Hi all,
I'm currently looking out for an XK8 - the only thing is my garage is five inches too short

How many others keep their pride and joy permanently out in the open? I'm thinking particularly the window surrounds which seem to corrode.

I'd be prepared to use one of those top-dollar car covers.
Don't forget, here in merry old England it rains a helluvalot!!

Interested in your comments.....

 

Mine has been kept outside for the past 2 years in the South Carolina heat/humidity and have had no issues. It is washed weekly and detailed every 2-4 weeks depending on my schedule.

 

Mine has lived outside for the last seven years with no ill effects. Removing guano promptly is important though

 

Leave the door partway open so five inches of it can stick out.

 

Mine has sat outside since I have had it about 6 years. The headliner fell and the red dipstick end has gotten faded from sitting under the hood louver, but there have been no other obvious issues from the weather. I keep it clean and waxed and it keeps it looking nice. It just had a foot of snow sitting on it that I just let melt. I don't drive the car every day so it can sit through bad weather.

 

My wife's XK8 sits in the circular driveway just outside our front door the vast majority of the time for the two years we have owned it. As others have said, just keep it clean and waxed and don't park it underneath any trees that drop sap or resin and you should be fine....

 

I Never kept mine outside. In fact. My rubber seal across the windshield header was quite worn and leaked severely in the rain. I suggest that is checked first before keeping it outside. I think new rubber was about $350 or so.

 

i have only had this one a few months but others before and never garaged,just washed and waxed when nec.

 

Mine is garaged at night, but sits out all day at work in the Texas heat. I keep the top up and use a windshield (windscreen?) shade to avoid frying the dash.

Otherwise, just the weekly wash and occasional detail.

 

I don't have a garage so I keep mine under a Shelterlogic canopy.

 

do it!
I live in Wales and she lives outside, at least until I can widen my garage door enough to make getting in regularly an option.

the door trim corrosion is a problem with paint adhesion to the aluminium trim.

Still, I'd advise regular rinsing after winter trips (salt), waxing regularly and getting some form of underseal (like dinitrol) applied - nice and easy if you can get most of it in the garage.

edit: the covers a) have a reputation as a cat magnet (as in the scratchy kind) and b) will grind any dust on the car into your paintwork.

 

In the four years I have owned my XKR, it has never been in the garage. I cover it occasionally, but not to protect it from the elements, but rather to keep several cats from sleeping on the ragtop. Every night a couple of cats sleep on top and shed so much hair that you can barely see the roof. So, every morning I clean the roof and wipe down the car and wheels. It still looks almost new.

Of course, living in Southern California, we're not exposed to much rain, snow, hail...

 

My wifes vert lives outside and yes cats think the roof is a hammock and I use a lint roller to remove the hair....

The only issue I have noticed is the roof attracts algae over a period of time and get a green hue to it but keep on top of the cleaning and you will be fine

As to the trims, rub some silicone grease on them it will make them last longer and help keep the water out

 

Thanks everyone for the answers and pics.
I guess I'm just being paranoid and overthinking everything with the potential XK8 purchase:-)
I'll probably go for a hard top rather than convertable so that might keep the felines off!

 

Hi - i'm in London too - i was looking for quite a few months until the right XK8 with FSH, no dents/issues etc turned up - i'm noticing the prices starting to jump now January has passed.
Nothing decent under £4k now - maybe you'll get lucky - u sometimes see quite good ones at £3.5k but they go fast.
I keep getting asked if i'll sell mine esp seeing as it has an LPG conversion and as a 1998 qualifies for Classic Insurance ... it would break my heart and i'm not sure i could find a better one for the £4.5k it's worth ... (and that's at 147k miles) Good Luck !

 

Clear coat paints are a big improvement from paints many years ago. But rain, moisture and especially the sun are hard on a car.

I'm fortunate my toys are tucked in a shop or garage at home and the wife and I even have garages for them when we're at work.

 

Hi LondonXK8Boy,
Yep it's not easy. I've seen one or two rough ones - also probably being a bit
choosey about colour, wheels etc...
Some weird stuff out there - Cat.Ds, incomplete/no service histories - a lot of dealers
just don't plain know anything about XK8s and want the crown jewels just because it's got low(ish) mileage.
Even so the terrible weather isn't really encouraging me to go out and look....
Never mind, all things come to those who wait!

 

I agree - the dealers want at least 30% more than private sellers. I must say i love my XK8, i also think they really suit certain colours more than others - no to the Green or Gold ones for example - remind me of ol' Lexus Soarers, ha ha.
I think they suit the Blue Metallic and the Silver best - the Red would be good but would have to be totally mint and super shiny - steer away from any with big, cheesy custom wheels - Making a beautiful car look like a Supra from The Fast and The Furious
I just had a quick look on eBay there - i'm glad i got mine when i did.
Everyone has their opinion of course - that's just mine.

 

New bonnet badges cost £90 (less on ebay if you can find them).

This will probably be useful information if you park your car outside in a residential area for any period of time.

 

Go to somewhere like Homebase or B&Q gardening section and get something called Patio Magic. It's an antibacterial mould and algae cleaner. Just dilute as per instructions and spray it on with one of those garden spray bottles and leave it to dry, no need to scrub or rinse off. It will kill any green stuff and stop it reappearing.

I dont have a soft top but use it on my boat covers. As far as I'm aware there's nothing harmful to metal or paintwork in it but try to avoid any overspray anyway.