Used Jaguar F-Type review and buying guide (2013 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Jaguar F-Type should you buy?

No year or version of the F-Type has a known fault logged against it, so there isn't one to rule out on the record alone. That's a thin record, not a clean bill of health, which means you're buying the individual car: convertible from 2013 or coupe from 2014, rear or four-wheel drive, pick the one that runs sweetly, fits together properly and has paperwork for any engine work.

The engine is where the owner complaints on file gather. A 2013 V6 started misfiring at 41,000 miles, a 2017 V6 coupe began misfiring at just 7,700 miles and sat in a Jaguar workshop for 24 days without a diagnosis, and a 2015 car bought at 6,000 miles had its engine fail and get replaced. Those are three single cars, but together they make the engine's running the first thing to judge on a test drive.

Cars built in 2016 were the subject of a service action because the service reminder didn't show on the dash, down to the engine management and instrument cluster not talking to each other properly at start-up. Nothing on file covers cars built after 2017, so a newer F-Type isn't proven better or worse; it's simply unknown, and it deserves the same checks.

Which F-Type engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

None of the F-Type's engines or gearboxes has a known fault on record, so there's no version to steer clear of on the evidence, and equally none that's been shown to be trouble-free. What exists is a handful of single owners' reports, and the ones that name an engine all involve the V6, so that's the engine to look over hardest.

One owner's 2013 V6 misfire at 41,000 miles went from spark plugs to a suspected injector on cylinder 4, and the injector then snapped off inside the cylinder head as a dealer pulled it out, and the fix quoted was a new cylinder head. Another owner's 2017 car made a light knock from the lower right of the engine at idle when started cold at 11,000 miles.

On the automatic, one coupe with only 4,000 miles on it put up a gearbox fault message as soon as the ignition went on. The suspected culprit was the brake pedal switch that lets the selector come out of Park, not the gearbox itself. There's nothing on file against the four-wheel drive system, but that's an absence of reports rather than a clean result.

What should you check when viewing a used F-Type?

Insist on starting the engine from stone cold and listen low down on the right-hand side for a light knock at idle. On the drive, feel for a stumble or uneven running and watch for the engine warning light, because two owners' V6 cars developed misfires. Ask for receipts for any plug or injector work, and find out whether an injector has ever been removed from the head.

Check the panel fit closely. One used car bought from a dealer at 14,406 miles had vibration from the driver's door, a badly fitting bonnet, a loose front wing liner, condensation in the rear light clusters, play in a front wheel bearing and worn front tyres, and another owner complained about how the doors fitted on a brand new coupe. Open and shut both doors, and look inside the rear lights.

The bonnet pops up to protect pedestrians, and one 2015 car's fired itself going over a speed hump, so check it sits flush and ask whether it's ever deployed. On cars with adaptive dampers, switch between the normal and dynamic modes: one 2017 coupe's ride went harsh and rocked over small bumps, with no change between settings. Ask for proof the service reminder action was done on a 2016-built car.

Switch the ignition on with the car in Park and make sure no gearbox message appears before you set off; on one low-mileage coupe the brake pedal switch was the suspect rather than the gearbox. The only recall on file was for left-hand-drive cars sold in the US, so there's no recall paperwork to chase on a UK right-hand-drive F-Type.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Jaguar F-Type cost to run?

What do F-Type owners like about them?

The shape is the big draw: it nods to the E-Type yet still looks thoroughly modern, whether you pick the coupe or the convertible. Every engine makes a great noise, so there's no dull-sounding version, and even the least powerful one feels properly quick when you put your foot down.

It's a lovely thing to drive hard. The rear-drive cars are balanced and easy to read at the limit, and the four-wheel drive versions keep nearly all of that feel while adding extra grip. It's got real character too, and that comes through every time you take it out.

Inside, the cabin feels classy and a cut above the ordinary. You sit low, snug in the car, but it never feels cramped, and the controls fall easily to hand. The coupe's boot is more useful than you'd guess from the shape, with room for two sets of golf clubs.

• The F-Type boasts stunning aesthetics, modernly evoking the classic Jaguar E-Type design.
• This model offers a splendid engine soundtrack, providing an enjoyable auditory experience regardless of the chosen power unit.
• All F-Type models deliver very strong performance, ensuring an exhilarating driving experience.
• The car features an engaging and predictable rear-wheel drive handling balance, making it enjoyable to drive.
• Four-wheel drive versions maintain excellent balance while offering enhanced grip for improved traction.