Searched, did not find what I was looking for.

Looking for an XK8 Coupe, but due to most of the cars available being 300+ miles away from my area, I'd like a sense of the color combinations, particularly the interior colors before getting on a plane to look at a car.

My ex wife had a light blue 1997 XK8 with a light tan interior about 10 years ago. It blew up, but now we know about the tensioner problem.

I'm partial to black cars, but the black XK8 interior looks odd to me with the burlwood. I'll try to find one local to look at. (Is there any difference between "black" and "charcoal" interior colors?)

My question is: what are the interior colors, and if you have opinions on what combinations are favorites or combinations to avoid, I'd love to hear them.

Favorite current combo would be black exterior with the same tan interior I had before. Warmer interior colors I think go better with the wood.

If anyone is local to the San Francisco Bay Area and would let me look at colors in their car, I'd be delighted.

Thanks!

 

I have two Jaguars, an XJ8 (Sport) silver with the light interior (I think it's called either bisquit or oatmeal), and a Carnival Red (really a burgundy color) over black XKR convertible. Without question the black interior is the nicer of the two. First of all, for whatever reason, every light colored Jaguar leather interior I have ever seen that is more than a couple of years old has cracks all over the leather finish, not necessarily in the leather but in the color of the finish including mine. The black simply looks better longer and does not crack as much. It's funny but I specifically would not have bought my 2002 XKR no matter what condition it was in 3 years ago had it been the light colored interior. Now some exterior colors like light blue might look a little harsh up against a black interior, and maybe white or champagne as well, but any of the other colors I like with the black interior best. Carnival Red over black, silver over black, or Phoenix over black would be my top 3 choices.

 

The available colors vary some according to the model year. Black and tan is a hard one to beat. A customer of mine has a coupe with that combo, and it's really a fine looking automobile. For me, the wood coloring was also a big factor. I tend to prefer the later wood choices over early model cars. And you do make a good point about the Oatmeal colored interiors. They seem to wear quickly, or at least "show" age more readily. But, if you buy the car right, you can install brand new front seat leather. It's not likely the back seats have seen much use!

 

Our 2005 S-Type has the Dove (light grey) leather. Our 2006 XK8 has the Cashmere (tan) leather. Both cars were built in May 2005....

I believe the Dove leather will look better far longer than the Cashmere leather will. It shows far less dirt/grime and cleans up better and faster. I use an old cotton diaper with mostly water and a small amount of saddle soap to clean both leathers, then spray them with regular ol' Lexol, then buff them with another old cotton diaper. I do this three to four times per year....

One caveat worth noting: I bought our S-Type in December 2008 when it was 3.5 years old. I bought my wife's XK8 in February 2012 when it was 6.75 years old. So the S-Type has been under my personal leather care program for much more of its lifespan than the XK8 has. I'm sure that has made some difference because most owners do not properly care for their leather, particularly if the car is a lease....

 

I guess thats why they make chocolate AND vanilla ice cream. I had a '99 xk8, silver with black interior. Beautiful car. I don't think it would have looked near as good with a light interior, HOWEVER, it was a pain to keep clean and required vacuuming EVERY DAY! Somehow to me black interiors don't look as clean as a light color.
My current '06 is Pacific (dark) blue with the light interior. I like it 10 times better than the dark. The wood is quite dark compared to the '99 and really looks good against the light interior.
In my opinion, black with tan is the most beautiful combination possible!
2x

 

On cloudy days British Racing Green looks like Black.

 

I hope it's ok to post these links...
Jag-lovers brochures - a 2001 Model Year XK Series Brochure

Jag-lovers brochures - the 2004 X-Type Estate UK brochure

The second link is for the XK not X estate...no idea why it came up like that.

 

I am partial to BRG with tan interior

My dream car, found 12 years old, with 18k miles, in rather nice shape

 

BR Green is beautiful as well. They seem a bit more scarce than the black and dark blue. I also like the copper like (dont know the correct name) color with tan but they are very rare. I've only seen a couple.
2x

 

This will be Copper Black only available on Final Series / Victory models.



Probably the rarest colour out there.

Graham

 

While I do like the Copper Black, after some searching I was referring to Roman Bronze and it appears it was only offered in '01 and'02.
I love that color with Cashmere interior.
2x

 

Ophito -

Photos below are Anthracite Pearl Metallic (PED) over Cashmere (SDZ) on a 2002 XK8. As to the lighter leather showing wear versus black, I believe it (like many other things on these autos) depends on the previous owner. This is a 100k+ mile interior and looks almost new (although I do need to clean up the top of the center console!)

Happy Hunting,
Steve

 

On my second xk8, both black interiors. The tan interior looked disgusting to me. Maybe the dove grey is better, but I am partial to black. First car was silver, now white.

 

Below is Carnival Red with Ivory interior. I agree with all comments regarding light colored leather. It shows cracks and unless you clean dillignetly they will be dark. Carnival Red is outstanding on a Convertible but I'm not so sure in a coupe. If I were looking for a coupe it would be black on black.


Click on image to enlarge

 

Here is the full range of available trim combinations by Model Year:



And for completeness, the Paint options by Model Year:



MY in the UK runs from August. For imported vehicles in the US, it's the year in which they are documented.

Although the last XK8 cam off the production line on 27th May 2005, these were correctly sold in the US as 2006 MY.

Graham

 

Here is my 1998 XK8.. Just for a comparison.

 

My car is the black and tan, and I like it just fine. The driver's seat has the cracks and some wear, dirt shows up on the console. There's also mild road rash. Not being a show car, it's all good. At least the seats stay fairly cool in the sun.

 

Wow, thanks for all this great info.

Found an outstanding example of Black with Tan interior coupe. Seats look great, some have been re-covered. Car looks like almost new. Will post pictures when I get it home.

 

Where's Pacific Blue (dark) ?
Not on list but on my car and many others???
2x

 

It on the list in post #15 now.

I shouldn't have missed that one. Here's my last XK8!



Pacific Blue.

Graham