I've always admired them and finally got the chance to buy one last year...XK8 coupe. I knew they were special but didn't realize that others felt the same way as I get a lot of compliments and looks from young and old.

Just curious as to opinions...will the XK8/R be a future classic?
Would love to keep my car forever...what parts do you think I should buy or invest in to keep it on the road for a long time?
Thanks!

 

Personally, I think it already is a classic. It is just that the general public doesn't think so...yet. Even E-Types took a few years before they got collectible. I bought an 11-year old E-type OTS for $7500 USD back in the day.

Parts are plentiful for now. Almost all are available from dealer and the aftermarket guys make many of the common issue stuff. Parts can even be bought at your local Lincoln/Ford dealership (which also means the local parts house).

 

I suspect that the electronics are going to the biggest future issue. Can you imagine finding an ECM, TCM, seat module or even the driver door module 40 years from now. Never mind the other 20 or so modules hidden everywhere.

 

Are you hoping for Classic Status or Classic Value? I think the first was achieved when the XK8 was introduced and became guaranteed with the XKR. High production numbers mean it's going to be many years before values rise significantly.

Parts availability is good now except for trim items which are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Electronics are starting to be an issue but if owners are prepared to spend then more specialists will see a market opportunity in module rebuilding and supply sources will increase.

Drive it, maintain it but most of all enjoy it. We could be the last generation to run large V8's as everyday vehicles.

Graham

 

You got the coupe and I think that these will be more thought after due to a much less of the coupes sold as opposed to the converts. I personally like the coupes due to their sleeker look. If you plan to hold on to your car forever start visiting your local recycling yards. As mentioned above, trim pieces would be a good place to begin. Modules, etc will work also. I wouldn't trip running to your local jag part supplier as there's still plenty of these on the road. Be careful so it doesnt suck you in. I am a full blown alfaholic yet it all started so innocently...

 

Hi Pgguy,
As others, I believe a car reaches "classic" status at its inception, either its got all of the ingredients from the beginning or it doesn't. Most of us that own these beautiful cars always thought they were classic. It doesn't mean that their prices are appreciating yet, but they seem to have leveled off and present great opportunities for ownership. I came across this article a couple of days ago and is a good summary of first generation XK8/XKR attributes.
Jaguar XK8 - Classic Car Reviews | Classic Motoring Magazine

 

I fell in love with the XK when it was first announced... I knew all about the windows that locked up into the top, the engine oil supercooler and many other facts about it before it even left the production line. I never thought I'd own one.

I think the car already is a classic. Take a minty 97 and ask unsuspecting people how old they think it is. Everyone I told how old my 97 was were shocked... and then when I told them how much it cost, many of whom would earlier comment about wishing they could afford one, were even more shocked.

The XK design is one of those really few, rare and beautiful designs that are timeless. My '05 with a now 17 year old design still looks brand new to most people.

That's a testament to how well these cars will be appreciated in the coming years, in my opinion.

While it may take a couple of decades for these cars to start increasing in value, they eventually will.

As for production numbers, there are more high end Cameros or Vettes produced in one year than the whole run of XK/XKRs from 97-06.

These are really limited number cars... surely not limited like Aston, or any of the other supercar manufacturers, but this isn't a supercar.

XK's are truly underappreciated by most people right now, and initial problems still holding their values down.

 

There are so many variables not only in what becomes a classic but also which years of production become the most desirable.

The production numbers are in the cars favor.
There were tons of Mustangs, Camaros, Vettes built over the years and at a total run of around 90K, attrition, modifications and high milage cars will whittle down the truly valuable cars quickly, at least in terms of the classic car market.

One of the main criteria looked at by the classic car market is which model years did the manufacturer combine the best of styling, performance, and reliability in the given model. In other words which years did the manufacturer hit all the right buttons. A perfect example is the Mustang which hit its prime years around 1968 despite first being introduced in 1964.

I think the most valuable will be the 4.2 XKR coupes followed by a toss up between the 4.2 XKR verts and 4.2 XK8 coupes.

 

I think the 05-06 body styling will be the most desirable, as these cars are the most reliable of all of them and the body kit was only done for a few cars before they changed to the newer model. Also, the latest had almost all the high end options. That's just my opinion though.

 

I monitor prices closely and am confident I could now get more for my car than when I bought it two years ago.

 

Except that's over there. Over here:

Jaguar : XK xk8 in Jaguar | eBay Motors

Granted, that's only one car... but still, not very promising if you ask me...

 

Definite classic. No doubt. People used to roll down their windows at stop lights to ask me what kind of car I was driving.

 

But it had 178,000 miles on it! Try finding a 1997 Mustang with 178,000 miles on it that's worth half of that. Plus the seller did a lousy job of advertising it on eBay. The pics are small and not very clear, and there aren't very many of them. Not many people are going to bid on a car when they have so little information. The winning bidder probably assumed he was getting a car that was pretty worn out with lots of minor cosmetic issues. If the car was well taken care of and in great shape, and it had been advertised properly, it would have sold for $2000-$3000 more.

 

I regularly monitor the prices for the 'vert on this side of the pond, and for 2003- models they haven't depreciated at all for the past 2 years. Cheapest to be found in Europe right now would be in Estonia, where I would NOT buy a car from. Cheapest car to be found in Germany would be approx. 30k USD.

mobile.de XKR Convertible 2003-

 

What trim items are you referring to? Who or where do you recommend to find these items?

I'm a little concern of the electronics too...hope they'll be module rebuilding and supply sources in the future.

What does everyone think of the LS1 engine and 4L65E transmission conversion? Just thinking worse case future scenario...car now has only 92K kms on it.

I think it's a classic too and I always have a permanent grin when I drive it

Thanks for all the comments!

 

All the more reason to make sure you have a supercharger and enjoy every moment of the 400 hp

It's almost makes financial sense with 3% cash back from Santander on all fuel

 

Owning a 96 that was one of the first 50 off the production line in launch Antigua blue am perhaps in a better position than most. I've ben offered £10k GBP for mine...helped perhaps by the LPG/propane conversion meaning it can do 300+ miles for £40.

Am tempted to sell but think I'll hold onto it for a while longer :O)

 

Hey Sam--are you back in the fold yet?

These cars were already true classics when the first one rolled off the assembly line! There is not a line or curve out of place or a less than perfect proportion from almost any angle. The design is timeless beauty that is virtually one-of-a-kind.

Doug

 

...picks self up off floor.....

Um, no. At least not the ordinary XK8 version. Even the XKR is dubious.

Love the car, but I just cannot lose sight of reality here. There were way too many made, the engines are not very powerful, there is no serious following by enthusiasts/aftermarket performance manufacturers and there is a persistent reputation for being an old fogey's car one step above a Lincoln Continental. Lack of available manual transmission made this car doomed from sports car collector standpoint right out of the gate.

Sorry to rain on the parade, but it just does not have the ingredients to be taken seriously beyond a decent, good looking and comfortable car suitable for everyday driving.

 

I think that way overstates the issue. In terms of the definition of "classic" being something that will garner boatloads of cash from collector types I agree--that will not be the case in my lifetime.

However virtually any XK8/R of our vintage parked on the street or in a mall somewhere will almost always get admiring looks as well as people asking about the car. So from a more basic definition, I think these cars are clearly classics.

Doug