I've never actually jumped into a car and wished for it to have cooled seats am I missing some sort of experience here ???

 

Interesting reading the above responses. I very much like white cars, and in my opinion, ironically, they tend to stay clean looking longer than black cars and even my red car. Gray, silver cars do not stand out in my mind, and tend to fade into the background. I have never been a fan of silver or gray cars. I live in a very hot place and do not have cooled seats, though I can see where that may be a nice feature. I do like the heated seats especially when my back hurts.

Relative to your decision, I think you can't go wrong either way. (I would of course choose the white, and also a convertible). Good luck with your hunting!

 

In hot areas, I've enjoyed it. I had a triple black Mustang GT Convertible in southern california for a rental earlier this year for work. VERY NICE to have. Remote start the car and it's on cooling the seats and getting the air going.

 

BTW, the silver one has the same seats, just not the diamond stitching...

 

Funny how opinions differ. All a good read though.

I agree, you can't go wrong with either. I have 2 white cars, had another white car before for 28 years, and also have 2 silver cars now. The silver cars look the least dirty but white is also a car that also hides light dirt/dust very well. Although I am partial to white, especially on the XK body, the silver looks fantastic. And yes, around here, white and silver cars are the majority by far (in overall cars, not just XKs).

I'd take into account (next to personal preference) the miles, the service record and the previous ownership and then pick one.

Oh and cooled seats might not be an issue in the UK but here in the south west US, they are very helpful!

 

Visually, the white is better. I like the wheel pattern better on the white as well. Not a fan of the fake allen bolts on that wheel design.

 

The link below shows that you are talking out of your proverbial nether-regions when it comes to a temperature comparison....which I knew anyway

https://www.enz.org/nz-climate.html

 

When going over both cars be sure to spend as much time as possible in both types of seats. I for one (and some others) have found the sport seats to be much less comfortable than the standard seats. If you are going to be spending the next ten years in that seat, make damn well sure you find it comfortable!

 

Oh, decided on the white, all paid for and being delivered

What sold me is it seems to be Dynamic R spec...although it's not a Dynamic R???

The jaguar invoice shows

£1295 for Active Sports Exhaust
£2000 for performance seats
£400 for reversing camera (seriously do you have to pay extra for this option?)
£800 for vortex alloy wheels
£90 for black brake calipers
£500 Speed limiter 174mph
£400 New supercharged suspension
£300 suede headliner

Did notice that the tyres were mismatched, all seasons on the front and standard pirelli's on t'rear, defo noticed this when I 'took off 30-60 and the back end started to drift...so was a memorable test drive

Have already order a set of Michy PS4's to deal with this.

I must say that the exhaust tips were much lager than normal 2012's I've viewed and moreso than the silver that I also viewed today...which had no extra's

Saw the original Jag invoice which was circa £84k GBP!!!

 

I only intend to do 5k miles per year in it, and on my short test drive it seemed just fine as I set a car up before I set off

 

Either would have been great (I had silver and preferred it to white) but maybe white is a bit sportier these days? The wheels dont flatter the car though, they look like they came off a Lexus. Perhaps some Vorsteiners in your future? I got some for mine, they are light as and give a great ride even on 21"s. I'd also get some black bonnet vents, though no-one accused me of being tasteful.

 

silver for me

 

I've already ordered a set in primer from Jaguar for £71 each to do just that, I tried a couple of breakers and they wanted £120 for a pair and thought they were doing me a favour??

Am I the only one that won't pay more than 50% of the new price for used?

My local paint sprayer (who incidentally was the painter trainer/assessor for Aston at Gaydon) has said he can do them for £40 plus £50 to fill and respray the lowest part of the bumper (which has the number plate holes) and apply my stick on number plate

 

Considering that there were different tires on the front I would have a 4 wheel alignment done when you get the new tires. As for the differences in the seats that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. The color was the main factor in my search. It took me about 6 months to find one. When I looked the only colors of the 100 or so cars I looked at were White , Black , Silver/gray. Good luck.

 

Yep, already thought of, 4 wheel alignment and air-con recharge being done next Friday, price for both was less than £90 with a Groupon discount

 

I actually spent the first 40 years of my life in the UK (Sussex and Nottinghamshire) and the last 14 years in New Zealand (Christchurch) so I suspect I am more qualified to judge than you

I also drove an XKR without cooled seats for 5 years and have had my current one with cooled seats for nearly a year so have some experience in this area.

Anyway, that site you linked to says this ""Dunedin’s daytime temperatures are similar all year round to those found in the south-west of England, but Dunedin is a bit drier and its nights are a bit cooler."

In case you weren't aware, New Zealand is comprised of two islands and there is a big range of temperatures from the tip of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island. I live in the South Island and we typically see temperature ranges similar to the south of the UK.



I know Cardiff isn't in Somerset but I couldn't be bothered to waste too much time on this but the temperatures ranges look pretty similar to me:




When I get in my hot car after a hard day at work it is nice to be able to cool the seats down. I also tend to drive with the windows open over the summer so that I can enjoy the exhaust sound. The aircon therefore isn't as effective so the cooled seats hit just the right spot.

 

Wow, someone was desperate to mimic a Dynamic R. The on road cost for one of those was only £69,950!

And the only options left for a Dynamic R were:

20" Vulcan Gloss Black finish alloy wheels – £515.00
Adaptive Front Lighting with dynamic pivoting headlamps and integrated cornering lights – £440.00
Piano Black Veneer – No Cost Option
3-spoke Heated Sport Steering wheel, trimmed in Jet Suedecloth with 'R' badge in lower spoke – £500.00
"R" – Carbon Fibre Engine Cover – £1,295.00
Air quality sensor – £55.00
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System – £410.00
Universal Garage Door Opener – £310.00

 

Congrats Marky I'm with you on this one !!

White car Black inserts diamond stitch interior just perfect !!!

 

steve_k_xk,
A few months ago, I wanted to redo the entire interior of my 1972 De Tomaso Pantera in leather while it was being restored. I purchased two 1984 Corvette seats (one of the few that are narrow and short enough to fit in the Pantera tub). I purchased some very nice black leather on ebay. I paid $400 for the Covette Seats, I paid under $400 for the leather skins, and I took everything to my longtime furniture upholsterer. For $800 he diamond stitch quilted the seats in red contrast thread and did the arm rest/door pulls and door panels all in a matching pattern. If you're talking just the seats, it would have been less than a $1000.00, labor and materials. Look at the attached pictures and see. Tomorrow evening or Wednesday morning, I'm hopefully getting the Pantera back after a number of false delivery dates, and I'll take pictures of everything installed.

 

And by the way, the Corvette seats were torn to shreds before we re-upholstered them.