2013 Jaguar XKR

If you’ve ever fancied a Jaguar XKR but have been put off by the perils of indifferent maintenance amplified by the damage a dozen British winters can wreak, then we’ve got just the car for you.

Finished in Rhodium Silver, the cabin is trimmed in Charcoal leather and the fabulously named) Pistol Grip aluminium pack. A 2013 Jaguar XKR, ‘LF62 LCG’ comes to sale straight from Japan, a country renowned for treating its cars properly – and not using salt on the roads.

The result is a car that displays “zero corrosion” according to the seller. It’s also in “totally original condition, is virtually unmarked, and has a full service history.” It is also ULEZ-compliant and outfitted to the full UK specification.

Hyperbole or fact? Let’s find out, shall we?

Obviously, its aluminium construction rules out the sort of widespread rot and rust that killed so many Jaguars in the past, and yet alloy can still corrode although not on this one.

Recently polished and ceramic coated, the colour gives the XKR a hewn-from-solid look the ultra-sharp shutlines reinforce. Jaguar had had seven years to get its eye in by the time it built this one, and that experience shows.

The coachwork is further enhanced with the ‘Dynamic R’ styling package and other exterior treats include Active Headlamps. The seller has also fitted the full-size, UK-spec numberplate plinths.

The 20-inch Nevis alloy wheels – 8.5-inches wide at the front and an inch wider on the rear axle – are not only resplendent with no dinks, scrapes or other damage, they’re also fitted with matching Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres.

As with the width of the wheels the sizes differ with the rear sitting on 275/40ZR20 and the front resting on 255/35ZR20. Jaguar did the job properly in the first place and it’s nice to see it’s been maintained with the same diligence; we will never get tired of telling you that 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.

The design of the wheels also allows you to admire the upgraded braking package with its grey calipers.

As for flaws, our in-house assessor was being very picky when he inspected the car, identifying the following: a couple of really light scratches on the front nearside wheelarch that most people wouldn't notice; some crazing to both headlight covers; a tiny mark in the middle on of the passenger door; a touched-in chip and small scratch on the offside rear wheelarch; a couple of light marks on the edge of the driver’s door and a small chip at the bottom; and a tiny touch-up next to the driver’s door.

He concluded his examination by saying that “it is a very clean exterior with the usual small stonechips and some light paint swirling to some panels if the light catches it right.”

Boasting the extended Ivory leather trim with the Autolux console, ‘R’ Racing leather finish, contrast stitching, and ‘Pistol Grip’ aluminium pack, the interior of this XKR balances luxury and sportiness as well as any model we’ve ever seen.

It’s survived well too, shrugging off 13 years and 66,000 miles more lightly than most, but then that’s Japanese curation for you.

As well as being luxurious and sporting, the toys it boasts are impressive and include heated and cooled front seats with 16-way electric adjustment, sports rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and an Ebony suede headlining.

The premium sound system includes Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a multi-slot CD player, eight high-performance Bowers &

Wilkins speakers with chrome bezels, and an inbuilt navigation system that’s been updated to feature UK maps.

The radio can obviously access the full spectrum of British stations, and the changes to bring it to the same specification as a British car includes a MPH speedometer.

Technology includes keyless entry and start, a rear-view camera, and auto-dimming rearview mirror in addition to the usual suspects like full climate control, and electric mirrors and windows.

The boot is very clean and home to the space-saver spare wheel, tool kit, and hazard warning triangle.

As for flaws, our man reports that “the overall interior condition is very good. Some of the window switches and the central dash buttons have started to go sticky and have faded but the air-conditioning blows cold, and all the interior electrics appear to work.”

The ’gummy button’ problem has been an issue with many manufacturers, and the Internet is awash with suggestions on how to fix it.

The XKR has a full service history, something that’s usually hard to prove with Japanese cars as they take GDPR so seriously they tend to remove any paperwork that has a previous owner’s details on it.

This example is also showing 66,000 miles on the odometer, a figure that’s supported by a mileage verification certificate as well as the aforementioned paperwork.

As you can see, the supercharged five-litre V8 engine starts with a subdued snarl, howls when provoked, and leaves schoolchild bleeding from their ears in its wake.

The seller reports that it drives “like new”; our man is more reserved, but given he reports that “it drives well with no faults that we noticed” means we’re actually probably aligned on the subject.

It is due a service though, so you should factor in the cost of that into your bidding strategy.

The engine bay is as impressively clean as every other aspect of the car, and we can’t see many people finding a need to improve and clean it further.

As for the underside, we’re constantly amazed at how well cars from Japan survive – and how strong is the contrast between them and cars that have lived through a dozen or more British winters.

With an aluminium frame structural corrosion is never going to be an issue but the fact the steel fasteners, brackets, and other components aren’t crusted

and seized with rust is a revelation that your local garage will thank you for every time they service or repair it; we often see a surcharge on invoices for having to spend extra time removing rusty nuts and bolts, but we doubt the lucky new owner of this XKR ever will.

Top tip: If you apply a Waxoyl or Lanoguard coating the underside will stay this good indefinitely. It’ll be a small investment, but one we’d urge you to consider given how clean it all is under here.

The XKR’s MoT certificate is valid until October 2024 and, as you’d expect of such a well-maintained example, it was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and it comes with one key fob.

Its history file includes the owner’s handbook and book pack, the jaguar wallet, a mileage verification certificate, and the full service history.

There’s also an invoice on file for £1,500 for polishing the Jaguar and adding the UK-spec components, which is a nice touch that enables you to see exactly what’s been done.

As we mentioned before, it’s ULEZ-compliant, will cost you just £345 a year to tax, and you shouldn’t face any loading on your insurance premium either.

If you like the idea of owning a classic car but don’t want to run the risk of dodgy reliability, poor brakes, so-so performance, and period accident safety then a modern classic like this might be the car for you.

As fast as any sane person needs, it handles beautifully, stops on a penny, makes the nicest noise this side of Senna’s F1 car, and offers pretty much new car reliability for the same money as a well-fettled MGB.

How much money? Well, we estimate the new owner will pay somewhere between £16,000 and £19,000, which is pennies on the pound compared to what it cost its new owner – and no premium on the slightly down-at-heel examples you’ll find lurking under the railway arches…

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.