The XKR models were Supercharged variants of the original XK8, and their essence rests in its spectacular 4.0-litre V8 engine, but the car's charms go far deeper than its powerplant. The XKR retained the eager yet hushed characteristics that Jaguar have become so well known for but doesn’t compromise its handling for comfort either, enabling a near-perfect combination of the two. Characterised by svelte styling enhanced by its mesh grille, bonnet louvres and subtle tail spoiler, these beautifully furnished cars encompassed the very notion of a grand touring British sports car with a genuine sense of quality. 

This 2002 XKR coupe comes with a full-service history and has seen a handful of careful owners over its lifetime. Finished in a menacing black hue, the car has an excellent mechanical and electrical bill of health and would benefit from a little cosmetic attention to get up to scratch. 

It’s believed that the car has seen a fairly unchallenged and stress-free life under its 5 previous owners, said to be driven by a succession of company directors. Initially ordered new by a customer in March 2002, it was relocated to Surrey and Oxfordshire after a couple of years in Scotland. The car was bought from the sports and classic car specialists Kings Road Garages by the current owner in 2013 and comes with the sales invoice from that purchase. 

The owner has a history of owning and enjoying the XK models and appreciates the style and impressive performance, with its virtues of space and comfort. He kept abreast of the maintenance by using a local specialist to address any issues once they became evident. This has resulted in over £6000 worth of invoices over his nine years of ownership, which crucially cover the key elements needed to keep the cars reliable. After enjoying its considerable charms, he has decided to place the car for sale, due to the recent arrival of an open-top XK8. 

The car comes with its user manuals, CD and servicing booklet, which demonstrates the Jaguar and independent stamps right up to 2013. It has been serviced by a local Jaguar specialist thereafter and the owner has trusted all of the car's maintenance to the same specialist. 

A scan of the invoices includes welding in 2021, preceded by mechanical attention to new sensors, ignition coil and bushes, abs control repair, drop links and bearings on top of regular servicing and the important timing chain tensioner renewal. Several interior issues have been addressed which covers repairs to the central locking along with new headlining. The air-conditioner was also re-gassed. The car has an MOT to October 2022.

The interior shows indications of wear, which may be exacerbated by the light colour of the interior trim, but with a little elbow grease, the cabin could be brought up to a presentable state as the issues appear to be mostly superficial. The key elements such as the dashboard, are in a good state with no significant damage noted on the leather fittings other than a handful of minor scuffs and the cubby box needing a clean. The walnut veneer finishing is well preserved, with no impediments noted on the facia or centre console. 

The dials and controls are in good shape, with all the items said to be functional including the air conditioning which was subject to a re-gas 4 years ago. The car is fitted with a tape/stereo deck and boot-mounted CD changer and a fully integrated navigation system. The electrics are all functional, with no issues with the windows lift operation, seat motors or trip computer reported. The gear selector is in good shape, the steering wheel would be another recipient of a good scrub but is free of deep marks, with no damage to the veneer finishing. 

The seats still retain a firmness with the bolsters still offering acceptable support, but the driver seats would benefit from a good clean and leather treatment. The rear items have minor marks on them but all are rip free. The carpets are complete with mats and show slight wear around the driver's side but could be brought up to an acceptable standard. All were damp free. The headlining is in a very good state, having been replaced just five years ago. The door cards are good with a few scuffs - the driver side would benefit from a deeper clean. The boot is tidy, with no signs of heavy use with dry carpeting. 

The structure of the car is good, having seen recent welding work to address an MOT issue. The underside of the car is solid with some evidence of its age, most noticeably on the lower sills, lower sections of the inside of the wheel arches, along with the lower suspension mounts and lower section of the front crossmember components. These were not flagged up in the last MOT and are currently best described as surface issues. 

The inner wings, floor pan, engine and boot wells are solid. Externally the car is cohesively balanced in terms of appearance, with tightly fitting panels and even panel gaps. All doors open and close with no resistance, with the hinges and struts up to the task. The car is free from significant dents, although there is a cluster of corrosion observed on the off-side rear corner where the wing meets the rear panel - the other side has already been treated and repaired. 

The black paint is even throughout with a decent lustre but would benefit some attention from a paint detailer, the low nose has an expected level of small road chips, with minor paint chips noted elsewhere - all within the expected age and mileage of the car. The car has a number of light scratches but most of the marks have not penetrated into the paint too deeply and again, a session with a specialist will make all of the difference to the presentation. There are additional minor scrapes noted on the bumpers but they hang well with no unevenness. 

The exterior trim is complete and in generally good condition, although both rear arches plastic moulding will need re-adjusting. The rest of the exterior trim have survived well, with no immediate signs of wear, although the rear window finisher has minor blemishes on it. The glass and door rubbers are good, with no signs of water ingress observed. The glass is good, with no lamination damage, although the front screen has a chip in the centre of the panel however it is not flagged up as an advisory. The lights and lenses are good, with no signs of wear or damage. 

The original alloy wheels have been replaced with 19” items, all are in good shape with minor age-related wear and minor low-level kerb scrapes. The front Falken tyres were fitted recently, and the rear Infinity items are less than 5 years old. All are in good shape, with plenty of life in them.

The car is mechanically sound, with any issues in the past having been dealt with immediately. The engine started up strongly with no issues with rattles or hissing noted. The timing chain tensioners were replaced three years ago, which will offer a lot of reassurance to potential buyers. The car idles well, with no undulations of misfires and there was no evidence of engine temperature issues or dashboard warning lights noted. The owner recently used it on a long motorway run and confirms that it pulls as well as it did when he first bought the car. The gearbox is slick, with no reported slippage and there are no issues with unwanted noises from the suspension. 

The steering is taut and precise and the ride is supple and absorbs undulated roads with typical XKR grace. The car brakes well, with no suggestions of juddering or drama. The engine presentation is positive, with no issues observed with the ancillaries or core components. The radiator and hoses are in a good state, but the oil cooler pipe is corroded. The exhaust is in a good state, having seen some recent attention. 

The XKR offers several genuinely unique traits, that very few cars can match. Firstly, the inherent character of the XKR goes deeper than its imposing yet elegant styling and luxurious cabin. The effortlessly sinewy Supercharged V8 power, grand touring comfort and sense of sophistication cannot be matched by anything at this price level. Add the vast numbers of independent specialists and parts support, the XKR cleverly conjures up illusions of grandeur that will only increase as the XKR continues to mature.