Page 5 - Fall 2016 Coventry Quarterly

Bargain Used Car Cla ic

The Jaguar XK8/XKR, 1996-2006

W

ith an all-alloy 4.0-liter DOHC V-8, a modern interior and build quality nally up to contemporary standards, the Jaguar
XK8 represented a huge technical leap forward, to say nothing of the risk and investment from a company better known for

more evolutionary development. With E-Type DNA clearly evident in its styling, the XK8 replaced the 21-year-old XJ-S. More
than 90,000 rst-generation “X100” XKs were sold in nine years, compared to 115,413 XJ-S models in 21 years.

Introduced at the Geneva show in 1996, coupe and convertible versions were o ered at the outset. The supercharged XKR was
introduced to American buyers in November 1999. Horsepower jumped from 290 to 370 and zero-to-sixty times fell from the

mid six-second range to 5.2 seconds, as recorded by Car and Driver. They loved the car but wished Jaguar had done more to
visually di erentiate the supercharged version from its naturally aspirated brethren.

The public and press heaped praise on the XK8 (search for Jeremy Clarkson’s rst test on Top Gear) and the car clearly bene ted

from corporate parent Ford’s huge investments and process improvements, all of which led to Jaguar earning rst place in the
JD Power Initial Quality Study in 1999.

As evidence that Jaguar was nally serious about product development and keeping up with the competition, the 2003 XK fea-
tured an enlarged and

highly revised 4.2-liter
V-8 and hundreds of

other improvements,
including a new ZF

six-speed transmission
shared by the XK and

XKR.

Various special editions

were introduced during
the rst generation’s

model run, which con-
cluded in 2006 when

the alloy-bodied second-generation “X150” car was introduced as a 2007 model. So, yes, all good things must come to an end,
but look at the possibility of XK8 ownership as a new beginning; these cars are now huge bargains.

Buying an XK8 is largely like buying any used car: the newer the better and a thorough check of maintenance records and an

inspection by a marque expert are standard procedure. Problem areas are relatively limited but be aware of the following:

The AJ-V8, only the fourth all-new engine in Jaguar’s history, is widely considered bulletproof and easily capable of 200,000

miles. Early 4.0-liter cars, however, had major problems with disintegrating plastic timing chain tensioners. Unfortunately, the
improved versions were not much better, so the “MK III” (as they say in the UK) all-metal units are the way to go. De nitely

check maintenance records and dealer recall documents to ensure the updates have been performed. If not, we o er conve-
nient kits with all the latest components.

Factory water pumps had plastic impellers that, again, disintegrated. (Gee, is there a theme developing here regarding plastic

engine components?) If the pump has not been replaced, de nitely do so with one of our metal-impeller units. Replacing the
thermostat while the cooling system is open would also be prudent.
(continued next page)

5
www.xks.com 1-805-544-7864 800-444-5247 www.xks.com Fall 2016