Did Jaguar just make the 2015 Coupe R a limited production collectable?
#1
Did Jaguar just make the 2015 Coupe R a limited production collectable?
If you were following the news last week from the LA Auto Show, you're now aware that 2015 is the first and last year that the Coupe R has RWD and hydraulic steering in North America. Maybe it's the hopeful purist in me, but I *think* that this particular configuration may just be more desirable than the 2016+. If that's true, resale on the 2015 should hold strong and might even appreciate.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
#2
If you're talking long term, probably not. The RWD V8 configuration is still being produced in other parts of the world, and 25+ years from now will be available for import making them less special. Also if the AWD version significantly out performs the RWD variant (which it very well may) collectors may desire the AWD version more in the long term.
If you plan on selling your car in the next few years it will probably command a higher used car price for those who specifically want the RWD version, of which there will be some. I wouldn't call it an instant classic quite yet tho. I wouldn't count on it appreciating either. Its not that limited.
There are alot of people out there saying Jaguar made a huge mistake with the standard AWD, and they very well may have. But how many of those people are potential customers and how many are just talkers... If they made a RWD version of the Nissian GTR, I imagine it wouldn't out sell the AWD version. The F type could very well be the same way. Only time will tell.
I personally wasn't going to buy one unless it was AWD, but that is only one person
If you plan on selling your car in the next few years it will probably command a higher used car price for those who specifically want the RWD version, of which there will be some. I wouldn't call it an instant classic quite yet tho. I wouldn't count on it appreciating either. Its not that limited.
There are alot of people out there saying Jaguar made a huge mistake with the standard AWD, and they very well may have. But how many of those people are potential customers and how many are just talkers... If they made a RWD version of the Nissian GTR, I imagine it wouldn't out sell the AWD version. The F type could very well be the same way. Only time will tell.
I personally wasn't going to buy one unless it was AWD, but that is only one person
#3
#4
Well, we already have the following fact:
- The AWD system doesn't engage until the rear wheels lose traction.
So, 98% of the time that you're driving around, you're doing so with 176lbs more weight than the RWD variant for no reason at all.
As for performance, they could have designed the AWD system with the track in mind, or with snow in mind. My bet is that JLR went this route to be broadly appealing, rather than to double-down on the "performance enthusiast" market. They need to sell these cars in large volume more than they need to set the fastest lap times at the nurburgring. If that's true, they might be successful in selling to the ~50% of the USA that experiences inclimate weather, but will be less successful among the narrow (but vocal) performance car nut crowd.
Yes, AWD can perform better at the track when designed to do so (e.g. GTR), but that doesn't mean AWD cars are always faster than their RWD counterparts (e.g. BMW 335xi vs 335i...BMW doesn't *do* performance AWD systems yet). Porsche offers another good example with their GT3 being their fastest track-purposed vehicle, while the Porsche Turbo has even more power and AWD, but clocks in slower around tracks which have turns on them.
I hope for JLR's sake that they sell a ton of these AWD variants, but believe they'll actually be lesser performing than the RWD Coupe R now facing extinction.
My .02
- The AWD system doesn't engage until the rear wheels lose traction.
So, 98% of the time that you're driving around, you're doing so with 176lbs more weight than the RWD variant for no reason at all.
As for performance, they could have designed the AWD system with the track in mind, or with snow in mind. My bet is that JLR went this route to be broadly appealing, rather than to double-down on the "performance enthusiast" market. They need to sell these cars in large volume more than they need to set the fastest lap times at the nurburgring. If that's true, they might be successful in selling to the ~50% of the USA that experiences inclimate weather, but will be less successful among the narrow (but vocal) performance car nut crowd.
Yes, AWD can perform better at the track when designed to do so (e.g. GTR), but that doesn't mean AWD cars are always faster than their RWD counterparts (e.g. BMW 335xi vs 335i...BMW doesn't *do* performance AWD systems yet). Porsche offers another good example with their GT3 being their fastest track-purposed vehicle, while the Porsche Turbo has even more power and AWD, but clocks in slower around tracks which have turns on them.
I hope for JLR's sake that they sell a ton of these AWD variants, but believe they'll actually be lesser performing than the RWD Coupe R now facing extinction.
My .02
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#8
Seize the day! Use your car and wait what are the magazines will be saying earlier 2015. A lot of people suffer by anticipation. I believe no one here bought the F-Type to be a daily driver, that was disposable income that car lovers/enthusiasts often do, now why complain?
#10
Seize the day! Use your car and wait what are the magazines will be saying earlier 2015. A lot of people suffer by anticipation. I believe no one here bought the F-Type to be a daily driver, that was disposable income that car lovers/enthusiasts often do, now why complain?
#12
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#16
It really depends on where you are. A quick check of a couple local dealer websites shows that there are plenty of '15 F-types in stock here in SoCal. 39 at my dealer alone.
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#18
I would be more concerned about the electric steering than the awd. When I was shopping for a new sedan, the difference in the BMW 5 series between the awd 550 and the rear wheel drive was the awd still had hydraulic steering and the rear wheel drive electric. I would not have purchased the electric as it had no connection to the road. I bought my X F on the driving experience as the primary factor. I hope the switch to electric doesn't mess with the best feature of jags.
#19
Audi's lower powered models are AWD because their alternative is front wheel drive which is not really a viable luxury offering in the USA.
#20