Interesting question! The extra grunt of the R would have been nice to have but over here we don't really have many roads that can even exercise the XK8s 290 horses properly, much less the 370 of the R! So I'm quite happy with the 8 since there's also a bit less to worry about in terms of upkeep.

And of course, we don't actually HAVE any X100 XKRs here anyway!

 

I love the supercharged engine-
....then again I can't really comment as I never tried the non supercharged one.

 

Yep, what he said... :-D

(I like the idea of being one of the "younger guys" too!)

 

same here and I drive my Ferrari 575 for unbelievable speed.

 

I had a '96 XK8 and heard about the upcoming supercharged version with CATS (seemed cool at the time). Put a deposit down in late '98 and took possession of my 2000 XKR in early fall 1999. I love my baby and will keep her as long as she lasts.


But to address your question, the XK8 was powerful enough, but I had been fortunate in business and really wanted more at the time. Honestly, supercharged or not, coupe or convertible, I think it's a beautiful, sexy, elegant car. If I wanted greater performance, there are plenty of alternatives. But they wouldn't be an XK. That said, I really wish it had been available with a manual transmission.

 

Like Sentinelist, I had not ever considered buying an XK8/R before, but having some fun on ebay, I put a maximum bid on an absolutely gorgeous looking 2002 XKR convertible. I had never looked at one, sat in one, or driven one, but I was smitten with the looks and the color. And anyway, the bid was so low, I knew I could never own it for that price. My bid ended up being the highest, but well below the reserve, so just some harmless fun. To my shock and surprise, a day later I received an email from the seller telling me they would accept the offer. Since I was no longer under the obligation to buy as I didn't really win the auction, I rented a car and drove up with the cashier's check, figuring that if I liked the car, I would leave the rental at the nearby Hertz and drive the XKR home. If not, I would turn around and drive back. Outside of a small 3", poorly repaired scratch on a rear quarter panel and 4 curb rashed wheels, the car was in as new condition along with a 2" thick file of every service record ever done on the car since new from the local Jaguar dealership. Needless to say, I drove the car home and have driven it every day since for the past 5 years.

And even with my 5.0L XKR coupe and all its increased power, handling....,I still love the 2002 and the feeling I get every single time I drive it.

 

XK8 vs XKR. I was open to both. Here are some subjective comments.

XK8 has variable valve timing and actually sounds interesting from 4,000 to 5,800 rpm. The XKR did not get the variable valves and was never more sonically interesting above 4,000 rpm without exhaust modifications.

XKR low end torque makes every stop light to 40 MPH fun and allows you to keep up with nearly any modern sports car or muscle car on traffic free city streets. I did it many times and the other vehicle's owners frequently expressed admiration it was so.

XKR supercharger noise is unpleasant, akin to a power drill, and downright at odds with the stylish elegance the car has in abundance. Pistonheads.com reviewers noted the same thing. My first drive in a 2002 XKR 100 convertible had me shaking my head thinking how awful it was compared to the normally aspirated V8s I heard so often in traffic. Again, exhaust modifications can quickly mitigate that impression.

I originally went looking for an XK8 coupe, and after losing out on 2 with out of state dealerships, I accidentally did a search on XKR. A local XKR 100 2002 convertible came up along with a less expensive XKR coupe on eBay. I drove the local car but did not like the all dark colors inside and out. That owner did himself in by noting the car on eBay which I ended up buying. In hindsight, I should have bought the local car with its lower miles because for that alone I would have kept it longer. I sold my XKR coupe, black with tan interior, as it approached 100k miles.

In an unpredictable turn of events, I ended up buying the last year of the XJ6 from my father, and while the 4.0 inline 6 makes a charming whirring sound, anyone's XK8 is probably more exciting from 0-50 MPH.

 

Funny really - I love that supercharger whine and for me it was a selling point - I never tire of hearing it, and in S Mode it really howls. Horses for courses I guess.

 

+1....................... The supercharger whine is the best bit...... You should drive one with the pulleys done and no hood..........!

 

When I bought my xk8 two years ago I originally went to look at a 2007 xk convertible (w/ 60k on it), but the trunk was too small for my wife's transport wheelchair to fit... the owner of the place also had a topaz 2000 xk8 with 20k on it (but I wasn't a huge fan of the color).

I asked if he had any other jags and he showed me the 2001 xk8 one owner with 25k on it and I fell in love (the car had just come in and he didn't have a chance to detail it yet - but it was really clean)... even though I knew about the xkr, this car was perfect for me and I didn't look any further.

And, for speed I have my motorcycle (0-60 in 2.9 and 1/4 mile in 10.7 which means I can beat JUST about anything on four wheels)

 

Hey where's your x308 to new jag build thread link?

 

The original concept has changed a bit but it is still going...... I post more up on the Modified Jaguar group on facebook but I do post on the thread in the X308 forum when I have something substantial to show....... The real fun is about to start though

 

I went searching for an XKR originally, but with the money I had to spend, I decided to move into a 4.2 car and give up the supercharger, etc. Today I was doing a 4 wheel brake service for a customer, and was once again shocked at the prices of the Brembo parts... even in the aftermarket. I think I made a good choice on my "standard" car! Either way... what's not to enjoy!??

 

I found that when I had my XJR, I didn't use the power- it was nice to have, but I am enjoying the XK8 just fine and am having real difficulty justifying selling it to get an XKR.

I still waffle on it a little bit, but then I drive my XJR (now my daughter's) and get "it" out of my system.

 

i waited for the right XKR Coupe. They are fairly rare and i think it holds it value better over time. Its better looking then the xk8 just personal opinion. And when the supercharger kicks in its LIFT OF! that sounds when you floor it to pass a other car is just sick.
The only thing is missing is a manual transmission!

 

Fair point - I've had my VMax for 24 years now and absolutely nothing on 4 wheels comes close for acceleration. :-D

 

+1 :-d