I was prompted by giandanielxk8's thread about running out of projects to DIY (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-diy-230911/) and the comment "I don't even want to know how much I have spent on this car" to ask if other members record spending on their XK8's and, if so, to what level of detail.

I'd always recorded fuel and mileage and carefully filed all invoices for parts and services but never done an in-depth analysis until last year. The selected parameters are:

1. depreciation (purchase cost less selling cost/trade-in value)
2. VED (UK annual vehicle tax)
3. vehicle insurance
4. parts/services
5. fuel
6. miles

This allowed me to calculate CpD (Cost per Day) and CpM (Cost per Mile) on my two XK8 Coupes which were both one owner, used examples.

2001 XK8 4.0 Coupe (Sept 2006 to Nov 2011)




2005 XK8 4.2-S Coupe (Nov 2011 to Oct 2013)


Neither of the vehicles was particularly troublesome. The repairs and maintenance were typically as reported by other members on their XK8's. The only large item was a Throttle Body for the 2001 in the days before replacement TPS could be sourced.

I owned the two XK8's over a period of just over seven years and covered 33918 miles at a total cost of 32,581.74 UKP (39976.89 USD). At the same time I had a Bentley Continental R which accounts for the relatively low mileage on the Jaguars.

There's a considerable difference in CpD and CpM for the XK8's. Anyone have comparative analysis on their XK8/XKR?

Graham

 

Graham,

I have recorded every penny spent for parts and repairs for my wife's 2006 XK8 since it was purchased on February 3rd, 2012. I also have the records for the annual property taxes and annual insurance costs. I have not tracked the amount spent on fuel. We purchased the vehicle at approximately 36,000 miles and it is now approaching 120,600 miles. While I have not yet compiled a detailed spreadsheet such as yours, I can state without question that this vehicle has required more maintenance and repairs than any other vehicle I have owned during my more than 50 years of driving. If my wife did not love it so, I would have sold it when we acquired her current daily-driver 2015 Lexus RX350 SUV in late October 2018. Her XK8 has served essentially as her fair-weather toy since then and is now averaging perhaps 1,500 miles per year....

I will probably do a cost-of-ownership analysis at some point. When I do, I will try to remember to post it here....

 

Graham, did you include MoT in (ahem) your second item 3?

 

Jon,

I've always followed reports of your often bumpy ownership of the Victory Edition as it is the equivalent to my 2005 4.2-S Final Series. The 2005 gave me no trouble and I only Part Ex'd it because I wanted an XK. Interesting that our two similar vehicles should give such different ownership experiences.

Graham

 

John,

(numbering now corrected!)

I didn't include MoT simply because it's a fixed cost and any preparatory work is included in parts/services. I've only had one MoT failure since I started driving in the mid 60's. A 2001 X308 which failed on emissions. A replacement engine or transmission would have cost less than resolving that one.

Graham

 

Good record!

 

... as it happens, I do!

Oddly my numbers are wildly skewed toward fuel and servicing (I don't do my own work: and I had the tensioners done immediately after purchase, so that £1000 could probably be in the "depreciation" cell), but the sums remain pretty similar:

(2000 XK8 4.0 Coupe, 29 September 2012 - 30 January 2020)

 

Well Guys,

We all have a lot of time on our hands during this Covid19 global pandemic. So here's my rough cost analysis.

Note 1BHD = USD2.65, or 1 BHD = GBP 2.16

Car Value BHD3,500 - actually appreciating here from BHD2,700 in 2018 (when I researched the car) but consider very limited number of Jag XKs in Bahrain.

So I would actually have an Appreciation off set of -BHD 800 (Author's Note I was actually given the car as a resto project)

Insurance BHD125pa (classic car)
MOT BHD25pa (classic car)
Fuel approx. BHD10 pw = BHD 520pa (petrol is cheap here)
Labour/Parts total (excluding own labour) = approx. BHD3,000 which includes for servicing/tyres/repairs & upgrades/mods

Total cost = -800 +(125x2) + (25x2) + (520x2) + 3000 = BHD 3,540 over 2 years

Ownership = 2 years (365+366) = 731 days
Mileage = 10,400 added in 2 years

So
Cost Per Day (CPD) = 3,540/731 = BHD4.84/day equiv USD 12.83/day equiv GBP 10.45/day
Cost Per Mile (CPM) = 3,540/10,400 = BHD 0.340/mile equiv USD 0.90/mile equiv GBP 0.73/mile

 

Interesting that both Chris and David show CpD in excess of 10 UKP.

Among the facts "everyone" knows about Jaguars is they are expensive to run. I think we are starting to gather evidence that most of the expense occurs when they are just standing still.

I used to do all my own servicing but the "fixed price" servicing at Jaguar Dealers here in the UK is now so competitive, it's not worth the time and effort. They haven't yet reached the point of repair costs being as attractive so I continue to DIY.

Graham

 

Graham,

Allow me to provide a bit more perspective here. While I have indeed spent much more time and money keeping my wife's XK8 in proper condition than I would prefer, I have not yet had to deal with what I would consider to be major system failures. No engine issues, no "green shower", no failed fuel pump, etc. It is the combination of the various well-known issues that show up as these cars age that have caused my running expenses to continue to climb over the years (plastic cooling system parts, plastic air intake system parts, the numerous suspension parts, multiple ZF 6HP26 drain-and-fills and drive cycle adaptations procedures, multiple failed microswitch replacement jobs, etc.). Throw in all the other well-documented flaws (some are admittedly very easy and inexpensive to fix) that must be dealt with on these XK8s and it results in what I consider to be a relatively high cost-of-ownership experience. Certainly more so than any other vehicle we have owned. Has her XK8 been worth our ownership experience? My wife would immediately proclaim a resounding "Yes!" But other than helping me do the infamous failed brake pedal switch replacement job two different times, she is not the one who has to fix the damn thing when yet another component on it fails....

 

LOL! So agree with Jon89, and his wording is precisely to the point.

On these cars, it’s not if things fail, it’s when!

So as a comparison of use vs age, that’s exactly what the CPD and CPM data shows. It’s a no brainer really. But the car’s class and beauty is un-diminished as time goes by. Wish the female of the species would mirror the same. HeHe!

 

Going forward from today, your XK8s are getting into the age where its less a matter of ordinary maintenance and more a matter of restoration. I added up all the receipts for my first real "restoration" project back in the 80s, a 66 Mustang, i.e. about as old then as an XK8 is today. I made $17.83 when I sold it. That amounted to less than a nickel an hour for my labor. I decided after that lesson never to add up the receipts ever again. Keep receipts for PROOF of recommended preventative maintenance and for WARRANTY on repairs, but whatever you do, DON'T ever add them up. After all, this is a hobby, not a Honda. Besides, not including Jon's wife who apparently shares in the hobby, if your spouse ever found out the total........

 

I did a rough calculation just for S&G - $19.22/day and $.62/mile - have put over 92000 miles on the Mistress in 8+ years of ownership and will at some point this year give the poor girl a new coat (of paint, that is). Been a blast even when she's been ill

 

A very interesting analysis. I have kept no such detailed figures but ( up to this point ) I have spent no more of my time maintaining my XK8 than I did on my MX5 Miata and the cost of parts seem relatively comparable. I know that I put many more miles on the Jag than I ever did on the Mazda simply because the Jag is a superior cruiser.

I tend to do "preemptive" maintenance on my vehicles. For example: some of the first things I did to both the MX5 and the XK8 was to replace rubber hoses and belts, thermostats, differential and transmissions fluids, etc . Both cars were over 10 years old when purchased and neither had leaks but I did the work anyway. It is entirely possible that some of the work was unnecessary but I did it anyway and it gave me peace of mind. That being said my " cost/km " would probably be skewed by my efforts.

 

I have read this thread with interest. The calculations used vary largely from person to person.

For instance Deprecation. When you look at what the car cost me rather from original purchase price. My car has vastly appreciated since I bought it 5 years ago. At least 500% growth.
Fuel. I only use my car for pleasure. Each weekend during the winter and more perhaps in Summer. Not a daily driver.
Insurance over 5 years its cost less than £1000, that price is for a confirmed higher value. Less than £200 per year. However parts OUCH. That cost alone would swallow any appreciation gained.

Then again I am talking about a vehicle for pleasure not as a business venture. Hopefully now the money spent on parts etc would be now on a downward trend. I feel I have replaced or refurbished any part that needs doing. Yes that is a lot of parts.

Not saying for a second the sums mentioned are not valid or relevant just it must be taken in context for each owner and their circumstances.

So the one calculation we cannot realistically make is the value of the pleasure our cars give us. When I (used to) drive along with the top down. Sun shining. Foot down, slightly. Beaming from ear to ear. Heaven, how much for that?

 

Even presented with the total, my wife would happily note that this is not anywhere near my most expensive hobby, just the one that requires the most ibuprofen.

However, viewed another way, a Boxster without anything in it or on it is about $60K, depreciating over 8 years to about 30% of its original value. A 96 month loan is about $700 a month or about $23 a day sitting in the garage. Considering depreciation alone, about $16 a day. Beyond that, having left the Porsche mechanics in the past, I don't want to go back.

Happily, I chose a point at which almost all of the depreciation was also left in the past, and people have generally taken care of these cars. And being able to improve my girls, priceless.

 

Most folks tend to post on automotive forums when they have issues they want or need to resolve. Or, they chime in to help other members resolve their various issues. Here is a current snapshot history of my various automotive forums activities:

- I joined the Jaguar forum in January 2009. I currently have 10,301 total posts on the site.

- I joined the Subaru Outback forum in August 2015. I currently have 792 total posts on the site.

- I joined the Lexus RX forum in May 2006. I currently have 501 total posts on the site.

- I joined the Dodge Ram forum in October 2010. I currently have 37 total posts on the site.


Man, how I love my 1999 Ram....

 

Depreciation/ appreciation didn't mean a thing to me when I had the car: it was worth far more than money. Depreciation became a reality the day that I sold it, when the difference between the buying price and the selling price had to be accounted for.

I'm with you: whilst you have the car, depreciation is a meaningless concept.

 

My 'every day' car is a VW, yes I will wash my mouth out with soap. I joined the VW forum and soon understood it was a waste of time. I posted help for many others, did not get one thank you. My requests for help or advise were not answered. What a contrast to the Jaguar forums I am a member of. Must be the attitude of the drivers I guess. Always helpful and always say thank you etc.

When I first got my 2003 Jaguar XKR Convertible I decided to keep track of my work, mods etc all in one spot so I would not have to go trawling through the website for the work done. Calling it "Franks Story" I started it on 14th October 2014. No one was surprised as I at its 'growth' so to speak. I never dreamt other people would read it in the numbers they have. As I write this 548 pages. 5477 posts, and not all by me. Would not like to think how many pictures. and 935,318 views of "Franks Story." Through that forum, this forum and others I have made genuine friends and met some of them. Loads of online 'friends' all of whom are very supportive and would always help if they could, even if its good old fashioned virtual support.

I really do think that Jaguar drivers tend to be people who have the same attitude to their cars and other Jaguar owners. Proud of our cars. Happy to help without a second thought. We are very lucky people to own such cars and to know fellow owners who are so encouraging and are also nice characters..

 

It's my fortieth wedding anniversary next weekend. In all that time I have NEVER discussed a vehicle purchase or maintenance with my wife. The only complaint she's made was about my Landrover Safari Series III LWB which she referred to as "the tractor".

Graham