2002 Jaguar XK8

Finished in Topaz with a Warm Charcoal leather interior, ‘VU52 ZHR’ is a low-mileage example of Jaguar’s perennially popular XK8. The seller bought it in 2022 as a retirement present but has now decided to hang up his car keys.

It took him a while to find the right car but, as the owner of a Jaguar E Type, his first action was to place a wanted advert in the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club magazine.

He was swamped with replies including one from James, a member of the club who was selling this one. Our man wasn’t interested at first, but James insisted on bringing it to him for him to look at.

And the closer he looked, the more he appreciated what a cracking example it is, something his local MoT station confirmed when it told him it was “the nicest one they’d ever seen”

So it was that this fine example came to live with his other cars in his air-conditioned garage where it has spent two and a half very happy, but quiet, years.

He’s therefore done all the hard work of finding a good ‘un for you, leaving you free to simple click a button and bid to make it yours – and that’s not exactly digging ditches in the rain, is it?

The Topaz coachwork, colour code SEC, presents very well and while we’ll go into more detail later the headlines are great shutlines, good panels, and a healthy shine to the subtle metallic paintwork. It all adds up to an air of wellbeing that suits the XK8’s role as a high-speed grand touring car to perfection.

The lamp lenses, badges, and window glass are all good, and as for a more detailed analysis of the coachwork, our assessor concluded his appraisal of the XK8 by saying that “the overall exterior and paint condition is very good. It has the usual stonechips plus some light scratches that are visible under a harsh light.”

He also identified the following wear ‘n’ tear: marks and chips to both mirror caps, with a heavier mark on the driver’s side; a scuff mark around the offside rear wheelarch that extends onto the rear bumper; the grey rear window surround has a few chips and some light bubbling; the nearside of the rear bumper has a small scuff next to the exhaust tailpipes; a noticeable scratch on the nearside rear wheelarch; scuffing around the nearside front wheelarch; the front bumper has a few marks around the grille; and there is a small crease in the driver’s door below the handle.

With the exception of a couple of minor chips to the offside rear wheel, the five-double-spoke alloys are in excellent condition. Free of scrapes and scuffs, they are also fitted with a matching set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres, all of which look to have good tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Warm Charcoal cabin, colour code LEG, features vast slabs of highly polished wood supported by equally vast swathes of high-quality leather. Other materials have also been used but only in moderation, and the cabin reeks of the sporting luxury Jaguar made its own.

Its design also marks the end of the Old School because the later X150 cockpit is much more modern – although whether that’s a good thing or not depends on what you’re looking for from your Jaguar sportscar.

This one’s also survived well, but then with only 30,000 miles on the clock that’s not a surprise, is it?

The driver’s seat shows only mild creasing on its outer edge, with every other seat surface in the front and back being in an excellent condition. The seats are suitably plump and comfortable too, and the front ones are heated.

The rear seats are beautifully snug and look very cosy, something your children or grandchildren will love.

The centre console and armrest are also excellent, as are the leather-covered door cards.

The instruments are resolutely analogue but backlit with a soft aqua light. Then result is beguiling and means every nighttime journey will be both adventurous and soothing.

The headlining is taut and free of damage, and the carpets are very good indeed. The walnut veneer trim is also excellent being glossy and free of chips, cracks, and peeling lacquer.

The factory radio/cassette player is still fitted, and it’ll not only stream CDs from the multichanger in the boot, it’ll relay phone calls, too.

The rest of the details also stack up like taut elasticated pockets on the back of the front seats, immaculate stitching on the wood ‘n’ leather steering wheel, and the working boot light.

Speaking of the boot, it’s not only very clean and nicely presented, it is also home to the warning triangle that’s mounted on the underside of the boot lid.

Overall, our chap says “the interior is very smart, the air-conditioning blows cold, and all the other interior electrics appear to work including the seats, mirrors, windows, and steering column.”

As for interior flaws, we noted there is a noticeable mark under the passenger side dashboard next to the glovebox, the headlining has come away from the roof next to driver’s door, and the electric fuel release button doesn’t work but you can still open it by using the manual release lever that’s located in the boot.

The Jaguar’s service history file contains paperwork for the following:

• 01.10.2015 and 25,789 miles – service by Royles Jaguar
• 28.05.2019 and 27,999 miles – service by Swansway Jaguar

In addition to the above routine maintenance the XK8 received a new offside mirror cover and towing eye cover in March 2019, a new passenger headrest motor in September 2016, a nearside rear ABS sensor in August 2015, minor fettling to the door seals and the exhaust system in December 2014, and a new battery in June 2014.

The battery was replaced before the last MoT test.

As the video demonstrates, the big V8 engine fires into life with alacrity, idles well, revs beautifully, and does it all while making all the right noises. The dashboard remains free of warning lights too, which is equally important.

We took it for a quick spin and found it “very pleasant to drive with nothing to note.” That’s assessor-speak for does-what-it-says-on-the-tin.

The engine bay is very clean, and it’s nice to see Jaguar was sufficiently proud of its engineering to let its gorgeous V8 engine peek out from beneath the shrouds.

The turret tops and inner wings look good and solid too, as does the underside. There was a mention of the nearside front suspension mounting area being corroded back in 2017 but there’s been no mention since, so it looks like that must have been rectified.

It’s well protected by underseal, albeit that coating has worn away in a few places. It would be prudent to go over the underside with a wire brush before sorting out any corrosion and resealing it with your unction of choice.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate expired in November 2024. However, it had a clear run of advisory-free passes from 2017 onwards. It is intended therefore that the car will post auction, prior to handover, be submitted for and be supplied with a new MoT. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the XK8 comes with three keys and two fobs plus various bits of paperwork including plenty of old invoices and expired MoT certificates.

This is a low-mileage and well-preserved example of a sportscar that’s flown under the radar for too long. It’s fast, comfortable, and luxurious but still capable of sending a thrill down your spine when you’re in the mood for fun.

This one’s finished in a lovely colour too and boasts a very good cabin; there’s an awful lot to like here, including the fact the last two owners have been members of the JEC.

And the price. There’s a lot to like about estimated price too as we think it’ll settle somewhere between £8,000 and £12,000, which doesn’t feel like a lot for the quality of the metal, leather, and wood you’ll be buying.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.