Jaguar F-Type Coupe | High Mile Club
The first coupe we've seen at more than 150,000 miles - the first at a lot less than £15k, too...
The appeal of a cheap old Jaguar shouldn’t take very much explaining, especially when it’s a fast one. They look great, they drive really nicely, they make a tremendous sound and there are a decent amount to choose from. With no new Jaguars like the old ones going to happen, so the temptation increases. Especially when just £10k buys a lovely, long-wheelbase V8 XJ, supercharged and naturally aspirated XKs, S-Type Rs, XFs, XEs - you get the idea. Of course, they’re going to cost a lot to run as well, but name a cool old classic that doesn’t in one form or another. Hopefully it all be deemed worthwhile investment given the experience on offer.
And now look at what little more than £10k buys: an F-Type V6 Coupe. The C-X16 concept made real, the F-Type with the proper boot, the Jaguar sports GT that was even better to drive than the soft-top. For £13,000, before any negotiating. F-Types may not yet be the bargain two-door that the XK became, though it seems hard to argue with the value for money on offer here. It’s only just about to turn 11 years old, and even in a sombre spec, the hard-top F-Type is glamorous and exciting like little else at the money. Check out one of the last XKs from 2014 or so has evidence of how far the replacement brought Jag design on - this is going to look brilliant for a long time yet.
As you’ve probably guessed, it’s mileage that puts this F-Type at so much less than the rest, with 155,723 showing on the dash. Impressive for a sports car that was probably designed (and is often seen) with more modest use in mind. The advert suggests that it’s mostly motorway mileage, and an MOT wrap sheet that shows about another 20k added each year in the seven years the last owner had it would back that up. It’s a cool thing to arrive at meetings in, that’s for sure. There are also said to be stacks of invoices for maintenance over the years, which is encouraging.
No doubt it would benefit from a little bit of TLC (though probably just some favourable light would help as well). The leather is shiny, the wheels are missing centre caps and the paint has lost some of its lustre. Crucially though, everything is intact and actual wear doesn’t look bad at all; a nick in the bumper above the exhaust is the worst blemish we can see. A few hundred quid spent on a detail and wheel refurb will surely work wonders.
The dealer says all their cars come with at least eight months' MOT; given the current ticket is up in May, another test with the sale should throw up any potential problems. Or, as we like to look on these things as old car enthusiasts, 'areas for improvement'. And negotiation. You’ll want to know when the last service was in that stack of history, and whether the eight-speed auto has received any attention, as it was another unit suggested to be sealed for life that was anything but. There is, of course, a PH F-Type Buying Guide for more info.
Even with some bits and bobs to sort, this F-Type is certainly an intriguing prospect, especially as the V6: it sounds better than the 2.0-litre, and isn’t quite so wild as the V8. With these miles you needn’t worry about how often it’s used, and as what’s surely going to remain the cheapest you’ll easily find another curious enthusiast to sell it onto. There are always plenty on the hunt for great cheap Jags, after all…
SPECIFICATION | JAGUAR F-TYPE V6 COUPE
Engine: 2,995cc, V6, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@3,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.3sec
Top speed: 161mph (limited)
MPG: 31.4 (NEDC)
Year registered: 2015
Recorded mileage: 155,728
Price new: from £58,500
Yours for: £13,450
Same money buys a 5.0XK slightly older but under half the miles.
The F-Type could also be specced similarly, but it was all optional extras and it makes buying one second hand a lot more complicated.
But it's now only worth about £6k which is incredible value for what you get.
Although I've looked at F-Types as replacement I'm definitely going for a late model 5.0 XK when time comes to replace - fewer potential issues, generally very well cared for, fantastic value and they just look much classier in my opinion.
I have a friend who has had various Jags and a V12 Aston, he went from an XK to the Aston, never liked it, struggled to get rid of it at anything like a reasonable price and is now back in an XK 5.0 convertible. He tried an XKR but says he prefers the N/A engine, finds it plenty fast enough and the supercharged one "a bit much".
As a previous V6S owner, mine started becoming a financial burden and constant worry of what next at 45k miles. How someone has deep enough pockets and patience to take one to 150k miles is quite staggering. Early cars were a bit s**t.
But it's now only worth about £6k which is incredible value for what you get.
Although I've looked at F-Types as replacement I'm definitely going for a late model 5.0 XK when time comes to replace - fewer potential issues, generally very well cared for, fantastic value and they just look much classier in my opinion.
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