Welcome to Depreciation Appreciation! Every month, your pals at autoTRADER.ca dig up an instance of how depreciation can make for an extraordinary used-car deal.
This month, we’re looking at a handsome British cruiser with plenty of options for power, traction, and luxury to spare – all wrapped in a killer-looking body that’ll make your neighbours think you’ve got bags of cash buried in the basement.
The ride in question is the Jaguar XF – which launched for model year 2009 to bring a British presence into a market segment largely dominated by machinery from BMW, Audi, Benz, and Lexus. Today, the XF looks like a solid used luxury sedan bet, and can be picked up with highly reasonable pricing, and no shortage of selection. Notably, with available AWD and a good set of grippy winter rubber, this one’s ready to fist-punch the winter motoring blahs right in the schnoz.
The Sticky
All copies of the Jaguar XF were four-door, five-seat sedans with rear or all-wheel drive (AWD), and an automatic transmission with available paddle shifters. Feature content was nothing less than expected of a top-dog luxury sport sedan, with an available Bowers and Wilkins stereo, wood trim, nav, Bluetooth, push-button start, automatic everything, a dial gear shifter, climate-controlled seats, and more.
Earlier models got standard V8 power from various engines that came either naturally aspirated, or supercharged. From 2010, a new 5.0-litre V8 engine replaced the aging 4.2-litre unit, and could be had with or without supercharger. Output ranged from just shy of 400 horsepower to well past 500, depending on the specific model in question.
A 3.0-litre supercharged V6 became available later in the XF’s life, and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine arrived after that. Our recommendation for the best all-round engine is the 3.0-litre supercharged V6: its relatively easy on fuel, a strong performer, and highly refined. Also, it’s paired with the XF’s feisty rear-biased all-wheel drive system.
Do you like doing fun sideways things in the snow? So does Jaguar – and that’s why their AWD system sends maximum power to the rear wheels until front-wheel power is absolutely, positively needed.
Approximate New Value
From new, the Jaguar XF was priced from about $60,000 in standard guise, and nearly $80,000 with supercharged V8 power. Mid-line “Premium Luxury” models, with naturally aspirated V8 power and 385 ponies, ran about $70,000. The rip-snorting high-performance Jaguar XFR pushed pricing towards $90,000, with over 500 horsepower and an exhaust note that frightened nearby children. The 2.0-litre turbo powered XF dropped pricing into the low fifties when it launched, and the hot-selling XF with 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and AWD came in from the low sixties. All figures listed are before any options.
The gist? With 340 supercharged horsepower and a few add-on goodies, the winter-ready XF 3.0 AWD Supercharged was about a $70,000 car, and many other variants were available.
Approximate Used Value
Since winter is moving in, lets focus on the AWD-equipped Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD first.
Here’s an example of a few-year-old unit with reasonable mileage and many goodies, priced well under $30,000 – or well less than half its original value, after just a few a years. Here’s another used XF AWD for under $26,000. Just 4 years ago, this was a $75,000 car, and now, you can pick it up for less than a fully-loaded Elantra. Isn’t depreciation a beautiful thing?
Stretch your budget a little, and you’ll find units like this one, with extended warranty and a Jaguar Certified Pre Owned (CPO) designation for maximum peace of mind, for under $40,000 at just 2 years old.
If you’re not set on AWD, and if you’re not scared of higher mileage, you can find an XF like this for well under $20,000. Further, higher-mileage, earlier copies of the XF like this one can be had for under $15,000, all day long.
Are you a total boss? Do you like noises? If so, consider a Jaguar XFR, like this one. You get 510 horsepower, that signature Jaguar V8 soundtrack, and a once $85,000-plus posh-rocket for just $25,000, with less than 100,000 kilometres on the dial. Add winter tires and snow-donuts to taste.
Test Drive Tips
Work with the used XF’s VIN number and a Jaguar dealer to confirm that all software updates have been applied, which can help prevent frustration with the central command system, prevent dead batteries, and address other issues relating to the transmission, driveline, and other vehicle systems. With the vehicle’s VIN number, the dealer can also check to see if any recall work is outstanding, and confirm that the vehicle’s warranty is still in good standing, too. Note that over the years, the XF was subject to a fairly lengthy list of recalls, each of which dealt with a potential safety issue.
Run the dial shifter through its paces, several times, over the course of your test drive, too. Any warning messages while shifting between the gear positions, or any failure of said gear positions to engage, require further investigation, and likely, a software reflash.
Note that low battery voltage may have numerous ill effects on the various systems in a car like the XF, so spend thirty bucks on a trickle charger and use it when the car will be parked for more than a few days.
All models should be professionally inspected by a Jaguar technician for signs of coolant leakage from cooling system plumbing, gaskets, or the vehicle’s water pump. Note that many owners consider the plumbing on the XF’s cooling system to be consumable, and have replaced parts, several times. Some enthusiast owners even pre-emptively change the cooling system plumbing every few years to prevent problems.
Check the condition of the brakes, paying close attention to the condition of the rear pads, especially on a rear-wheel drive unit that has been winter-driven. Frequent traction control engagement on slippery roads may drastically reduce rear brake pad life.
Elsewhere, run the motorized seats, climate control, and central command system through their paces, confirming proper operation. Inspect the leather on the dashboard for bulges and bubbles, too, which could result from an adhesive failure.
The Verdict
Though the XF looks relatively solid from a maintenance standpoint as used premium cars go, shoppers are advised to seek out as new a model as possible, while also budgeting for any extended warranty coverage available, especially for the vehicle powertrain.
Most commonly reported issues should be easy to spot on a test drive, though extended warranty coverage offers added protection.
Find a model sold as part of a Jaguar CPO program for maximum confidence, add any extended warranty available, and toss on some winter tires. Then, you’ll be sticking it to winter’s worst conditions with power to spare, and you’ll be looking good doing it.
