RE: Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Driven

[loudlashadjuster]

Fittster said:

Goofnik said:

I like it, but reliability scares me away, and I wouldn't spend this kind of money unless it was a very long term car. I've known too many Jaguar owners in the past 15 years, and they've gotten a lot better, but they're still expensive to keep running. Yes, Porsche engine rebuilds are scary, but any 30 year car will see at least one rebuild -- you factor that into the ownership costs, and it's still waaaaaay cheaper than going out and spending money on yet another new one.

Looking at things such as the JD Power survey Jaguars are very reliable (certainly more to than a Porsche).

Was about to post the same. Perhaps still not on Lexus-levels of reliability (JD Power measures overall owner satisfaction, of which reliability comprises about 25% of the final score IIRC), but Jaguar have scored consistently well in these things for over a decade now. Has to count for something.

Even the curiosity that was the 'LR' part of 'JLR' scoring markedly worse now seems to have been corrected as I notice Land Rover at 6th place in the 2013 survey.

Changed days, but it takes a generation or more to shed opinion and prejudice. It's only recently that Skoda finally managed to shake off their 80s image in the minds of all but a tiny minority of mouthbreathers.

[LuS1fer]

loudlashadjuster said:

Changed days, but it takes a generation or more to shed opinion and prejudice. It's only recently that Skoda finally managed to shake off their 80s image in the minds of all but a tiny minority of mouthbreathers.

True but displacing a reputation for nasty and cheap crap for a reputation for a budget bland VW amy not have an allure to a lot of people, regardless of the particular reputation in question.

[Talksteer]

rev-erend said:

Talksteer said:

Don1 said:

I'm thinking that what-ever TVR are relaunching, the F Type in both guises need to be on their 'things to beat' list....

Or it could be on a list of additional reasons why our car doesn't stand a chance!

Mainstream manufacturers have moved into the areas of price/performance that TVR used to occupy. Realistically TVR can't really deliver significantly increased performance because you head into the realms of diminishing returns beyond where the F-type R in. These diminishing returns will not offset the negatives associated with limited production and low development budgets.

It's very true.

We all tolerate TVR's build quality because it gave performance per pound.

When my T350C was new it could just about beat the base Ferrari 360 in a straight line (and for that matter annihilate it around the track as Best Motoring found the 360s brakes lasted about 2 laps).

To achieve the same today they would need a 0-100mph time less than 7 seconds to beat the 458, which would probably mean in the region of 600bhp. The market would then demand traction and stability control and safety equipment. What you will end up with is the Z06 Corvette only much more expensive.

[oldtimer2]

Captain Muppet said:

oldtimer2 said:

Your questions: "What is it about the truncated, high-arse, long-snouted coupe format that delivers so consistently?"
The answer: "It is a phallus on wheels".

1) Penises aren't pretty.
2) If yours looks like an F type coupe, or any car, you should immediately see a doctor and possibly a Channel 4 TV producer.
3) Seriously, go to a car park and have a look down the front of your pants, the differences are pretty obvious.

Try this for an alternative metaphor: "It is a roaring, priapic beast of a car".
And if you have not already seen it, I suggest you look at Jaguar`s highly symbolic launch event held in a Hollywood studio.

[Captain Muppet]

oldtimer2 said:

Captain Muppet said:

oldtimer2 said:

Your questions: "What is it about the truncated, high-arse, long-snouted coupe format that delivers so consistently?"
The answer: "It is a phallus on wheels".

1) Penises aren't pretty.
2) If yours looks like an F type coupe, or any car, you should immediately see a doctor and possibly a Channel 4 TV producer.
3) Seriously, go to a car park and have a look down the front of your pants, the differences are pretty obvious.

Try this for an alternative metaphor: "It is a roaring, priapic beast of a car".
And if you have not already seen it, I suggest you look at Jaguar`s highly symbolic launch event held in a Hollywood studio.

Oh, you mean metaphorically like a penis. I thought you were giving a literal answer to the question, hence the confusion.

When I see a "truncated, high-arse, long-snouted coupe" I see a Kamm tail and room for a big engine, which implies speed and effective areodynamics, and hence more speed. Plus it's basically a big arrow pointing in the direction of travel, which graphically implies even more speed.

I'll not be even a little surprised if you think speed is a metaphor for penis.

[oldtimer2]

@ Captain Muppet
Metaphors and symbolism seem to matter a great deal to car makers, especially in this sector. Recent Jaguar marketing and PR in the USA, for example, has given us the symbolism of the F-Type Hollywood launch, the Jaguar vs chicken clip with its #its good to be bad hashtag and now the Superbowl teaser ad and the BritishVillains.com link. It seems they have decided that this is a good way to promote the brand and the product in this market. It is certainly different from a parade of talking heads. Time will tell if it is successful.

[biscione]

Lovely car, and the only modern (reasonably affordable car)that has excited me since Alfa launched the 147 GTA, seriously!

For some reason the V6 appeals more than the V8.. I dont know why though.

I'll just have to wait 5+ years for depreciation to kick in so I can afford one .

V6 Coupe in a bright colour for me please!

[coppice]

"For track work you need ceramic brakes "; dare say you do Chris. But really, does anybody buy one of these things with the intention of going on track? And if so why ? I dare say it's a great touring car in the old fashioned sense but why on earth would anybody want to punt this great hulk around a track apart from journos with somebody else paying for the rubber ?

[anonymous-user]

coppice said:

"For track work you need ceramic brakes "; dare say you do Chris. Why on earth would anybody want to punt this great hulk around a track apart from journos with somebody else paying for the rubber ?

^^^ This.

[Debaser]

I bet if Jaguar didn't offer ceramic brakes, and journalists complained about the iron ones wilting under hard use, half of PH would be slagging them off.

[Carl_Docklands]

This is a better looking car than the current generation 911. It probably sounds better and offers better value for money once optioned up. Don't care if the 911 is faster or more economical (to an extent).

Brits 1 - 0 Germans.

I await the Germans response which should be breaking cover at the end of this year.

[wildman0609]

I was told today that the Cab production has scaled back from 400 cars a week to 80 cars. Sales have plummeted and JLR are just trying to shift stock that is already built, so there must be some bargains about on Cabs.

[unrepentant]

wildman0609 said:

I was told today that the Cab production has scaled back from 400 cars a week to 80 cars. Sales have plummeted and JLR are just trying to shift stock that is already built, so there must be some bargains about on Cabs.

Production of the convertible was ramped up so that it could be scaled back in the new year to allow for the coupes to be built. We were told months ago that convertibles wouldn't be built during that period.

[Don1]

rev-erend said:

It's very true.

We all tolerate TVR's build quality because it gave performance per pound.

My Sagaris had better build quality out of the factory than my F430 (I wish I were joking). So traditional TVRs - yes, but this is a new world (hopefully).

[audidoody]

s2000db said:

550Bhp and only 4 secs to 62?

Too heavy and or lack of traction??

If anyone can tell me a situation where a 0-62 time is actually relevant in real world conditions, apart from booting it away from a motorway toll booth, I'd be interested in knowing what it is. Moving from 50 to 70 in double-quick time is more useful to me.

[audidoody]

s2000db said:

550Bhp and only 4 secs to 62?

Too heavy and or lack of traction??

If anyone can tell me a situation where a 0-62 time is actually relevant in real world conditions, apart from booting it away from a motorway toll booth, I'd be interested in knowing what it is. Moving from 50 to 70 in double-quick time is more useful to me.

[jason90]

Having just spent the last 3 days doing high speed passenger laps in the new F type, all I can say is what a great car

Probably one of the best cars I have driven in a long time, it did not have the ceramic brakes and personally I think you would be wasting your money with that as an option

[XJ Flyer]

audidoody said:

s2000db said:

550Bhp and only 4 secs to 62?

Too heavy and or lack of traction??

If anyone can tell me a situation where a 0-62 time is actually relevant in real world conditions, apart from booting it away from a motorway toll booth, I'd be interested in knowing what it is. Moving from 50 to 70 in double-quick time is more useful to me.

In most cases it's the 0-100 + figures which are more important and will also be a guide to mid range performance in that if it will accelerate up to those speeds from rest in an impressive time you can bet that it'll cover 50-120 let alone 50-70 in double quick time too.

[JiggyJaggy]

Sat in a convertible today at Lookers Park Royal, what a sound, and that was just without driving it! Was told the Coupes will be available from March 24th. Looking forward to seeing one in the flesh.

[CatScan]

JiggyJaggy said:

Sat in a convertible today at Lookers Park Royal, what a sound, and that was just without driving it! Was told the Coupes will be available from March 24th. Looking forward to seeing one in the flesh.

Visit the midlands, they're everywhere. Try Leamington Spa on a Sunday afternoon when all the JLR senior management are out shopping.