Cheerio Jaguar XK!
PH looks back on eight years of the XK Mk2 with production ceasing in the summer
ALC previewed the second-gen XK...
The original 4.2 was driven very nearly eight years ago now (April 5 2006) with a bizarrely prescient PH verdict: ‘The new XK may not be quite the F-Type that we’d all really like to see, but it comes pretty close.’. The handling came in for praise and the styling was seen as better in the flesh than the early press pics.
In a world of 360hp hot hatches, the XK’s 300hp V8 probably sounds a little puny now. If you can live with a GT that’s quick rather than properly fast, an early (and leggy) 4.2 XK is now available for under £14K. For just a little more though, this 70,000 mile car looks preferable if you can stand the wood.
... rather closely as it turned out!
In 2009, a facelift swapped the 4.2 V8 for Jag’s new 5.0-litre with another 85hp for the XK and 90hp for the XKR. What was that about performance? Anyway, it also introduced some minor styling tweaks and the rotary gear selector from the XF. Used versions of the revised car start at around £22K for the XK and under £30K for the XKR.
Still not enough power? The XKR-S was introduced in 2011 and, despite 550hp and further improved dynamics, has suffered horrendous depreciation. A car that costs £97,000 new can be had for just over £60K after just 4,500 miles of use.
GT a pretty special swansong
With a couple of months of production remaining, new XKs are still available in the run-out Dynamic and Signature models. As and when any news is confirmed on another XK, we’ll keep you updated. Tally-ho old chum!
[Source: Autocar]
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Did find myself blipping the throttle at traffic lights though. Even the standard pipes were spot on. Much louder than an RS4 under load and really quite quiet at a cruise. Boots actually quite useable on the coupe aswell.
These are huge value for money but I feel the original
XK will age better long term.
A gap of a couple of years, possibly until the next XJ comes out?, and build a new 2+2 GT, on the XJ platform, and move upmarket a bit to compete directly with the Bentley sounds like a good move to me.
Fress up a bit of space in the range to make a proper hairy chested F-Type as well.
Last year I got to drive an XKRS on a few occasions. A lovely racing blue one.
I was actually quite shocked at how good it was to drive, how bloody fast it was, and what an epic noise it makes. I would happily own one.
I think they are looking like terrific value used.
And it must be said that the 5.0 V8 is an epic engine. Truly, people hold up the AMG and BMW engines to praise but IMO the Jag 5.0 V8 is an absolute peach. In supercharged form it is simply brilliant.
Ours was a 4.2. Not fast, but quick, soothing and with the best steering I have ever experienced. It was definitely not a sportscar - though you could steer it on the throttle with ease - but one of the best ways to cover long distances and arrive completely relaxed.
. Fab cars and at today's prices brilliant value. Ian Callum was interviewed the other day by Road and Track, focussing on the forthcoming XE sedan. He made the point that Jaguar needed to reduce its number of platforms and achieve a step change gain in sales volumes to be viable - to something like 200,000 units a year versus the current c70,000. The success of the XE sedan, and later the crossover, is obvioulsy critical to achieving this volume. He also commented, in passing, that it would be nice to get a 2+2 coupe based on this platform, but said that the engine currently sits too high for a sports car. I conclude from that that they will be/are exploring on the idea but it must be at least two or more likely three years away from realisation.
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