Underappreciated GT: 1997 Jaguar XK8 Coupe – Sold?

February 17, 2023, Update – We confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Grand touring, or GT cars, are among our favorites here at Guys With Rides. With one of the project cars being a Porsche 928, we understand this niche of four-seater coupes with big engines to be one of the more appealing segments of the collector car hobby. And while the conversation often moves to other models made between the late 80s and early 90s, we have a modern-day GT that often gets overlooked in this segment, and that’s the contemporary Jaguar XK8 coupe. While there’s always a large assortment of convertibles for sale, we see the coupe body pop up far less frequently, which is why this 1997 XK8, last listed in January 2023 on Craigslist in Maine, is worth a look at $16,900. Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide shows that the seller is asking for reasonable money, given that the six-month average sale price now is clocking in at just under $14,000:

When the XK8 was introduced, Jaguar effectively promoted its vision for the foreseeable future. The XK8 and supercharged XKR have lived on since the introduction of the new model in 1996. While cosmetic refreshes have occurred at least twice, the basic silhouette has remained the same, along with the mission of being a luxurious GT car. Powered by the 4.0L AJV8 engine, the model produced a comfortable, if not exactly sporting, driving experience and was well received by the public. Although it was a competent performer, the model has seemingly struggled to cement itself as a standard-bearer of the limited GT class today. Still, the supercharged models have continued to impress with scorching performance, especially when wrapped in the stately appearance of the XK lineup. Today, you can find hardtop and convertible on the used market for reasonable money, with the supercharged models typically pulling higher prices.

The MotorWeek RetroReview YouTube Channel features this test drive of the then-new Jaguar XK8:

The seller’s ad is like many others for an XK8 model, which is to say it belongs to someone who treated it as a second car and/or weekend vehicle. Buying a Jaguar in their retirement years for drivers of a certain age still represented a milestone event. With the generally low entry price for a decent XK model, it’s not surprising to see many of these cars get sold off for short money when the thrills wear off and/or the more offensive maintenance invoices start rolling in. The seller’s car has 88,000 miles on the clock and wears what looks like a set of aftermarket wheels. He notes that the Jaguar has been serviced professionally, and one would hope there’s a paper trail of invoices to support this claim. The XK8 in hardtop form is still a looker all these years after its introduction and represents a bit of a bargain today, no doubt helped by the surplus of convertible models that help to keep prices down. However, spend a few more bucks and get the XKR if you can swing it.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1997 Jaguar XK8 Coupe, 88k miles, serviced professionally. Excellent condition. Own a piece of sports car history.“

Undervalued or overproduced: is the modern-day Jaguar XK8 an overlooked value in the modern GT class?