Jaguar_World_Issue_186_July_2017

Forecasting classics
EYEING UP an XFR in alocal car dealer reminded
me that, as brilliant as this rocket of asaloon is, it
has been months, maybe even ayear, sinceIsaw one
on the road. These machines must be rare, but how
rare? I took a look on Jaguar’s Approved Used
website, and found two. Autotrader had 35 of these 510PS milemashers,
and three of the gloriously excessive 543PS XFR-S
version. Pistonheads, where you might expect to find more of
these potent beasts, fielded just 22, none of
which was an R-S, and several also appeared on
Autotrader.
So this is an uncommon car, asadelve into
the ‘How Many Left?’ website swiftly reveals.
If you haven’t discovered this site already, you
might want to set aside half-an-hour-or-so for
the moment when you do. It does, as its name
suggests, record the numbersofcarslicensed for
UK roads, the numbersonSORN, and those with
aStatutory Off Road Notification. It uses DVLA
data and is inevitably less than 100 percent
accurate, but it certainly gives you agood idea
of the remaining numbers ofaparticular breed of car. Itnot
only provides brand and model numbers, but data onindividual
derivatives, too.
And what it reveals is that therewereonly 1,261XFRs registered
in the UK at its peak –the second quarter of 2015 –and that this
number shrunk slightly to 1,215 atthe end of 2016, although 22
were on SORN. At thispoint, therewere93,596 XFs on UK roads,
and 868 on SORN, although that includes some of the latest
model. But, the upshot is that the XFR represents between one
and two percent of all XFs sold. So it’s
rare,eventhough it’s not that old. There
are more E-types on SORN (1,729) than
there are XFRs, and four times as many
Es that are licensed.
The 543PS XFR-S is still harder to spot, there being just 144,
with two onSORN. On numbers alone, this car is surely going to
be aclassic, never mind its brilliance inthe first place. The same
must go for the lesser (but only slightly)
510PS XFR, whose S-TYPE Rpredecessor is
beginning to head towards the endangered
list, incidentally, with 98 on the road and
11 off it.
XJRs are more plentiful, although the
data does not enable you toaccurately split
the early six cylindersfromthe V8s, and the
X350 alloy-bodied XJ V8s from the earlier
steel-shelled models. But, in total, there
are currently 2,631 licensed, and 1,099 on
SORN.
Of course, saloons aren’t as glamorous as
coupes, and morepeople by the daywant crossovers, whichiswhy
most of Jaguar’s hot, supercharged saloons are not as plentiful as
might be expected, despite their excellence. But, it’s sleepers like
this that sometimes become highly desired –and valuable with it.
So, if youwant to get ahead of the game, I’d suggest looking out
for anXFR-S. They’re not cheap at around £37k-plus, but they’re
still on the way down and certainly look like value when you
consider their 186mph(!) top speed and the scope for scorching
to 62mph in 4.4 seconds.
IF YOU WANT
TO GET AHEAD
OF THE GAME,
I’D SUGGEST
LOOKING OUT
FOR ANXFR-S
With just 144
currently on the road,
the 186mph XFR-S is a
futurecollector’s car
July 2017 \Jaguar World |23