So just looking around as you do - I'd say I'm probably a year away from changing my car, but it's nice to look at what is out there for your budget.

I know that to many the Jaguar XF doesn't look anything special, for some reason I really liked it when it was first released. It was under serious consideration when I bought the current car, but the budget wasn't really there and the second hand market on the XF wasn't great.

So looking now and things have improved. A manual is near impossible to get, but I know I could adjust to automatic driving.

And then I hear that there is an XF-R and suddenly I started to salivate. A check on AT and I see that such a vehicle would be available for the region of £20k - that appears to be a lot of car for £20k!

I even put the car through a mock insurance quote for myself with the bulk of the quotes coming in between £350 - £550, very affordable!

 

But, just how impractical would it be?

For the 9:00 - 5:30 five days a week it would see a 40 mile or so round journey from home to work and back again.

At weekends it would certainly get more miles on it, but obviously wasted on those short journeys to work - although I'm sure a massive grin on the face with that engine purring away.

I guess you wouldn't buy such a car and expect excellent MPG, but would it be so terribly bad?

 

This is all speculative, although I am drawing up that list of potential replacements for a year's time (the Mk3 vRS is on that list, along with the S3).

But would that "bad Jag" be such a bad thing to also consider?

They are 63k new where can you pick one up so cheap, unless mega miles. Mates brother ij law has aj XK R 12/15 around town and 18 on a run. Makes my 18 average seem economical. Seen a 56 new shape XKR for shy of 17 k bargain if you do not do mega miles

I was told when looking at buying my S4 that if you need to do any mpg calculations to see if you can live with it, don't buy it!

I did check the first tank mpg after I bought it, scraped 20mpg. I haven't bothered since.

The way I look at it, I used to spend more on diesel per week when I had a car that did 50mpg. I just do far fewer miles now

They are 63k new where can you pick one up so cheap, unless mega miles. Mates brother ij law has aj XK R 12/15 around town and 18 on a run. Makes my 18 average seem economical. Seen a 56 new shape XKR for shy of 17 k bargain if you do not do mega m

Only tentatively looking at the moment - right now I can see 2 in the kind of price range I mentioned:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201401060844374/sort/default/make/JAGUAR/postcode/pe166du/radius/1501/keywords/xfr/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/22500/engine-size-cars/5lplus/price-from/18000/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/533544/usedcars?logcode=flp

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311069715209/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/5lplus/postcode/pe166du/keywords/xfr/price-from/18000/price-to/22500/page/1/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/jaguar?logcode=p

 

Obviously would have to do more research before buying and also wouldn't rush into it - not gonna go and buy the first I see!

I guess I'm just trying to convince myself that I can put it on the "possible" list.

You got mates at Esso: you'll need to have if you have fun They look great value though and the previous gen XJR is a great value sleeper too judging by the prices.

The 1st one is the nicest. Not sure about the colour of 2nd ones leather. I would have got an XKR if I had not bought my R36. If you do little miles a no brainer as all V8s are seriously depreciating now. I Cycle to work so I can afford to juice mine ! When the petrol light pings it means get some now! I hate diesels with a vengeance and these cars will have almost gone in 10 years so enjoy the soundtrack now. Go for it but haggle hard

The XF is a very well put together car IMO - I had a 2.2 diesel on demo last year and it was certainly a step up from the Superb in terms of comfort and quality. OK rear space is not as good but wouldn't bother me as the kids get older. The Sportbrake looks top notch too.

Can't speak much for the R version but suspect that it is sublime. Member on here has an XJ, not sure which engine could be the 5.0 Supercharged.

If you can, do it - might break you, but even if its just for a year!

I don't think the XF has ever been available in manual. Purely cause they have that awesome drive selector that pops out of the centre console on startup. Mmmm.

I like the XF, it's grown on me.

 

Good value second hand too when you look at the equivalent A6 or 5 series.

 

If you can afford it go for it. Cars like that won't be around for much longer.

Makes me go all Moist looking at that.  Was thinking of V8 motor myself and a Monaro or VXR8 were possibles purely cause the prices they sell for.

As others say, Supercharged V8's won't be available for  much longer so a good time to buy is very soon.

Buying an XF-R you would obviously be wanting to buy it to use it as an XF-R and give it some beans. If you do except awful economy, big bills on tyres and tax etc.

I suspect my RS 5 is a good comparison in costs. Based on 10,000 miles a year it averaged £600 a month purely in tyres, tax, insurance and FUEL plus you'd want a warranty on such a car so add another £100 per month I reckon.

Worst I saw was 5mpg coming out of Villa park whilst sat in traffic.

You need to be prepared to spend big to run a big car.

Wet my pants nearly yesterday when I saw the price of the supercharged XF, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds top speed of 186mph. Good old forces discount with the tax off on the road price £37,420 a saving of over 43k. How much is a lung or liver worth. I so want one:-)

They do sound nice, I have never seen a manual XF.  Tyres are a bit pricey.

They are all auto, gear selector whirs up out of the console when you put ignition on 

^^ does look pretty cool when it does it, plus the air vents rotate round.

Was talk of putting manual gearboxes into the entry level 163PS models but don't think it's happened yet.

Guy I work with has the XF-R. Nice car, and quite quick. Expect mpg in the mid 20's. Tyres are over a grand a set, and if anything goes wrong it can cost you a small fortune. In short, not a cheap car to run, but a nice place to be, comfortable and apparently drive nice.

I've never driven an R, but I've driven a few of the more normal models and they do rate as the nicest car I've ever driven.

I went and saw one at the weekend - as I said before realistically I'm looking at a 12 month wait, so quite why we decided to take a look I don't know.

Didn't get a chance to take it for a drive, but it certainly makes a pretty noise

 

The thing is, many people who go for something a little more "exotic" (not that I'm saying the XF-R is, it's just 520bhp is a little more than I've ever driven) can do so as maybe a second car or maybe money being no object.

In my first post I was saying about running costs and at the end of the day I would need to run it as my "one and only car". My daily commute I'm sure wouldn't be too bad on petrol, but I do need to find out things like expected MPG, Tax, service costs and "general running costs".

Cannot go into something like this blindly.

While we were looking at the XF-R we took a look at an XK-R and an F-Type. Both very much out of my price range mind, but the more I look at these Jaguar's the more impressed I am.

 

So over to some Jaguar forums I think to find out the true running costs of these. Would love to say I've owned a 520bhp V8 monster - even if it was only for a year, but I've got to be practical

Saw and heard a new F-type just being driven from front of house to the back and on throttle it sounded like God gargling rocks

 

On idle it sounded like a 40yr old Leyland tractor with problems. The contrast between the two sounds was quite startling.

 

I was given a 10yr old S-Type Jag as a courtesy car a few months back. I was actually quite impressed by just how well it had worn its years especially with the S have a reputation for problems. I'd have a Jag if I could do it.

Edited 18 February, 201412 yr by Aspman

Always fancied a Jag. Mrs FW has alreays said I'm not old enough when previously considered buying one. I'm 45 now, so that excuse won't wash anymore. If only I did less miles per year, I would have one in a shot.

I'm 27 and ran a BMW 740i 4.4 v8 for just under a year. Most enjoyable noise ever. I'd like a Jag XJ diesel next..

Saw and heard a new F-type just being driven from front of house to the back and on throttle it sounded like God gargling rocks

 

On idle it sounded like a 40yr old Leyland tractor with problems. The contrast between the two sounds was quite startling.

 

I was given a 10yr old S-Type Jag as a courtesy car a few months back. I was actually quite impressed by just how well it had worn its years especially with the S have a reputation for problems. I'd have a Jag if I could do it.

 

The guy I work with has the S Type-R as well as the XF-R.  The S Type has cost him a fortune over the years, but he won't part with it because he likes it. It's his daily commuter/bad weather car.

S Type R's  420bhp are going for £5k. to £9k so would make an ideal weekend car, not much cash to loose on it if you keep it a year or two.

Edited 18 February, 201412 yr by Soot1e

Yep, I'm with you on the XF. When the Octy VRS finally has it's time to go, this will be on the shopping list

It would be a diesel version and yes they are well screwed together, but would have no need for the XF-R.

 

First impressions having driven one,  Seems smaller than the octavia inside, very cossetting, much bigger on the outside, wider and longer.

Everything is a third to twice as much as the Octavia.

 

It is a shame Octavia 3's are losing their appeal. I quite fancy a Mazda 6 too!

I'm looking at the xj or maybe the xf