2007 Jaguar XKR

This is a one-owner vehicle that comes to us from the executor of the late keeper’s estate. It was bought new in 2007 by a gentleman in Northamptonshire on his retirement. He then used it sparingly for weekend trips and days out, adding only 21,000 miles before his death in 2019.

Since then, the car has been unused except for a trip to a Jaguar specialist to sort out an ABS fault by replacing a rear wheel sensor. When we received the car, the fault warning light was still showing so it’s possible the specialist failed to cancel the fault code or that the fault has recurred.

The specialist replaced the battery, ensuring protection from the many minor electrical gremlins that tired batteries can cause on these cars. They also performed a service and an MoT. The car is with The Market in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, running and driving well and ready to go – any inspection is welcome.

This XKR presents extremely well in silky silver-grey, looking as you’d expect a car to look after such a low mileage. The exterior surfaces aren’t absolutely spotless – you can find the odd small stonechip if you look really hard – but we couldn’t see any sign of bubbling that might suggest aluminium corrosion, nor any dings or dents in the swooping panels.

The lamps, front and rear screens and door glass are all undamaged. The car rides on very smart 20-in alloys, shod with Dunlop Sport Max tyres in 255/35/R20. You could improve the shine of the few strips of brightwork with a bit of metal polish, but as you can probably tell, we’re struggling to find anything to criticise! It’s in very nice condition all round.

For us, this is the best XK interior of the lot: we have charcoal hide, the J-gate for the ZF six-speed auto (plus paddle shifters on the wheel) and some unusually dark and handsome walnut veneers. These cars could also be specified with brushed aluminium panels that were meant to call to mind Series 1 E-type dashboards, but which created a rather anodyne, modern environment.

What we have here is a lovely mixture of tradition and clean, ergonomic design, and it’s all in excellent condition. The driver’s seat is just starting to mellow in comparison to the nearly new-looking passenger seat but has no damage or wear that needs attention. Both seats are heated and have memory settings for their electric adjustment, plus a rotary dial to set the amount of side-bolster support. Probably quite an advantage if you choose to throw this very fast and capable car through the bends.

There is climate control and sat-nav, and while the latter might not be up to 2021 standards it does appear to work. That screen also gives you a visual warning for the parking sensors. The ‘R’ logo’d gear stick is one of the only areas showing signs of use, though it’s not deeply marked.

In the Jag’s surprisingly capacious boot, which is kept safe from prying eyes by a parcel shelf in the tailgate, you’ll find a floor with metal runners – very 1960s! Under this floor is a space-saver spare, jack and tools, and under that, an immaculate spare wheel well without any trace of damp or corrosion. Very un-1960s!

Although the car has hardly been driven for two years, it starts and runs very smoothly thanks to the new battery and recent service. There is surface corrosion on the brake discs which needs to be worn off by a good thrash, but other than that, we found nothing of note – no nasty noises from engine or running gear.

A few steel fixings in the engine bay and underneath the car are showing surface corrosion, as are the long trailing members leading diagonally out to the sills. Structurally though, the sills, floors and everything else seems blameless, as only an aluminium platform can.

Exhausts, cats and heat shields all appear intact and though the underside isn’t spotless like the topside and interior, it’s in keeping with a 14 year-old car. The engine bay, likewise, is clean and tidy rather than the subject of obsessive detailing. Most of the interesting stuff, including that Eaton supercharger, is hidden by a large plastic cover. We found no sign of drips, leaks or oil mist.

We think this XKR is equipped with Jaguar’s optional Computer Active Technology System – see the cables emerging from the strut tops – and these special dampers are reckoned to last about 60,000 miles. So plenty of life to come with only 21k on the clock.

There is currently an ABS light showing on the dash - this seems to be a recent recurrence of a fault sorted before Christmas by the vendor. He has contacted the specialist who did the ABS repair and MoT, E&E Services of Milton Keynes, and they have agreed that if the problem is due to the sensor they replaced, it will be covered under warranty. However, without getting the car to them for investigation we cannot be sure if another sensor has failed or not.

History is limited to a recent MoT (advisories only for slight corrosion to the brake hose ferrules) and the service booklet. This shows scheduled services from Guy Salmon Jaguar of Northampton at 4290 miles, then 8295; 10,605; 13,738; 16,044; 18,792 and most recently at 21,369 miles from an independent specialist in December 2020.

There is a V5C showing the car’s new registration number – an 07 plate. The private plate shown in the photographs is being retained by the family. ‘Number of Former Keepers: 0’ is always a nice thing to see on a logbook!

There is just one key, with a ‘leaper’ mascot on the fob.

This is a great time to buy an X150 Jaguar. They’ve done most if not all of their depreciation, especially those single-owner cars with low mileages and great specification, like this one. It’s a perfect example of the kind of car that buying guides will tell you to seek out if you want it to rise in value like a modern classic.

Then there’s the on-road experience: it’s as fast in real-world conditions as anything short of an out-and-out supercar, but unlike some pancake-flat Lambo or Ferrari it’s also deeply comfortable, practical, relaxing and discreet. If you don’t need to carry more than one passenger, you could run it quite happily as an only car.

We think it will sell for £16,000 to £22,000. That’s towards the top end for a 4.2-litre XKR, but you won’t find another one at this money with such low mileage and single ownership. It’s also one of the best cars Jaguar ever made, a fact that’s dawning on a market in which modern classics are increasingly holding their values better than traditional ones.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us near Abingdon. We are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, 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’.