1998 Jaguar XKR

This car is an original-spec supercharged XKR with just 27,331 miles on the clock – an incredibly low mileage figure for a 25 year old Jaguar, and one that indicates a very quiet life indeed.

The car looks to be original in every way. Its 4-litre, 32-valve supercharged V8 is quite the animal, offering nearly 100bhp more than the normally aspirated XK8, at 370 horsepower and a stump-pulling 373lb-ft of torque.

Mated with a smooth five-speed automatic transmission (with a locking torque converter), the XKR rockets to speed with great enthusiasm and contemporary road tests reported that cruising at 90mph felt like a leisurely drive through the park for the big Jag coupé.

‘Thanks to its slippery aerodynamics, wind noise is minimal, barely a whisper. Virtually the only sound is the rhythmic hum of the fine tuned engine. Squash the pedal and the blower chimes in with characteristic harmony. It's music to our ears’, said Motortrend magazine in the United States.

In true Jaguar tradition, the XKR Coupé is an absolute beauty to behold. The classic silhouette features a sleek and aerodynamic design that exudes elegance and sophistication. From its curvaceous lines to its muscular body, every inch of this vehicle is a masterpiece of automotive engineering.

The exterior is defined by its sweeping curves and powerful stance, while the car's low-slung body is complemented by its elongated bonnet, under which lives the potent supercharged V8 engine that delivers such an exhilarating driving experience.

The XKR Coupé is a modern classic. Its sleek, powerful body and luxurious interior make it one of the most beautiful cars of its era. And this one is in beautiful condition. The dark blue metallic paintwork does have some small paint imperfections – a tiny chip in the middle of the leading edge of the bonnet, and similar small marks on the trailing edges of the doors. There are also stone chips here and there, but the car is clearly very original.

Bearing in mind the car’s age and originality the overall impression is of a car that’s led a cossetted life. It’s not every day we see a modern classic Jaguar in this kind of shape, with this kind of very low mileage figure. With fewer than 30,000 miles on the clock, its mechanical condition is likely to echo the superb exterior appearance.

Large brake discs peer through the original spec Jaguar alloy wheels, which are, naturally, wrapped in performance rubber, and in – as far as we could tell – unmarked condition. This car has obviously been owned by a careful driver, or maybe it lived somewhere without any kerbs.

Regardless of its pleasing handling traits, the XKR is more at home on the open highway or cruising the King’s Road. That said, it’s a Jaguar, and road tests described the handling as extremely lithe for a car of its size (it’s around a foot longer than a contemporary Porsche 911).

A nod to the elegant styling of the classic first-generation E-Type, the XKR draws its fair share of attention and when launched was by far the best looking coupé from Jag in decades. In typical Jaguar fashion, the cabin is wonderfully luxurious, clad in rich leather upholstery and trademark burl walnut trim. This one is a stunning example of the breed, and it’s in beautiful condition.

A pair of stylish front bucket seats are well bolstered and keep you snug behind the wheel. The car does have two rear seats, but you’ll be hard pressed to fit a small child back there, let alone a fully-grown adult, which renders it pretty much useless. Still, style comes at a price – look at the exterior shape again, with that low, sloping roof line. It’s rather pretty, isn’t it.

Factor in a long list of creature comforts and safety features such as active suspension, dynamic stability control, adaptive cruise control and ultrasonic parking assist and this coupé is about as tech-savvy as you can get for a car of this period.

Is there any wear on the driver’s seat bolster – the obvious place to show signs of use? Yes, there are signs of gentle wear, although we suspect a thorough clean and a dose of hide food would remove most of this evidence. Overall the cabin is beautiful.

In the boot the space saver spare wheel looks as though it’s never made any serious contact with tarmac. Some of the plastic trim in here has light marking, but the carpet is in very good order.

Under the louvred bonnet the V8’s twin alloy plenum chambers are in great shape, as are the cam covers and pretty much everything else in the engine bay. It would benefit from a detailing session to bring some of the sparkle back, but we’re nit picking really. Jag know how to make an engine bay look like exactly what it is – the heart of the car, so there are no daft plastic covers hiding the supercharged powerplant.

The car’s underside is in equally good condition from what we could see peeking underneath it. The exhaust system looks fine, and as far as we could tell there’s absolutely nothing to worry about here.

This XKR comes with 10 service receipts and an MoT certificate which runs until May next year. There is an advisory on the MoT that states the registration plates are deteriorating, but the owner has recently replaced both of them. He says:

‘The Jaguar XKR was the top of the range of this exciting successor to the XJS, which was my motivation for purchase. Due to business commitments abroad, the car has covered a very low mileage during my tenure but has been dry stored in a large, heated garage at all times.

‘Regularly maintained on a no expense spared basis, she has proved to be a most reliable and enjoyable conveyance!

'The arrival of grandchildren and the joys of getting older have combined to lead me down the SUV route, hence the sale. The new owner will be acquiring a much loved, carefully used and well maintained example of this iconic Jaguar.’

This is as original an example of a Jaguar XKR Coupé you’re likely to find anywhere. It’s clearly led a cosseted life, and at this mileage is just ready to be enjoyed by a new owner. We estimate that it will sell for £15,000-£20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged and this particular car is currently being stored prior to sale in Kingsey, Buckinghamshire, UK. To arrange an appointment to view this car 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’.