Bought a pre-owned Jaguar XKR V8 supercharged as my weekend car

Nothing could have prepared me for the amount of adrenaline rush I got when I floored her.

BHPian tin lizzie recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi folks!

I am sorry for posting this a little late as I got the car 2 and a half months back. It's been busy for me on the work front.

Well here's the story. I went to Mumbai on 15th Apr as planned and went straight to my friend's office where he had brought the car.

After grabbing a quick lunch with my friend and reminiscing old times at school we headed for what I was waiting for. The Drive.

As I got into the driver's seat, I was a bit nervous. But nothing could prepare me for the amount of adrenaline rush I got when I floored her. The acceleration was relentless, shoving me back with immense G forces. I had never driven anything like her before.

The handling was perfect, the steering weighing in as it should be and the Pirelli P Zeros holding on to the road like a leech.

I knew then and there that I HAVE TO HAVE HER. AND I WILL NEVER LET GO OF HER. I WILL MAINTAIN HER EVEN IF I HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE, I WILL LEAVE HER FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MY WILL. (Such were my thoughts).

The car pulls and pulls and pulls, tugs at your heartstrings and makes you come alive. That's the power of a V8 with a supercharger, 500 horses always raring to go with a push of your right foot.

I thought this was the best-sounding V8 I had heard in real life.

I have been big time into video games, be it Atari, Game Boy, PS3, PS4, and now PS5 with the latest game being Mad Max. I was subconsciously comparing the sound of Max's Interceptor (V8) with this Jaguar V8 and boy I was absolutely spellbound. It was the most exciting drive of my life.

After the drive, we popped the hood and there it was. The supercharged Jaguar V8.

As advised by Turbanator, Jeroen, androdev, I got the folks at Navnit Jaguar to do a full check-up of the vehicle.

Before embarking on my journey I had made a full discussion with them about the car as it had been regularly coming to them for service and routine maintenance. A full paid check up was done, which took 2 days (including the work required and change of oils plus routine service).

My friend provided me with a full service history along with the work he had got done over his ownership period.

The Findings

By Owner

• One incident of rims being bent and being replaced along with sagging of the Alcantara roof liner, replaced at Jaguar itself. Rear suspension work done.

By Navnit Jaguar Mumbai

• ODO 18500 km
• Regularly serviced.
• Battery 5 years old - replaced.
• Suspension rear - no work required.
• Front - upper control arm bush needs changing - pending arrival.
• Wiper blades changed.
• Vacuum Pump oil leak - changed the seal.
• Supercharger serpentine belt changed (recommended at 10 years by Jaguar).
• Belt drive changed (also recommended).
• Engine oil changed.
• Particulate air filter changed.
• Antifreeze changed.
• Rear Diff oil changed.
• Transmission mount changed.
• Air & oil filters changed.

The checkup did not reveal anything which would deter me from getting her.

Some pics while at Navnit Jaguar:

Post maintenance:

Post all this, my friend offered to drive the car to Lucknow. I was slightly worried owing to the low ground clearance (120 mm) and the long distance. A flat bed covered carrier was booked and the matter was done and dusted.

@Jeroen. Sir, you gave me the best advice about joining the Jaguar forum. I joined it and learned a lot about the Jaguar XKR.

Points - earlier generations (before 2011) were having 3 main issues:

• Timing chain tensioners.
• Water pump failures.
• Thermostat wear & tear causing it to be stuck in open or closed position.

All of these occur after a certain age of the vehicle.

There is a coolant pipe that runs through the valley of the V8 that eventually gets cooked up after 10 years and needs to be replaced.

The AC drain-tube at the passenger side can get clogged and is a difficult place to reach.

Most of these problems have been reported less after 2011 models as the niggles were corrected by Jaguar.

@Turbantor. You are absolutely right about JLR, there is a definite element of unreliability that is part n parcel of Jaguar ownership. The Jaguar forum showed me all that is to Jaguar ownership, the passion, the niggles.

This became my weekend car or hobby car. I have the Endeavour 2017, and the i10 AT 2011 as my beater cars.

I know it's gonna be interesting ownership. In these 2 months of ownership, I've driven her every alternate day and boy she does make my boyhood come back. The sound of the V8 coupled with the addicting acceleration makes every drive a special one.

One omission by Jaguar on the XKR that hurts the most is the absence of a temperature gauge. I got myself an OBD Scan Gauge after advice from the Jag forum members. It monitors the battery voltage and the coolant temperature because these cars do run hot at almost 195 to 212 F. That's their normal operating temperature.

Coolant has to be checked religiously every week for she's an old girl and might throw a temper.

Am prepared to change suspension bushings/parts, coolant pipes, thermostat, water pump as and when the need will arise.

Some pics from when she reached home:

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