Jaguar XK8 Convertible Review | Get The Bond Villain Look 

Forget the car, what about those trousers?!!

The best looking car ever (outside and inside). I own 2001 xkr convertible and I will keep it forever. Nothing can compare with it: such smooth modern classic….

I own a 1997 convertible, and have a couple comments. In the Air Force, I was nearly disqualified being 6’3” and having too high a sitting height, but made it into Phantoms and F-15’s on the sly. I have no problem fitting very comfortably in both headroom and legroom, and the air conditioning works wonderfully here in Scottsdale, Arizona, with summer temps reaching 45 plus C. In my opinion, quite comfortable, especially compared to mid 60’s Italian sports cars. The transmission causes the engine power curve to change quite a bit when used in sport mode with the J-gate, so you may want to play around a bit with it; I enjoy changing up using this from time to time. I changed the fluid with Valvoline; A bit of a pain, but works well. A known issue with these early engines is the cam chain tensioners and chains. It is a time consuming job to change them out, but not out of the range of a competent home mechanic. A couple of specialty tools required, available on E-bay for a couple hundred, and several RU-vid videos which bear a couple watchings. I did mine and found the original plastic ones in good shape at 24 years and 63K miles, but feel better with the upgraded metal tensioners and heavier guides (the better ones may be a bit maligned unfairly in one of the videos). One of my back window regulators went bad. The desert is good for no rust, but hard on plastic pullys. A company here in Phoenix can rebuild them with lifetime guaranteed metal pullys and the fix worked well. Hard to get to though! All in all, I am very satisfied with this 1997 Jaguar XK8!

We had a S3 E-Type lined up as we wanted an air-conditioned classic Jag for hot days. The deal fell through so we bought a 2000 XKR instead. So glad we did. A much more practical car & equally attractive from all the positive comments we receive; plus there is that supercharger whine when you press the go pedal & it cost a fraction of the E-Type. We use it for 3k klm interstate trips & love it.

I've had an 03 XKR for just over a year now... and love it. Looks fabulous. Performs wonderfully.

My grandparents had one of these in the late 2000s, I distinctly remember sitting in the tiny back seats as a small child (they felt tiny even back then) with the roof down. It was even British Racing Green with the same leather and walnut interior as this fine example. The smell of the leather and sound of the engine are something I could never forget, hopefully one day I’ll be able to buy one myself. Lovely video, subscribed and will definitely keep an eye out for your videos 👍

You can tell how exciting and happy Harry was to film this all the way through! 🥰

I've got one, had it over 3 years now, absolutely love it.

I own a 1997 XK8. Love it. Such a fun car to drive.

Glad you liked it, nice summary. That's just the tip of the iceberg of XK8 versions. Need to try a 'tuned' supercharged version. That will really put a smile on your face. Happy motoring, regards Damian

Enjoyed the review. I’ve had a 4.0 XK8 and have a 4.2 XKR. Both coupes. A few things worthy of mention. It looks like you have the seat quite high and I think you’d have been more comfortable with it lower. I’m 3 inches taller than you and a lot bigger and have no problems fitting in. Plenty of room. The gearbox learns your driving style so it improves if you press on. The sport button changes the way it reacts too. I also enjoy driving using the J-gate to hold gears. In both my cars the average mpg over all driving was about 25 so I don’t know what on Earth was happening for you to get 16. Got 33 on a Cardiff to Glasgow trip once in the 4.0. Maybe the test car has issues? The coupe is a far better drive than the convertible for obvious stiffening reasons. The supercharger makes a huge difference too. You should try one. My 4.2 is a 2004 so Jag had tweaked the styling with a few skirts and the like. Not everyone likes them but I do. Both mine had stock exhausts which are too quiet. If the test car sounded good, it may have had an upgrade, maybe a back box delete. This helps a lot and is next on my list. If u sell enough t-shirts to buy one, maybe sure you sell a good few more to keep it maintained. They are expensive to run.

Fabulous summary of the XK8. Thank you.

That engine is an AJ26. It replaced the straight-six AJ16 engine. I was in the engineering office at Jaguar at the time that this was being deigned, so know it quite well... and many of the people that were involved in its design. Only Ford input was software used to help design it and $$$$.

New to your great channel, loved the video and your style of talking about cars, brilliant. They really are great cars, i have a 98 XKR and like you say....oh boy that engine! Mmmm. Looking foward to your next vid and watching your others. Hope your merchandise sells well for your Jag purchase 🙂🙂 Best Andrew

Love my 2003, XK8 4.2, Silver exterior, white interior with black top. Only 83,000 miles. I live where it snows in the Winter so it doesn't get driven then. Looks new still. : )

i'm in Canada and considering purchasing a 1999 XK8 convertible with 131,000KM on it. Love your presentation

I want one so badly

The coups boot lid is smaller and looks way better as does the shape of the roof. Rear seats were just to put the car in a lower insurance group.

I've had a reasonable number of cars over the years and the two that I've had more compliments about than the rest put together were a 1999 XKR and my current car, a 2001 XJR. People just seem to love a Jag

Good and balanced video!

Great work

Well done!

Best classic u can get. Up for jag. 👍👍

Did they all come with body matched roofs or was that an option?

Looking for advise please: I’m considering 2002 XK8, everything is flawless but seats, windows and roof doesn’t work. Seller is telling me some module change should do it, but I have no idea what I’m stepping into and can’t seem to find answers online. Any experience with this? Thank you

Big is relative, if converted to cubic inches it is 244 cubic inches. In the USA, that is tiny. That being said, 290 horsepower at the time it came out was big power, right up there with the pony cars of the USA at the time. I own a 1997 xk8 convertible in the USA, and I Love it.

XK back end looks much like that of an X-type, so maybe I will think of buying an XK after my X.

Never has a man suited a car more than Harry in an XK8 😂

Lovely interior...what is this guy on!

I refuse to waft smash that kick down as often as the opportunity arises. You will feel great 😊

I want one but I'm 6 foot 4 would that be an issue

The rear seats are for the dachshunds

The button next to the sport button isn’t cruise control. It’s a speed limiter button.

I was initially put off by your hair. Get it cut! (I am an old fart and have strong views on such things, plus my dad was in the army. I blame him for most my shortcomings.) The review is brilliant. I am currently looking at buying an XK8, looking at all the reviews, joined the JDR (Jag Drivers Club) and test driven a few. I love the car and thought your review was honest, passionate, and to the point. Well done and thanks. Get yer hair cut!

Mazda copied it for the NB MX5 and took out the parcel-shelf 'seats'.

I'm 6ft 3 in the seat is fine my head goes too high but that's about it

The requirement by US Regulators to have 4 seats was easily met by the people at Coventry - because the US Regulators didn't specify the dimensions - as Bart Simpson would say . . . . . . 😂

Muy Bien

Same regulators prevented the MGC .

Surely, selling your X-type can buy you an older XK8?

Elegance overal! Bentley-swimsuit😉😃

Was it an electric car because l didnt hear the motor running. A V8 that makes no noise..why have a V8 then.

Buy the XKR for just a few Bob more

My cup holder never stays shut and the door pocket is good for a phone in a pack of cigarettes

thats the baby engine my XKR has the 4.0 V8 supercharger lmao

The small rear seats were letter of the law by US regulators.who wouldn't permit their import otherwise. Not for the likes of Harry - being a bit silly ?

Tubli poiss.

HaHa 😂! Good Video ! Seriously

ZF gearbox stuck in park.

Beautiful and inexpensive to buy but you will go bankrupt in maintenance. I know, I bought one😢😢😢

Of course the interior is falling apart

Engines are shit . Nakasil block until 2002/03 early s/n . Exploding cam gear hardware , all years . Also these engines were manufactured without timing marks , UNREBUILDABLE when they blow up . I will never buy another one . Pretty front yard ornament though .

If you're going to review stylish cars you might as well start wearing some stylish clothes 👻👻👻

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