2004 Jaguar XJ8 SE

1 owner. 35k miles with Mileage Verification Certificate. ULEZ compliant across all cities. MoT till May 2024 (advisory free). Non smokers car. Electric adjustable steering column with easy entry/exit. Wood and leather steering wheel. Electric adjustable foot pedals. 16 way electric adjustable seats with driver 3 position memory. Variable heated front seats. Chrome front radiator shell. Touch screen satellite navigation to UK spec. MPH speedo face fitted. CD multi-changer. Front centre armrest with cup holders. Auto headlights. Auto dim rear view mirrors. Rain sensitive wipers. Electric windows. Electric mirrors adjust. Power folding mirrors. Front & rear parking sensors. Driver, passenger and side airbags. Wood gear selector. Rear heated seats. Traction control. Bi-Xenon Headlamps. Headlamp power wash. Front fog lights. Adjustable suspension for height and comfort levels. New headliner just fitted 

Finished in Radiance Red with a Sand interior, this 2004 Jaguar XJ8 SE is being offered with the benefit of only one previous owner, just 34,000 miles on the clock, and “near unmarked condition inside and out”.

Beautifully presented and stuffed full of toys, ‘LJ04 ZOU’ has been brought up to full UK-spec by the importers who’ve been doing this for years as they’ve come to appreciate the many advantages that come from buying a car that’s spent its life in Japan.

As you can see, with this one.

That aluminium body and monocoque mean no rust but even so, this is a real survivor, isn’t it? With mm-perfect panel alignment, neat and consistent shutlines, and no ripples along the sides it could be half-a-dozen years old rather than sneaking up on the close of its second decade.

Every single detail rings true, from the practically blemish-free alloy wheels that are fitted with a set of matching and very good Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres - and y’all know how we feel about matching tyres by now, don’t you? - through to the chromework, which includes an imposing radiator grille and a pair of door mirrors. 

It all looks terrific, as do the smaller components like the lamp lenses, the windscreen, the side and rear windows, and the badges.

It also sits four-square with an impressive performance-car stance, something the twin tailpipes and a subtle front spoiler also hint at. But, all are discreet. Very discreet. This is a car that whispers to you. It doesn’t feel the need to shout.

As for its flaws (heh, we’ve all got ‘em) the front wheels have the very lightest of scuffs on their rims. Barely visible, you only really notice them because everything else is so good you can’t help but look closer and closer until you find something that isn’t perfect.

Other items for your To Do list are trivial. The ‘XJ8’ badge on the boot is wonky and, well, that’s about it.

As an ‘SE’ you’d have every right to expect the XJ8 to be loaded – and it is. 

Featuring an electrically adjustable steering column with easy entry/exit mode, those up front also get electrically adjustable foot pedals plus 16-way electrically adjustable front seats that include variable heating and a three-position memory for the driver. Throw in a centre armrest - with cupholders - and we can’t imagine anyone not being able to get comfortable.

They’ll feel safe too, as they also get front and side airbags.

The rear-seat passengers get their own heated seats, and other electrically operated goodies in the cockpit include remotely adjustable mirrors with a power-fold function, electric windows all round, automatic headlamps, rain-sensitive wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power-wash headlamps, and front and rear parking sensors. 

It might be Old School luxury these days but it’s still a suite of goodies that does everything for you except drive the car – and with a V8 under the bonnet, who’d want that?

Music is dispensed through an RDS stereo CD player and multi-changer while navigation is taken care of via a touch-screen satellite navigation system.

It’s even still got one of the emergency flares they use in Japan in addition to a warning triangle. 

As for its condition, we’ll let the pictures do the talking – after we’ve reminded you that a light colour like Sand shows up every single mark and blemish, so please feel free to open each photo in a new tab and then zoom in to appreciate how well this Jaguar has been looked after. 

That said, there is a little work to do. The front over-mats could do with a scrub (or you could just pop them in the washing machine if you’re feeling lazy…), the front cupholders are scuffed, there’s a small piece of broken plastic trim (which you can see in one of the photos) and the remnants of something that was stuck to the centre console in the driver’s footwell could do with being removed.

The seller tells us that it is “fitted with standard but adjustable coil springs and shock absorbers so no suspension issues ever again.”

As for the engine, it fires into life with a subdued roar and idles and runs well. The engine bay is beautifully presented, too.

As is the underside. Free of rust and structural corrosion thanks to its aluminium underpinnings, it looks terrific, doesn’t it?

The XJ8’s MoT certificate is valid until May 2024 and you won’t be surprised to hear that it was issued with no advisories whatsoever.

The Jaguar comes with a UK V5 registration document and one key fob in addition to its importation paperwork that shows all UK duty and VAT has been paid. 

The benefits are buying a car from Japan are clear; the fact it is so expensive to buy and run a car there means owners tend to protect their considerable investment with an unusual degree of diligence.

As to value, our guide price is a paltry £10,000 to £12,000 but as it is being offered with no reserve, it might go for even less. 

Still criminally undervalued in our opinion, only the best examples of this flagship model are likely to do well in the future and this is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

So, why not pop in a cheeky bid and see what happens? After all, the very worst outcome is that you’ll find yourself the lucky new owner of one of the finest surviving Jaguar XJ8s on the planet.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET, HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.