Jaguar F-Type S Coupe: PH Fleet

Hang on, did Dan miss another spec sheet tick?

A month on and I still can't gush enthusiastically enough about how much more I like the look of the F-Type with its de-chromed window surrounds and black side vents. In the grand scheme of things such a tiny, tiny detail. But, it's these kind of things we car geeks fixate upon, right? And I can breathe easily knowing the Jaguar now looks - to my eyes - as it should.

Season to be jolly, right?

People love this car too. Even my dad, who's not really that into cars, murmured his approval. I'm getting used to the nods of appreciation and dreamy 'nice car mate!' comments from petrol station cashiers that just brighten your day. I've said it before, this is a feelgood car and that seems to extend to everyone you encounter.

More so for those in the driving seat though! The F-Type has been doing the rounds in the team recently and everyone who's driven it comes back beaming. My own level of appreciation is tracking a steady upward curve too, which is a nice feeling. I'll admit my first reactions were that the clutch felt a bit long, the gearshift a bit notchy and the steering and chassis set-up a little twitchy. I've felt the latter in most F-Types I've driven in fact. But as I've dialled into it I've come to appreciate there are rather more of the interesting shades of grey subtlety in this car that you don't get in the more shouty V8 versions.

They're all about big noise, big acceleration, big skids and all the rest. They can do corners but they're more point and squirt machines in my book, something they achieve with impressive drama and excitement. Because the S doesn't have that lunatic V8 thrust you tend to look elsewhere for your thrills though, and that's where the finer details reveal themselves. The steering is light but the front end is positive and turns in neatly with less weight over the nose. And on wet winter roads the options from there are now more easy to exploit. There's none of the aggressive grabiness you get in the Dynamic modes of the electronic diff-equipped V8 cars, the mechanical diff locking up smoothly and progressively to offer as much rear-driven balance as you want. Because the engine's power is less overwhelming you can relish that lovely transitionary stage as the car starts to rotate and it feels beautifully balanced and predictable. I'll have to go to a track and see how it reacts to some proper provocation but at the moment I'm rather enjoying the more subtle side of 'going sideways without going sideways', as it were. A rather more old-school balance and rather what I was hoping for out of this particular spec.

Course it looks good grimy!

Niggles? On the first cold morning I was rather startled to find my £2,495 Performance Seats aren't actually heated but, again, that's my fault for getting distracted on the spec sheet by stuff like bright paint and carbon roofs. I checked on the weight saving for the latter - it's about a fifth lighter than the aluminium panel or 'not much' by the numbers I was asked not to share. Let's be honest; it's a styling feature as much as anything. One I rather like because I'm a bit of a tart really. It's also a shame the manual gets a basic plastic switch for going between driving modes and not the neat, rubberised toggle with its bronze anodised surround you get with the auto shifter. What was that about details? While fiddling about around there I also want to find a way of permanently disabling the start/stop - when it's operating the death rattle as the engine cuts is just horrible. I also hate the electronic handbrake - again it works fine on the auto, but the 'tension' required to make it release from pulling away is such you need a big blip of revs and a bit of clutch slipping if you're not to stall against it. One of those minor annoyances that becomes a major one in stop-start traffic.

Next missions? To get rid of the tree sap from the bulkhead after bloody-mindedly using the F-Type to collect seasonal tree-shaped ornaments. And to play with the suction cup Sea Sucker bike rack that's arrived just in time for the Christmas break. Sunday B-road blast in the F-Type with a bike ride at the end of it? If the Sea Sucker is up to the task this could be an ideal combination of my favourite things!

FACT SHEET
Car: Jaguar F-Type S Coupe
Run by: Dan
On fleet since: October 2016
Mileage: 5,572
List price new: £71,880 (Basic list of £60,775 plus Firesand Orange paint £715; Jet leather facings and Firesand stitch £0; Jet/Firesand Interior £0; Dark Hex Aluminium centre console £0, 20-inch Cyclone wheels in black £1,785; High Performance Brake System with black calipers £310; Visibility Pack inc. heated windscreen and Auto High Beam Assist £1,100; Premium Leather Interior with Performance Seats £2,495; Parking Pack inc. front parking sensors and rear view camera £515; illuminated metal treadplates with Jaguar script £255; Meridian 770W Digital Surround Sound System £1,380 and Carbon Fibre Roof £2,550)
Last month at a glance: Winter roads show the F-Type's playful side

Previous reports:
If PH built F-Type Coupes...
Spec blushes averted with de-chroming

Photos: Ben Lowden

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Mace001

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127 months