2001 Jaguar XKR

This particular pre-facelift XKR is finished in one of the classiest specifications imaginable - metallic green over a beige/tan leather interior, complete with burr Walnut inlays, sumptuous trimmings and an air of high-class motoring about the whole thing.

Purchased by our vendor during October 2017 from the first UK-registered keeper, this 2001 XKR was originally delivered to Japan, before being imported and registered in the UK on 01 January 2001.

Initially living in Windsor, this XKR was street-parked for just over a year, before being garaged at the vendor’s new home for the last 2.5 years. Of particular note is the condition of the car’s chassis and underside, as, upon collection, it was so corrosion-free that the car was almost immediately booked in for a course of Mercosol treatment, which was completed in February 2018 to preserve the condition of this ‘big cat’ and its chassis.

Having proven to be a fun weekend toy or ‘nice weather’ weather commuter car when the situation presents itself, the vendor has evidently enjoyed their time with the car, and it has proven to be a hit with his family also, though sadly the children have now outgrown the snug rear seats, meaning this XKR sees less and less use.

After a ‘swansong’ journey to the fantastic Goodwood Festival of Speed a few weeks ago, this stylish GT car is now up for sale, which is excellent news for one lucky bidder - could it be you?

The set-back cockpit, the long, elegant body lines and the aggressive - yet restrained - front end, everything about the XKR screams performance GT car.

This example is wonderfully straight throughout, save for a notable pin-dent on the offside rear quarter, which was likely gained during the cars street-parked days in Windsor, where it no doubt blended in very well indeed.

The paintwork is generally excellent, also, with only notable marks found on the offside front bumper, in the centre of the front bumper above the grille, and on the two uprights within the ‘mouth’ of the grille. There are, of course, a few other marks here-and-there which are commensurate with the car’s age and mileage, but generally this 20-year-old Jag presents well.

There does appear to be a patch of flat paint on the offside rear quarter, also, though a few passes with a DA or machine polisher should go a long way towards remedying this, should you wish to do so.

Elsewhere, the wheels are in good condition but with room for improvement through a refurbishment, whilst the light lenses are all clear and show no signs of any moisture ingress or damage that we could see, which is excellent news for any Jaguar enthusiasts.

Inside, the luxuriously-appointed cabin of this XKR is in great shape, presenting fantastically for its age and mileage.

The wonderfully comfortable leather seats remain in excellent shape, with the driver’s seat having seen the most use but still only showing minor wear and creasing as you’d expect, whilst the passenger seat and rear seats are in even better condition.

The carpets are in good shape, though the front over-mats would benefit from a through wet vacuum or valet, though they may be easier to simply replace these with new items for a quick refresh. The headliner is nice and taut throughout, with only a minor stain noted near to the headliner light control unit.

Looking around the cabin, there are a few other signs of wear such as scuffs on the outer edges of the dashboard, near the inner door sill covers and on the glove compartment door, but these are all minor and would be easy enough to address, should the next owner wish to do so.

From what we could tell during our short test drive, all of the systems appear to work as they should, in particular the ice-cold air conditioning which was very welcome during a 32-degree heat wave.

Of note is that due to being a Japanese import, the infotainment system is all in Japanese, and the navigation software does not work in the UK, with the screen suggesting that the car is sat in the middle of the ocean!

Potential bidders should note, the car’s speedometer and odometer are still in kilometres.

Upon opening the front-hinged clamshell bonnet, the 4.0-litre AJ engine is presented in its full glory, with the 2.0-litre Eaton supercharger happily perched atop the block.

From what we can see, everything looks to be in good shape here, with no signs of any major leaks or fluid issues. There are a few stains here-and-there, though these could simply be due to old problems which have since been rectified.

Out on the road, the car starts almost instantly and settles into a wonderfully quiet idle. The steering is characteristically light without feeling too disconnected, and the alignment showed no sign of any major issues. The brakes pull evenly, and the gearbox kicks-down as it should and will happily shift up-and-down when necessary, with the supercharged engine giving this GT car an impressive amount of get-up-and-go when requested.

Looking underneath, the corrosion-stopping coating appears to have done its job well, with the chassis presenting very well indeed. We did notice that after our test drive with the air-conditioning on there was a small water leak underneath the centre of the car, though this could be a condensation issue, and the leak was definitely water rather than coolant or oil, so it’s likely nothing to worry about.

The latest MOT exam - dated 12 April 2021 - was a nice, clean pass, which is music to anyones ears, and a great vote of confidence in the condition of this XKR’s underside.

From the car’s time in Japan, there is a sizeable history folder with what appears to be a few condition reports, along with the usual OE Jaguar manuals and service records, again all in Japanese.

However, from the car’s time in the UK, there is a respectable pile of invoices, from both the vendor’s ownership and from the former UK keeper, along with two sets of keys.

The V5 is present showing 1 former keeper in the UK, along with numerous service invoices, including one for £1,243 in May 2019, for a major service carried out by Chiltern Jaguar specialist of Bovingdon, which also included new spark plug seals, supercharger drive belt, cam cover gaskets and anti-roll bar mounts among other items.

The paperwork also shows new lower shock absorber bushes in March 2020, new disks and pads in recent times, and two new front tyres and an alignment in February 2020.

Ideal for long-distance, cross-continental travel or simply for a short jaunt down to the beach or pub, this 2001 Jaguar XKR has aged wonderfully well, and has clearly benefitted from considerate and fastidious ownership over the years, both in England and overseas.

Presenting in excellent condition for its age with room for minor aesthetic improvements, this 4.0-litre, supercharged V8-powered GT car would make a wonderful daily driver or second car for the distinguished driver who enjoys performance, practicality and style, all wrapped up in one wonderfully comfortable package.

As such, we expect this XKR to reach between £9,000 and £12,000 when the hammer falls.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00pm. 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’.