F-Type: Well, Now I've Seen Everything...
Discussion
pb1695 said:
Speedraser said:
I seriously doubt that Jaguar would have mounted the V6 as far forward as it did if the engine wasn't as long as the V8. The notion of 50/50 weight distribution being "perfect" is, like so many things, a matter of opinion. Many car companies, including Ferrari (which knows a fair bit about making a car handle), has said that a mildly rear-biased weight-distribution is preferable to 50/50. All of Ferrari's current cars -- front engined models and mid-engined models -- have a rear-biased weight distribution.
About that V6... so it seems that the outcome is that it is built on the V8-length block and has a V8-length crank. Sorry, not good enough (and I am a big fan of Jaguars). I like engineering, and this is a compromise too far. Jaguars may not be Aston-expensive, but they sure aren't cheap cars. No doubt most buyers won't know or care. But I know, and I care, and it turns me completely off.
I can understand how you are arriving at your viewpoint however, if it is such a bad compromise, how come the car drives so well! Surely that is all that matters.About that V6... so it seems that the outcome is that it is built on the V8-length block and has a V8-length crank. Sorry, not good enough (and I am a big fan of Jaguars). I like engineering, and this is a compromise too far. Jaguars may not be Aston-expensive, but they sure aren't cheap cars. No doubt most buyers won't know or care. But I know, and I care, and it turns me completely off.
From a technical point of view, a 50/50 balance is used as optimal because it generally creates a natural tendency to initially understeer, which most manufacturers dial in in order to ensure the car does not throw up any surprises to the unsuspecting driver. The F Type has a very sharp turn in and feels neutral in a corner, it does not oversteer unless it is provoked by power, hence it feels very controllable.
Ferrari and others who set their cars up with an element of rear weight bias do this because they anticipate the cars to be used on track, and they wish to play on their racing heritage. A rear bias is optimal for that type of use as the need to ensure the transfer of mass allows for the need to set the car up for a corner, and ensure their is still plenty of weight over the rear tyres during the corner to ensure their is plenty of grip (sorry if this is over simplified but to go into full details could take forever and require many diagrams!).
Anyway, the point is, the F Type drives and handles exceptionally well, the V6 is a peach of a unit and I think you are worrying too much about what is in effect, an irrelevant but necessary compromise.
No need to worry about over-simplifying with respect to weight distribution and weight transfer, nor to delve into full details with diagrams -- I assure you I fully understand
DB9VolanteDriver said:
Regardless whether or not the back two cylinders are cast in place or not, the block is still V8-length, as is the crank. That is the problem, not whether there are blanking plates over empty bores or that the bores don't exist, as such. Take a look at the video posted above. A V6 engine built upon a V8 length block. Very bad...
I still am really disappointed that the Jag engine is constructed like this and, although the pics and YouTube link prove it, remain a little surprised that they have done this. The V6 crank must be the same length as the V8 but with probably less bearing and definitely less connection rod contact area. This must make it be prone to vibrations which in turn will likely lead to quicker wear.....Not to mention all the extra Kg that the car is carrying around for no dynamic reason except to slow it down and decrease fuel economy.........but most odd of all is the appearance of 5 inches of the block stick out passed the cylinder head. Bizarre.Having said all that I drove a V6S and it was pretty impressive...LOL
michael gould said:
Have you ever noticed how some Jags are converted into Aston Martins but never the other way round......the reason why ? perhaps Jags are just not as aspirational
Or perhaps the costs of converting something inferior would not be economically viable? I think the aspirational argument may have died in a flurry of cheap finance deals and dealer discounts.........
Still, they do look mighty pretty!
pb1695 said:
michael gould said:
Have you ever noticed how some Jags are converted into Aston Martins but never the other way round......the reason why ? perhaps Jags are just not as aspirational
Or perhaps the costs of converting something inferior would not be economically viable? I think the aspirational argument may have died in a flurry of cheap finance deals and dealer discounts.........
Still, they do look mighty pretty!
Even cheap finance deals and dealer discounts leave V8V more than the F-type.
The F-type was the next big thing with long waiting lists and sold over list - a quick look on classifieds and they're selling at a significant discount already. Yes.. so is the Vantage, but then having taken advantage of that I still don't feel it taints the brand.
I've never dreamt of owning a Jag, not even an E-type, I have an Aston.
The F-type was the next big thing with long waiting lists and sold over list - a quick look on classifieds and they're selling at a significant discount already. Yes.. so is the Vantage, but then having taken advantage of that I still don't feel it taints the brand.
I've never dreamt of owning a Jag, not even an E-type, I have an Aston.
Jon1967x said:
Even cheap finance deals and dealer discounts leave V8V more than the F-type.
The F-type was the next big thing with long waiting lists and sold over list - a quick look on classifieds and they're selling at a significant discount already. Yes.. so is the Vantage, but then having taken advantage of that I still don't feel it taints the brand.
I've never dreamt of owning a Jag, not even an E-type, I have an Aston.
Me too, but I did have a deposit returned for the original F-Type...The F-type was the next big thing with long waiting lists and sold over list - a quick look on classifieds and they're selling at a significant discount already. Yes.. so is the Vantage, but then having taken advantage of that I still don't feel it taints the brand.
I've never dreamt of owning a Jag, not even an E-type, I have an Aston.
and I think I might have rather enjoyed it had they had the B
lls to build it! 
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