2008 Jaguar XKR Convertible
Can there really be that much difference in the convertible version of one of our favorite test cars of all time? That's what we set out to discover when we hopped into the droptop version of the Jaguar XKR. Only a few months ago, we were cruising the mean streets of Chicago in one of the most beautiful cars on the planet, a black Jaguar XKR. To say we were excited about the arrival of the droptop version of the two door Jag would be like saying Brett Favre has a decent arm. The convertible’s drop off date finally arrived, the weather was gorgeous, and we knew we were in for one of those special automotive weeks that most gearheads would kill for.
It turns out, the driving experience is vastly different in the convertible. And, frankly, vastly better -- let's face it, even in the Midwest, life is just plain better when you drop the top!
With the roof raised, the convertible feels very similar to the hardtop. The chassis' torsional rigidity is remarkably solid for a convertible and is virtually indistinguishable from the hardtop, even during aggressive switchback driving. The fit of the convertible top is clean and perfect and there is ample sound-deadening material, keeping road noise at a minimum. You would never know you are driving the soft-top version, even at highway speeds.
With the top down, the XKR appears longer, lower and wider -- shall we say, more feline -- in stature. Of course, in the sports car hierarchy, horsepower is the name of the game, separating the posers from the honest-to-goodness supercars. Frankly, a car needs to flirt with 400 hp to be considered part of the automotive elite, and it should twist the dyno needle past 400. The Jag ponies up a legit 420 hp coming from its 4.2 supercharged, intercooled V8. This car is devastatingly fast. Word to the wise: keep the traction control on or you are inviting trouble. The massive rear tires are no match for the earth-twisting torque the supercharged motor produces. The exhaust note is truly hypnotizing -- in heaven, all cars would sound like this.
Ride quality is surprisingly supple, regardless of road conditions, in large part due to the Jag’s active suspension. It is incredibly forgiving when driving through the city but stiffens up nicely when pushed to its lofty limits. This is not a car built for racing; it's more in tune with its Jaguar heritage of a gentleman’s GT. With its balance and power, it can handle curvy country roads, and it will knock the ladies dead with its movie star good looks.
Interior appointments are spot on as well. Buttery smooth light tan leather surrounds the interior and is nicely accented by the burl wood veneer. Highly adjustable front bucket seats can be set to hold you tight for aggressive driving or more relaxed for long trips. This is a two-and-two seat configuration, but we wouldn't subject anyone we really cared about to much more than a quick trip in the back seats. A couple of bags of grociers at best will fit -- and they better be small bags at that. Then again, if rear legroom is high on your list of automotive priorities, you should by several minivans for the Jag's $96 grand sticker. This car has one of the least complicated dashboards we've seen -- there are perhaps four buttons and two dials. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but only a small one. The only complaint we had with the entire car was the that the sunvisor mirror looked and felt like it came out of a dollar store, and the climate control gauges looked suspiciously more Ford than Jaguar. But trust us, we had to strain to find any issues at all.
Sadly, our review window came to a close, and with it, the cool fall air of late October blew the late seasons warm temperatures into a distant memory. We just gave the Jaguar back just as Halloween arrived. Figures… we will be haunted by the XKR for a long time to come.
--Chad Doering
