Alternative to the Jaguar XK8 XKR cupholder. Secrets of the XK8 Ep 83

We discuss the issues with the admittedly good looking, standard Jaguar xk8 X100 X300 cupholder, and an easy alternative.
The cup holder I use
amzn.to/3bYGwZg
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[@roylythgoe8537]

Thanks John, Not having used my cup holder in my XKR yet did not know I would have come across that problem so 10/10 for that small but highly important information for someone like me only just bought my car.

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Roy

[@geoffmower8729]

I love it when things just seem to be made for it and install easily. Or as my old dad would say.... JUST LIKE A BOUGHT ONE!

[@ToTheGarage]

Good saying👍

[@colino72]

You've inspired me! I have a '98 XJ8. The cup holders are knackered (of course). The flap won't stay closed and they are not really usable. I've ordered the top armrest without them and a pair of the part that you recommend. Perfect!

[@ToTheGarage]

👍

[@ljw5768]

As soon as I changed from a 1998 XK8 to a 2004 XKR I noticed in the later car that storage compartment is nowhere near as deep as shown in your video so this may not work on all cars. I think they've got something extra undernearth the centre console in later ones. (Hifi amp?) Luckily, I do have the cupholder in the armrest and have so far managed to avoid getting coffee everywhere under heavy braking (I buy coffee in shorter cups) or by hitting it with my elbow. Actually, if the drink is resting in the passenger side hole, there is a fair bit of room to use the J-gate withut fouling it.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi LJ W. You have now inspired me to go and find out why the later car cubby is smaller and what lies beneath.

[@billylove5793]

I just devised a similar system last week, except instead of getting a folding cupholder, I cut a small piece of wood to bridge the gap in the armrest storage area...it creates a square cupholder, not incredbly secure, but deep and you can still fully use the whole area.

[@ToTheGarage]

Nice work Billy👍. As they say 'there are anyways to skin a cat'. ( I know the meaning but I never really understood the reasoning behind that saying. Why a cat?).

[@amartosresearch1934]

Is your console cover from another Jaguar? I'd love to take out my standard one with the crappy holders.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi amartos research ✋ Yes mine is. standard, as is yours. The cupholders were fitted. to almost all of the cars sold in the states but were an option / included extra on certain models editions etc. Not tried but I would assume it will be easier to find a nice NON cupholder armrest secondhand (ebay possibly, or a jaguar breakers) than it would be to find a good example of a cupholder armrest. The Cup holders are notoriously flimsy.

[@Andys-Pens]

The cubby on my 2001 XK8 is also very shallow. I do not have the phone and cannot see any internal docking, wiring, plugs, etc. where a phone could be plugged in. So I wonder why it is so shallow? Did you ever find out?

[@ambrosemartos6408]

Hi John. Love the series! Can you tell me if I can put a flat armrest in my 1998 xk8 like the one you have? Is it from an kj8?

[@711honved]

No cup holder in my 2005 XK8. Like you I push bottles down the side of front passenger seat. If I have a coffee I pop it between passenger legs....keeps it hot too!

[@garyvanremortel5218]

Combination cup holder and crotch warmer.

[@ToTheGarage]

Now that is high spec😁

[@gerardbooth40]

Ironically, my X100 has the factory cup holder armrest but my x308 does not. As they are both the same colour inside I might try swapping the armrests over and seeing how that goes. Cheers John.

[@ToTheGarage]

That night be interesting Gerard. I assume but don't Know that the armrest (width etc)s is identical.

[@tennisguy0322]

I do that in my 1980 Maserati Q3 and if you stop hard the top of the armrest comes down and smash your coffee cup and spill coffee all in your armrest...

[@ToTheGarage]

good point🤔 In fairness though, my own cup holder only ever sees plastic water bottles

[@curtiswangrud8748]

I have kept a bath towel in the passenger seat since day 2 to act as a cupholder. Bulletproof.....So far.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

You obviously are a Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe reader. Always bring your towel.

[@curtiswangrud8748]

@@garyvanremortel5218 I have had a lifetime of items spilled in cars. Its almost as if im preparing for the clean up before it happens hahaha.

[@ToTheGarage]

Nice reference GV👍

[@ToTheGarage]

The towel is a Swiss army knife of products. Dryer, scarf, pillow, Kneeler, picnic blanket ,demister and now Cup holder.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

@@ToTheGarage And in the right hands in the locker room, a weapon.

[@Y05405]

Looks good but my XK8 centre console isn't deep enough

[@FirmCat]

You probably have one that had a phone in it. The cubby is much more shallow as there were phone components underneath. You can remove that and fit a deeper cubby.

[@iainbagnall4825]

Lol watching away waiting for the big reveal and its... the exact same cup holder I ended up adding to my MX-5, albeit in a different place. I still dont like it there. I may end up doing a more radical mod of the whole armrest piece itself seeing as I want to use this car as a big comfy supercharged fast beautiful arm chair.

[@Phenrica]

Like the idea unfortunately I’ve got the Motorola phone fitted in mine 😂 so I’ll continue to use the wedge system between the passenger seat and centre console 😉

[@joken-actual]

I must have the phone version (with no phone) because I have about 2cm depth not the bucket that’s on Purdey. I’ll have to investigate removal when it’s warmer.

[@seanmccready9564]

I’ve got the same Jaguar branded Motorola installed phone. Have kept it so the car is original….

[@bruceboucher2134]

Hi John, sadly can't do this my car has an original phone although not used feel it should remain insitu, what do you think?

[@ToTheGarage]

If I had the original phone then I would certainly not remove it. Its too much of a little time capsule. a) a phone with a cord! b) Isn't it illegal to hold a phone handset while driving. Its a fantastic conversation piece in my opinion

[@richardsmith9509]

I had a laugh at your "imaginary" cupholder....kind of silly John. In Canada, drinking and eating while driving have been grouped with cell phone talking and texting: FORBIDDEN....huge fine too !!!!

[@ToTheGarage]

To be fair thats probably as it should be. I tend only to use mine for a bottle of water but if it was not allowed (its allowed in the UK) then I would just stop at a cafe more regularly and everything would be just fine👍

[@dereklaveau1824]

hey john good 2 see you ---fm texas

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Derek

[@TheJVCMan]

already liked it beforehand :)

[@ToTheGarage]

😁👍

[@markguillory281]

love your videos

[@ToTheGarage]

Thanks Mark

[@garethmiles9984]

Cup holder??christ im going back out to look again,i only have the ash tray .or do i??🤔🤔🤔

[@ToTheGarage]

Maybe,, Maybe not😁

[@garethmiles9984]

I solved it john,no drinking in the jaaaaaag ever,!!

[@alanmilton8056]

obviously all the XK8 owners have bought up the stock, currently unavailable on the Amazon link, will check ebay

[@garyvanremortel5218]

John creates a run on the supply chain after each of his videos.

[@alanmilton8056]

@@garyvanremortel5218 maybe we should all have a "whip round" & buy him a bottle of Scottish antifreeze to keep in the garage, for medicinal purposes of course ??

[@swansong007]

I think Jaguar designed it at a "cup holder" which is 1/3rd the height of a bottle of water.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

A cup and not a DD cup.

[@garethdavies7326]

I just inserted (up cycled?) some cassette boxes to create a suitable gap, I’m a cheapskate 😂

[@ToTheGarage]

Hah. Good idea. Before I realised it just fit as it arrived. I was considering attaching the top half of the cup holder to an empty cassette box😁. Might still do so as a way of getting a second cup in there and just for the fun of it. You would have to choose the right Cassette though🤔. Something by Hot Chocolate?

[@granblogismo]

Looking a bit chilly there John! 🤣 Neat solution for the cup holder problem, the fitted ones really are rubbish! Not sure my centre cubby is as deep as that though 🤔 need to check!

[@johnny7296]

Love your videos but please maybe in future a little less talk and a lot more action with all do respect my good man but love your info in videos very helpful

[@ToTheGarage]

Noted!

[@Exemplifiera]

Hey John, is it cold in your garage or are you ill?

[@ToTheGarage]

😁. was 75% Cold - 25% ill Today 90% cold. - 10% ill👍

[@garyvanremortel5218]

Where do I park my whiskey flask?

[@ToTheGarage]

If you got a hip flask with the same format on its bas as a compact cassette box, you could set up a whole bar!😉

[@alanmilton8056]

Wot a wizard idea ! Obviously this unit is a repurposed item with "grooves" for cassettes, remember them ?, and, no player available anyway ??

[@Mariazellerbahn]

Cup holders. They ran out of things to add and decided we needed them. Worst idea ever.

[@ToTheGarage]

🤣

[@swansong007]

I think you are trying to "Guild the lily" with your jags. Chrome bits here. Chrome bits there. Tacky cup holders that Halfords would not ever sale. Jag designers knew what they were doing in those days. Maybe you should just except your cars as they were designed and enjoy them as designed and built by one of the worlds best luxury sports car manufacturers.

[@gerardbooth40]

*accept...

[@garyvanremortel5218]

We call that 'polishing the turd'.

[@gerardbooth40]

@@garyvanremortel5218 personally, I prefer to roll it in glitter. Anyway, stand by for the hate mail for suggesting that our mutual friend’s #1 pride and joy could in any way be compared with a #2!

[@garyvanremortel5218]

@@gerardbooth40 Number 1, I order you to do a number 2.

[@ToTheGarage]

Hi Swansong 007 The point of my cupholder solution is its completely invisible 95% of the time and not even 'installed' The chrome vents were an option on the X358 from new. (admittedly a single part rather than my aftermarket over trims) And yes I do like the 'Blingy rings' I admire people who have very original Jags and their cars. Equally I am first in the queue for pictures when someone says that they have done or are doing a mod to their car. I like the look of the Mk1 'Original' X100 more than the later cars. However I would not say that the later cars had been 'messed' with, or are wrong. They are just modded versions of one of the prettiest cars ever built. Thanks for watching John👍