After deciding my paint is just too flawed even after a serious detail, and the front fenders and bonnet crazing getting worse, I booked my car in for October 14 for a respray.
After a long battle with trying to keep a black car perfect, I've decided to change the color. I looked at three choices.
I had a 95 XJ6 L in stratus grey, LOVED it.
I saw the 95 slate grey XK8 at a car show, very nice.
And looked at an XJS in dorchester grey, stunning.

I think I'm going Dorchester Grey.
Has anyone seen an XK8 that color?

I'll probably go back to black wheels. My painter isn't happy with the finish (I am) so he said he'd repaint for free.

I think my black grille, new Union jack wheel centers and markers will go nicely with the dark metallic color and it will be MUCH easier to keep clean and hide any swirls and such.

 

XJS in Dorchester.
I have until October 14 to decide. But it's same price either way so why not!

 

Full respray Phil, including interior, door shuts etc etc or just the exterior?

A full respray will be quite a bit more I think, but the Dorchester grey is nice.

Presumably some of the XK guys will chime in with their much more experienced opinions shortly.

 

Well, we looked at where to stop and start the color. He will remove the trunk and doors. Not painting engine bay. May be a couple other places we may leave black. He changed my XJS from red to black before and looked awesome!

 

Huh. I wanna see it, but I'm also thinking that's going to seriously burn a hole in your pocket. On the other hand, if money really isn't a problem, you wouldn't mind flying him over here and respraying my car right?

Please please please. I'd be eternally grateful. And in the future, when I'm a neurologist, I'll attend you and your family for free.

 

I've got to paint it anyway just had planned to wait a while longer and respray black. I've also looked at newer XK 07 and later but still about 15k more than I can go. And I've done so much mechanical it's a keeper.
Been putting aside $$ for paint.

 

Haha, lol. I totally get that phil. I feel the same way about mine. I just have no money to do a respray. Maybe after I graduate.

 

Never been took keen on grey for a car till I saw this series

 

philhef,
Dorchester gray looks very nice and would probably blend with your wheels the way they are now, very well. But, I have a question, I've read the dozens of posts of all the things you've done and redone on your car over the past couple of months, when do you have time to work?

 

You could always do like I did and marry into a family with a resident body & paint man (father-in-law).

 

I guess I'm lucky to have my own business. A hand made jewelry business that's been doing well for the past few years. And it's feast or famine as far as work load goes. After a trade show, we're swamped for a few weeks, then down time except for the occasional re order. Until the next trade show. I'm also hyper project oriented. I don't do down time well.
I've got to decide about this new color change though. In the pics, it looks great black but in person, well, lets just say it photographs very well! I'd always planned to have it repainted once all the mechanics were taken care of but keeping it looking half decent in the meantime has me rethinking black. And my Lunar grey XF always looks amazing!
I'm still on the fence but like I said, I have till the 14th of oct!

 

Ok. So now does that mean I have to do a red interior?!?!

 

Haha, too bad I'm not considering marrying anyone until I'm at least 35. That's a 15 year wait for a paint job.

 

Ordered paint today and went a different direction. I saw an Acura today in the MOST amazing color. It's called Grigio Metallic. Somewhere between an anthracite and a bronze. Spectacular!! I'll have all the Dorchester trim painted black. May even swap out my black mesh grille for my stainless grille. It looks amazing with chrome!!

 

This colour was made for the sexy curves of the XK8!!!
OMG! Moderator PLEASE flop pic!! Lol