Should I buy a 2006 XK8???
#21
Yes, 427 Cobras are raw and probably the sexiest car ever made. I commented on another thread about 1st gen XKs vs. the current ones that all cars revered as beautiful classics have curves, including XKEs, Cobras, mid year Corvettes, XK8/XKR, etc. And Superformance makes a great one.
I've said for years the second gen Miatas (like yours) look very similar to a Jag XK8 when they're coming at you down the road. I agree you'll probably miss it if you sell it since it is so different from the other 2. For just a quick trip around town or to an autocross circuit, the Miata is hard to beat. And you can flog the heck out of it and still get 30 mpg. Of course this is coming from a guy with 7 cars...
I've said for years the second gen Miatas (like yours) look very similar to a Jag XK8 when they're coming at you down the road. I agree you'll probably miss it if you sell it since it is so different from the other 2. For just a quick trip around town or to an autocross circuit, the Miata is hard to beat. And you can flog the heck out of it and still get 30 mpg. Of course this is coming from a guy with 7 cars...
#22
Why not an XKR
You are a performance oriented guy. IMO I would get an older XKR for the same money. Having a Supercharged car is just plain cool. I absolutely love mine. I just bought it last month and even though I've had to work on it...new chains, tensioners, guides; replaced all the pulley bearings, new alternator on the way; oil cooler hi pressure hose blew out after I detailed the engine bay!! wheel sensors needed cleaning etc. But it is Code Free now and runs great. Anyway, opening the hood and seeing the SC'd engine, and feeling it's performance is awesome. I won't feel the same way about a normally aspired car. For what its worth.
#23
I have owned this car for one day now, so the reality of what I own is not clear yet. I haven't really driven it yet. But I have different expectations for my 2006 XK8 Victory Edition. I don't see myself going to the North Georgia Mountains to clip apexes, see if it oversteers/understeers or any of that. I guess I could force it to do it, but I don't think it wants to. Thats why I wasn't wound up about getting the superchargers. Right now I figure the normally aspirated V8 is plenty adequate for how I intend to drive it.
The Miata is great for that. The Cobra is great too, but with that much power in a 90" wheelbase and no power steering or electronic aids, you better be on your game. Part of the fun.
Right now I love the styling of the car. The quality of everything you see. The V8 motor. The convertible top - I am a convertible guy. Push a button and it goes down. Never had one like that. Like the Cobra, it makes me feel great when I am around it. When I first saw it on the dealer's lot it was like "WOW". I don't think that will go away. I think I will like listening to a sound system that works and is not drowned out by various noises the car is making. I think I will like the fact that my wife will look forward to going on drives with me instead of tolerating it. In my mind it is the XKE that I wanted in high school and college but could not have.
As I said in a previous post, right now I think the only potential downside is a regret that I am about to sell the perfect Miata.
Jack
#24
#25
I have it!! It is in my driveway!!
I showed the web pictures to my wife. She is used to being a passenger in my Miata. She is a good sport about the Miata, a car I have loved, but as soon as she saw the XK8 she encouraged me to go check it out. I went for a test drive and drove it home for her to check out. She loved it. So do I.
I showed the web pictures to my wife. She is used to being a passenger in my Miata. She is a good sport about the Miata, a car I have loved, but as soon as she saw the XK8 she encouraged me to go check it out. I went for a test drive and drove it home for her to check out. She loved it. So do I.
Congrats and Ejoy it.
By the way, listen to "test point" about the top hydraulics. The old "green shower" sounds like the definition of a really, really bad day. I'll be putting the relief valve kit on mine this winter (which is the only real fix in my opinion, but I don't want to re-visit that agument in this thread. Read the posts and make your own decision.)
Anyway, have fun!!
#26
AHA!! The female factor. Get a lady near an XK8 and she melts. Get her in one and it becomes her "Nice day. Think I'll take Janice to lunch" car.
Congrats and Ejoy it.
By the way, listen to "test point" about the top hydraulics. The old "green shower" sounds like the definition of a really, really bad day. I'll be putting the relief valve kit on mine this winter (which is the only real fix in my opinion, but I don't want to re-visit that agument in this thread. Read the posts and make your own decision.)
Anyway, have fun!!
Congrats and Ejoy it.
By the way, listen to "test point" about the top hydraulics. The old "green shower" sounds like the definition of a really, really bad day. I'll be putting the relief valve kit on mine this winter (which is the only real fix in my opinion, but I don't want to re-visit that agument in this thread. Read the posts and make your own decision.)
Anyway, have fun!!
Doug
#27
As mentioned a couple of times in this wonderful conversation, please do look into installing the hydraulic pressure relief valve for the convertible top. It's a breeze to install and can be quickly removed if for any reason your convertible system needs warranty work for any other reason.
Have you posted pix of your new car yet?
--Ed
#28
Congratulations, Jack!!
As mentioned a couple of times in this wonderful conversation, please do look into installing the hydraulic pressure relief valve for the convertible top. It's a breeze to install and can be quickly removed if for any reason your convertible system needs warranty work for any other reason.
Haven't looked at the details for this fix yet, but I will. I reviewed the maintenance records of the car and it looks like the previous owner took a "green shower" from the hydraulics. It was fixed. Looks like a number of things were ruined by the fluid including the cashmere headliner which had to be replaced. I don't want to go through this. Also, I brought this issue up with the service manager and asked him if another occurance would be covered by the Select Edition warrantee. The top is not covered by the warrantee. He said it would not be covered. So I am real motivated to reduce the chances of a reoccurance. Jack
Have you posted pix of your new car yet?
No, I haven't actually taken any pics yet. I will after I have them. The car is actually at the dealer now because the Bluetooth is not working and they have to order a part (should be in tomorrow) to fix it. Jack
--Ed
As mentioned a couple of times in this wonderful conversation, please do look into installing the hydraulic pressure relief valve for the convertible top. It's a breeze to install and can be quickly removed if for any reason your convertible system needs warranty work for any other reason.
Haven't looked at the details for this fix yet, but I will. I reviewed the maintenance records of the car and it looks like the previous owner took a "green shower" from the hydraulics. It was fixed. Looks like a number of things were ruined by the fluid including the cashmere headliner which had to be replaced. I don't want to go through this. Also, I brought this issue up with the service manager and asked him if another occurance would be covered by the Select Edition warrantee. The top is not covered by the warrantee. He said it would not be covered. So I am real motivated to reduce the chances of a reoccurance. Jack
Have you posted pix of your new car yet?
No, I haven't actually taken any pics yet. I will after I have them. The car is actually at the dealer now because the Bluetooth is not working and they have to order a part (should be in tomorrow) to fix it. Jack
--Ed
#29
Hey Jack--welcome aboard!
What the dealer told you about the top not being covered under the SE warranty is not quite written in stone. I, and many others here, have had this problem taken care of by Jaguar under the SE warranty but it definitely helps if you have a dealer who helps push for that.
Doug
What the dealer told you about the top not being covered under the SE warranty is not quite written in stone. I, and many others here, have had this problem taken care of by Jaguar under the SE warranty but it definitely helps if you have a dealer who helps push for that.
Doug
#30
You are a performance oriented guy. IMO I would get an older XKR for the same money. Having a Supercharged car is just plain cool. I absolutely love mine. I just bought it last month and even though I've had to work on it...new chains, tensioners, guides; replaced all the pulley bearings, new alternator on the way; oil cooler hi pressure hose blew out after I detailed the engine bay!! wheel sensors needed cleaning etc. But it is Code Free now and runs great. Anyway, opening the hood and seeing the SC'd engine, and feeling it's performance is awesome. I won't feel the same way about a normally aspired car. For what its worth.
#31
Doug, I realize this is an old post, but I am wondering which hoses you are warning about here with the leaking? I just had radiator hoses and clamps replaced on 2006 XK8.
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cjd777 (12-22-2014)
#32
The only issue that I can think of regarding radiator hoses is that the lower hose can rub on a plastic fin on the radiator and slowly cut through it. I had this happen on mine and replaced both hoses while I was at it, since they weren't too bad to do. This only affected the 4.0 cars since they rerouted that hose slightly on the 4.2, so it shouldn't have come into play for you.
Here is what I'm talking about: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...or-hose-71932/
#35
Doug, That is what I thought, but the post was about 130PM today.
I think it is a Coupe and that might be hard to find and that one has 51000 miles, which would be one plus and all the lies about the owner being in Fl, a big minus.
Like I said, she need to get it somewhere for a good inspection, but no way would I take it away from the dealer now.
Wayne
Doug, I just put a thank you on her post so she will come back here. Hope she lets us know something.
I think it is a Coupe and that might be hard to find and that one has 51000 miles, which would be one plus and all the lies about the owner being in Fl, a big minus.
Like I said, she need to get it somewhere for a good inspection, but no way would I take it away from the dealer now.
Wayne
Doug, I just put a thank you on her post so she will come back here. Hope she lets us know something.
Last edited by cjd777; 12-22-2014 at 03:27 PM. Reason: adding
#38
Interesting to see this thread. I started it November 2010 when I was about to buy my XK8.
So here we are four years down the road. I still have the car and love it. I have only driven it about 20,000 miles, but they have been great miles. The car is a keeper.
I have done all the appropriate maintenance. A few things have broken along the way. A couple have been more expensive to fix than I would have guessed. But it has been everything I hoped it would be.
I look forward enjoying it for many more years.
Great to revisit this thread.
Jack
So here we are four years down the road. I still have the car and love it. I have only driven it about 20,000 miles, but they have been great miles. The car is a keeper.
I have done all the appropriate maintenance. A few things have broken along the way. A couple have been more expensive to fix than I would have guessed. But it has been everything I hoped it would be.
I look forward enjoying it for many more years.
Great to revisit this thread.
Jack
#40
I have the '06 XK8 now. It had some issues arise the first day I had it. Took it back to the dealership and they did--eventually--resolve those issues and I did not pay the cost of those repairs ($2300+, according to their invoice).