2004 Jaguar XK8 4.2

Every now and again, which is to say hardly ever, cars come to us in such extraordinarily immaculate condition that it’s all we can do not to hug the vendors and, with tear-filled eyes, thank them for the sacrifices and suffering their devotions must have entailed.

This 2004 XK8 4.2 is without doubt such a car – one that beckons you over and says, “Go on then. Find something wrong with me. I dare you.”

Did we dare, dear reader?

We did.

Did we find anything wrong with it?

Er, no. Not really.

This car has been fussed over, cossetted, indulged, protected from the elements and generally serviced and maintained to within an inch of its life.

In our opinion, the chances of finding another 2004 XK8 in this condition are very slight indeed.

You’ve got more chance of finding Shergar.

Being ridden by Lord Lucan.

And Elvis.

This is a very handsome car indeed. There is no rust visible on the exterior bodywork, nor are there any dinks, scuffs, creases, ripples, bumps, lumps, cracks, chips, folds, indentations or even any road rash of note.

If we didn’t know better, we’d assume that this car had spent most of its life lying on a sofa.

Possibly while wearing slippers and a dressing gown.

We exaggerate, of course. But not much. The previous owner kept it in a heated garage and didn’t drive it in the wet.

The grey metallic finish is as near to faultless as we’re ever prepared to admit, and it would take a spectacularly finicky and obsessive person to find anything significant to complain about. Probably the sort of person, in fact, who owned it for most of its pampered life.

The body panels are every bit as smooth and crisp and even as you could hope for, and the shut lines are tight and consistent.

The car’s 19" alloy wheels are in excellent condition and sport matching Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres. As you know, matching tyres are usually a sure sign of a diligent owner. In this instance, they’re just one of many sure signs.

The factory fitted rear wheel arch spats are nick- and blemish-free. So, too, is the factory-fitted mesh front grille. It’s a similar story with the boot spoiler, and the larger front and rear bumpers with side skirts, which are standard on this final model.

We did notice some condensation inside both (xenon, we think) headlamp clusters.

As you’ll see from the photographs, there’s been a minor fail with the adhesive binding the rear number plate in place.

Somehow, we don’t think that will be a deal breaker.

The impression made by the virtually pristine exterior continues after you open the doors and take a look inside. It really is pretty much immaculate, with firm, supportive, unmarked Ivory leather upholstery making a very striking tonal contrast with the thick, grey/black carpets and the dark wood veneers of the dashboard and surrounds.

The seats have a degree of creasing that’s surprisingly low for 21K miles, let alone 16 years.

Everything that’s meant to work does work, from the AC, cruise control and speed limit control to the electrically adjustable steering wheel, rear parking sensors and cup holder.

The factory-fitted polished aluminium gearshift surrounds and instrument dial rims are a stylish extra touch.

Everything your eye falls upon is in very good condition, including - but not limited to - the upholstery, headlining, carpets, door cards, centre console and dashboard.

Lifting the carpets anywhere in the interior reveals – solid metal and no signs of any corrosion. This extends to the cavernous and apparently barely used boot, which is home to a space saver spare, toolkit and 6 disc CD changer.

The undersides of the car are solid and free of anything other than the odd spot of superficial rust dust and general road grime. There is a good coating of bitumen/Waxoyl.

The big ticket item here is the full stainless steel exhaust system. So, there’s something you won’t have to worry about for a few decades.

The engine bay is extraordinarily clean and tidy, with everything in its right and proper place. It all looks pretty much squeaky clean and showroom fresh.

This car has covered about 7000 miles in the last 13 years.

You’ve probably beaten that with the step counter on your smart phone.

It has ticked every box in the service book as and when required and been fastidiously maintained throughout its life.

* Frosts Jaguar Sussex – 6842 miles – 30.9.05

* Frosts Jaguar Sussex – 11776 miles – 20.9.06

* Frosts Jaguar Sussex – 15242 miles – 22.2.09

* Frosts Jaguar Sussex – 15608 miles – 23.2.09

* Harwoods Jaguar Sussex – 17719 miles – 25.3.14

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 18569 miles – 18.2.15

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 19734 miles – 03.3.16

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 20536 miles – 27.2.17

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 20955 miles – 8.3.18

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 21269 miles – 15.3.19

* Tim Revett Jag Specialist – 21425 miles – 10.3.20

The car has an MOT (with no advisories) until 17.3.21 and comes with 2 full sets of keys with remotes and the handbook pack.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

We think this is quite extraordinary example of both the model and the marque. Everything works and there are almost no faults. It has the look and feel of an exceptionally well cared for vehicle.

It feels tight, agile, powerful and thoroughly sorted. Nothing rattles, groans or creaks. Everything does what it’s meant to do. It goes, handles, rides, stops and behaves like a far, far younger car and it has the pristine looks and condition to go with it.

You’ll wait a very long time to find a better one and there’s absolutely no guarantee that you’ll succeed.

This is a bit special – it really is.

We’re confident to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £13,000 - £19,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.