If you want a nice luxury car without the new luxury car price, a used Jaguar XJR might just be the car for you. The XJR, the supercharged version of the luxurious XJ, is an affordable high-class car ripe with features and options.
Like most luxury cars, the XJR suffers from a fair amount of depreciation after a few years. This means that for you, the buyer, buying a slightly used one, perhaps one off-lease, could result in thousands of dollars in savings. Despite the performance capabilities of the supercharged V8 engine, the XJR is still largely an executive sedan, and most have only seen light highway usage. In some cases the backseat may never have been sat in!
Prices for the XJR vary, but usually range in the $20,000 to $50,000 range, depending on model year and mileage. Keep in mind that these cars were $70,000 to 80,000 new, so the value per dollar of a used one is enormous.
XJRs come with an extensive list of features, from info-tainment video screens and wooden paneling to front and rear fog lights, fully adjustable heated leather seats, gratuitous amounts of legroom and a wide range of safety features.
Like all used cars, it is important to have a mechanic check over your car before you buy it. It is especially important that you do this with Jaguars, not only because they tend to need more maintenance (like all luxury cars do) then normal cars, but also because if anything is wrong, it will likely cost a lot of money to fix. A few repairs, if caught ahead of time, could result in the dealer doing the work at no charge, or a solid bargaining chip that could lead to hefty discount in the purchase price. Mechanical issues to look for include electrical problems and tuning of the supercharger. Superchargers require premium fuel, and if the previous owner was careless about fillups, regular unleaded may have damaged it.
All in all, a slightly used Jaguar XJR offers a superb luxury experience for the money. Keep your eyes peeled for good deals and have a good relationship with your mechanic, and you could soon be driving a car that evokes the envy of everyone you meet!
