of pre 1999 cars. Early XK8s had Nikasil liners, which would fail leading to all the compression falling out. If you’re looking at a pre 1999 car, you need to either see an invoice for a new engine, or be prepared to carry out a compression test. Though the latter is only a check for the inevitable. Cars built 1999 onwards had steel liners, so are a better bet. Other issues with early engines were on the timing side. The V8 uses a chain, which is good, but the early plastic guides can wear or worse, fail. Later cars had metal ones. If there is some rattle, it doesn’t need to be a deal breaker – changing them is no major headache. However, factor this in when haggling.

Other stuff is the usual for any old car. Damage and neglect, check the interior for wear and check ALL the electrics work, instruments can fail, especially pixelated screens. Look at the rear valance, as this isn’t available anymore, so will be costly to fix. In the case of the soft top, check for leaks, rips and weak/worn creases. Check it operates as it should, without excessive noise or hesitation. On all models, go for a drive and really pay attention to the steering and suspension. The XK8 is hungry, and it likes the taste of bushes and linkages. If the car has CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) make sure it works, check for any signs of uneven tyre wear.

What are prices like? 

You can get a leggy, early car for as little as £3,000. But in all honesty, it would be wiser to put that £3,000 in the toaster. £5,000 will get you something better, but again, check for the Nikasil issues. If you budget £7,000 to £10,000, you’ll get a really nice, later, coupe or convertible. Something you can jump in and enjoy without worry. If you want a good, non-hammered XKR, add five grand to that. Do not, under any circumstances, buy a cheap XKR. There is no such thing as a cheap one. If you spend more, you’re into the cream of the crop. The first-generation car went away in 2006 or so, so a bigger budget means you get the best of the later 4.2 cars.

Why should I buy one? 

Beautiful, luxurious, fast, comfortable, and still able to turn heads as readily as it did 26 years ago, there is no reason to not buy one. It’s the kind of modern classic you can use every day, then take to a show at the weekend. It’s modern, but still with a classic charm. The XKR is still brutal, should you want more speed. And even if you don’t, the XK8 still commands plenty of respect. There are plenty of specialists out there to help keep yours in tip top condition, and there is even a good level of main dealer support should you get really stuck. Parts are, for the most, readily available. And if you can get over the cost of running a thumping great V8, the Jaguar XK8 is one of the cheaper sports coupes to run (cheaper, not cheap). Buy the right one, look after it, and you’ll have a car that will bring you untold joy, and that should only increase in value.