Thinking of buying a Jaguar XKR Convertable, about 1998-2000 model, Any comments, bad experiences, things to watch out for, good points etc

I have also thought about these. Whats the price of parts like ?

Need to make sure it is not a nikasil lined engine (most have been replaced by now). Also check to see that the timing chain tensioners have been changed to the newer version (ali i think).

I think there may also have been a water pump issue but cant remember off the top of my head. Im sure someone will confirm.

We had 1 (until my sister "remodelled" it, see pic).
I would agree with all the comments above. So long as you check those items, you should be fine.

After her test, she can confirm that the central reservation crash barrier on the M42, is fit for purpose!!!

[Edited on 23/7/10 by fha772]

I like your sister, she is still smiling, dispite the damage to her car

Send a U2U to mark chandler, he seems to know what he's on about re Jaguar shizzle...

Check for rust! I had to weld up a passenger footwell on a xk8. Was very impressed with how it drove and the power from the v8 though.

Beautiful cars!

I wanted one for years, but the missus thought it too much of an 'old-mans' toy! I thought she was speaking a load of...

Would not worry that much about liners, my XK8 has now covered 135,000 on its original and is still going well.

Look out for rust, mine has also had a small plate in the passenger footwell, the rear arches go so have a good rumage here, mine goes in next week to be sorted for the second time.

Do everthing yourself and parts are plentiful and cheap, I get ~30k from a set of tyres, these are costly as you get a jag spec so add 50%.....

Lovely cars to drive, not brilliant on bends.

When you get one change all the fluids, the gearboxes are sealed for life, same box in mercs and these have dipsticks and change routines... The fluid costs £110 for 4 litres ooch.

There are still few grease nipples on the rear half shafts.

Front wishbone bushes are weak at the top, David Manners sells rebuild kits for the full front end *** Make sure the top wishbone bolt is tight in the ali subframe... if it gets loose it will wear the hole oval requiring a new subframe.

Seats have thin leather so gets ripped if you clamber in and out with jeans and poppers.

My only regrets were not getting an XKR !

Apart from that I get ~26mpg, I run it on LPG so thats 300 miles for £45 these days.

Good solid cars.

Lastly have a look at the government tax site, make sure its before the emmision related tax, sometime in 2001, you then get fixed at £240 p.a.

Regards Mark

I just got rid of mine. Not an XKR though. It was a 98 model with 88k on the clock, paid £9k for it and spent £5k fixing it in repairs over two years. If you see one you want, make sure you get it checked by RAC then get a good warranty coz if it goes wrong it's gonna cost!
However....that V8 is a gem of an engine - even standard XK has loads of grunt. And the supercar looks (mine was a coupe). Very enjoyable car to drive when it's all working.

Just to add that the low mpg didn't bother me too much - I have a lawnmower that does 2mpg so the fact that I got nearly 300bhp from something that does 14mpg was fine by me

[Edited on 23/7/10 by stifmeister]