2008 Jaguar XKR

Listed here is a 2008 Jaguar XKR Coupe, a zero-former-keeper car that’s been with its original owner since day one. It was tastefully specced with some nifty optional extras, more of which we’ll cover below. It has done a little more than 66,000 miles and is complemented by a detailed service history, original invoices, etc. The overall condition of the car can’t be faulted; it’s exceptionally clean for its age but not without light wear and some surface rust underneath.

The 2008 XKR came with a supercharged 4.2-litre V8 engine, which made about 420 bhp. That is by no means a small figure, and even now it’s certainly more than enough for everyday use. With just 5 seconds to reach 62 mph from a standstill, it can easily keep up with the modern metal, too. Its wide range of talent doesn’t just end there, either. When new, the modern underpinnings (for the time) meant the XKR behaved rather well on the road, further aiding its GT appeal. That can still be appreciated a decade and a half later.

At the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, Jaguar showcased what was called the Advanced Lightweight Concept. It looked marvellous, showing that Jaguar was ready to make its presence in the modern GT space known. And it did indeed; the car was brought out as the all-new Jaguar XK a year later. Designed under the direction of Ian Callum, the X150 Jaguar XK would, with multiple updates and various models, go on to be the only Jaguar sports car/GT in the line up until it was replaced by the F-Type in the mid-2010s. Now, in 2021, the XK doesn’t look that old, and despite dividing opinion when it comes to looks, it is a fine-looking car that has enough power to ensure that the one in the driver’s seat never loses the grin.

This 2008 example is no different. In fact, with just one owner from new, who’s kept it in good condition, the aforementioned grin isn’t likely to go anywhere. It’s finished in Lunar Grey, which does give it a subdued presence, but for many, that’s part of the appeal. The vendor mentions that this XKR is in generally excellent condition, inside and outside. The wheels, he adds, will benefit from refinishing eventually; they aren’t bad at all, but this will bring them in line with the ‘excellent standard of the body’. It’s a 15-year-old car, so it’s not surprising to see scratches inside the door handles. It is astoundingly clean elsewhere, except for a few stone chips.

Jaguar didn’t launch the XK to be an outright sports car but rather a fairly luxurious GT, and that’s evident from the way the cabin is laid out. The use of high-quality material is a clear giveaway but also the design and choice of materials; one could opt for wooden appliqué or titanium/metal. At the front, the seats are comfortable and supportive, and with the rear seats used for luggage (because grown-ups wouldn’t appreciate it in there), one can fully appreciate that there’s no lack of luggage space in the XK. The hatchback eases loading things into the boot, too.

This XKR was specced with some extras which make it more appealing than standard cars, especially now. The first thing that one would notice about it is the black interior, which the vendor felt looked great with the grey exterior. The dashboard has piano black and aluminium trim, while the extras include six-way adjustable seats and full leather trim. As can be seen in the photos, the cabin looks good. The steering, door cards, carpets, headlining, and various buttons are all okay, the dashboard is nice and clean, and the front seats, while not tired, do have signs of use, much like the gear lever. The boot, like the rest of the cabin, is spotless; and it houses the spare wheel and the toolkit.

‘Not only does the XKR have rear seats for small children or extra luggage room but a large hatchback rear door that will swallow a large suitcase and several smaller bags with ease. Perfect for a long trip or the Tesco shop,' says the vendor.

Based on an aluminium-intensive platform, the XK was remarkable in a lot of ways. It was lighter and had more chassis rigidity than the preceding XK8 which had a steel construction. There were just two welds in the entire car, and the body panels were made of aluminium, too. Until MY2009, the engine choices included naturally aspirated and supercharged versions of the 4.2-litre AJV8 with a ZF automatic gearbox. The benefit of the lower weight and added performance was evident in the XKR, with the supercharged engine producing a claimed 420 hp and helping the XKR reach 0-62 mph in about 5 seconds.

This zero-former-keeper example has done about 65,000 miles in 13 years, out of which, it was used as the main car for just four years. The owner says it was stored inside during winters but generally parked outside in summers. He adds that it drives very well and that its ‘engine is very strong and free from any unwanted noises and consumes no oil between services’. The condition of the exterior and interior both is the car’s strong point, but there’s some surface rust underneath, which has been pointed out in the MoT and needs to be treated.

This Jaguar XKR was registered in March 2008 and has been with the same owner ever since. It has a Jaguar service record, with only the latest service done at a local garage, says the vendor. During said service, brake lines, and rear discs and pads were changed.

It has 66,250+ miles on the odometer and can be verified with the MoT certificates/DVLA data. The previous MoT certificates show a mix of results, with some advisories, too. For instance, the current MoT, valid till June 2022, has three advisories, all related to corrosion: on both the rear springs and rear subframe. The latter is said to be corroded but ‘not seriously weakened’. The accompanying paperwork includes the aforementioned service record, previous MoT certificates, and old invoices.

Jaguar’s long history of making sports cars will be incomplete without the X150 XK. It was a good car when new, and it remains one now, fifteen years after its launch. Nothing that made it a good GT has changed, and now can be a good time to buy and relish one before we witness a sharp increase in the values of these. For everything that the XKR does, it’s worth every penny. Especially when it’s a good example like this 2008 XKR, which is estimated to be between £14,000 and £20,000.

With just one owner from new, this well-maintained XKR has a lot going for it, like the overall near-pristine condition, good cabin, detailed paperwork, just 66k or so miles, and likeable spec, which includes leather trim, black interior, cornering lamps, six-way adjustable seat, etc. The surface rust does require attention, but everything else is just about perfect. Exactly like the XK, actually; it got so many things right that it got forgotten a touch too quickly. A step up from the XK8 and possibly more charming than the F-Type, the XK might be more than a decade old, but it doesn’t show. It’s timeless, like how Jaguars ought to be.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.