I've loved these since they came out, which coincided with me coming of (driving) age. A couple years ago, they were still commanding higher prices, but with the new generation being a few years in, I guess nobody fancy wants to be seen in the old one.
I wonder how much money I could get for a low mile, super clean Mazda3 hatchback... Surely enough for one of these, but enough for one of these plus a really, really nice bouquet of flowers and dinner at a swanky joint?
oldtin wrote: Wonder what manual transmissions would bolt up to that jag engine?
This.
And this.
http://www.arden.de/en/parts/jaguar/xk8/arden-a-type/
My 540i/6 stickered for north of $50k and i bought it for $2700 
Jeez... Now you guys have me lusting for an XK8 AND a Ferrari 308. What would the neighbors think??? 
I love convertibles, but I think I'd have to do the coupe since it's just so sexy. BRG, silver or navy, please.
I'm with David but I want BRG, silver or black.
I'm curious, did Jag do BRG with a black interior on the XK's? I've been looking forever for a BRG/black interior X-Type but I have had exactly zero luck. 
Either way this thread makes me feel better about my chances of getting into another Jaguar sooner rather than later. 
If anyone is seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on this, the maintenance isn't any worse than a normal car (I've got a 2001 XJR, it shares a lot mechanically with the XK8/R), and the repairs I've had to make haven't been any worse than other cars. Oil changes are 6 quarts so even if you use Mobil 1 it's only about $45 per oil change including filter, RockAuto has brake pads/rotors that are fine for daily driving for good prices. Most mechanical parts aren't bad either, but trim pieces and electronics can get ridiculous.
There's a decent DIY community for these cars too. www.jaguarforums.com has good info, but you may have to wade through a lot of heresay/speculation/chest-thumping/ostriches to find what you're looking for. You can also find the electronic factory service manual and the electronic parts list there. Modifications are generally stupidly expensive for these cars, but they're starting to come down. Supercharger pulleys used to be about $900, now you can get lower pulleys for about $600, upper pulleys for about $250.
Major things that will cost a load of money - the transmissions can go around 100,000 miles, but they can also last 250,000 without issues. The timing chain tensioners were originally plastic that wore and broke and caused expensive problems. They were upgraded to a better design in late 2000 (I think that was the date, research this before buying) but there were still issues. When they bumped the displacement from 4L to 4.2L they went to metal tensioners and they last forever. It's recommended to replace the plastic ones before 100,000 miles.
If you're curious about prices of parts, here are a few companies that offer OEM parts at a discount:
http://www.gaudinjaguarparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=214626
http://www.jaguarmerriamparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=215718
http://www.motorcarsltd.com/
http://www.coventrywest.com/
white_fly wrote:oldtin wrote: Wonder what manual transmissions would bolt up to that jag engine?This. And this.
Did anyone look at the prices for the stuff on that car? 
Over $10k for the wheels, and close to $40k in body parts. Thats crazy lol.
In reply to Travis_K:
Yes, Arden is ridiculously expensive. They're stuff is good and even though they're the only Jaguar tuner I've found I doubt it's worth the premium. 20hp engine tuning for $9000? I don't think so.
chknhwk wrote: I'm with David but I want BRG, silver or black. I'm curious, did Jag do BRG with a black interior on the XK's? I've been looking forever for a BRG/black interior X-Type but I have had exactly zero luck.
I think you are the only person I have ever seen, anywhere, that WANTS an X-type; and this is on a forum that extolls the virtues of Yugos and Trabants...
Shoot, these are neat. Got me looking.
$3850. Guessing the "tune up" it needs is a bit more than plugs and wires after reading this thread, but still. Bring on that LS1 swap.
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3501975214.html
For $5500 this one looks pretty good.
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3534304211.html
And for $6k this one looks really good.
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/3471300535.html
Gasoline wrote:
That's one of the new ones...not quite GRM territory yet.
@schmidlap: "(I've got a 2001 XJR, it shares a lot mechanically with the XK8/R),"
I've had a 2000 XJR for 3+ years. Paid $6500 for it with 117k miles and I'm up to about 145k miles on it now. 370hp is fun.. 15mpg around town is not. 40 series tires and babysitters do not mix. The ABS/Traction control has never worked for me. Typical failure mode: two solder joints fail. I reflowed the solder joints and it's still dead. shrug
My only other real failure has been a fuel pump. Since Jaguar didn't see the need to put an access panel in, it was a bitch of a job I was only too happy to pay for. "We could have had a BMW engine out in the time it took to change your fuel pumps!"
I've replaced the shocks with OEM bilsteins, many of the suspension bushings, and redid the headliner. The supercharger was rattling so I pulled it (quite a pain) and replaced a cracked coupler. It still rattles. Grrr....
The XJR has a Mercedes transmission (722.6 IIRC) which is pretty stout. The XJ8s have a living-on-borrowed-time ZF.
I'd definitely buy another. They are great fun and the look is timeless.
SlickDizzy wrote:chknhwk wrote: I'm with David but I want BRG, silver or black. I'm curious, did Jag do BRG with a black interior on the XK's? I've been looking forever for a BRG/black interior X-Type but I have had exactly zero luck.I think you are the only person I have ever seen, anywhere, that WANTS an X-type; and this is on a forum that extolls the virtues of Yugos and Trabants...
I have issues, I know. I REALLY miss my X...
Something we also discussed this weekend: Can you track an XK8? Okay, you can track anything, but how would an XK8 do?
Nowwaitaminute! I once had a Rover Disco II! Fool me once!!
David S. Wallens wrote: Something we also discussed this weekend: Can you track an XK8? Okay, you can track anything, but how would an XK8 do?
I don't know but I'd love to find out!
I wonder if these are near the bottom or they are gonna continue to get less expensive. I've been lusting after one since I got a close look at an XKR about eight years ago.
The wife OK'ed my plan to buy a car around this time next year and an XKR is high on the list.
phaze1todd wrote: Nowwaitaminute! I once had a Rover Disco II! Fool me once!!
I miss my disco :(
Gasoline wrote:
I like this chromed Jag more
I need to find out if that vinyl will fit into a challenge car budget.
According to Wikipedia, the AJ V8 was used in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage which was available with a rear-mounted manual transaxle.
However, apparently the whole engine is more "based on" than identical. So who knows if the bellhousing and flywheel would mate up to the Jag version, even if the parts were available. Who knows if there are any conventional transmissions to which it would attach either.
Somehow, I imagine it would be cheaper and easier to figure out how to adapt a T-56 up to it.
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