Hi There - From Potential 'R' Owner In Lincolnshire!

[Martian999]

Good Evening To You All From The 'Rural Principality Of Lincolnshire',

Apologies in advance for my somewhat lengthy tone . . . .

I have owned a number of Jaguars, (during the past 40 years or so), and I currently have an 2014 XFS 3.0D Sportbrake sitting on my drive and I also have a 2010 TDV8 Range Rover Sport to keep the XFS company!

This is my second XFS 3.0D - the previous one was a 2010 XFS 3.0D saloon - and I was so impressed I replaced it with a newer 'estate' version!

I am now seriously considering the purchase of a used F Type R, (I will retain the XFS but get rid of the RRS), and I would therefore welcome your further comments and, hopefully, your encouragement with regards to my F Type R search as depicted below!

As this vehicle will be a 'Sunday' car it will have to be the 5 Litre Supercharged V8 variant and, (after some extensive research), I have decided to look at vehicles from 2015 onwards and, ideally, the AWD version but the choice is somewhat restrictive due to my limited price range - as is always the case with all of us when purchasing our vehicles!

I could be tempted by either the Convertible or the Coupe - subject to the the price and specification.

All of the vehicles, (within my specified price range), have mileages ranging from around 30K to 75K and are usually 3+ previous owners and the majority are RWD and most are being advertised by dealers with very few genuine 'private' sales?

I have noted a 2015 R that is within my 'capture range' and it only has approximately 30K on the clock and it looks great, (inside and out), but it has a Cat S marker - signifying previous 'structural' damage that resulted in the vehicle being 'written off'.

I have previously purchased a vehicle that was listed as Cat N and it had been 'written off', (due to the cost of 'cosmetic' repair exceeding that of the vehicles market value), and it presented excellent value and it served me well - but we must not lose sight of the fact that the market value for such vehicles will always be less than that of a similar vehicle with no such history.

But I find myself being far more cautious about considering any vehicles, (that have insurance Cat 'markers'), that are considerably more expensive than your average family saloons - so I have dismissed that particular vehicle from my short list!

I then came across a JLS 'approved' 2016 R that has 59K on the clock and it is being sold by a main JLR dealership and it will be supplied with the Jaguar 12 month 'Warranty', 12 month 'Roadside Assistance' and 'MOT Test Warranty' which appears to provide 12 months 'peace of mind' for any perspective purchaser - but please correct me if my assumption is incorrect about the JLR 'Approved' used car scheme!

Considering a vehicle with a JLR 'Approved' warranty has made me think a little more seriously about the potential 'risks' involved in purchasing such an expensive vehicle from a non JLR dealership, (and from those few and far between 'private' sellers), out there as you are basically on your own once you drive the vehicle off the forecourt/driveway - but purchasing from JLR dealerships will always carry a cost premium of course!

Please do not get me wrong, however, as I have previously carried out most vehicle repairs, myself, and have a vast array of tools and equipment at my disposal but, (as I am not getting any younger), the prospect of working underneath any vehicle is no longer quite as appealing as it used to be and I tend to spend most of my time restoring classic motorcycles these days!

Apologies, once again, for the length of this introduction!

Best Regards,

Martin.

 

[stefan9107]

First of all, welcome. You've certainly made a good choice going for an F-Type... although you'll only find biased people here of course.

Unless you are absolutely set on it, don't rule out the V6. They are great cars and depending on your budget you might be able to get a significantly nicer example vs an R for the same money. Definitely test drive both and see if that V8 is a must (it was for me).

You were right to steer clear of the cat S. Cat N is one thing, but structural damage is a step too far for my liking. If it's the car I'm thinking of as well, it's been for sale a longggg time now and the price has dropped significantly yet still no takers. The lime green accents might not be helping.
Personally I wouldn't touch any written off cars, but anything in this price range definitely isn't worth the risk and difficulty in selling if you do decide to part with it in future. Most dealers and places like WBAC won't touch a cat anything. I think it's "okay" down in the £10k range maybe... each to their own.

As far as the Jag warranty, mine came from a Jag dealer on the approved used scheme. The warranty doesn't cover everything (any leaks for example are "wear and tear" when it comes to seals) but it has saved me some money on a centre rising vent that got stuck and hopefully my keyless entry that doesn't work on the drivers door when I take it in tomorrow. The first one of those issues I likely could of fixed myself, but the keyless entry issue seems like a bigger/more complicated issue. It all depends on your taste for risk I guess, but one year flies past and then you are on your own anyway. Might not be worth the premium you pay or the limitation of available cars.

Like you are looking at, I went for a 2015 AWD R but they do tend to come at a slight premium over the RWD cars. AWD was a must for me as I've pretty much exclusively driven performance AWD cars so didn't trust myself with RWD. I don't think they are as bad as a lot make out provided you don't drive with your foot mashed through the floor and are sensible with it.

Good luck with the search. Any questions and there will be plenty of people on here happy to help.
If you find something you like, you can always drop our resident insider SimpleR a polite message/create a thread with the reg and if he's feeling friendly he might be able to come back with some background info on service history and previous owners.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi and welcome.

The one with the lime green exterior trim is a bit much. Note this is not a registered dealership but someone working from home. They don't have a website and only trade via autotrader. Some of the other cars for sale also don't have a history check. Loads of photos but none of the dash oddly. The stitching is a different colour around the passenger airbag. Ride height looks wrong. And did I mention the lime green is a bit much?

Anyhow, loads out there. Would highly recommend test driving as many different ones as possible.

 

[Moss]

Welcome and I hope you manage to source your weekend toy!
Your post suggests you’re doing your “homework” which is a good thing.
Being the coward I am and the complexity of the cars, I took the dealer route when buying and feel it gave me some degree of assurance. But that’s just me, and my very own opinion. I am certain there are plenty of other owners out there who’ve done it differently, and successfully.
I’m probably not that far from you and if you want to have a chat, feel free to PM me your details and I can share my experiences of ownership. BTW I’m not planning selling

 

[Lunar]

Welcome Martin.

Additional to the enhanced aural experience of a convertible, swapping your RR Sport for an F-Type, never underestimate the usefulness for when you buy a water butt, guttering, or lengths of wood

 

[Martian999]

Lunar,

Many thanks for your very kind welcome and for your taking the time to extol the additional virtues of the F Type convertible!

It is strange but I was never interested in 'soft tops' until . . . .

I suddenly had an urge, (several years into my marriage), to purchase a Saab 9 Turbo convertible, (this was early 90's I believe), and that was a very nice car and, yes, I brought things home in it that would not fit in my other vehicles!!

Considering that I was never interested in convertibles . . .

I the went on to purchase a Mercedes SLK, (several years later), followed by a CLK, (which I collected from Plymouth), and brought home on a borrowed trailer, (another story in itself), which had the common defective auto box that required a £50 servo control plate installing once I got it home!

I managed to bring a rather large flat scree TV home in that - once securely bound down on the rear seats - something that is not included on the F Type variant of course!

And I currently have a nice red Porsche Boxster, (driven back from Edinburgh), on the frontage, (I need to fix a transaxle oil leak), and that has just come out of hibernation from the garage - hopefully making way for the new arrival - once I have found it!

An F Type convertible would not be out of the question!

I note that your travelling 'companion' had to give up his seat for the water butt!

Best Regards,

Martin.

 

[NavigatorNI]

Martin, Welcome to the forum. Back in 2019 I bought my V6S from a non JLR dealer. At the time, from memory, it was about £3.5k cheaper than an equivalent JLR used approved model. I thought at the time that the price difference would cover a fair amount of repairs, if necessary, in the difference between the two warranties. I'm glad to report that none proved necessary. So, if you the usual checks, I personally wouldn't worry too much about buying from outside the JLR dealer network, provided the price is right.

 

[JekVI]

Remember that buying from any dealership gives you ~6 months protection under consumer law, and they therefore usually give you a 6 month warranty for this reason - both my F-Types were from independent dealers and they fixed (minor) things without any push-back at all

 

[Delpel]

Now then Martin,

Welcome to the forum. What part of rural Lincolnshire do you reside. I am up in North Lincolnshire near barrow upon Humber.

Regards Derek

 

[carljcharles]

Hi Martin,

Just posted my 2015 R AWD for sale in the forum section and sent you a message. Feel free to let me know if it's of any interest or you have questions.

Either way, Best of luck with your search a AWD R is an stunning car to own and drive.

 

[Martian999]

Delpel,

Many thanks for your warm welcome.

I am located in a small village approximately 5 miles south of Spilsby - just off the A16.

Not far from the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, (home of the Lancaster and recently acquired Mosquito), an excellent place to visit even if you only have a slight interest in anything to do with aviation!

Anyway my adventure begins, tomorrow, when I 'pop' over to Liverpool to take a closer look at the 'approved' 2016 F Type R so please wish me luck!

Regards,

Martin.

 

[Martian999]

NavigatorNI & JekVI,

Many thanks for your comments re purchasing said vehicles within, (and outside of), an official dealer network.

I have enjoyed a very 'successfull' lifetime of purchasing second hand cars, (and motorcycles), with no lemons whatsoever, (I now sincerely hope that I do not live to regret that bold statement)!

I am happy to take a risk on a £5K - £10K vehicle as the absolute loss can possibly be mitigated by cheap aftermarket parts and a lot of 'spanner work' by yours truly but . . .

The same can't be said for a vehicle costing £30K upwards as both parts and labour will be exponentially greater due simply to the prestige value of the marque - although this is only my personal opinion of course.

I have looked at many of these fine motor cars and it is interesting to note that they turn up in a wide range of second hand car lots.

Some of these 'dealers' appear to have a legitimate business and the reviews, (when you can find them), appear to be honest and favourable, (although there is always a possibility that some/all reviews are fictitious of course), whilst others are, quite obviously, an individual working from their kitchen table and with no premise!

I found an interesting F Type R, up north, which really caught my eye and I would have popped up to take a closer look but after I had done some investigative searches I found a lot of 'bad press' openly displayed in the public domain - but one must remember that there can be malicious good and bad reviews levied against dealers of course.

That is why I am prepared to take a trek over to Liverpool, tomorrow, to view an 'approved' F Type R and see how that compares to the other F Types that are being advertised by legitimate dealers.

We shall see!

Regards,

Martin.

 

[scm]

The same can't be said for a vehicle costing £30K upwards as both parts and labour will be exponentially greater due simply to the prestige value of the marque - although this is only my personal opinion of course.

Not "only" a personal opinion - a very sensible one!

If you're buying a fairly old one, it's best to steer clear of dealers and find a competent independent you can trust who will keep you mobile for a reasonable cost..