2005 Jaguar XK8 Ratings
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2005 Jaguar XK8 - Convertible
Pros: looks and smooth engine and handling
Cons: foot room/ comfort level - would be better if the seats went back another 2 inches
Advice: If you are looking for a coupe hardtop, plan on buying it used
I have a 76 XJ12L. I love the way it drives. Have also been driving Nissan Zs since 73. Now have 2 86' 300 Zs with 250 K miles on each. First stop to look for their replacement was the JAG dealer. I was shocked to find that in the XK8 there is so little foot room down by the pedals that I could not move my foot (size 10 1/2) from the gas to the brake without it getting hung up. Major safety issue, obviously. I almost did not want to drive it off the lot. It drove wonderfully, however the foot space problem presisted even after driving it for a while. Only problem I had with the handling with the automatic trans shifted gears at a way way to low RPM. If you have driven sticks for as long as I have, that was a noticable problem.THe red line on the Jag was 6500 and it was shifting around 3000. When I told the saleman about this he said that was normal. When I started shifting manually and showed him what the car could really do when you pushed the RPMs, he turned slate white. He obviously had not seen the car driven to the end of the envelope. Even with the trans issue I would buy this car if there was more foot room. I sat in a new XK8L after this test drive and that model did not have the foot space problem, but I already have a 'limo' XJ12 so would not consider that as a replacement for my Zs. This is a wonderful car and I would strongly recommend it to anyone (with small feet). One other disappointing fact which I should mention is that the only XJ8 model they have available brnad new is the convertable. If you want a brand new coupe hard top they are telling you to forget it unless you want to want until 2007. (This review was done in Oct 05. ) I would not buy the convertable - there is no roll bar at all, and the theft hazard is too much for me. However, with the top up the car did drive as if it was a hard top -no extra noise even at 70 mph