Contemplating first Jag - XK8 or XJS?

Contemplating first Jag - XK8 or XJS?

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Brushtail

Original Poster:

2 posts

116 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Hi folks, hoping for some sage words of advice! In a few weeks I'll be looking to buy a car with the proceeds of hawking artwork in the US, and since it'll be more cash than I usually have to spend on a car, and I don't actually need to use it much anyway, have decided to treat myself to a nice-ish Jag rather than my usual sub-£1k Euro-banger.
!
If I only come back with £1-2k, I'll be buying the best XJ I can find for the money, no worries there. But hopefully I'll be coming back with £3-5k, which might let me get something more interesting! Have narrowed it down to either an early-ish (1999-2001-ish) XK8 coupe(either spend £2-3k on one that needs chain/tensioners done, and get that sorted as soon as I buy it, or £3-4k on one that's had it done already) or a facelift early-90-s 4.0 XJS with decent bodywork for £2.5-£4k with a £1000 slush fund for general repairs. Whichever I get, I'd be after a full, or at least recent, MoT.

Love the XK8's looks and interior and suspect they'll be more reliable than the XJS, but the XJS is just so darn classy! Insurance and fuel costs aren't much of an issue - only do one or two big journeys a month and work from home the rest of the time so no commute. Live rurally so lots of B-roads, car would be kept outside on a drive in rainy Scotland. Any thoughts on which is best, or anything else I've not thought of?
Cheers in advance!

bobfrance

1,323 posts

266 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Congrats on your recent sales. smile

I really like Jags, but as with any car over a few years old, I'd say both are capable of being very reliable and also of giving you bills if you're unlucky. The key thing is to try and find a car that is in good order, irrespective of mileage or age.

The XK8 is more modern in its looks and driving feel, but does accordingly have more bits to go wrong on it. The XJS conversely is generally simpler, is a more raw driving experience, and possibly robust as it is an older/simpler design. That said, you should keep back a slush fund back for either of them.

Price wise I'd say you can pay whatever you want for either, but don't a assume an XK8 should cost you more than an XJS. XK8s are still dropping in price whereas XJSs are firming up as they are becoming more rare and reaching collectible/classic status.

As an example my mechanic (a Jag specialist) is selling an early XK8 for one of his customers that has 140K on the clock but has been really well maintained for just £3.5K. I'd say that's a pretty good bargain. Conversely I'm probably moving on my 1992 XJS shortly for more around the £6K mark, but mine is a two owner car with only 49K on the clock and is also a pretty rare factory 4.0 litre manual. That XK8 is a bargain, however at some point it will probably be worthless however a well looked after XJS should hold its value.

Anyway, a few things to consider and I hope they help - happy hunting!


Brushtail

Original Poster:

2 posts

116 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Bob, I'm still bemused that, after a decade slaving away in the tax office, I'm now making a better living from not much more than messing about with paints and clay, seems wrong somehow! Some great points there to think about, thanks - hadn't considered XK8s having more to go wrong with them, but that does make sense. Quite like the idea of owning a classic car...though it's a bit disturbing to realise that the new cars I drooled over as a teenager can now be classics - guess I'm officially old now!

andyt1320

53 posts

119 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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I think a decent XK8 would be a better bet, a better drive, better looking and I think price wise they have hit the bottom, I disagree that they will go down more, I think they will stay level for a few years now (assuming good condition and low miles, history etc) before firming up as has been seen in the last couple of years on the xjs. Like all cars they have a lower limit for a good example so my advise would be to buy the best example you can afford at the time and enjoy.

bobfrance

1,323 posts

266 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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I agree that an XK8 is a more modern ride and pretty comfortable, but I personally found them a bit remote from a driving feel point of view. I found the mechanical nature of the XJS to be more the sort of experience I was after. Although having owned both a 6 Litre XJR-S and my present 4.0 litre manual I'd have to say they are both very different cars despite both being XJSs.

If you want an investment you'd need to spend £10K+ to buy a later model, low miles, 4.2 XKR convertible and then not drive it much.

I don't honestly think a five grand will buy you an investment in an XK8. You'll get a decent early car that should give you plenty of enjoyment, but it only takes an knackered gearbox for one to become uneconomical to repair. That said, an decent XJS that is neglected can quickly go that way too.

Again, happy hunting! Post your impressions when you've had a look at a few.

Edited by bobfrance on Tuesday 22 July 10:17

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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Congratulations on your success. It's nice to be able to spoil yourself with a 4 wheel toy.

I've owned an XK8 (2002 hardtop) for 8 years, bought it from a friend of mine.

Having lived out in the countryside for quite a while the car has been on A and B raods and motorways, no problems, but I find it best on motorways (open her up and she's a great ride).

I've been very happy with it, it's cost me very little except a new set of tyres and a new battery (as I was travelling and left it with a mate who failed to drive it around as instructed), and the usual service costs which aren't too horrendous.

These days from what I see it looks like you can get a really good buy with plenty of options and wide choice of stock at a good orpice (£4k - £%k, maybe even less).

You may already know there was some issue with engines on these earlier ones, I believe most of them were fixed by Jaguar but there may still be some dogs out there so do your homework if you do go for the XK8.

Ah, the XJ-S, brings back happy memories, have never owned one but a close friend of my father's had one, I was young at that time and dreamt of owning one.

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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Sorry for the typos, f^*!ing keyboard smile

Meant to say: £6k not £96k in my post.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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Have you thought about combining the two?? The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the Xjs??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191250069133


vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Friday 25th July 2014
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williamp said:
Have you thought about combining the two?? The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the Xjs??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191250069133
That's terrible...

Is it anything to do with the Banham kit car people?

NormanD

3,208 posts

227 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
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vx220 said:
williamp said:
Have you thought about combining the two?? The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the Xjs??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191250069133
That's terrible...

Is it anything to do with the Banham kit car people?
Thats's what is says in the advert

'A Paul Bannerman fiber glass body'

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
quotequote all
williamp said:
Have you thought about combining the two?? The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the Xjs??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191250069133
Yikes!!!!
That's a crime against motoring.

rage

vx220

2,689 posts

233 months

Saturday 26th July 2014
quotequote all
NormanD said:
Thats's what is says in the advert

'A Paul Bannerman fiber glass body'
Sorry, the temporary vision loss I suffered looking at the pics prevented me reading the ad...

mikey77

707 posts

187 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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>>The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the XjS<<

That'd be a DB7 wouldn't it?

289

232 posts

238 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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mikey77 said:
>>The looks of the xk8 with the chassis and drivetrain of the XjS<<

That'd be a DB7 wouldn't it?
but.....with more room in the back!

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Personally I would go for the XJS simply as you need to own one at least once in your life time.
I had a 3.6,4.0,5.3 and the wonderful6.0l. People smile at you in an xjs and you will probably go un-noticed in the XK8.
I now have an 99 XKR which I love but I have nothing but fond memories for my time in an XJS.

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I like the heritage of the XJS, the fact you can fit a lower ball joint from an XJS straight into a car generations older. If you remove the awful bumpers and actually fit the never-used indicators onto the plinths on the front valance, you can see a more natural styling progression from the last e type. Also YouTube Tom Walkinshaw XJS, spectacular touring car, superb driver. The XK8 is a nice car, and having driven many including XKR powered Beacham E Typesand Mk 2s, the drivetrain is superb, but the styling sits too comfortably with a certain ford of the time,,,

Edited by Flatinfourth on Tuesday 29th July 22:42