996 Cab vs XK8 Jag

Thinking of moving out of a 02 996 cab into a 07 XK8 cab.Thoughts? Experience?

I have heard electrical nightmares from a friend who got rid of theirs after lease. They were considering buying it out.

The jag is an impressing looking car, larger and more luxurious vehicle; however, you may find yourself missing the handling and response that comes with a 996. Why not go for the 997, an improved version of the car your currently thinking of trading out.

Yeah, it looks like the niche is pretty narrow in this range...Jag's more luxurious, but you're not going to get the handling. Me, in addition to being Porsche loyal to start with, I'm pretty sure that having/knowing you have the abilities to do things that you probably can't in the Jag is enough. Here's another twist: Upgrade to a 997 or hotrod the 996?

A couple years ago, my wife and I went looking for a convertible (for her). We test drive an M3 convertible (e46), a Jag XKR, and a couple different Mercedes convertibles ( 01 SL600 and 03 CLK55). We bought the SL600 and absolutely love it. The quality of the BMW and Jag did not compare to the Mercedes. For the price of the Jag, you can get a used SL55 (around $35-$45,000 will buy a nice one) or even the incredible SL65 (they have dropped down to the $60,000 range). Any car guy has got to love a car with over 600 horsepower and over 700 ft/lbs of torque. There is currently a used SL65 on ebay that claims to have a couple mods, pushing the horsepower to around 800. The owner claims to have done a 10.8 second quarter mile. That sounds like fun. My dad has a supercharged Jag sedan, that I work on occasionally. It has been very dependable and is a pleasure to drive. Both the Jag and the Mercedes are grand touring cars. The Porsche is more of a sports car. I have to admit, there are times that I would rather take my wife's Mercedes for a weekend drive, than my Porsche. The Mercedes is way more comfortable and almost as much fun to drive. The Porsche is the car of choice for winding back roads. The Mercedes gets the nod for long freeway drives. Good luck with your shopping. Remember, looking is half the fun. Be careful not to sit in an Aston Martin convertible...you might want to take out a second mortgage on your house to get one.

Yeah the AM keeps popping up.

Gregg, Here is Motor Trend's 2009 "Best Driver's Car" summary. The graphic incorrectly indicates "XJR" but the tested vehicle was an "XFR". Of course neither the XJR nor the XFR = the XK8, and the winner (Cayman S) does not = a 996. So the gap for the two cars you are comparing would certainly be smaller. Still... those results are stunningly bad for Jaguar as a manufacturer, and echo others' comments re: handling.

I haven't driven the most recent version, but have driven all prior Jag convertibles, dating back to the XJS. While Jag has come a long way, as a driver's car I always found them very wanting. To add to others comments, the handling and interaction isn't there. That "oneness" with the road isn't there. On the plus side, Jag does style and aesthetics in a way Porsche doesn't really match. The interior, leathers, stlye, etc. -- all are appealing in a Jag. There is something about the smell of Jag leather that is really special, and a warmth and coziness that is uniquely Jaguar. If you are looking for an open air cruiser with a nice ride, the Jag seems like a fine choice to me. Just don't expect the driving precision you are used to.

but its afterall a ....ford (but then who knows in a few yrs Porsche may be a - god forbid VW). I have never seen a review of a Jag that's placed it anywhere but as a luxury cruiser, I guess perfect if its for posing. gasp its raspberry

Just remeber that the Chevy Vega was Motor Trend's Car of the Year! I consider their ratings simply as entertainment rather than as an expression of automotive authority.