Jaguar F-Type S Coupe: PH Fleet
Dan rues a configurator cock-up with his supposedly carefully specced F-Type
This was only confirmed a few weeks later when I was chatting with design boss Ian Callum at a pre-LA I-Pace unveiling. When I told him I'd just taken delivery of my long-termer his first question was "what colour?" When I said Firesand he nodded approvingly, before fixing me with a more serious look: "You chose the Black Pack, right?" His wince when I confessed I hadn't said a lot. Options were discussed, including Callum's old-school hot-rodder tip of carefully stretched insulation tape, or perhaps a visit to a wrapping specialist.
Conducting this conversation within tactical earshot of the PR team probably helped my case when I put a nothing ventured, nothing gained request in to see if the Black Pack could be retrofitted. I need to find out if such a request would be entertained by a Jaguar dealer but, in this instance, it was deemed possible and after a brief trip to the press garage my F-Type has returned de-chromed. Even seeing it for the first time in the dark confirmed what a transformation this seemingly subtle tweak has made to the car; to my eyes it now looks complete.
Begging the question, has anyone else taken delivery of a car and had that sick to the stomach feeling when they realised they'd missed an essential tick on the options sheet? I'm hoping I'm not the only one...
FACT SHEET
Car: Jaguar F-Type S Coupe
Run by: Dan
On fleet since: October 2016
Mileage: 3,930
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: Spec blushes spared with a trip back to the garage for de-chroming
Previous reports:
If PH built F-Type Coupes...
Photos: Ben Lowden
Big mistake as now my 3 year old doesn't understand why I can't open her window when moving.
ALthough I guess some people will say it was a big mistake buying a astra - but the car has been great to me over the 52k miles in 5.5 years.
Within a day of receiving the car I wish I'd pushed the boat out a little bit more and specced the leather gearknob and steering wheel and the gloss black dashboard as right now they're all grained plastic and my god the interior looks dull even if it does feel solidly screwed together. I'm thinking I might have to source and retrofit some mildly used versions of these parts. I also got a 10% off accessories voucher so perhaps some racing stripes and a rear spoiler are in order too
Silver - Check
Contrasting Red and Black Interior? Of course Sir! (WTF?)
Carbon effect trim - Of course Sir! (WTF?)
Sat Nav - Check
Heated Seats - Check
Upgraded Stereo? Pardon? Oh no, I'm quite deaf so don't bother.... (WTF?)
It was the closest Z4MR from a main dealer, wasn't till after we'd bought it I realised the stereo was Fisher Price, where the speakers should be I have storage bins! FML!
You can specify an option from base, only to have it deleted when you choose something else not remotely connected to it.
I suppose you could always ask a salesman - they can be handy.
- edit - lots not 'lost'.... oh the irony
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