> OWNER PROFILE
Kevin Groome
Kevin Groome - Radiocafé's motoring guru - has driven every car worth driving. His current transport is this super Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport.

> CAR FEATURED HERE
2001 Jaguar XJ8 3.2 Sport
262bhp, V8 3555cc • Top speed: 155mph • 0-60: 7.3s

> DEFINITIVE MOTOR PROFILE
Click here for our feature and links to great Jaguar sites

> TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAR
I've always had a thing about big old Jaguars.  They're a great anti-fashion statement, so much more classy than BMWs and Mercedes.  Jaguars don't have to rely on brash, in-yer-face styling to get noticed; they use their beautiful proportions and timeless features to stand out from the crowd. 

There's also nothing better for wafting about in absolute comfort and luxury, and yet when you put your foot down they give a muted roar, pick up their skirts and leave 90% of cars eating their dust.  And they do it all with a wonderful smoothness and lack of drama.  Essentially, that can woofle about with a bit of "swagger".

> WHY DID YOU BUY THIS PARTICULAR CAR?
This XJ8 is my second Jaguar.  I had a late model XJS a couple of years back.  Unfortunately with a house purchase looming, the XJS had to go: it's the running costs that did it.  Now things are a bit more settled, I couldn't wait to get back into the Jaguar fold. The XJ8, with its much-improved reliability, was the obvious choice.This is the Sport model, with stiffened, lowered suspension from the supercharged XJR and a few added goodies.The colour of this example really appealed to me as well - it's a really vivid, deep blue colour that Jaguar called Pacific Blue.  It's quite rare on the XJ saloons which are usually in deeper Sapphire blue.  Pacific is more often seen on the XK8 coupe.

> WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
A fish-faced Ford Fiesta.  It was the Zetec model, so came with the really sweet 1.4 unit and tremendous handling.  A mini Puma.  With a name like Kevin you have to have a fast Ford at some point.  I got it over with early on.

> WHAT'S THE BEST CAR YOU'VE OWNED OR BEEN IN?
It's difficult to pick the best car I've owned as I've had a fairly eclectic selection, and they're all different.  As well as the two Jaguars and the Fiesta, there's been a VW Polo GTi (dull but worthy), VW Golf VR6 (storming engine let down by cheesy interior and disappointing build quality) and a brace

of Saab convertibles (a "classic" shape Turbo 900 and the most recent 9-3 Aero model).  I'm very critical and I honestly think that overall this Jaguar is my favourite so far. The fact that it is a big engined rear-drive car means a lot; I can't stand understeer and love the smoothness of multi-cylinder engines. Best car I've been in has to be the Ferrari Dino.

> DO YOU PREFER CLASSIC CARS TO NEW CARS?
Yes.  In fact there are only a handful of modern cars I'd contemplate buying brand-new.  That's not to say that the majority of new cars aren't very good at what the are meant to do, it's just that so many of the better ones have a nasty stigma attached to them or just look ugly.  I also despair

at the ever-increasing power outputs of today's cars.  People are obsessed with horsepower and yet fail to realise that most of it is wasted as the cars are so overweight. You'll have more fun a 50bhp Frogeye Sprite than anyone could hope to have in any 500bhp-plus Brabus Mercedes.

> WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE CAR?
All great cars are compromised in some way, so it would have to be an ultimate stable, I'm afraid.  In no particular order of priority: a second-hand Subaru Forester for taking the dog for walks, a Maserati Quattroporte for taking mates on trips through Europe, an Aston Martin DB4 Volante for bright weekends in the country and a Fiat Panda for

in town.  And a Ferrari Dino, just to look at.

> WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO DRIVE?
Scotland .  I've been on some fantastic drives in the Highlands, particularly on the West Coast.  Stupendous scenery, little traffic and such a variety of roads, from fiddly little one-track roads with passing places to epic, sweeping A-roads that thrust through valleys and along the coast. There are some great roads tucked away in South West Scotland as well, around the Galloway Forest area.  In fact, the best drive I've ever had was in a Ferrari 328, on a bright Christmas day morning, on the so-called " Queens Highway" between New Galloway and Newton Stewart.

It's one of those roads where you can see the tarmac twisting and undulating in front of you for miles, skirting forests, lochs and mountains as you gradually wind your way towards the Irish Sea, shimmering through the mountains.  Look out for the mountain goats..

> FAVOURITE MUSIC TO PLAY IN THE CAR?
The CD changer in the Jag always seems to be loaded with a mix of guitar rock, acid jazz, chilled house, and classic crooners. It all goes to the Jag's waft and swagger, I suppose. This week, I have been mostly listening to Jamiroquai's new album, as well as Blue Six (great deep, sexy, chilled house on the ever-reliable Naked Music label), Diana Krall,  St Germain, Gary Williams and Ryan Adams.