Jaguar F-Type V8 S | Spotted
2023 is the last year of new F-Types, and means there's now a decade's worth of fun lurking in the classifieds
The year 2023 marks 75 years of Jaguar sports cars; seldom has a past seemed so glorious - XK120, D-Type, E-Type - and a future so uncertain for one genre of car. When F-Type production is wound up this year (signing off with the ‘75’ special edition), it’s not clear what will happen to the Jaguar sports cars. To all of the Jaguar lineup, really. Which, with cars as iconic as Jaguar’s two-doors in the back catalogue, seems a great shame.
Hopefully, there will be a proper electric flagship in time, something perhaps to rival the GranTurismo Folgore and continue Jaguar’s incredible sports car story. For the moment, however, there are 10 years of F-Types in the classifieds to be tempted by. They’ve always been an intriguing secondhand buy, popular when new and with a host of configurations to choose from; even with prices as they are right now, it remains so in 2023. Especially as the V8 that’s such a selling point for the 75 edition has been there from the start.
Debate will rage for another 75 years about which Jaguar F-Type is best to drive. Some like the lighter front end of the four-cylinder models, some like the engagement of the rare manual gearbox, and some prefer the additional rigidity of the coupe over the immersion of the Roadster. Buyers certainly won’t want for choice when picking a used F-Type, with engines from 2.0-litres to 5.0 and four cylinders to eight, rear-drive and all-wheel drive, the two bodies and the odd manual alongside the eight-speed auto.
Probably the best F-Type to drive was the V6 S Coupe auto, lighter than the fire-breathing flagship as well as far nicer to listen to than the 300hp car - with the added benefit of a limited-slip diff, too. But that inevitably pitted it against the six-cylinder Porsche Caymans, and that made the Jaguar harder to recommend. No such worries with the V8, because the huge emotional appeal of that engine always worked in the F-Type’s favour. It was bigger and heavier than rivals (and other cars in the range), but nobody could deny the raucous charm of the 5.0-litre. Probably why there’s now two in the range.
Once upon a time, it was possible to pair the 550hp ‘R’ tune of the supercharged engine with just rear-wheel drive, but even as just a 495hp V8 S, the F-Type was more than entertaining enough. A bit OTT, truth be told; when Jaguar’s all-wheel drive did come, it did such a good job of marshalling the available power (with the fun still intact) that there weren’t many clamouring for just one driven axle. But that was years ago, thinking about the F-Type as a daily-driven sports GT to rival the 911 Carrera. As an old-school V8 throwback for occasional use to get the wind in the hair and blood pumping in the veins, it’s easy to see why you might go for two-wheel drive.
Especially when an F-Type like this, from all the way back in 2013 and with the stunning Firesand colour, is for sale at the price of a Hyundai i30 N. It’s covered just 27,000 miles in a decade with two owners, and there’s not a mark on it. The orange paint still has its lustre, the wheels are unkerbed, and the interior looks as good now as it would have 10 years ago. Which is to say a little dated in part - especially when it comes to displays - but there’s still a lot to like. It’s hardly as if a new F-Type is night and day different, either.
It's possible to pay less than £30k for a V8 S with more miles than this, which seems great value for a car that still looks as good as an F-Type. Even at £36,995, it represents a whole lot of Jaguar sports car swagger for the money. Whatever comes next, it will be a very different sports car to the F - and that might be all the justification needed to take the plunge right now.
SPECIFICATION | JAGUAR F-TYPE V8 S
Engine: 5,000cc, V8, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 495@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 460@3,500rpm
MPG: 25.5 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 259g/km
Recorded mileage: 27,000
Year registered: 2013
Price new: £79,950 (before options)
Yours for: £36,995
Great car, but left a sour taste.
I won't piss all over Jaguar too much but coincidentally both my Jag and Audi S4 went in for a service at the same time. Audi were almost perfect, Jaguar were very, very disappointing.
I remember when I replaced my Boxster S around 2019, I looked at F Types although in my 35k budget could only get a V6 at the time and wanted a V8 and I didn't feel that the F Type would be worth the expense replacing the Boxster. I ended up with a 2018 Mustang GT which I adored. Very different car to the Boxster and F Type, but had its own merits.
As a daily, I reckon the F Type would be awesome and I imagine if you kept it long enough, you wouldn't lose too much on it... keep it for a 2 or 3 years and you will though.
TX.
Also as above, lighter crank; fewer pistons, liners and con-rods; different intake plenum and exhaust; etc. I think it also uses a different supercharger, although I'm not sure.
Also as above, lighter crank; fewer pistons, liners and con-rods; different intake plenum and exhaust; etc. I think it also uses a different supercharger, although I'm not sure.
Also not convinced the pistons and rods etc. would really make much difference, based on weighing my larger LS2 pistons / rods, ~1.3kg per complete assembly.
Shorter heads and thus cams / valvetrain will help no doubt, but realistically you're talking what...maybe 30kg in a 1700kg+ car, the weight is being taken out from near the 'middle' of the car.
Obviously journalists can feel and justify the difference made by removing a bonnet badge but I struggle to believe any actual human perceptible difference in handling between V6 and V8 is because of engine weight, as opposed to perhaps suspension tuning to probably make the V8 a little more understeery to balance the greater ease with which it can overpower the rears.
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff