2006 Jaguar SOVEREIGN Supercharged

First registered on the 1st of March 2007, the vendor tells us that this left-hand-drive Japan-market Jaguar Sovereign is in a “total originally condition, never repainted and with no corrosion”.

A rare supercharged model, its factory fitted equipment includes a six-speed automatic gearbox, an Alpine sound system with 11 speakers, and double-glazed acoustic glass. Optional extras including a heated steering wheel and both front and rear reclining and heated seats with a rear entertainment system and sunblinds and it has been upgraded with coilover suspension, a canny move that cures the model’s one acknowledged mechanical weakness.

So, if you’ve ever fancied getting yourself an XJR but were put off by their limited interior specification, now is your chance to get your hands on something of a unicorn model that seamlessly combines performance with luxury in a way that few customers appreciated at the time.

The white bodywork looks terrific; white isn’t a colour that suits every car but we think it suits the X350’s lines very well. The original panels and paint are both in good shape too; cars from Japan are usually in an uncommonly good condition thanks to meticulous maintenance, unusually fastidious owners, and an absence of winter road salt. This example is no exception, and the shutlines and dent-free panels deserve a mention in addition to the absence of rust.

The chromework is good, even if the leaper is a little pitted. The badges, light lenses and acoustic double-glazed glass are all good. The latter, along with great door alignment and double rubber seals, contribute to the way the doors thump shut with a genuine premium feel.

Other premium fittings include Xenon headlamps, a mesh front grille, and a set of 19-inch XJR alloy wheels, all of which tread the line between purposeful and flash very successfully. The latter are in a fabulous condition and are shod with matching 255/40R19 Pirelli P-Zero tyres

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, there is a nasty scratch to the nearside lower front valence but given that white is one of the easier colours to match we can see that localised repairs should be both easy and invisible. Please see slide #98 for a close-up photo of this blemish.

The ruched and piped Barley leather front seats are heated and, as well as being electrically adjustable, the pedal box and steering wheel can also be moved using angry pixies rather than mechanical effort. The seat facings are only very gently creased and what signs of wear there are so mild that the seats shouldn’t even be called patinated.

The steering wheel is heated too - and for those of you thinking this is an immutable sign of a society gone soft, we can only say that it is the greatest aid to driver comfort since the invention of air-conditioning…

The rear passengers haven’t been forgotten as their seats are not only electrically heated but have three reclining positions, too. There’s a rear entertainment console in the armrest to stop them getting bored (with 400bhp at their disposal there’s no risk of the driver getting bored…) plus blinds to the front and rear to stop them wilting in the sun.

The door cards are excellent, as are the carpets and dashboard. The extensive wooden trim, which extends to the steering wheel, is all very good indeed. There is also plenty of wooden veneer to the overhead console. Speaking of which, a new headlining has been fitted so there’s no saggy material to worry about.

The speedometer reads in kilometres-per-hour and has been left that way as the vendor can see the car going to Europe giving the driving position. Oh, and the radio is to UK-spec, so picks up the full range of stations.

The boot floor is utterly solid and very well presented. The boot is clean and has a very good carpet lining it. The boot space is home to the space-saver spare wheel, warning triangle, battery, CD multichanger and sat-nav DVD drive as well as the (now redundant) compressor for the original air suspension.

Faults? Well, the one cut key could do with a new battery and the vendor has supplied a new blank key, ready to become the spare. The current sat-nav DVD drive unit does not support EU DVDs, but the vendor has kindly offered to supply a suitable replacement unit.  There is some wear to the carpet in the driver’s footwell but that’s about all we can find to criticise in there.

The Jaguar has been upgraded with a full set of Arnott coilover suspension struts, which are fully adjustable for both height and damper stiffness. Currently set to be low and firm, this upgrade means there is no fear of imminent suspension failure in the future, a well-known fault and one that can cost £700 a corner to rectify...

It has also been fitted with new front suspension bushes and new rear discs and pads. It drives “superbly” and is “incredibly quick!” according to the chap here who test drove it. We aren’t sure but it feels as if it’s had some tuning as it feels quicker than any other similar car we’ve ever driven…

The engine bay is pretty clean and nicely organised, with the underbonnet soundproofing being a real highlight. However, the yang to its yin are the hydraulic bonnet struts, which are very weak and will need replacing, but these are cheap and easy to source and fit.

The underside is as good as any we’ve seen being free of the sort of rust and crud that are inevitable consequences of braving a decade or more of British winters.

The Jaguar’s MOT certificate, which is valid until April 2021, was gained without a single advisory point. It also has some paperwork from its time in Japan.

It still has its original owner’s handbook, book pack and storage wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of these.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The supercharged Jaguar XJR has semi-mythical status; as an ultra-quick, super-saloon capable of destroying continents in a single sitting, it also soothes and cossets as only a Jaguar can.

But, while many appreciated its performance, some felt that a Jaguar should pamper its passengers as well so ended up buying the better-appointed Sovereign instead.

This example, however, offers the very best of all worlds. Ultra-rare (we’ve never seen another) it’s as fast as it is luxurious thanks to its hugely addictive and expensive interior allied to that 400bhp V8 engine.

The aluminium superstructure and body also rules out the sort of rust and corrosion that has killed more big cats that the Trump family combined.

All of which should add up to a suitably impressive price tag. But it doesn’t.

Because, despite this one’s impressive condition we think it’s only going to fetch somewhere between £8,500 and £12,000, which seems like fine value to us even taking into account the car’s left-hand-drive configuration.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.