Jaguar F-type

[JHamilton]

I'm a bit surprised there hasn't been a thread made on this car yet. I am interested to hear the Brits impression of this car.

http://jalopnik.com/watch-two-minute...ly-s-491011502

My take: It is a very pretty car even if aerodynamics are continuing to lead all sports cars down the same styling path... from the front anyway, it looks a bit like a California (and others). From the back it is very sexy. My biggest disappointment is the price. The one in the video is the same or more than a decked out Corvette, a little less than a Carrera and equal to an entry level Viper. The entry level V6 is $10k US more than a Stingray. For that reason I fear I won't be seeing too many around here. Thoughts? How's it being received in the motherland?

[garcon]

Saw one on the road last week! Either a test/press car or very early dealer demo. It was the V6 S, sounded like a proper sports car.

The looks are certainly impressive given that the design department did little more than chop the ends off an XK.

Early magazine tests suggest it's a very, very capable car, but it seems to be suffering a bit of a perception problem. In the eyes of many, it was supposed to be positioned as a Porsche Boxster rival, but it is more expensive than that. In truth you could put the V6 up against a 911 and the V8 up against an Aston Martin and they would hold their ground - think of it in that kind of company and it's actually quite cheap.

Not surprised it's dearer than domestic alternatives in the USA - put it against UK prices (specialist import of a Corvette would cost us around USD100,000 for example) and it makes more sense.

[JHamilton]

Yeah, that was my hope... a Z4 & Cockster alternative. After reading the first road test article on one here it is much bigger than I expected. Also, it seems to have slightly better performance and is priced identically to an XK convertible. Are they going to be stealing sales from themselves?

[garcon]

I think the XK is a more 'grown up' GT, whereas the F Type is intended as a sports car to attract a younger market to the brand. But yes, I'm sure there will be more than a few potential XK buyers who decide to have another midlife crisis and go for the F Type instead.

[GTRMagic]

It is a stunning car, the local Jaguar dealers have reportedly taken a number of deposits/EOI's for them on the strength of the pictures on the interwebs

Do you get two Jaguars for the price of one? One to drive, while the other is being repaired

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by garcon

I think the XK is a more 'grown up' GT, whereas the F Type is intended as a sports car to attract a younger market to the brand. But yes, I'm sure there will be more than a few potential XK buyers who decide to have another midlife crisis and go for the F Type instead.

The problem is the only fellas that can afford a car like that are older. But as my dad said about his car when I asked him if he felt strange driving it (a flame red Corvette convertible), "the great thing about getting older is that you don't give a **** what anyone else thinks".

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

It is a stunning car, the local Jaguar dealers have reportedly taken a number of deposits/EOI's for them on the strength of the pictures on the interwebs

Do you get two Jaguars for the price of one? One to drive, while the other is being repaired

I know it was in jest and you probably know this, but here in the US Jaguar is ranked #2 by JD Power in quality behind Lexus. They are turning out some great stuff.

[garcon]

Jaguar are consistently near the top of the UK JD Power surveys too, usually just behind a couple of Japanese manufacturers, and always above the German premium marques. If only Land Rover could learn the same lessons on quality and reliability.

[dtype38]

Had a sit in one at the New York Automobile Show while I was on holiday there a few weeks ago. I'd driven an XKR convertible a couple of weeks earlier and there is no comparison at all. Very different cars. The XK is a proper full size GT, whereas the F-type feels tiny by comparison. With no back seats, smaller cabin, different styling, a gear stick, etc, it doesn't feel like a 'little brother' to the XK at all. I actually love both, but I'd need to decide what sort of driving I wanted to do if I had to pick one. Trip to the South of France = XK, Trip round the Lake District = F-type.

Originally Posted by garcon

In the eyes of many, it was supposed to be positioned as a Porsche Boxster rival, but it is more expensive than that.

On that front, I'd actually say it was aimed at the Porsche Cayman which has few competitors.

[JHamilton]

MT posted this video the other day. I'm thinking I'd go with the V6... somehow they made it sound like a strait six.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Swv8RaGi-0

[OpelOmegaEvolution500]

I spend a lot of my time driving all over the U.K.
Especially on the main routes near where the Southern car factories are e.g Oxford,Gaydon,Coventry etc. The M40 is the best place for spotting test cars. For the past maybe 6 months i've noticed dozens of pre production F-Types on the road, mostly on the A34 which seems to be part of a designated test route. You can spot them a mile off,as they always have trade plates and are covered in road grime.
So going by this,I reckon they will be quite popular, Jaguar seem to be really working hard on getting them right.
Dave