2006 Jaguar XKR

‘ML06 BUO’, which is a Midnight Black Jaguar XKR-S, has been in the hands of the seller since August 2022 – and despite his best intentions, he’s covered fewer than a thousand miles a year since buying it, something that’s unlikely to change now he’s also got his hands on a new company car.

Being mechanically sympathetic, he knows this isn’t going to be good for his beloved Jaguar in the longer term, so he’s decided that now is the time to let it go to someone who’ll be able to enjoy it as much as he has – just more frequently.

And there is an awful lot to enjoy.

Apart from the ‘S’ upgrades that come as standard, it’s got just 39,000 miles on the odometer and an excellent service history. We’re also told that there’s “nothing wrong with it” and that everything works as it should – and to add credence to his assessment, he drove it to us from his home in Norfolk, enjoying one last hurrah in a cracking example of the XK8’s last hurrah.

You’ll have heard us say it before but it’s true nonetheless: black is a helluva tough act to pull off. Yes, it looks magnificent when the coachwork is straight and free of dinks, but anything less than a perfect canvas bounces light around randomly, highlighting flaws with the ruthlessness of a Hollywood divorce lawyer.

Luckily, this one’s in such great shape that you can enjoy its black-on-black menace free of distractions.

Our assessment starts, as always, with the quality of the panel alignment. Being the last in the run, Jaguar had had plenty of time to get its eye in by the time they built this one, and that experience shows.

And that peerless fit ‘n’ finish is still to factory specification, something the car’s HPI report confirms, giving it the all-clear with regard to accidents. The rear window still bears the remnants of the Guy Salmon decal too, and the rear numberplate also bear his name. None of this is conclusive, of course, but it highly suggestive.

Staying on the subject of the Jaguar’s ongoing curation, there’s nothing to worry about with the rest of it either because the flanks are free of ripples, the panels are free of dents and damage, the four corners are unmarked, the mirror caps are free of knocks, and the Midnight Black paintwork (colour code PEF) gleams in an unholy way; if the devil were to buy a car, he’d buy this one.

(Not least for the noise it makes, which we’ll cover later…)
The huge 20-inch BBS split-rim alloy wheels, which are finished in black to match the paintwork, are practically unmarked. Swathed in matching Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, the high-performance Brembo braking system, with its eye-catching red brake calipers and cross-drilled discs, seems to bulge out from beneath them.
And, as we will never get tired of telling you, 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 white Jaguar badges, which mark this out as the very last of the line, are in a great condition and are eye-catching against the black coachwork.

It’s the same for the chromed mesh radiator grille, the lamp lenses, and the window glass; all are excellent and a credit to the seller and the car’s previous owners.

As for flaws, our man went around the car with a clipboard to list them and came up with the following: a few chips to the edge of the driver’s door; some marks to the plastic window surrounds; light scratches on both sides of the rear bumper; bird poo stains on the boot lid and bonnet; a couple of light scratches in the roof; and one area of light scratches to the nearside front wing.

More seriously, he noted that there is an area of paint bubbling on the offside rear wing and some corrosion to the rear numberplate plinth.

Finally, while the tyres have legal tread left on them they are getting on a bit now, so you may want to consider changing them if you intend to rely on the V8’s prodigious torque to hurl you around corners at the sort of high-G the XKR-S is capable of.

The black theme continues inside with the cockpit comprising a beguiling combination of Warm Charcoal leather (trim code LEG) and satin metal – and where you might usually expect to see wood veneer, you’ll find carbonfibre instead.

The result looks terrific, and you can see early signs of the more modern look of the next generation - and while you might think it would be gloomy, the combination of satin metalwork and shiny carbonfibre means it’s not at all claustrophobic.

It’s survived well too, with the leather front seats showing wear only to the outer edge on the driver’s side. Supremely comfortable and very supportive, they further cosset the driver and their passenger by way of electric adjustment and heating.

The leather-covered rear seats are snug and cosy and look almost unused; we can’t remember seeing better seats in a car that’s sneaking up to its 20th birthday.

The use of Warm Charcoal hide extends to the centre console and transmission tunnel, dashboard, door cards, and the steering wheel. All is in the same great condition as that on the seats.

The headlining was starting to droop when the seller bought it, so he commissioned a new one to be fitted. As you can see, the trimmers matched it to perfection, and it looks terrific.

The alloy pedals continue the sporting theme, something the carbonfibre trim and extensive instrumentation support.

But, like all Jaguars, its sporting side doesn’t negate the need to also provide its occupants with luxury, and you’ll be delighted to hear that goodies include a plethora of airbags, automatic lights and wipers, electric widows and mirrors, remote central locking, cruise control, and a heated windscreen.

It’s got a comprehensive entertainment system too, including Alpine speakers and Bluetooth connectivity.

A Garmin NUVI sat-nav has been installed in the centre console. It pivots up when you need it, and tucks away neatly when you don’t, preserving the authenticity of the XKR-S’s interior. It’s a neat job, and we salute whoever thought to fit it there.

The boot is very clean and tidy and home to the Jaguar-branded CD multichanger, space-saver spare wheel, tool kit, and battery.

As for faults and flaws, we’ve recorded the headlining is starting to ease away above the driver’s seat, which should be an easy fix given its newness. Also, the chrome kickplates on the sills have some scratches, the electric fuel cap release button doesn’t work so you have to use the manual release, the leather-covered steering wheel shows some marks to the rim, and while both key fobs work, one of them only does so intermittently.

Also, the air-conditioning isn’t as cold as it might be, so it may need re-gassing.

The Jaguar’s well-stamped service history booklet reveals the following routine maintenance:

• 27.02.2007 and 7,596 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 03.06.2009 and 13,890 miles – service by MRS. Motors
• 10.01.2011 and 19,259 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 07.07.2014 and 24,867 miles – service by Preston Jag Centre
• 25.04.2016 and 27,504 miles – service by Inskip Motor and Eng Co
• 25.02.2019 and 29,778 miles – service by Inskip Motor and Eng Co
• 17.03.2020 and 33,412 miles – service by Inskip Motor and Eng Co
• 04.07.2021 and 36,464 miles – service by Automisian
• 31.08.2022 and 36,602 miles – service by D3 Vehicle Services including a change of brake fluid
• 13.07.2023 and 37,657 miles – new auxiliary belt, tensioner and idler pulley with upgrade kit by D3 Vehicle Services
• 17.06.2024 and 38,742 miles – service by D3 Vehicle Services including stripping and cleaning the brakes

You’ll note the seller has had the Jaguar serviced twice since it’s been in his hands, further proof he’s treated the XKR-S with the appropriate degree of respect.

March 2024 saw the Jaguar receive a new battery too, with the engine oil cooler and rear lower damper bushes being replaced in June 2021.

As you can see, the investment in looking after it has paid dividends because the Jaguar’s V8 starts easily and idles and revs as it should. It also sounds epic, but then few cars set your expectations earlier and more accurately than Jaguar; if simple getting into the cabin doesn’t set your pulse racing then starting it will.

The engine shows the usual alloy corrosion, plus a bit more rust on some of the metal components like the brake servo and some of the fasteners. It’s really not bad at all though, but if it were ours, we’d be tempted to invest a little time and money to sorting it out to bring it up to the same high standard as everything else.

July 2021 saw the underside being professionally rustproofed using Dinitrol, a substance that repels rust in a remarkable fashion but leaves the underside looking a bit dark and travel-stained. Still, we know which we’d rather have if offered the choice between a clean but rusty bottom or one that looks like this.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2025 and it, like so many before, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with three keys and two key fobs, the Jaguar book pack and wallet, and a plethora of invoices.

If you’re looking for an XKR – and let’s face it, an awful lot of us are – then this example has a lot to commend it; it’s a strong colour, has been well serviced, and, as a ‘white badge’ model has rarity and the sort of upgrades that turn it into a genuine supercar.

And, unlike its rivals from Germany and Italy, it’s affordable, for now at least.

Because our estimate is somewhere between £16,000 and £19,000, which is a state of affairs that surely can’t go on indefinitely.

And even if prices don’t rise, they’ve been stable for a while now, so you might be able to get in and out for less money than you think – and then you’ll be able to look back at a life that includes one of the best sportscars of its generation.

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