Used Jaguar XK Coupe 1996 - 2006 review

It's a two-plus-two coupe in the classic mould - a dead ringer for the Aston Martin DB7, but much cheaper to buy. The eight-cylinder engine burbles heartily and unleashes powerful acceleration with a prod of the throttle.

However, driving an XK8 is all about covering big distances effortlessly rather than charging about town, although 300bhp is enough to make it quick enough. If you want more, however, there's the 400bhp XKR, although these are rare and incredibly expensive to run.

The leather-and-wood cabin is as sumptuous as you'd expect of a luxury Jaguar, but it's also cramped. There's no legroom to speak of for passengers in the back, while space up front isn't that generous. The roof is very low, and unlike in the convertible, you can't throw it back if you start to feel too claustrophobic.

What do you think? While running costs aren't quite in the same league as a Ferrari's, routine servicing is expensive, as are spare parts. And, sadly, older XKs tend to need regular repairs.

One way to cut costs is to use a specialist garage rather than pay sky-high main dealer labour rates. You'll find one by joining an enthusiasts' web forum and finding a garage that owners rate highly.

Insurance is expensive, too: the XK8 falls within group 18, and you'll need to contact a specialist to get a - probably much more expensive - quote for an XKR.

To cap it all, these cars guzzle petrol. Officially, the XK8 will manage up to 24.9mpg and the XKR 22.9mpg. However, you'll need to drive very gently to see anywhere near these figures.

Choose between the standard XK8 with its 4.2 V8, auto gearbox and 300bhp, or the XKR, which has a supercharged version of the same engine, producing 400bhp. It, too, has an automatic transmission, although it's very different to the standard car's, and programmed to emphasise the XKR's sporty nature.

All XK8s have wood dashes, leather seats, climate control and everything else you'd expect in a luxury car. Beyond that, many first owners indulged in the long and lavish options' list.

In other words, you should shop around for your preferred combination of kit, and buy as new a car as possible. 2003 models had improved engines and, a year later, Jaguar face-lifted the car.

Watch the colour, too, as picking the right one can add thousands to the price when you resell. Silver is reliable, as are copper, metallic blue or green, but black or non-metallic red cars sell for less.