2006 Jaguar XK8 4.2 White Badge

This lovely 2006 XK8 dons Copper black paintwork with an ivory interior, and it has ticked up a modest 56,400 miles on the odometer. The vendor bought this car three years ago and believes it has had eight prior keepers. He was a member of the Jaguar enthusiasts club and this motor has been well-looked after. The vendor has carried out some work over his three years of ownership. He installed a new headliner and the car has been winterised, which means that the underside has been sprayed with wax to protect it through winter. Last MOT, the car had an advisory for some new brake linings and pads, which the owner acted on. At the same time, it had all rubbers replaced to make sure the car stable and straight. In the vendor’s words: “This reset means the car drives straight on the road and you don’t feel anything when you go after a bump now”. He also installed a new radiator hose, which cost the best part of £1000 because it was leaking. Finally, it also recently had the back bumper reset, a new clamp installed and windscreen replaced because it was stone chipped.

It's fair to say the vendor is sad to part with this motor as he assures us that the car drives like a dream and is only selling it due to his ill health. He explains that he spent two years searching for such a lovely example, but now it just needs to be enjoyed. He reminisced about the Harewood Hill climb he did in Leeds with the Jaguar Enthusiasts club and some fantastic drives from Leeds to Somerset and to the Lake District. In his words: “Everything is perfect – the car is beautiful. The only reason I’m selling it is because I’m not using it”.

When the XK8 was announced in 1996, it got the motoring press all excited. Gone were the XJS's buttresses and almost slab-sided design, and in came the new curvy appearance. The body has a lot of character in the way it's been sculpted; the bonnet has a prominent bulge, the grille is very distinctly Jaguar, around the back features lovely aluminium exhausts, and the window line is high. As a result, it leaves as much of a lasting impression now as it did back in the noughties and the owner explains that it still proves itself to be a head turner. He had both back wheel arches taken back to bare metal and resprayed to Copper black as there was some bubbling. At this point the vendor had all dinks taken out, so, in his words: “Now the car is as smooth as a baby’s bottom and it’s all been repolished up”.

The interior has to be as much of a reason to buy a Jaguar if not more than the exterior, and the XK8 doesn’t disappoint. The lack of space at the back might have been a downside, but at the front, it's as luxurious as it is comfortable. This white badge comes with a light wood veneer (which might be birch) to complement the lovely ivory upholstery. Similar to the outside, the cabin isn't short of curves. With a seating position close to the ground, the car feels as if it is built around its occupants to deliver a driver-centred cockpit. The cabin is in lovely order and has stood the test of time and use. The dashboard is as clean as you can expect on a well-kept example. The rear seats look relatively unused. The headlining has been replaced, and the mats, carpets and door cards are in good shape. The boot is in equally good nick and stores the space-saver spare wheel. On the whole, this XK8 is representative of limited use and careful ownership.

It is equipped with a 4.2-litre V8 engine that produces 300 BHP and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It is a naturally aspirated engine, meaning it does not have a turbocharger or supercharger to increase its output. The engine features four overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, allowing it to deliver strong performance and a smooth power delivery. It also has variable valve timing, which adjusts the timing of the intake and exhaust valves to optimise performance and fuel efficiency. The grand tourer's top speed was limited to 155 mph and it delivers a sub-7-second 0-62 mph time. The Jaguar XJS and the XK8 share the same floor pan but the coupe benefits from a new front suspension and the rear one is borrowed from the XJ saloon. Visually, like the rest of the car, the engine bay looks clean; there does not appear to be any sign of leakage and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car was registered in March 2006. Its most recent MOT took place in July 2022 at 56,436 miles which identified an advisory that the front brake disc was mildly worn. This car comes with a record of annual MOTs since 2009. It comes with two sets of keys and the valet key. This motor has been looked after by Tasker & Lacy – Jaguar specialists in Leeds, and the vendor has offered that, should anyone want to call the garage to find out more about the car, they’re more than welcome to call the garage. He mentioned that "It’s a dream to drive and it still turns heads”.

This is a classic in the making that deserves to be enjoyed. Its inescapable charm is largely thanks to its well-balanced steering, overall smooth operation, confident handling and thoroughly pleasing engine note. With Jaguar moving towards electrification, it's unlikely they’ll produce another V8-engined four-seat grand tourer again. The F-Type is the only sports car in the company's line up currently, but it's not exactly a GT. All this makes the XK8 even more appealing. This car has clearly been much loved and well-looked after, and at an estimated £16,000 - £22,000, this XK8 is a great deal of car for the money.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Leeds, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.