Logbook: Mile Markers: Jaguar XKR
February 1, 2008
At 18,543, the Jaguar XKR has had the most use, with
trips to Las Vegas, Napa Valley, Big Bear, and Santa Cruz. The engine continues
to purr even after nearly 6,000 hard miles in the last two months.
13,100—In sport mode the car is a sheer joy to drive,
especially on the winding mountain roads of Big Bear, Calif. With its automatic
downshifts, the tachometer never dips below 4,000 rpm, but the steering is not
as direct as it should be on a sports car.
13,650—The adaptive cruise control proves useful for long
trips. All of the steering wheel controls are intuitive and simple to
understand. The ability to change the gap distance between you and the car in
front of you is especially appreciated at higher speeds.
13,800—"The windows are acting up again," writes one
staffer. "Raise it once and it goes down, raise it twice and it goes down, but
the third time seems to be the charm."
14,450—The navigation screen is sometimes difficult to see
with the top down, especially when it is exposed to direct sunlight. Its dull
colors and folder menu functions feel dated, but the touch screen is still
hailed as a great feature.
15,252—Fuel efficiency between city and highway driving is
night and day. We achieve nearly 400 miles on a single tank of highway driving,
while city driving in sport mode yields 300 miles.
16,190—The XKR was serviced for standard maintenance in less than two
hours at Hornburg Jaguar in Santa Monica, Calif., for a cost of
$86.17.
2007 Jaguar XKR
Price As Tested: $94,700
Engine: 4.2-liter supercharged V-8
Power: 420 hp at 6,250 rpm
Torque: 413 ft lbs at 4,000 rpm
Odometer: 18,543 miles
