One of the latest additions to the fleet, our Jaguar XKR boasts fearsome performance but isn’t devoid of issues

“That’s your idea of carbon offsetting is it?” laughed a passing neighbour recently as I plugged in a newly-arrived electric company car. I hadn’t thought about it that way before but it seems as good a way as any to justify the arrival of another Jaguar on the drive.

The car in question is an X100 XKR, the supercharged version of the first-generation XK8 and being a 2003 model this one boasts the 4.2-litre engine providing a nice round 400bhp.

I’ve always loved the XKR for the refined way in which it delivers its massive performance and although this example, freshly plucked from auction to join our ever-changing company fleet isn’t perfect, it’s done nothing to diminish my affection for it. The car was quickly put into service on the fleet on a road trip to the Isle of Man but has now returned ready for some attention.

In metallic black and showing just 85,000 miles our XKR boasts a selection of options from Jaguar’s R Performance options range, notably the massive 350mm Brembo brakes with four-pot callipers and the 20-inch Detroit wheels.

Inside we’ve got the rare two-tone leather in black and Cranberry, with the Alpine premium sound system and the rare factory-fitted sat nav, which of course today is slightly less useful than a paper OS map.

I’ve already attended to a couple of the smaller niggles but with an MoT test looing, the non-functioning screenwash needs investigation. I’ve removed and freed off the seized pump but with the meter showing only 2 volts at the terminals a closer look at the wiring beckons.

Elsewhere, the driver’s electric headrest is jammed at its top setting – not an issue for taller drivers, but it does prevent the seat being tilted forwards for rear seat access since it hits the roof. The loose seat covering suggests someone has already had a go at fixing it but the drive cable is a common fault on the XK8 and easily sorted.

More seriously, those big brakes have developed a terrible wobble and a set of replacement front discs and pads have already been sourced. We’ll also get the car up on the lift for an inspection by an expert, but it certainly seems like a sound example ripe for tidying up. Meanwhile, I’m about to break out the soldering iron to add an auxiliary input to that premium audio system via the CD changer.

Stay tuned for the next update to see if it worked!