Produced between 1996-2014 the Jaguar XK is a two-door 2+2 grand tourer. The first generation was launched in 1996 to replace the then ageing XJS, when it was introduced, it was the first Jaguar to use their new V8 4.0 engine. The first generation of the XK8/XKR shared a lot of its parts with the newly released Aston Martin DB7.

Over its 10-year run, the first generation went through a few slight changes with the main change being that the new 4.0l V8 had been increased to 4.2 in 2002 and a new 6 speed ZF automatic transmission had started to be fitted along with this new, bigger engine. The XK would see a major update in 2006 that would run until 2014 when Jaguar cancelled the car in favour of their new F-Type model.

Ordered from Jaguar in 2004 this XK8 started its life out as the personal car for the Director of the Chichester Museum and Chichester festival. When they ordered the car from new, the first owner went down and ticked almost every single optional extra leaving the car with some pretty impressive features back in 2004.

It spent the first part of its life enjoying the high life in Chichester where it would receive its annual servicing from the Jaguar main dealer in Chichester, no matter the number of miles the car did in a year, it would still get a full service with filters and oils changed.

When the current owner picked it up in around 2014, they kept up the same sort of maintenance schedule, meaning that although this Jaguar has only covered 60,000 miles it has already run out of space for stamps in the service book.

Both of its previous owners have both been Jaguar enthusiasts so you can imagine that this particular car is presented in brilliant condition. With all the factory fitted bells and whistles still working it is a great car that will bring many happy memories for the new owner.

With the one previous and the current owner both being Jaguar enthusiasts it has meant that this car has always had work done at either dealer garages or independent garages that are specialists in Jaguars. All of the works that have been done to the car are evidenced by the paperwork that will come with the car.

A few recent jobs of note include a full underside treatment of waxoyl to prevent any corrosion, professionally refurbished BBS alloys (using power coating methods with the addition of genuine stainless-steel trims), rear A frame has been removed and powdered coated with new doughnut supporting mounts, a beautiful sounding Tony Banks stainless steel exhaust (with lifetime guarantee), an upgraded iPhone connecter to play music seamlessly through the uprated Alpine stereo system.

And possibly most important, at 45k miles the car went through a course of complete fluid changes, including brake fluid, anti-freeze, re-gas of the A/C and other fluids.

This big cat has been well and truly looked after throughout its lifetime and the new owner will inherit a car that is raring to go.

The interior of this Jaguar is a glorious place to sit and soak in the atmosphere of the huge V8 upfront. As has been touched on previously, this car left the factory with almost every option available. With all of these options still working today you will have a whale of a time playing with them.

The electrically operated and heated, cream leather seats are in great condition with no rips or tears present on any of the four seats. The accompanying leather trim on the doors and center console are also in great condition too, with the wooden accents on the dashboard being in the same condition as the rest of the interior.

A testament to the pride that the current owner has in this XK8 the car has been use with rubber mat protectors over the original carpets, its thanks to this care and attention that even the 18-year-old carpets are also in great condition.

If we look at the fun toys that are fitted to the interior of this Jag, we can see that it almost rivals any new car on the market today. There’s iPhone connectivity to the stereo, sat-nav, automatic braking assist, electric steering column, rain sensing wipers, parking sensors and so on. To list the entire specification would take an age.

The new owner will get all of the benefits of a modern classic Jaguar with the benefits of a cabin that has not really aged since 2004.

With this being a later first generation XK there are some exterior styling that have been tweaked over the initial XK’8’s. The new sinister and aggressive look of the XK8 was cemented with a starring roll as the lead henchman’s vehicle in 2002’s James Bond movie, Die Another Day. Now a timeless shape this XK8 is presented in great exterior condition.

Throughout its life it has been kept in a garage under a car cover, and its thanks to this level of care that every element of the exterior is in great condition. The BBS wheels, recently refurbished, are in great condition, with Jaguar R calipers and drilled discs fitted this section of the car is ready for action.

The Jaguar Racing Green paintwork is in great condition with no fading on any panel and set against the green fabric roof it looks stunning.
The aforementioned roof works quickly and quietly. Operated with a button just above the famous Jaguar ‘J gated’ shifter it folds down neatly behind the rear seats and can then be hidden with the provided leather tonneau cover. 

A true stunner, the exterior of this big cat has the looks to match the mechanical might of the 4.2l V8 under the bonnet.

Fitted with the uprated 4.2l V8 this Jag has an absolutely stunning soundtrack that is amplified through the bespoke stainless-steel exhaust. It is civilised enough to pootle around town without any noise complaints but when you get to the back roads and open the taps it barks into life providing a noise that is not matched by anything else on the road.

For extra comfort the V8 is twinned to a 6-speed automatic transmission which is lovely and smooth, with a positive kickdown and slick shift it is a lovely gearbox to experience.

With only two previous owners, low mileage, and a comprehensive service history at Jaguar main dealers and specialists the new owner can be sure that this car has been looked after properly and not on a shoestring budget.

With this peace of mind, the new owner will be picking up a car that is in fine mechanical fettle and ready for anything they may want to throw at it. It is a hugely capable GT platform that will be as much at home around a town centre as it is crossing continents. With the added bonus of being a convertible you are able to experience the unapologetic soundtrack of this true modern Jaguar.

Overall the mechanical aspects of this car are in great condition and ready for the new owner to take it wherever they wish to go.

This XK8 has everything going for it, a huge V8, smooth automatic gearbox, comfortable cabin, low mileage and two devoted previous owners it could be one of the best on the market currently. With all of the mod-cons you would expect from a new Jaguar it is a type of car that will never see again at any point in the future.

At the minute we can class this as a modern classic, but in a few years, it will garner full classic car status. All you have to do is look at other big front-engined, comfortable and fast Jaguars to understand the period of appreciation that they enjoy when they hit a certain age. 

This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor before they go up in value. This XK8 is as much a big fun toy as it is an investment policy. Keep her maintained well and it will pay dividends in the future.