Jaguar F-Type V8 S: Spotted

Nearly four years on and the F-Type is just about half price...

Can it really be four years already since the world first saw (and drove) the Jaguar F-Type? After all that excitement about a new baby Jag sports car, here really was a baby Jag sports car. OK, it wasn't all that small in reality - and baby is a bit of a silly way to talk about cars - but the F-Type was largely received very, very positively. It looked great, it went well and it handled really, really nicely. Sure, there were (and remain) some concerns about the weight and certain aspects of the interior, yet despite those the F-Type mostly delivered on the huge expectation behind it.

Still a great bum

Of course since that time the F-Type range has evolved to include a coupe, a manual, an all-wheel drive variant and the 575hp SVR. Indeed PH is even running what we believe to be the optimum spec of F-Type, a V6 S manual coupe. There's always something to discuss with the F-Type, put it that way.

Here is perhaps the loopiest F-Type of the lot, the original V8 S Roadster. Though eventually superseded by the V8 R, the combination of a 500hp V8, drop-top body and rear-wheel drive remains a very potent one. This particular car is a very nice specification too, grey with red leather always a winner and a lot of money spent here on the optional wheels. Its mileage is below average at 32,000 and it's being sold through a Jaguar dealer as an approved used car, which is always reassuring.

And here's the thing: it's nearly half its new price. Today an F-Type R Roadster costs £92,310; at the end of 2013 this car won't have been far off that with options. Now it's for sale at £46,990, which makes it look very tempting indeed.

The inevitable case against the Porsche alternatives is very interesting secondhand. As a Roadster rather than a coupe the fact it isn't as sharp to drive arguably isn't as important, plus there's that bonkers V8 in its favour. Moreover once beyond the group test phase and into the real world, those feel-good aspects that the Jaguar does so well (noise, appearance, sense of theatre) become more prominent. Indeed at this money you can't even get into a 991 Cabriolet (as they start at £60K), the best on offer for c. £45K this 997C4S.

Racy

As discussed on PH previously, at just a few years old the F-Type hasn't finished depreciating just yet - far from it. The interesting point will now be just how much further it goes, if its additional desirability over an XK will prevent it dropping to those levels. Certainly before then it will take a fair amount of money in fuel, tax and tyres to keep on the road, though not significantly more than some of the rivals. You could buy an M6 cabriolet for the same money, as an example...

So there's plenty in the F-Type's favour at this money, though of course long-term longevity hasn't yet been proven. A warranty is probably advisable, as it probably is on all manner of fast and complex new cars. The sun will be on the way soon though and this could be one of the best way to enjoy it.

JAGUAR F-TYPE V8 S
Engine: 5,000cc, V8, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 495@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 460@3,500rpm
MPG: 25.5 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 259g/km
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Year registered: 2013
Price new: £79,950 (before options)
Yours for: £46,990