Jaguar F-Type R

Cobra · 06-08-2016, 12:29 AM

On Monday I'll get the chance to fang a 2015 Jag F-Type R for an hour or so. I'm not sure yet whether it'll be RWD or AWD, but either way it should be fun!

I'll do a bit of a write up and post a few pics as well.

**Beastie** · 06-08-2016, 12:36 AM

Drive it like you stole it!!!

Lucky Bugger...

Have fun & be safe!

jaydee · 06-08-2016, 01:26 AM

You lucky B******

Patty · 08-08-2016, 10:19 AM

Nice!!! See if you take a video from inside the car with the noise at full acceleration.

Cobra · 08-08-2016, 07:40 PM

Hi guys

So, I had drive for just over an hour in this beast. It was an MY15 404kw RWD F-Type R. Here are some of my thoughts.

INTERIOR:

Quality, quality, quality! I can't emphasise that enough! It was simply gorgeous inside. Jaguar need to give Lexus a lesson or two in designing an ergonomically practical, whilst aesthetically stunning interior/dash.

Having driven a current model Range Rover Sport, the dash of the Jag certainly shared a lot of similarities with its big sister. The infotainment screen was the same as was a lot of the switch gear.

The seats were wicked - so comfortable and had just about every adjustment you could want. The seats go back a fair way, so blokes well over 6'0" wouldn't be cramped. The steering wheel had a heated function which was a nice touch, if not a bit of a gimmick.

9/10

ENGINE:

Wow! What a beast. I've never had the opportunity to drive a Miami, so I have no baseline to measure what one should expect from five litres from a quad cam bent-eight force fed by a supercharger. So, if the Miamis are even half as good as this donk, then Ford have produced a gem.

I fired this bad boy up and immediately realised that it wasn't going to sound like an Aussie/American V8. It had a sharp, raspy bark to it. I hit the 'dynamic' button and it opened up the flaps (I assume) to have a deeper growl at idle. It sounded tough then!

I took off from idle and felt the urgency if this thing; the engine was just screaming to get out! Driving up the Freeway I mashed the throttle at 100km/h and the grunt was just phenomenal! I could feel the **** end wriggle a squirm.

Through the hills the grunt was irrepressible. I had to be very careful when applying throttle or the tail would just wwnt to kick out. This thing BY FAR has it over the M4 and Lexus RC-F in a straight line. The low down torque, the linear power right through the rev band. It was orgasmic! I'm juet not sure about all of the snap, crackle and pop on downshifting, though.

9.5/10

DYNAMICS:

Okay. So let's make one thing clear here - this thing is heavy. I believe it's around the 1,800kg mark, and that's in RWD format! It felt a tad bulky and heavy on the road in the same way that the Lexus did. That is to say that it felt perfectly planted on the road, just a little heavy.

After giving this thing a nice working through the twisties, I was curious to see how the brakes would fare. The didn't look to be overly big; they seemed to have four piston or perhaps even twin (?) caliper fronts and single rears. They discs were very large, albeit only vented not cross drilled.

The initial bite wasn't what I'd call agressive. The braking is progressive without being exceptional. I never got them to fade, even when braking hard from speed, but they never really gave me the same feeling of being almost bullet proof like the M4 and Lexus.

The handling of this thing was really very good. It was solid without being bone jarring, the ride was quite complacent over bumps yet the chassis seemed to hang on quite well when being pushed. The sticky Pirelli Corsa 295 rears and 255 fronts certainly helped keep the big cat on the road.

At higher speed this thing felt a tad twitchy. It was relatively responsive to quick and changing steering inputs, but the throttle had to be heavily modulated or this beast would have had a serious tantrum. I didn't have the balls to switch off DSC when pushing hard - I don't have a spare quarter mill if I bust this vehicle! Haha.

I can see why Jag went down the AWD route for this and many of their other cars. I would have felt so much more confident to push harder if the bum didn't have the propensity to wiggle so much!

8/10

VERDICT:

A fantastic car which sounds tough, goes like the clappers and looks about as stunning as a car possibly look. It was a real head turner, with many poeple taking a second glance from inside their car. It's a classy vehicle with all the bells and whistles and it'll get you noticed, even in the s****y eastern suburbs of Adelaide.

8.5/10

Bent8 · 08-08-2016, 08:55 PM

Enjoyed reading that review mate, well done.
If I was in the market for one, it would definitely have to be the RWD version though

Next car on your list should be a Miami powered GT so you can compare the 2 motors... but also remember the Jag does benefit from 2 extra cogs and tighter gearing.

How loud was the supercharger whine in the cabin ?

jaydee · 08-08-2016, 10:00 PM

You left out the price, but yes a gorgeous looking car.

Cobra · 08-08-2016, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

You left out the price, but yes a gorgeous looking car.

IF you have to ask, you can't afford!

Cobra · 08-08-2016, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent8

Enjoyed reading that review mate, well done.
If I was in the market for one, it would definitely have to be the RWD version though

Next car on your list should be a Miami powered GT so you can compare the 2 motors... but also remember the Jag does benefit from 2 extra cogs and tighter gearing.

How loud was the supercharger whine in the cabin ?

I'd love to drive a Miami one day. Here's hoping!

Sorry to disappoint but the supercharger whine was almost non-existent. The exhaust was pretty loud, though!

Junkyard-Dog · 09-08-2016, 12:02 AM

Great review mate. I really enjoyed it. I'll probably never get the chance to drive this car but your write-up gave me the opportunity to be there for myself.

auxr · 09-08-2016, 10:52 AM

Very interested in the F-Type - excellent review, love the writing style, reminds me of an early wheels write up - put's you behind the wheel and doesn't let go.

Pricing wise - well $250K as a starting point not including the option list - but these cars come fairly heavily loaded.

jaydee · 09-08-2016, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra

IF you have to ask, you can't afford!

One powerball...

mik · 09-08-2016, 01:54 PM

Cool machine , it would make a nice daily .

Cobra · 09-08-2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxr

Very interested in the F-Type - excellent review, love the writing style, reminds me of an early wheels write up - put's you behind the wheel and doesn't let go.

Pricing wise - well $250K as a starting point not including the option list - but these cars come fairly heavily loaded.

Thanks! I'm no journalist, but I do try and write stuff in a fun and impassioned manner. I figure it's better to do that and risk coming across as a pretentious douche who takes himself too seriousy than write in a boring, nonchalant manner.

XR8AU2121 · 09-08-2016, 06:56 PM

For those interested there is a similar one for auction at Pickles Prestige Auction in Melbourne on the 15 August, 2016.
It is a 2014 3 lt Supercharged F Type with 20,000 odd kms.

Shonky. · 09-08-2016, 08:44 PM

6cyl manual would be the pick of the litter

half the cost, and that sound

Shonky. · 09-08-2016, 08:46 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J1m3oOqtqc

Cobra · 10-08-2016, 07:55 AM

I've driven a V6 S Cab and it was chalk and cheese between the two. The V8 sounds a lot better (V6 was also raspy) and the grunt between the two were worlds apart.

Shonky. · 10-08-2016, 10:16 AM

So which did you like better?

**DJM83** · 10-08-2016, 10:27 AM

What a chance, such a stunning looking car aswell. Kudos! Nothing better then getting the opportunity to drive something you might not be able to afford. I had a 10 minute drive in an Audi RS6 Avant on Monday, its like my car hero and they say never meet them but dear god it was everything i expected and more, brutal!

PHawk · 10-08-2016, 04:53 PM

Stunning!

Cobra · 10-08-2016, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shonky.

So which did you like better?

Hands down, the R Coupe! I'm not a fan of cabriolets for a few reasons, one of those reasons being the noticeable difference in handling.

The V6 was a nice donk, punchy and all that but didn't come close to the V8 for aural pleasure or savage grunt.

Cobra · 10-08-2016, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

What a chance, such a stunning looking car aswell. Kudos! Nothing better then getting the opportunity to drive something you might not be able to afford. I had a 10 minute drive in an Audi RS6 Avant on Monday, its like my car hero and they say never meet them but dear god it was everything i expected and more, brutal!

Nice one. I've heard that they are just that - brutal!

FERG_51 · 11-08-2016, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shonky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J1m3oOqtqc

I got to have a drive in one of these, being a v8 man I was pretty impressed with the v6 note and went well too. Will also be getting a chance in a v8 soon, Cant wait.

Cobra · 11-08-2016, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERG_51

I got to have a drive in one of these, being a v8 man I was pretty impressed with the v6 note and went well too. Will also be getting a chance in a v8 soon, Cant wait.

If you thought the V6 was good, just wait until you get behind the wheel of an 8! The V6 is a great little donk, very punchy - the V8 however is an absolute sledgehammer!