Jaguar XK8

Registered from 1996 to 2008.

About this model

The Jaguar XK8 is a grand tourer launched by Jaguar Cars in 1996, and was the first generation of a new XK series. The XK8 was available in two-door coupé or two-door convertible body styles with the new 4.0-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine. In 1998, the XKR was introduced with a supercharged version of the engine. In 2003, the engines were replaced by the new 4.2-litre AJ34 engines in both the naturally aspirated and supercharged variations. The first-generation of the XK series shares its XJS-derived platform with the Aston Martin DB7, with both cars tracing their history back to an abandoned Jaguar development study in the mid-1980s known as XJ41/XJ42, which had been mooted to be known as the F-Type.

From the Wikipedia article Jaguar XK (X100), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 4.0 petrol. 265 of 1,382 tests failed, 19%.

Better than 83% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.

Where	Share of failures	Failed tests
Suspension	48%	126
Brakes	36%	96
Lights and electrics	35%	92
Exhaust and emissions	21%	56
Body and structure	17%	45
Visibility	15%	40

The defects inspectors cite

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Warning device shows system malfunction
Emissions levels exceed default limits
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

Suspension — 48% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Brakes — 36% of its failures
Exhaust and emissions — 21% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
Lights and electrics — 35% of its failures
Body and structure — 17% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Visibility — 15% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen

When it starts failing

At 140–160k miles this one fails 33% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

Odometer	Rate	Its age	Tests
20–40k miles	7%	19%	82
40–60k miles	11%	19%	161
60–80k miles	19%	24%	301
80–100k miles	20%	26%	314
100–120k miles	23%	26%	255
120–140k miles	22%	27%	139
140–160k miles	33%	28%	70
160–180k miles	23%	—	30

1,352 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.