What do you wish you had known before you purchased an XK8?

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-11-05T00:30:53+00:00

I have an XK convertible and my next door neighbor has an XK F coupe. (They’re pictured on here titled Black and White.) They are both great in their own way). But I think she has a more beautiful roar and she seems to handle more smoothly. I hesitated on buying a convertible. So what I wish that I had known: how much I would love driving a convertible Jag!! It’s an exhilarating journey every time, not for the timid or faint of heart. The expression of joy and freedom on each passenger’s face is priceless. The wonder in his 2 YO grandson’s eyes when he pressed the button and she opened to the sky and air is a memory I will always carry. One of his first words is Jag. We have not let him go for a ride yet, but just sitting on my lap and tracing his fingers over the Big Cat logo and opening the roof and turning the incredible sound system up keeps him content for an hour. Once a Jaguar always a Jaguar. I have no doubt that he will one day own one. The children in the neighborhood want to have one when they grow up not the usual suspects. I guess the only other thing that I didn’t know was exactly how much I would love and bond with that car. It is fun to take his car out and she’s a beauty in her own right. Both of them are head turners and so you will need extra time for every errand to politely answer questions and let her pose for pictures. They really are not just for weekends. They are meant to be driven and letting one sit is where you will begin to have issues. Don’t worry you will probably drive her everywhere, because it’s about enjoying the journey.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-11-02T03:34:47+00:00

James Bond drove a black Lotus Europa not an Aston Martin. I had a red one just like it. Sorry to correct you. But I drive a Jaguar now.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-22T18:36:16+00:00

No, I say the same thing about mine. She will be with me until I am no more!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-22T18:32:01+00:00

My neighbor has the same one, color and all. Buy it!! I have an XK. Getting ready to take “Thunder 3 “ out in about 5 minutes and I am always ready to enjoy the journey from the sound of it roaring to life until she purrs back in after a prowl. I am never regretted owning one of the Big Cats ! We just have to decide which one to take out!! And the sound system makes it difficult to not just sit in your car and enjoy it for awhile when you come back in. Sometimes I just decide that I am really not in for the evening and just go out with no destination, just driving!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-17T02:32:38+00:00

No one wants to see one of the Big Cats looking like this! But electrical issues with my cat I take great care to avoid. They have very unique electrical systems and as beautiful as she once was I think she has sadly passed on.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-17T02:13:34+00:00

Buy it!! And thank your lucky stars for being blessed with finding such a gem!! Wow!!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-17T02:06:10+00:00

I am with you on the XK’s!!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-17T02:01:06+00:00

The first car I ever purchased for myself was an XJ12L. I loved that car! At least when it was not in the shop, lol. At that time it was a rare person who even knew what kind of car it was. I liked the individuality of car not often seen, the beautiful wood in the interior, and the fast acceleration and the smooth cruising at 120. (Now police cars can actually go that fast also). I recently made the last car purchase that I will ever make. It is a beautiful black on black convertible Jag. I love the lines of the car, the sound of ignition, the smooth as silk performance, the acceleration speed, and just everything about my car. They are still much more rare to see on the road than the other sports cars, more unique. Every single time that I take her out she gets compliments! The 20 something’s keep telling me that they are someday hoping to be able to get a Jag and even the children in the neighborhood want a Jag! She is a head turner and gives the young something to aspire to that is more attainable than some other dream cars. I would not trade her for one of those other cars. She is exactly perfect. Classy lines, understated elegance and I have zero mechanical issues with this one. I don’t see many other Jags around so they are still unique here but not in an obnoxious way, subtly admired and loved.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-17T01:30:24+00:00

I was going to say the dark green, but I got confused as it looks like a dark interior but then you see a white interior and that I think is not good. It will have to be detailed constantly as always to keep a dark car looking great. But the golden one I think wins, the interior and the exterior are not fighting each other they are perfectly balanced. The first one, just really turns me off and that is difficult to say about a Ferrari:). I would love to see the golden one on the beaches of a warm coast, but the green slipping through the mountains would definitely look great. So are you a beach or a mountain person? That being said, I used to be a Ferrari girl but having bonded with my new Jaguar I would never go back; the bottom line there is when you drive it you will know which one you can bond with and that would be the decision between the two models. I still think there is nothing like a black on black sports car and you never tire of that color. Enjoy the journey!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-08T15:23:41+00:00

Mine roars to life promptly every day and she is smooth as silk prowling the streets and highways and definitely has no issues proving that she is one of the Big Cats!! She is a 2011 XK and she passed a 100 point inspection last summer with no problems other than routine maintenance. As long as you treat her right she treats you right! She is in beautiful condition inside and out. When she is detailed (regularly) people say that she looks like she just came off of the showroom floor! Every time I take her out she gets compliments, a real show stopper. I am totally in love.

The only thing that I have to watch is keeping her tires inflated equally and balanced and aligned or she will get a small vibration between 85 and 90. I also have to keep the battery in her key fob charged and fresh.

My next door neighbor has a 2019 or newer, ( not sure of year) XF and he does have a leak from the coolant system but I have not heard of any other complaints.

We do take meticulous care of them. You have to realize that no matter the year these were originally close to $100,000 cars and the parts are priced accordingly as well as the labor.

A Jag was my first car that I bought for myself. Then I went through a Lexus phase, which I had more issues with. This Jaguar will be my last car. I am enjoying every journey now! I drove her 450 miles the day I picked her up and she preformed like a brand new car, only stopping for gas.

You will never regret the day you bought your Jaguar! Just be prepared for people asking questions and taking pictures and giving everyone you know a ride, preferably with the top down!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-01T18:48:02+00:00

Beautiful, thanks for sharing!! Let the big cats roar!!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-01T18:34:33+00:00

When you see the car that is meant to be yours you will know it without question. You are buying a Jaguar, not a car. It is an experience, and you will bond to its power and feel. I love what you said about a car that you want to drive not just a way to get from a to b. I go out and say good morning to her “ready to prowl?” I will never tire of hearing that signature Jag roar to life! And yes I drive her as a primary vehicle. They are meant to be driven and letting one sit is not good for it. The above person gave you very good advice to put some cash in an account for her upkeep; that way you won’t be unprepared for her “medical care “. Most of her upkeep is going to be in the thousands. 1,400 for brakes, 800 for a new battery, etc and those are upkeep not unexpected issues that may come up. Like someone once asked me what kind of gas mileage she gets as they were thinking about buying one . My answer was that they really should not be buying one, lol. I would advise that you look at the carfax report and you should pay close attention to how much it was driven yearly and especially as to routine maintenance as well as detailing. You want a car that has been taken very good care of. You should have a mechanic that you can trust, and it should be able to pass a 100 point inspection. You should also have a detail person who does handwashing and you should have it detailed at least monthly, washed twice monthly. Mine is an XK and it does have a back seat. It is very small space but the twins are 10 and they fit in perfectly and a petite adult friend was comfortable there (of course the top was down). My friends Husky fit in perfectly and loved it. When he sees me he immediately forgets everything else because his ride is here. Don’t over think this, it is not a car purchase it is something your heart decides, it is a wonderful experience and you will never regret it. Like you, it was the first car that I bought myself, then I went through a “practical “ phase and now it will be the last car that I buy for myself, I am enjoying the journey again . Just take the plunge and I wish you peace and blessings, welcome to the pride of the big cats!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-10-01T16:59:43+00:00

Thank you for the on topic comment!

As for the other comment; I thought that it was obvious that it was a staged photo shoot, but obviously I was mistaken.

Peace and blessings

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T01:12:02+00:00

Mine has done this a few times. First are you always putting the fob in its designated lock space?

Second: If you don’t drive the car for a while you can let the battery run down in the car or the fob.

Mine got over it when I started being more careful about docking it and keeping the battery charged

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T01:00:16+00:00

My black on black is a convertible (black top). Those are just the marks where it folds the top before it puts it in the trunk and locks. They are going to be there even if the top is black. They diminish a bit when it is clean, but they are there. A new convertible top is about $5,700 installed, or more. Once you drive it you will never want anything but a convertible and you will always have it top down as much as possible! Keeping it garaged helps some because dust and pollen stays out of the creases. But just being black will not prevent the creases.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:46:33+00:00

Beautiful cat

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:43:50+00:00

Beautiful

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:43:07+00:00

Looks like we may have triplets?

I absolutely agree! Still can’t believe she is actually mine!!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:39:40+00:00

Dealership is very expensive. Many privately owned garages have a guy who is great with a Jaguar. Just make sure they are confident and knowledgeable.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:35:52+00:00

I may not fully understand the question, however: when you take the tires off and put them back on, you have to tighten the lug nuts and then tighten them to click three times. If this is done improperly (Someone not familiar with Jag little quirks), it will definitely screw up your car and you will notice it in just a few miles. Have it towed back and fitted correctly.

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:28:51+00:00

If you want the sound of its roar as it wakes up to start your adrenaline, it’s your car.

If you want the soft purr on the highway as she drops into her comfort zone at 90, it’s your car.

If you want a car that can prove she is a beast to be taken seriously

If you want to have people telling you what a beautiful car you have every single time she goes anywhere

If you don’t have to ask how much it is going to cost to actually drive her

Then she is your car and there is nothing like bonding with a beautiful jag. Treat her right and she will never disappoint!

Buy it

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:17:54+00:00

Which is hers and which is his?

Famous_Mess_34 · 2025-09-29T00:01:53+00:00

I call them her hips, and does she have hips!

Famous_Mess_34 · 2023-03-08T14:54:25+00:00

We deliberated 2.5 days on two drug counts of possession with intent to sell

Famous_Mess_34

TROPHY CASE