2.0 F-Type -thoughts & experience ?

[Wayne95]

I currently run 2 cars, an Aston Vantage as a not often used second car and i3 as a daily commuter -150 round trip 3 times a week .

I love the Aston by hardley get chance to use it as I do not want just to sit on the M5 in if, and the weekend is with family in the disco,

So I've been thinking about the 2 litre F-type as an economical weekly transport but more special than the i3 which is ok but handles poorly especially on the motorway.

The reports of the ftype say the handling and ride are good , and for me the performance is probably good enough .

Anybody bought or tried the 2.0 ?

[Wayne95]

Hope you like it when it arrives .

I have a demo coming 23td Feb for a few days so should be able to decide .

I'll look at the Ftype forum , thanks for the info

[Wayne95]

Guys,

You are not helping my move from V8 Aston to economic lower emissions driving, just enticing me to more V8 power at great value...

Trying to be greener but it's hard !

[Wayne95]

a8hex said:

By buying a used car you're saving all the green house gas emissions associated with making a new car. For second cars the impact of manufacture is often much greater than the emissions as you drive them. So don't fret about the V8, you're already helping to save the world.

That's the kind of logic I like . Except it probably means I should keep the even older Aston !

[Wayne95]

I think I'll try the 2.0 then a used v8.

I'll pretend it's a fair trial then probably end up with a v8 !

Question though, with the auto spoiler can you turn it off so it doesn't come up at motorway speeds - it really doesn't look good when open and I'm not keen on the fixed spoiler either.

[Wayne95]

Shrimpvende said:

I used to have a V8V weekender and a Jag XJ daily, both started chucking up big bills so I thought I'd get the F type to do everything instead (V6S seemed perfect for this). On paper it was a good idea, but after owning it for 3 months I'd leased a more sensible car as a daily. Some things I should have taken into account when thinking it would make a decent daily:

- The sports seats are very hard and I find them uncomfortable on long journeys
- Mine has the optional dynamic bodykit. I really love the way it looks but all I can hear when driving around country roads is stones flicking up and chipping the sills to bits. Far far worse now it's winter
- I needed a bigger boot and something for more practical stuff. The Jag doesn't have any more useable space than a vantage....perhaps even less as it doesn't have the handy shelf/space behind the seats

Having said all that, I don't regret buying it and I really enjoy driving it. I'm glad I didn't go for the V8 as the 380bhp is enough for the road and the sound track is something else, a nice change from the Vantage. It also feels far more solid than the vantage and makes a nice change from worrying about the clutch et al every drive!

Thanks for the input. Thing is it only makes sense to me as a single car (family Land Rover does the big stuff), otherwise I may as well keep the Vantage for weekends and the i3 for commuting. The Vantage is probably at zero depreciation now, and the i3 a nice commute. I am hoping the 2.0 gives low enough running costs to be an everyday ( depreciation similar to the i3) but fun enough to enjoy driving st the weekends .

One week till my demo, will be an interesting few days with back to back drives

[Wayne95]

liner33 said:

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I don't think that premium brands do run-of-the-mill models well

Some of the more mainstream manufacturers do much better sports cars with reasonable running costs for a less money and the 2.0 F-Type is still big money

Owning a sports car is about the whole experience , the performance, the sound , the looks and with a 2.0 you are missing two of those and I think the F-Type deserves more

I agree with your point of view on owning a sports car, the F-type certainly has the looks, and its reported the sweetest balance and handling of the range - so thats a good start.

It was not that long ago, when roads were less busy and less speed restrictions everywhere when 300Hp and 300lb/ft would have been pretty quick, and the F-Type is up there with 5 sec to 60. We do seem to have gone power crazy with 500 + everywhere, but in reality it is very hard to use - I know I've had a few...

As for the sound, we shall have to see. I've heard it does a much better job than the Porsche 718 range, and generally these days engines are just not as good sounding.

So for the big test this week is, does it sound good enough, and quick enough to make a it sports GT for that's what is is. Fun when you want, and nice enough for a few hundred mile trip without getting out drained ( buy a Lotus if you want extreme sports)

[Wayne95]

liner33 said:

I've heard the 718 is a much better package all round and a bit cheaper

Yes, its pretty good. So it comes down to style and in the end, I don't think either is way ahead of the other, no bad choice there

[Wayne95]

I understand what you are saying, which is why I need to try it.

The looks it hasabd the handling is reported as being improved.

A few years back when roads were less conjested and speeds higher on country roads 300 HP was quite a lot, and 5 secs to 60 pretty brisk.

The noise, we shall have to.