My husband recently had the chance to drive another classic car owned by an acquaintance, and he wrote an article about it. Please take a look if you’re interested.

The Dream Jaguar XKR

In my twenties, I used to devour issues of Car Graphic magazine late at night by my bedside, ordering catalogs for cars I could never afford, and placing them under my pillow, hoping that at least in my dreams I could ride in them.

Among those cars, there was one I was especially fascinated by: the Jaguar XK series. A powerful V8 engine paired with a large, elegant coupe body. The interior, adorned with luxurious leather and wood, was truly something to aspire to.

“How can I ever get to drive a car like this?” “What kind of job would I need to have?”

Day after day, those thoughts consumed me as I read Car Graphic over and over in my dimly lit studio apartment.

An issue of Car Graphic from back then. I’ve scanned and digitally archived every magazine I’ve ever bought.

Test Driving the Jaguar XKR

And now, the day has finally come to drive the XK I’ve long admired. Right in front of me is the first-generation Jaguar XK, specifically the 2005 final limited edition “XKR 4.2-S.” In Japan, only 50 coupes and 10 convertibles of this rare model exist.

Both the exterior and interior are in excellent condition. The current owner has refreshed the suspension and other components, fitted new tires, and brought the car to a superb state.

Jaguar’s interiors are stunning. Ivory-tone Recaro seats and Jaguar’s signature beautiful wood panels create an ambiance that makes you feel like you’re experiencing Britain just by sitting in the driver’s seat.

This is not a German driver’s seat designed as a workplace like in Porsche. The elegant atmosphere soothes your soul.

The 4.2L V8 engine equipped with a supercharger quietly awakens, and the ZF 6-speed automatic transmission smoothly gets the car moving. With 406 horsepower and 56.4 kg·m of torque at 3500 rpm, there’s absolutely no sluggishness.

For a car from 2005, it has impressively strong low-end torque and zippy acceleration even at low speeds. Its drivability reminds me of modern downsized turbo or diesel engines, making it easy to drive even in city traffic.

The luxurious interior and quiet cabin make you not want to speed on the winding roads of the Royu Driveway. The style here is all about cruising gracefully. This limited edition features a firmer suspension setup with hard springs and anti-roll bars compared to the standard model, but it never feels uncomfortable.

On the contrary, the ride is very comfortable.

Still, since it’s an R model, I pushed the pace a bit. The car allows a slight body roll in corners but then firmly stops rolling at a certain angle. The tires maintain solid contact with the road, and the car easily powers through corners with almost neutral steering.

Judging by its looks, I expected more understeer and a driving feel similar to the Honda Legend coupe I used to own, but that’s not the case at all. This is a true sports car that you can enjoy on winding roads.

I was surprised. Even though it’s an R model, I thought the ride would be softer and more floaty in curves, but that’s not the case. To be precise, at low speeds going straight, the suspension feels quite luxurious, but when cornering, a “core” emerges within the suspension’s travel.

Yes, this is what I often call the “Sanuki Udon suspension” — soft yet firm.

Moreover, this XKR’s suspension is the finest “Sanuki Udon suspension” I’ve ever experienced. This must be what Jaguar’s legendary “cat’s feet” feel like: soft to the touch but with a solid core inside, never unstable or weak. It’s an outstanding suspension.

When I pressed the accelerator a bit on a straight, the kickdown engaged instantly, and the supercharger’s whine filled the cabin. The car lunged forward fiercely, like a feline predator closing in on its prey. While it may not match the acceleration of today’s ultra-high-performance coupes or sedans, it’s still fast enough to hold its own even now.

The straight-line stability is impeccable, making it a joy to take on a grand touring trip. This is a grand tourer that can comfortably cover long distances while still offering sporty driving when desired.

The owner told me he sometimes drives it between Kansai and Tokyo, and with this car, he could drive endlessly.

Before driving this dream car, I had some worries. Having experienced many ultra-high-performance cars including Porsches, I wondered if I might not be impressed by this car. I even thought maybe it was better to keep my admiration as a dream.

But that worry was unfounded. I was honestly surprised by how wonderful this car is. In fact, I think it might have a big influence on my future car choices.

Sporty cars are great, but I realized once again that what I truly love might be these kinds of luxury cars.

I’ve driven cars like the SL500 and S63 coupe before and thought I knew my preferences, but this experience has solidified that belief.

It’s a shame that the Jaguar XK is no longer in production, and that well-maintained examples like this are so rare. I sincerely hope the owner cherishes and maintains this car for many years to come.