We only had the XKR in our collection for a short while before passing it on to a new owner in our network. It was an absolute joy to own and run, being used as a daily driver for the most part. Perfect for a couple of trips up and down the UK as well as a run across to Germany and, of course, the autobahns. 

 

What struck us about the XKR was the shear value for money the car gave. It was quite difficult to find in this mileage, unlike its Aston Martin cousin, the DB7. Even so, these Jags can be as little as a third of the price and really give the DB's a run for their money, though the supercharged V8 doesn't have the responsiveness of a NA V12. 

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During our ownership, we had the infamous timing chain tensioners sorted by a good independent specialist in West London. Laughable (and a great shame) that the good people at Jaguar decided to manufacture the tensioners out of plastic to 'save weight' on a four litre V8. A costly job but one worth doing for peace of mind, even on a relatively low mileage car like this. Perhaps a reason why these cars are so affordable still? 

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The sport button below the gear leaver had a staggering effect on the XKR's performance, launching with the full support of an Eaton supercharger in first gear and holding the gears much longer. I've since read that this button also tightens the CATS (Computer Active Tech Suspension) and sharpens the steering. For those that prefer the control of a manual transmission, the J-Gate automatic is an effective way to hold the gears but isn't the most responsive if you're looking for quick changes.

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Overall, we were won over by what a magnificent car you get for relatively little money with the XKR and couldn't help admiring the curves. Beauty paired with a lovely V8 purr earns this car admiring looks anywhere it goes.