Jaguar XF S | PH Auction Block
Half-forgotten fast Jag still has plenty to recommend it - not least a great colour
When considering recent fast and four-door Jaguar heroes, plenty spring to mind. The Project 8 is one of the most outrageous saloons ever created, let alone just from Jaguar, and we’ll always have a really soft spot for the final supercharged XJR. Even the standard XE S with the V6 demonstrated that cool compact execs didn’t have to be German.
Which is all well and good, but it means the second (and final) generation of XF S tends to be overlooked a bit. This despite the same 380hp supercharged 3.0-litre as the smaller XE (and F-Type), another fine Jaguar chassis and a design that - if not quite as bold as the XJ - was undoubtedly handsome. Probably the fact that there wasn’t a follow-up XFR - after an original for the ages - didn’t help the reception of the supercharged S.
Whatever the case, it’s clear to see the considerable secondhand appeal in one. Gripes that matter when new become less of a concern a decade (and some considerable depreciation) later, with a rousing engine and suave appearance very much still present and correct. Very likeable, too, it should be said. Those who enjoy fast saloons (we all know there are plenty on PH) should find plenty to appreciate about the lesser-seen XF S.
Look at this interior, too. Later in the XF’s life it gained a touchscreen infotainment setup; as an early example, however, this one retains the buttons. Great big glorious buttons fit for farmers fingers in a Defender, and a sight for sore eyes in 2026. The standard system will be a bit sluggish these days, but imagine a modern unit that speaks smartphone with this sort of usability. Fantastic. Even your father-in-law could grasp the HVAC.
There’s plenty more to be encouraged by here than just the buttons, too. Because the trusty, lusty old 3.0-litre was not the last word in efficiency (and there was an S-spec of 3.0-litre diesel), the majority of these will have been private sales. Low miles, lovingly cared for, special saloons rather than motorway hacks. And that’s exactly the case here: just two owners have covered less than 40,000 miles, there’s plenty of main dealer and specialist history, and the Michelins were fitted just last year. Aurora Red was an inspired colour choice.
With a service and suspension parts in recent months, this big Jag should want for little until December’s MOT. Which, going from recent inspections, ought to pose little problem. With plenty of traditional Jaguar swagger alongside modern usability and performance, the XF S offers up a pretty compelling blend of talents. Hopefully your memory has been jogged along with ours. The bidding kicks off next week…
And the infotainment. Mine had a mind of its own. Some days it would work. Others it wouldn't. No rhyme nor reason.
I'm a huge Jaguar fan and I'd walk right past any of these X260 XFs to buy a contemporary 5 series; what's the point in a Jaguar that isn't at least striking if not beautiful? That entire TATA strategy to become some sort of Temu BMW was as foolish as the Jaguar, By Disney range of horrors at the end of the 90s.
In truth, too many were worried about peer pressure and so bought the German option to avoid the ridicule of their contemporaries, even though the XF was a perfectly good car. Now the cry is "why did you try to be BMW, and not stick to the Jaguar curves". Unfortunately, most people lack the courage to buy what they like, and Jaguar were stuck being the punchbag to make others feel better about buying the car they didn't really want but had to because everyone else has. "At least its not one of those awful JLR products, they're all so unreliable" they tell themselves.
In truth, the XF, especially in X250 guise was a great alternative to the humdrum malaise of Das Auto. Great engine choices, interiors with everything you could need, and a well sorted chassis for piloting down the road. The V6 Diesel was strong and significantly more economical than it had any right to be, and the petrol versions were well screwed together too. These supercharged engines were genuinely superb, if they'd been in a Masserati or Mercedes engine bay, we'd never hear the end of how incredible they were. Because it's "just a Jag" nobody takes notice, nobody raves about them, they just wheel out the JLR myths and snigger, comfortable in their ignorance.
It was totally reliable as well, so you can ignore the JLR reputation and the haters!
Oh apart from having to have the factory windscreen refitted because it leaked.... and the time the ABS sensor failed which apparently is due to the wheel hub filling with water (solution is the jag dealer drills holes in your hub! How that was not a recall I'll never know).... and the engine auto start/stop only worked when Jupiter was in ascendance and the wind was easterly, meaning once or twice per year the engine would auto-stop and i'd be a mad panic....and the time the rear door filled to the brim with water (note the door rubber covers the drain hole!).
I'm a huge Jaguar fan and I'd walk right past any of these X260 XFs to buy a contemporary 5 series;
Dad had an earlier XF and what was a cut above the german alternatives was the ride quality. Supple, cosseting yet still dynamic.
I do always default to German offerings myself but pleased there are others who choose a Jaaag.
I'm a huge Jaguar fan and I'd walk right past any of these X260 XFs to buy a contemporary 5 series;
I'd sooner have it over an A6, drab and bleak things that they are to sit in and leaden inert things that they are to drive, but I really liked both the F10 and G30 5 series.
I should clarify that I'm a massive Jaguar fanboy, I felt the X260 was disappointing against the recent previous Jaguars more than compared to the German cars. After the boldness of the 2010 X351 XJ I hoped they were going to continue down that path, rather than two near identical looking and deeply unadventurous cars with the XE and XF.
Sad to see it go. It needed that facelift (exterior and dash) from the outset - AND the Sportbrake at the same time.
This one's very tempting, but the black interior (and the fact that it's a pre facelift) rules it out for me.
Dad had an earlier XF and what was a cut above the german alternatives was the ride quality. Supple, cosseting yet still dynamic.
I do always default to German offerings myself but pleased there are others who choose a Jaaag.
Dad had an earlier XF and what was a cut above the german alternatives was the ride quality. Supple, cosseting yet still dynamic.
I do always default to German offerings myself but pleased there are others who choose a Jaaag.
I'm a huge Jaguar fan and I'd walk right past any of these X260 XFs to buy a contemporary 5 series;
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