2008 Jaguar XKR

Description

Looking at this gorgeous 2008 Jaguar XKR convertible, we're reminded just how much A-list performance and luxury you can get just by buying second-hand. Nobody will care that it's a few years old, they're simply going to think you're a player. Better yet, for the price of a 2-year-old Honda, you can have one of the most entertaining convertibles anywhere. That's really having your cake and eating it, too!

Of course, if you're going to have a Jaguar cruise missile like this, it really should be black. For a car that was knocking on the $100,000 door when it was new, the paint is absolutely gorgeous, despite a few signs of age and use. You really did get more, and somehow the guys in Coventry managed to do something magical with the finish, making it so deep and glossy that it almost looks like liquid money. The XKR was designed by the same fellow who penned many of the more recent Aston-Martins, so the shape is stunning, from the sloping nose to the bulging quarter panels that suggest great speed is on tap. It's every bit a Jaguar, a tip of the hat to the legendary E-Type without being a tribute or a replica. Fit and finish are exemplary, and the R models such as this one received those cool screened grilles up front, additional ducts on the hood, and four big exhaust pipes out back that sound simply amazing.

Inside, Jaguar's reputation for coddling isn't wasted. Velvety tan leather covers almost every surface and you'll feel like a million bucks every time you slide behind the wheel. By 2008, Jaguar had caught up with the 21st century, so everything was standard equipment, including a touch screen in the center of the burled walnut console. Anything that looks like wood really is wood, the switches and knobs are ringed in bright chrome, not plastic, and big, round gauges remind us that Jaguar takes driving quite seriously. Everything works properly except the AM band on the extraordinary stereo system, but then again, what exactly were you going to listen to on AM anyway? There's a pair of vestigial seats in back, but they're really not for humans, but they're beautifully upholstered anyway. Overhead there's a black canvas convertible top that stows itself in seconds and looks great up or down. And while it's not giant, you get a functional trunk that's beautifully finished, complete with chrome rub strips that are straight out of the E-Type coupe.

The 4.2 liter V8 was supercharged to the tune of about 400 horsepower, making this one fast cat. There's a lot of plastic shrouding on the engine, so it's not particularly exciting to look at, but nobody will aruge with how it works. There's a mountain of torque available at any speed, and stabbing the throttle will cause the 6-speed automatic transmission to drop down a gear or three and then things really start to happen quickly. Boost is instantaneous and the car lunges forward with a spectacular baritone wail from those pipes out back and it feels like it could pull forever. All this for less than $30 grand? Holy cow! It's been recently serviced and if you do some asking around, you'll find that these cars are apparently immune to the gremlins that plagued earlier Jags, so it's got many years of happy motoring ahead of it. The suspension is supple, the brakes are insanely powerful, and those giant 20-inch wheels carry staggered 255/35/20 front and 285/30/20 rear performance rubber.

Why buy new when a gently used and well-maintained A-list car is so accessible? This car is the hands-down winner in the current bang-for-the-buck contest. Call now!