Jaguar F-Type vs Mercedes-Benz SL
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Jaguar F-Type wins on money kept: 55% retained after three years vs 52%, worth about R 1 336 337 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| F-Type | SL | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 1 243 000 | R 3 870 128 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 21 726/m | R 67 644/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 76% | 75% |
| Retained after 3 years | 55% | 52% |
| Value after 3 years | R 679 331 | R 2 015 667 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 563 669 | R 1 854 461 |
| Value after 5 years | R 474 270 | R 1 368 590 |
| Our tier | Premium (established) | Luxury flagship & exotic |
Jaguar F-Type →
Jaguar's two-seater sports car sold in South Africa from 2013 until production ended in 2024, in coupe and convertible form with four-cylinder, V6 and V8 power. The supercharged V8 cars are remembered mostly for their exhaust noise. As the last petrol Jaguar sports car, clean examples are starting to attract enthusiast interest.
Known for: v8 soundtrack sports car
Mercedes-Benz SL →
Mercedes' halo roadster has been on the SA price list continuously since the 1990s and is now sold as a Mercedes-AMG model near R4 million. Volumes are tiny and buyers are collectors and enthusiasts. Older R129 examples have a classic following while 2000s cars depreciated hard.
Known for: long-running flagship roadster
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Jaguar F-Type or the Mercedes-Benz SL?
The Jaguar F-Type. It keeps about 55% of its price after three years against 52% for the Mercedes-Benz SL, a gap of 3 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Jaguar F-Type loses about R 563 669 over three years and the Mercedes-Benz SL loses about R 1 854 461. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Jaguar F-Type runs about R 21 726 per month and the Mercedes-Benz SL about R 67 644, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.