F Type owner experience
Discussion
Well just picked up my F type R coupe on friday, swapped my trusty XKR charger for it.
After owning the XKR for 3 years it was 5 years old and it was time for a change.
I had zero problems with it and up to this point possibly the best car i have owned, and as i am now in the "silver hair" club thats quite a few cars.
The XK was never a sports car but as a GT it was unbeatable for the money.
So how about the F Type then, well its an ex demo 14 plate with 350 miles on the clock.
Fitted options
Glass roof
Carbon pack
Visibility pack
Heated seats
Duel climate control (why is this an option)
Parking pack with rear camera
Power tail open close
Keyless open start
First up is the way it looks.....
Truly stunning in white with glass roof and carbon kit, standard wheels.
The inside is just standard grey, but i think this works well as a contrast to the white on the outside, with the glass roof its a very nice place to be, and not at all dull as it appears in photographs. The XK was finished in cream and black, it was very nice but a bugger to keep clean, and after 5 years is showing its age.
The F type is a little smaller but it feels right, sitting in the F type after the XK it feels like home but with a modern makeover.
Having owned BMW, Audi, Porsche and a ferrari it holds its own in form and function, and the initial impression is of high build quality.
The media screen looks a bit clunky at first, and the impression is that it needs updating to something a little more modern, but as you use it you realise that the big buttons that make it look old are in fact very practical. In the old XK and some other cars i have driven the touch screen whilst looking nice and modern the buttons are small and not easy to use on the move.
The standard 300w Meridian sound system is way better than the B&W in the XK and more than adequate.
Little bits i like:-
The groovy door handles and the way you just give them a nudge and it locks.
The way the internal lighting and clocks turn red in Dynamic (childish but i love it)
The way the screen and instrument lighting auto dims as it goes dark.
Loving the switches
Little bits i think need work:- (notice i didn't say don't like, as i can easily live with them)
It would be nice if all the lights in the cabin could change colour, some stay blue.
Silly, but on the passenger side sun visor there is a big printed warning about the airbag, it looks bad but you cant remove it.
Who thought plastic gear change paddles was ok, even if they are gold (should have fitted alli)
Ok driving it.
As i have only had the car for a couple of days this is going to be primarily based on first impressions.
The sound it makes is epic, in normal mode its just enough to be interesting without being intrusive, in dynamic mode you just want to keep slowing down just so you can accelerate again.
Every time i press the loud peddle it brings a smile to my face.
Compared to the XK its in another league and i liked the XK.
On motorways the car is not as comfy as the XK, its a little harder and the seats are not as comfy. Its not the out and out GT car the XK is, but its somewhere i can spend a few hours without any problem, and to be honest i expected it to be worse than it actually is when you consider the way its set up.
There is considerably more road noise on some motorway surfaces than the XK, not sure if this is down to the P Zeros but its not so bad that its going to give you a headache.
The ride is a little stiff and in dynamic the car can jiggle a little as cars with hard suspension do, but switching to normal fixes this, and there is no need for dynamic on motorways.
On A roads i haven't fully explored its limits yet but driving it on roads i liked to push the XK on its a much more capable sports car. Its sharper on turn in, you get way more feedback from the wheel and through the seat of your pants, you feel much more connected to the car than the XK.
The gear box is not bad at all, in normal its smooth and almost seamless, in dynamic its a little more aggressive with sharper changes but its still an auto. But put it in sport and using the paddles it very close to anything i have driven, with almost instant response on up and down shifts.
The only criticism i have is under heavy acceleration the back end squirms quite a lot, like the diff is having trouble keeping up, its not unmanageable but its something that feels a little unsettling.
The standard breaks are very good, plenty of feel and progressive retardation, i suspect they would fade after a few hard laps on a track day, but the car is not really designed for that.
however it has the most ridiculous sized fuel tank, i did 180 miles of quite gentle driving and it showed i had around 50 miles range, i filled up an only managed to get 50 litres in.
Parking is a little difficult as rear visibility is very limited, it would be hard to park in a tight spot without the camera and thats not standard.
But in general after 2 days i am on my third tank of fuel, and for the first time in quite a few years i got up this morning and went for a drive for no reason at all..... Loving it.
Little bits i like:-
The auto stop start in normal mode, great in traffic and works well once you get used to it.
The way the auto stop start is disabled in dynamic.
The boot spoiler popping up in the rear view mirror (another childish thing, but love it)
The noticeable difference between normal and dynamic mode.
Little bits i think need work.
The boot spoiler popping up at 70 and you can't put it down.
Comparing it to the XK
XK is a better GT car with a much more relaxed driving experience, a more comfortable ride and generally quieter. If i was to spend a lot of time long distance driving i would favour the XK.
F type is a far better sports car and not a bad GT, its much stiffer, faster and fun to drive, as an every day car its a joy, as a weekend hooligan its mega, as a long distance GT its acceptable. As a posing tool its the dogs especially as there are not many about yet. I have a bright yellow 360 and the F type gets more attention.
So far swapping the XK was the best decision i have made but time will tell, if its as reliable as the XK (no issues at all in 3 years, and the car was 2 years old when i got it) the F type will be the best car i have owned.
After owning the XKR for 3 years it was 5 years old and it was time for a change.
I had zero problems with it and up to this point possibly the best car i have owned, and as i am now in the "silver hair" club thats quite a few cars.
The XK was never a sports car but as a GT it was unbeatable for the money.
So how about the F Type then, well its an ex demo 14 plate with 350 miles on the clock.
Fitted options
Glass roof
Carbon pack
Visibility pack
Heated seats
Duel climate control (why is this an option)
Parking pack with rear camera
Power tail open close
Keyless open start
First up is the way it looks.....
Truly stunning in white with glass roof and carbon kit, standard wheels.
The inside is just standard grey, but i think this works well as a contrast to the white on the outside, with the glass roof its a very nice place to be, and not at all dull as it appears in photographs. The XK was finished in cream and black, it was very nice but a bugger to keep clean, and after 5 years is showing its age.
The F type is a little smaller but it feels right, sitting in the F type after the XK it feels like home but with a modern makeover.
Having owned BMW, Audi, Porsche and a ferrari it holds its own in form and function, and the initial impression is of high build quality.
The media screen looks a bit clunky at first, and the impression is that it needs updating to something a little more modern, but as you use it you realise that the big buttons that make it look old are in fact very practical. In the old XK and some other cars i have driven the touch screen whilst looking nice and modern the buttons are small and not easy to use on the move.
The standard 300w Meridian sound system is way better than the B&W in the XK and more than adequate.
Little bits i like:-
The groovy door handles and the way you just give them a nudge and it locks.
The way the internal lighting and clocks turn red in Dynamic (childish but i love it)
The way the screen and instrument lighting auto dims as it goes dark.
Loving the switches
Little bits i think need work:- (notice i didn't say don't like, as i can easily live with them)
It would be nice if all the lights in the cabin could change colour, some stay blue.
Silly, but on the passenger side sun visor there is a big printed warning about the airbag, it looks bad but you cant remove it.
Who thought plastic gear change paddles was ok, even if they are gold (should have fitted alli)
Ok driving it.
As i have only had the car for a couple of days this is going to be primarily based on first impressions.
The sound it makes is epic, in normal mode its just enough to be interesting without being intrusive, in dynamic mode you just want to keep slowing down just so you can accelerate again.
Every time i press the loud peddle it brings a smile to my face.
Compared to the XK its in another league and i liked the XK.
On motorways the car is not as comfy as the XK, its a little harder and the seats are not as comfy. Its not the out and out GT car the XK is, but its somewhere i can spend a few hours without any problem, and to be honest i expected it to be worse than it actually is when you consider the way its set up.
There is considerably more road noise on some motorway surfaces than the XK, not sure if this is down to the P Zeros but its not so bad that its going to give you a headache.
The ride is a little stiff and in dynamic the car can jiggle a little as cars with hard suspension do, but switching to normal fixes this, and there is no need for dynamic on motorways.
On A roads i haven't fully explored its limits yet but driving it on roads i liked to push the XK on its a much more capable sports car. Its sharper on turn in, you get way more feedback from the wheel and through the seat of your pants, you feel much more connected to the car than the XK.
The gear box is not bad at all, in normal its smooth and almost seamless, in dynamic its a little more aggressive with sharper changes but its still an auto. But put it in sport and using the paddles it very close to anything i have driven, with almost instant response on up and down shifts.
The only criticism i have is under heavy acceleration the back end squirms quite a lot, like the diff is having trouble keeping up, its not unmanageable but its something that feels a little unsettling.
The standard breaks are very good, plenty of feel and progressive retardation, i suspect they would fade after a few hard laps on a track day, but the car is not really designed for that.
however it has the most ridiculous sized fuel tank, i did 180 miles of quite gentle driving and it showed i had around 50 miles range, i filled up an only managed to get 50 litres in.
Parking is a little difficult as rear visibility is very limited, it would be hard to park in a tight spot without the camera and thats not standard.
But in general after 2 days i am on my third tank of fuel, and for the first time in quite a few years i got up this morning and went for a drive for no reason at all..... Loving it.
Little bits i like:-
The auto stop start in normal mode, great in traffic and works well once you get used to it.
The way the auto stop start is disabled in dynamic.
The boot spoiler popping up in the rear view mirror (another childish thing, but love it)
The noticeable difference between normal and dynamic mode.
Little bits i think need work.
The boot spoiler popping up at 70 and you can't put it down.
Comparing it to the XK
XK is a better GT car with a much more relaxed driving experience, a more comfortable ride and generally quieter. If i was to spend a lot of time long distance driving i would favour the XK.
F type is a far better sports car and not a bad GT, its much stiffer, faster and fun to drive, as an every day car its a joy, as a weekend hooligan its mega, as a long distance GT its acceptable. As a posing tool its the dogs especially as there are not many about yet. I have a bright yellow 360 and the F type gets more attention.
So far swapping the XK was the best decision i have made but time will tell, if its as reliable as the XK (no issues at all in 3 years, and the car was 2 years old when i got it) the F type will be the best car i have owned.
It depends on what you want from a car, the XK is a better long distance car, the F type is a better sports car.
When I was looking at the F type I did look at a new XK and you can get some very good deals on a run out models, but sat next to the F type the XK is looking a little old now and I think I would have regretted staying with the XK.
Try to borrow each for a day, and drive then back to back in normal conditions as you would day to day.
If you spend a lot of time on motorways the XK is better, if you spend time on A roads then go for the F type.
But try and go for the R the V6 is very nice but you have to work it harder to get it realy moving and the V8 grunt is epic.
When I was looking at the F type I did look at a new XK and you can get some very good deals on a run out models, but sat next to the F type the XK is looking a little old now and I think I would have regretted staying with the XK.
Try to borrow each for a day, and drive then back to back in normal conditions as you would day to day.
If you spend a lot of time on motorways the XK is better, if you spend time on A roads then go for the F type.
But try and go for the R the V6 is very nice but you have to work it harder to get it realy moving and the V8 grunt is epic.
Edited by chrisb0 on Monday 11th August 14:42
webby23 said:
All that money and still can't spell "brakes".........
Lol great read though, and a very lucky boy to be driving such a lovely car!!
Thanks loving the car, I am totally dyslexic, took hours to write that lot, used to be upset by it, now I dont give a sLol great read though, and a very lucky boy to be driving such a lovely car!!
t 
Luck has nothing to do with it... I worked hard for 35 years
Edited by chrisb0 on Monday 11th August 18:04
Thank you
This is how bad my spelling is.... I looked at the correct spelling of brakes and my poor spelling and I still could not see it, I had to copy and paste both side by side to see the difference... lol
Any bks to all that now on my fourth tank of fule, still loving it.
This is how bad my spelling is.... I looked at the correct spelling of brakes and my poor spelling and I still could not see it, I had to copy and paste both side by side to see the difference... lol
Any b
ks to all that now on my fourth tank of fule, still loving it.Edited by chrisb0 on Tuesday 12th August 17:22
Fuel! 
I can’t quite get my head around the comparisons to TVR’s, I know from racing experience that TVR chaps love the marque and won’t have a bad word said about them, and that’s fair enough.
But to compare something with the build quality and modern engineering in the F type to a TVR is not something I would consider a fair comparison.
I have never owned a TVR so I can’t comment on the driving experience, but I would imagine it’s quite direct and involved and not that great over long distances.
Not quite sure what kind of adrenalin rush some people are after, but 550 bhp in a light (ish) car is enough for the road. If you want real kicks then a track car is the only way to go.
I would have thought a comparison to a V8 vantage or 911 would be better.
But to compare something with the build quality and modern engineering in the F type to a TVR is not something I would consider a fair comparison.
I have never owned a TVR so I can’t comment on the driving experience, but I would imagine it’s quite direct and involved and not that great over long distances.
Not quite sure what kind of adrenalin rush some people are after, but 550 bhp in a light (ish) car is enough for the road. If you want real kicks then a track car is the only way to go.
I would have thought a comparison to a V8 vantage or 911 would be better.
ftypical said:
Just to be clear: if you're reading this and post under one of the several @Jaguar online identities, I'm being looked after, but I shouldn't need to be looked after. I've been on the tour, and the staff are trying to do a good job. But it may be that what you're giving staff in Body in White to assemble is not made to sufficiently tight tolerances.
Happy to discuss offline.
In English please Happy to discuss offline.
ftypical said:
As - as far as I'm aware - you don't work for JLR and post under one of their @jaguar accounts, it probably shouldn't come as a surpise given the first line that you're suffering cognitive difficulties. Relax and think happy thoughts.
In the meantime, I like my F Type coupe - a lot. But there are a number of area which really shouldn't be as they are 18 months after production started.
For the hard of thinking, these areas for concern appear on both the convertible and the coupe, hence the 18 months cited.
Oh i see... I think In the meantime, I like my F Type coupe - a lot. But there are a number of area which really shouldn't be as they are 18 months after production started.
For the hard of thinking, these areas for concern appear on both the convertible and the coupe, hence the 18 months cited.
I also like my F Type a lot and yes there are panel gaps that should be better.
I have it on good authority that there are some issues with the tooling, and as its a relatively short run vehicle i guess it is not cost effective to fix/replace the problem items.
But l already knew about this when I bought the car and i can happily live with it, i suppose in much the same way iPhone users put up with "issues"
Following on from some discussion about the safety of the F Type spoiling the fun of driving as opposed to the pure experience of a TVR.
I was driving home this morning and my dashboard camera fitted in my F Type captured why its not always best to experience this.
Nobody was hurt.
TVR Crash: http://youtu.be/HJLns2lZTXU
I was driving home this morning and my dashboard camera fitted in my F Type captured why its not always best to experience this.
Nobody was hurt.
TVR Crash: http://youtu.be/HJLns2lZTXU
Yep, I removed it as I figured the TVR driver might get in to trouble and although he wasn't speeding it was his fault. He could get a bill for the damaged wall as well as a few points for something.
I didn't put the video up for that reason, the guy suffered enough with the damage to his car.
I didn't put the video up for that reason, the guy suffered enough with the damage to his car.
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff