I am trying to keep my car as original as possible. This means not to replace the ashtrays with cup holders.
This is a $2.00 fix!
Go to the Dollar Store and buy two webbed metal cups. These are fine metal cups made from metal webbing. Cut one block of wood the diameter of the ashtray slot when the ashtray is removed. Then cut the block to fit horizontally into the web cup. Bottom out the block of wood in the web cup. Place the cup into a vice and squeeze the cup and block of wood about one inch from the bottom of the cup. The cup will now fit in the ashtray holder and be ready to take a cup slightly smaller than the web cup. The web cup is removable and will hold on to the cup when it is removed, but will refit back into the ashtray slot. Not a perfect fix; but an easy fix!
Another solution is to get a larger plastic cup and screw it to a suitable block of wood and slip the wood in the ash tray holder. Or go to eBay and buy an appropriate cup holder.

 

Or adapt the xj 40 armrest with cup holders to fit the XJS like I did. Looks like its original and with two screws its easy to put the old armrest back.

 

malc4d, I really like your steering wheel. I have a 90 airbag wheel. I thought only Celebration Models had a leather/wood combo wheel. Did you retrofit another Jag wheel to your car?

 

I am trying to keep my car as original as possible. This means not to replace the ashtrays with cup holders.
This is a $2.00 fix!
Go to the Dollar Store and buy two webbed metal cups. These are fine metal cups made from metal webbing. Cut one block of wood the diameter of the ashtray slot when the ashtray is removed. Then cut the block to fit horizontally into the web cup. Bottom out the block of wood in the web cup. Place the cup into a vice and squeeze the cup and block of wood about one inch from the bottom of the cup. The cup will now fit in the ashtray holder and be ready to take a cup slightly smaller than the web cup. The web cup is removable and will hold on to the cup when it is removed, but will refit back into the ashtray slot. Not a perfect fix; but an easy fix!
Another solution is to get a larger plastic cup and screw it to a suitable block of wood and slip the wood in the ash tray holder. Or go to eBay and buy an appropriate cup holder.

 

Malc4d That mod looks great! Where did you find the matching color armrest?

 

Hi Steve. No l bought it from that company Myrtle in the UK. They seem to get mixed reviews about service and quality.
I bought the armrest from Flebay and the doeskin cover from Pauls. I had to cut the back off as its a bit longer than the XJS.

 

Looks really sharp, did you do the double stitch yourself ?

 

Hey if its an automatic and you've got two hands...

They also make a type that slide under the carpet. Some people think its a little weird for your cup to be on the floor but its a pretty straight forward solution. Probably easier to find if you search for a miata.There is also another type I see on some LBCs that hangs on the door from the window.

 

MALC4D liked your modification so much I hopped on eBay and found one from an XJ6 that was in good condition and matched my upholstery. That was the plus! However the Tray compartment and the tray was in shambles. Missing parts and broken parts. I can tell you that Gorilla glue is the best thing I have found to bond plastic. All my gluing is done with sheet brass reinforcement. There are three parts missing that I know of. Two plastic inserts that are about 2 1/2 inches long that have a row of gear teeth and rod. I receive half of one with a long spring.. I think it is used to bring the tray in or push it out???? I plan to put a strip of carpet on each side of the tray to guide it in and move smoothly..Wonder if that will work? The other part missing is one of the Nubs that move in and out in the tray. If you, or anybody, have any tips on this project I would be pleased to receive them.

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...older&_sacat=0

 

When to the Ebay site you suggested, but do not want to pay over $100 to get a cup holder. Think I will press on with my repair of the one I have, I guess I shouldn't complain I only paid $30 for the center console and everything except the cup holder is first class and matches my upholstery. Is it possible that you could give me some info on the gear and spring and its use?
Thanks
Afterburner

 

These work surprisingly well.................

 

I would love this armrest \ cupholder in my xjs but i wouldn't know who to see about making it smaller to fit.

 

So,,, I have 2 xk's... An xkr and xk8. I may be wrong but these are similar if not the same as in my cars - so I'll say this.

I cannot and do not use my cup holders.... The size of the cup holder, the circumference of the slots that hold the container, are too small for almost any beverage I've ever tried to put in it. More, the way that the cup or bottle (which don't fit) sit in the holder is exactly in the way (perhaps it would be different in the XJS layout) of the arm and forearm and the shifter area.

I would imagine any long drive with a cup being in the holder would get a bit crazy-making like having a popcorn kernel stuck in a tooth - it's a small thing but can certainly drive ya nutts. I wouldn't know, I wouldn't even try it in the xk's.

I would google, or look at that area of this forum, to see what people say about this design. Lots of posts in the xk8 xkR subforums...complaints

More than all that, its way over engineered and once it goes wrong, and they do, they are very difficult to ever get right and fix again. Wrong is that it just pops open. Spring loaded. And getting it to latch again properly is like winning the lottery.

If folks try this, pls, hold on to you OE arm rest pad until you are sure this is the right thing.

 

Put the drinks away and drive. Smoke em if ya got em. As Jag intended.

 

Mine came with the folding cupholder on the passenger side of the center dash console. Buy a Porsche 911 cup holder that attaches to the seat bolt. That’s a better option.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20306819287...SABEgKJYfD_BwE

 

in my country many of us use something like this for our older cars without storage places on the centre console

https://www.lazada.sg/products/vodoo...D2S2N&search=1

 

Dude! That's brilliant... I need like four of them. Your idea sent me searching and there are LOTS of things like this or similar... Thanks for this.