1997 Jaguar XK8 4.0 V8

Summary:

Reliable stunner

Faults:

Water pump very weak, replaced for £50.

General Comments:

The handling in tight corners leaves a lot to be desired and the brakes seem to be made of cheese. Mind you, my last car was a pure sports car so maybe I'm being to critical. Actually, it matters not. Every time I fire this car up it puts a smile on my face from ear to ear.

My only serious gripe is that the engine is to quiet in standard form. I feel that a V8 should be heard, hence why I put an induction kit on mine.

As a sports car it is flawed, no doubt, but I don't care. It is a very comfortable reliable car with absolutely stunning looks. I feel like I'm driving something special every time I step in it so for that reason alone, I would recommend it to any one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th December, 2008

18th Jun 2009, 10:33

Since writing this review I have fitted EBC drilled and grooved brake discs with redline ceramic pads. Luckily the calipers were in good order and now the car now has serious stopping power. I can recommend this upgrade to any XK8 owner.

2001 Jaguar XK8 4.0 Litre

Summary:

Great fun, faults not serious, would buy another

Faults:

Drivers door interior panel fastener broke. Easily fixed with Araldite, but hardly the build quality expected.

Convertible windows rattle after door closes, so you have to wind them down and back up once driving to seat them properly.

Remote locking sensors very sensitive and have been replaced. Disconcerting to listen to car lock and unlock itself five times before you can open the door.

My suspicion is that the dealers repeated efforts to fix the lock led to the other problems with the door fittings.

Reverse parking sensor fixed at every service and fails about a week later - dealer installed!

General Comments:

Classic Jag - drive superb, performance good handling great, electrics still idiosyncratic.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th December, 2004

6th Jul 2007, 12:50

Glad you had better luck than me. Engine failed at 89,000 miles.

12,000.00US to replace. Jaguar told me tough luck.

12th May 2008, 15:13

I have a 2004 xk8 the hood mechanism just developed a fault. It start to rise and then slows down but does get there in the end. The more you use it the worse it gets to the point that it will only rise third of the way. The motor in the boot/trunk dosent slow down too much and appears to be OK. It seems to a problem with the hydraulics?

Anybody out there to help with advice? Thanks Regards Jeff.

1999 Jaguar XK8 3.2

Summary:

The best Jaguar ever!!

Faults:

For such a big car the interior room is limited, albeit luxurious.

General Comments:

The car is without doubt one of the great luxury cars.

Effortless to drive and has excellent handling, wonderful on longer journeys.

Performance is excellent and can be enhanced by using the auto box as a manual.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th March, 2001

21st Mar 2001, 15:00

It's a 4.0i V8 Auto, Jaguar did not do a 3.2 engine for the XK8.

8th Jun 2008, 11:13

I think the confusion between the 3.2 and the 4.0 engines, in this case, stems from the fact that Jaguar were owned by Aston Martin when developing the XK8. This was also around the same time Aston were developing the DB7. The 3.2 litre supercharged 6 cylinder in the DB7 was originally intended for the XK8, but Aston 'Stole' it. Quite why they went ahead and developed the 4.0 V8 instead of using the original engine I don't know, but I'm sure someone out there knows.

9th Jun 2008, 16:34

The 3.2 litre engine was available in the XJ8 (sedan) model only, and never intended for the two-door XK8. It is quite incorrect to say that Jaguar was ever owned by Aston Martin; they were both owned by Ford, and the V8 engine was developed solely by Jaguar for the XK8 and future XJ series sedan.

23rd Jun 2008, 18:59

The Aston Martin V8 was designed by Tadek Marek, and has nothing to do with Jaguar or Ford. There's is a totally different engine, and I think better designed, and better sounding too.

In reply to 23rd Jun 2008, 18:59

20th Sep 2011, 09:23

The Tadek Merek Aston V8 engine powered Astons from the '70s through to 1999 (The twin Supercharged V600 Vantage being the last car to use that engine).

The V8 in the Aston Martin from 2005 on (i.e. the one in the smaller, confusingly similarly titled 2005-year "V8 Vantage") is a variation of the Jaguar V8 in the XK8. It was designed and developed by Jaguar. It is not used in any Jaguar or Land Rover products.

The straight six engine in the DB7 is also a Jaguar engine, although Jaguar never used the 3.2 litre supercharged engine, but a 4.0 supercharged version in the X300 XJR.

1998 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.0 petrol

Summary:

Attention seeking sleek cat

Faults:

Electric windows failed after 5,000 miles.

Climate control had some trouble at 13,000 miles, apart from that, nothing.

General Comments:

Very powerful sports car, much quicker than my old XJ6, though my children miss the rear seating space!

I would say the car was fairly good value at £53600 with several options.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th December, 2000