xk8 - 14 years old but only 4k miles
Discussion
Could I have your views on this car please guys. I believe the Nikasil-lined engines were replaced in 2000 so that should be one less thing to worry about.
I know that this is essentially a 14 year old car but do you think it would be a money pit or a good buy
http://www.classicconnection.co.uk/cars-specificat...
I know that this is essentially a 14 year old car but do you think it would be a money pit or a good buy
http://www.classicconnection.co.uk/cars-specificat...
That's a lot of money for an 8!
There's a lot of newer, low mileage cars out there which have been extremely well looked after.
On the plus side, the interior and exterior should be mint. On the negative side there may be mechanical problems present, or about to happen, caused by infrequent use.
Ultimately, it's your money and if it's the spec and colour you'd choose, then I'd go for it.
But I wouldn't be swayed by the mileage if it wasn't.
IMO, later 4.2 xkrs are better.
There's a lot of newer, low mileage cars out there which have been extremely well looked after.
On the plus side, the interior and exterior should be mint. On the negative side there may be mechanical problems present, or about to happen, caused by infrequent use.
Ultimately, it's your money and if it's the spec and colour you'd choose, then I'd go for it.
But I wouldn't be swayed by the mileage if it wasn't.
IMO, later 4.2 xkrs are better.
Nikasil is no worry they are either dead or out performing the later steel lined 4.0s 
Bet it's not had it's tensioners done lol.
It's a museum car to be kept in a museum ! If you drive it the value will plummet to about £5K that the real ones currently languish at.
These cars are most reliable if driven garage queens need bushes etc. as often as daily drivers.
£22K gets you a low mileage late 4.2 R Convertible or even a later X150
Bet it's not had it's tensioners done lol.It's a museum car to be kept in a museum ! If you drive it the value will plummet to about £5K that the real ones currently languish at.
These cars are most reliable if driven garage queens need bushes etc. as often as daily drivers.
£22K gets you a low mileage late 4.2 R Convertible or even a later X150
Got to be honest, I would have to really want that specific car for sentimental reasons.
My dad inherited a car once (Alvis something-or-other) that belonged to a distant relative, because he'd always admired it when he was a boy. It did 300 miles a year max, went to Coventry every year on a trailer to get serviced, everything got replaced as often as the garage said it needed, looked after pretty much regardless of cost.
40 years after Dad first saw it, the relative dies and Dad inherits the car. Which was a bloody nightmare. Things broke every time you let it get up to temperature, the steering was all over the road (an Alvis specialist tried They All Do That and then changed his mind very rapidly when he gave it a test), it was an absolute liability because it had never been properly used. Sadly, it went to auction where it fetched surprisingly strong money precisely BECAUSE of the low miles!
Dad promptly used the proceeds to convert his MG TC to run on unleaded which made him much happier and is massively more reliable than the (younger) Alvis ever was. He also swears he's never buying a car based on mileage again.
My dad inherited a car once (Alvis something-or-other) that belonged to a distant relative, because he'd always admired it when he was a boy. It did 300 miles a year max, went to Coventry every year on a trailer to get serviced, everything got replaced as often as the garage said it needed, looked after pretty much regardless of cost.
40 years after Dad first saw it, the relative dies and Dad inherits the car. Which was a bloody nightmare. Things broke every time you let it get up to temperature, the steering was all over the road (an Alvis specialist tried They All Do That and then changed his mind very rapidly when he gave it a test), it was an absolute liability because it had never been properly used. Sadly, it went to auction where it fetched surprisingly strong money precisely BECAUSE of the low miles!
Dad promptly used the proceeds to convert his MG TC to run on unleaded which made him much happier and is massively more reliable than the (younger) Alvis ever was. He also swears he's never buying a car based on mileage again.
Interesting replies guys - thanks. This particular example has been up for sale for a pretty long time which might tell its own story.
I recently sat in a chap's XKR Zeemax in Glasgow and pretty much fell in love. I'm not desperate for an XK but I do like them. Will continue to look at all of my options but thanks for taking the time to reply.
Martin
I recently sat in a chap's XKR Zeemax in Glasgow and pretty much fell in love. I'm not desperate for an XK but I do like them. Will continue to look at all of my options but thanks for taking the time to reply.
Martin
P700DEE said:
Nikasil is no worry they are either dead or out performing the later steel lined 4.0s Bet it's not had it's tensioners done lol.
It's a museum car to be kept in a museum ! If you drive it the value will plummet to about £5K that the real ones currently languish at.
These cars are most reliable if driven garage queens need bushes etc. as often as daily drivers.
£22K gets you a low mileage late 4.2 R Convertible or even a later X150
I agree with this regarding the XK8 and its value. That's not to say it wouldn't be a lovely example to own, but you would lose all your money if you started clocking the miles up. Bet it's not had it's tensioners done lol.It's a museum car to be kept in a museum ! If you drive it the value will plummet to about £5K that the real ones currently languish at.
These cars are most reliable if driven garage queens need bushes etc. as often as daily drivers.
£22K gets you a low mileage late 4.2 R Convertible or even a later X150
Having said that, I'm not sure the sort of person who would actually buy an immaculate, ultra-low milage example of a first-series car such as this would also be the sort of person looking to enter the bottom of the X150 market. That's not to say a well-used X150 wouldn't be a good buy - but it's unlikely to appeal to a concourse type buyer.
OP needs to figure out whether he wants an immaculate car at premium price to keep as one of the finest examples in the country, or whether he has £23k to spend on something he can drive with relative indifference.
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