F Type Convertible, V6 or V8

[Pursyluv]

Apologies in advance for a question that must have been asked a hundred times before, I did have a quick look via the search function, but found nothing that helped me.

So thinking of getting rid of the Tamora and getting a Jag convertible, budget up to £35k which surprisingly would get me a V8, seems a lot of car for the money, or is it low for a reason, happy to consider the V6 or even an XKR which also looks good value.

Thanks in advance

[8bit]

Depends what you like in a car. I've got a 5.0 XKR coupe and not driven an F-type but the XKR is very good VFM in my view. Possibly a little more refined than a V8 F-type and not as nimble as a V6 F-type but worth checking out. Your budget would get you a pretty low-mileage one towards the end of the model lifetime. Do test drive a couple of those as well as F-types.

[Pursyluv]

8bit said:

Depends what you like in a car. I've got a 5.0 XKR coupe and not driven an F-type but the XKR is very good VFM in my view. Possibly a little more refined than a V8 F-type and not as nimble as a V6 F-type but worth checking out. Your budget would get you a pretty low-mileage one towards the end of the model lifetime. Do test drive a couple of those as well as F-types.

Well I’ve had the Tamora 9 years, arguably the best handling TVR, 360bhp at 1150kg so nippy, but quite raw, de-catted so in excess of 130dB, masses of pops, bangs and flames, gets lots of attention and it’s for those reasons the wife won’t go in it, SVR is obviously out of my budget, but I do like the sound of that car

[cerb4.5lee]

You can get the V6 with a three pedal manual whereas the V8 is auto only. Don't know if that makes any difference to you?

The F-Type is a lovely looking thing I reckon.

[Gameface]

Go big or go home.

V8.

[Pursyluv]

cerb4.5lee said:

You can get the V6 with a three pedal manual whereas the V8 is auto only. Don't know if that makes any difference to you?

The F-Type is a lovely looking thing I reckon.

How you doing Lee, yes it's a looker alright, will be test driving a few at the end of the "TVR season"

[Pursyluv]

Gameface said:

Go big or go home.

V8.

That's my current thinking

[8bit]

Pursyluv said:

8bit said:

Depends what you like in a car. I've got a 5.0 XKR coupe and not driven an F-type but the XKR is very good VFM in my view. Possibly a little more refined than a V8 F-type and not as nimble as a V6 F-type but worth checking out. Your budget would get you a pretty low-mileage one towards the end of the model lifetime. Do test drive a couple of those as well as F-types.

Well I’ve had the Tamora 9 years, arguably the best handling TVR, 360bhp at 1150kg so nippy, but quite raw, de-catted so in excess of 130dB, masses of pops, bangs and flames, gets lots of attention and it’s for those reasons the wife won’t go in it, SVR is obviously out of my budget, but I do like the sound of that car

I've never driven a Tamora either so I can only surmise what it must feel like but based on those figures I'd say any of the F-type variants may well feel a bit heavy by comparison, as will an XKR. That said, the XKR doesn't feel as hefty as it is so maybe the F-type is the same. The lightest and most agile F-type is the four-piston turbo version but I'm in the "go big or go home" camp too.

Perhaps you'll like a V6S or V8 F-type or XKR for different reasons than you did your TVR though. The XKR feels quite special no matter what type of drive you're on and doesn't have to be wrung out to entertain. As an overall package the engine is the largest single part but by no means the only trick in the book, there's not a lot else at that price point that delivers as much. I'm on my second one now, changed my old 4.2 for my current 5.0 last year and looked at a number of other things but nothing else I was interested in came close without spending a lot more money.

[cerb4.5lee]

Pursyluv said:

cerb4.5lee said:

You can get the V6 with a three pedal manual whereas the V8 is auto only. Don't know if that makes any difference to you?

The F-Type is a lovely looking thing I reckon.

How you doing Lee, yes it's a looker alright, will be test driving a few at the end of the "TVR season"

Good thanks Bob and I hope everything is well with you.

I've been to a couple of the East Midlands TVR meets recently and my love for TVR is still very strong!

Wishing you all the best with the car search going forward.

[Pursyluv]

cerb4.5lee said:

Pursyluv said:

cerb4.5lee said:

You can get the V6 with a three pedal manual whereas the V8 is auto only. Don't know if that makes any difference to you?

The F-Type is a lovely looking thing I reckon.

How you doing Lee, yes it's a looker alright, will be test driving a few at the end of the "TVR season"

Good thanks Bob and I hope everything is well with you.

I've been to a couple of the East Midlands TVR meets recently and my love for TVR is still very strong!

Wishing you all the best with the car search going forward.

Thanks Lee, not going to rush into anything like I did with the Cerbera, although like the Cerbera I’m favouring the V8.......we’ll see!

[Triple7]

If you are coming from a TVR, then the F-Type will suit you more than the XKR, unless you want a GT for cruising.

As for the F-Type, definitely not the V6, go find a nice V8S RWD.......

[TravelsVeryRapid]

You need to drive both if possible. I was going for the V8 but I found the V6S was not far behind performance wise and it was better balanced for the twisty roads which made it overall quicker. The V8 felt a bit too heavy for my liking, both fantastic cars though.

[JohnG123]

TravelsVeryRapid said:

You need to drive both if possible. I was going for the V8 but I found the V6S was not far behind performance wise and it was better balanced for the twisty roads which made it overall quicker. The V8 felt a bit too heavy for my liking, both fantastic cars though.

Yes I agree try and get a good long test drive in both.

I went for the V8R AWD ...... went out the other day to a meeting car averaged 41MPG ???

[LeoSayer]

If you want anything approaching TVR levels of performance and sound then it has to be the V8 in RWD.

Just remember that even the V6s are approaching half a tonne heavier.

[cerb4.5lee]

LeoSayer said:

If you want anything approaching TVR levels of performance and sound then it has to be the V8 in RWD.

Just remember that even the V6s are approaching half a tonne heavier.

Completely agree and TVR's really do spoil you regarding their power to weight ratio. I remember how disappointed I was with my V8 M3(granted that was a barge and not that sporty though) after my Cerbera and that weighed 1650kg.

Over the years I've learnt that almost nothing compares to a TVR for noise/power to weight/sense of occasion. Now I have started to appreciate other cars though by not comparing them to a TVR.

[LeoSayer]

Recent PH article is right up the OP's street.

https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...

[a8hex]

JohnG123 said:

I went for the V8R AWD ...... went out the other day to a meeting car averaged 41MPG ???

Good grief! in a V8
I'm not sure I'd get that out of the XKR if I got out and pushed.
When I got over 30 I speculated that the fuel pumps must run slower at 50MPH than they do at tick over.

[Pursyluv]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, having had TVR's for nearly 10 years, it is about the noise, the rawness, but as I said before it's just too much for the current wife....................can you decat a V8 without a remap

[Taylor James]

TravelsVeryRapid said:

You need to drive both if possible. I was going for the V8 but I found the V6S was not far behind performance wise and it was better balanced for the twisty roads which made it overall quicker. The V8 felt a bit too heavy for my liking, both fantastic cars though.

In the interests of balance I found the V8 to be superior in every aspect and without any doubt quicker overall. I didn't buy either so no purchase justification here. Try both and make your own mind up but don't tell me the V6 is quicker - anywhere.

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Taylor James said:

In the interests of balance I found the V8 to be superior in every aspect and without any doubt quicker overall. I didn't buy either so no purchase justification here. Try both and make your own mind up but don't tell me the V6 is quicker - anywhere.

The V6 is quicker through corners because it is lighter.