Why Buy an XK?
Apart from the emotional aspects, there are a number of hard-headed reasons to buy a classic XK. Club founder Philip Porter gives his expert advice below:
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Reliability – there is no point in owning a classic car unless you can use and enjoy it, and do so with confidence it is not going to let you down. We have members who have clocked up 100,000 miles in 10 years, in some of the world’s toughest terrain, with no problems. All the XK mechanical components were used in the higher volume saloon cars (sedans) and many were proved at Le Mans. This makes the XKs different.
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Style – a personal thing but most would agree that XKs are stunningly good-looking.
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Price – in comparison with so-called, and often unreliable, exotica, XKs offer very good value and are a solid investment.
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Heritage – Jaguar’s heritage is second to none with five Le Mans wins, international rally successes, record breaking, race wins in every continent and a loyal following in Hollywood with many of the biggest stars of the day.
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Opportunities – the International Jaguar XK Club has events all over the world, a very friendly atmosphere and among its membership a tremendous selection of interesting and successful people of both sexes.
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Running Costs – not only are XKs exceptionally reliable, but the availability of parts is superb and cost of parts, in comparison with Astons, Ferraris, Maseratis and such like, is very modest.
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Jaguar Brand – Jaguar Cars, with its fine current range of vehicles, is a success story once again. The F-TYPE is set to renew all the excitement and aura that Jaguar enjoyed in the ’50s and ’60s.
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Rarity – the market thinks XKs are plentiful. The market is wrong. Some models of XK are rarer than Astons, Ferraris, Maseratis and such like. Some day, the market will wake up to this!
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Performance – if you enjoy driving, this is the biggest reason of all. It is no coincidence that the XK enjoyed worldwide success in all manner of motor sport. They are quick, comfortable and safe, and can be subtly uprated to make them even more suitable for today’s conditions. With the crucial reliability a given with XKs, plus the fabulous driving enjoyment, they are superbly rewarding.
For more detailed information on buying an XK, see Philip's advice on our Youtube video:
