Thursday 20th June 2013

Chris Harris video: F-Type vs everyone

Jaguar F-Type takes aim at the Porsche 911 and Aston V8 Vantage Volante - does it stand a chance?

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There is presently much talk of a resurrection at TVR - I find this quite interesting because I came away from my time with the new F-Type V8 S wondering if I had driven the same car as every other media outlet. It seems everyone is attempting to align the new Jag with either a Boxster or a 911, when in fact it is something quite different.

I'm not claiming to be any cleverer than my colleagues - actually, I'm normally more stupid - but for me the F-Type more accurately fills the gap left by TVR than any other car. It is British, it is brutal and its styling makes people stop and stare. You'd want to drive it to Le Mans. It is also comically loud.

F-Type, tyre smoke ... well, what did you expect?

These videos are a decent place to explore the objective and subjective side to any given car, but there are certain nuances that occur to you days after the cars have gone and you're onto the next project. I had so much fun in the F-Type: every journey was special. It hard to express that without sounding glib, but in the context of a marketplace dominated by a slightly over starched German brand it really counts.

The F-Type is supposed to attract a younger audience to the Jaguar brand. It might just do that, although the £90K-plus price tag of this car won't help. What it will do is present Jaguar as a maker of cars that can generate an emotional purchase. I think that is a step-change for the brand.

Putting the TVR association to one side, the car that I think most closely matches the F-Type V8 S on paper is the Aston V8 Vantage Roadster, so we popped one into this test. It's old and has zero torque compared to the Jag, but it also happens to be achingly beautiful and is offered with that rare item called a manual gearbox. If you wanted something built in this country that looked superb and could be heard three villages away, the Aston still warrants attention.

Of course the 911 has to make an appearance. It is to Porsche's credit that it can make a car that is a few grand shy of one £100,000 that it can make the thing feel so damn ordinary. It's beautifully assembled and all the bits that matter feel expensive, but you do wonder where the joy is supposed to be. And then you drive it.

How do you assess cars of this type? Lap times? I don't think so. I suppose we all want to know the nature of their respective performance, but actually I think comes down to a few quite simple choices: do you need some rear seats, how scared do you like your passengers, and which one do you personally think looks the best.
Oh, and how much budget do you have for tyres?

Hopefully the video will help answer some of those.

 

 

[Ollieb7]

Beard?

[razbox]

Jag sounds awesome

Edited by razbox on Wednesday 19th June 20:45

[KTF]

Interesting that all the tests have put it against the 911. What would be good would be to see it pitched against the 911 and the Boxster as (despite Jaguars pricing) isn't that more of its true rival?

[Backtobasics]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFXKEIPTvA

working link

[AWV12]

KTF said:

Interesting that all the tests have put it against the 911. What would be good would be to see it pitched against the 911 and the Boxster as (despite Jaguars pricing) isn't that more of its true rival?

Agree, or against SLK 55 AMG, or Z4 35is, or Boxster.

Yhe auto-box in itself makes it not a sports car, but a great looking roadster!

[Ollieb7]

Ollieb7 said:

Beard?

Ok watched it now and quite rightly you don't give a monkies :-D

So when yee buying that Caterham?

[0llie]

Both the Aston and F-Type scream WANT, which unfortunately the Porsche doesn't do for me.

[sagarich]

I swear monkey has morphed into Dan Prosser in some of the drive by shots..... weird.

[RSgeoff]

Saw the F type at Cholmondely last weekend and found it to be one of the most beautiful cars there.

Then heard it on the track and couldn't believe it's noise - all round stunning.

[anonymous-user]

Sorry, i'm still stuck in the cost of all those cars! Do people really spend £100k on a car like that? I guess so........

(i bet the depreciation is nearly as heart stopping as the driving experience!)


Fab video/review though ;-)

[2.5pi]

F type looks and sounds

Horny sounding V8 with trick exhaust makes me head for the jaguar configurator

[leeson660]

Chris I want your job so badly it actually hurts.

Awesome video - loved the track work all three looked really quick and great driving.

[matpilch]

never liked the 911 in convertible form

[Reavenger]

Great video. 911 doesn't look special enough for 97k. AM V8 isn't a bad looker (a bit like the Lambo Gallordo), it has just had its day.

Castle Combe Nice countryside and backdrop too!

[HorneyMX5]

Whatever else the Jag surely wins best sounding car of 2013 if not the century so far? I want the noise for a ringtone.

[hornbaek]

The F-type does nothing for me - zero. Looks cheap and the design will age quickly unlike the Aston's which is timeless.

[Carl_Docklands]

Great video, thanks again guys and so well produced.

[Stu R]

Jag just can't do wrong at the minute IMO. The F-Type really is a stunning thing, and it's wonderful to see them back on form. That soundtrack is mental, almost AMG mental, and I could gladly suffer a couple of foibles with the car to get it.

Never did like 911 cabs much, but for some boulevard cruising in beverley hills I'm sure they're brilliant. I'll take the plucky Brit all day long though.

I wonder if BMW could be gauded into bringing out another Z8 now that premium rag-tops seem to be back en vogue. I'd certainly like to see it.

[PompeyM3]

Great review, really enjoyed watching that. The F Type looks (and sounds) better each time I see it.

[GreatGranny]

Saw my first F type the other day, a black V6 by the sounds of it.
Not the best colour or the best engine if you believe some people but my god it shifted, passing me when I was doing 80 with ease and sounded fantastic.
The V8S is a beast and looks great in that colour.
Well done Jag for making it.