Greetings All..

[JRT]

New member here - JRT. Firstly, a confession - I don't own an F-Type... Yet! I am hopefully going to pull the trigger very soon.
I drove a V6 F-type about 10 years and it was the most fab thing I have ever driven. So, having long admired them, it's time to go for it. Hoping to go for P450 75 (if poss). Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[Billymcmred]

Drive a few, most if not all are at dealers (only 1 private sales of 75 edition last time I checked on auto trader) so test drive shouldn’t be an issue, confirm service history don’t assume because they say FSH it is a FSH you’d be surprised how often services are missing or late
Watch out for “ex management” cars some members have great experiences with them some not (me)
If you find something you like post the registration on here and ask for a check, I got some really great help
One last point just remember your a customer the dealers are sales people they are not your friend
Good luck with your search

 

[TH51]

Hi JRT.

I envy the search process you're embarking on.

All I would say is that the V6 you thought so fabulous is a different car to the V8 you're now thinking of. The P450 isn't quite the snarling brute that the earlier V8R was but it will drive differently. If it suits you, great - but if you find it less appealing than the V6 you drove before consider a late, pre-facelift V6/V6S. It's a real shame that JLR never produced a face-lifted V6 engined model.

 

[JRT]

Really good advice - many thanks. Lots to think about there.
Curiously, I did have a brief test drive of a P450 (at a JLR dealer) and found the steering to be surprisingly, and not very pleasantly, heavy. The whole car feeling very nose-heavy. That was not my earlier impression from years ago of the V6. Any thoughts?

 

[JRT]

Drive a few, most if not all are at dealers (only 1 private sales of 75 edition last time I checked on auto trader) so test drive shouldn’t be an issue, confirm service history don’t assume because they say FSH it is a FSH you’d be surprised how often services are missing or late
Watch out for “ex management” cars some members have great experiences with them some not (me)
If you find something you like post the registration on here and ask for a check, I got some really great help
One last point just remember your a customer the dealers are sales people they are not your friend
Good luck with your search

You clearly has repeated serious issues with the "ex management" cars - what were they, and how did you discover their past?

 

[MajorTom]

Any V8 F-Type simply is more nose heavy than a V6 although I wouldn't expect it to be very noticeable during a brief test drive. If it was an AWD that may also have contributed to the feeling.

 

[scz4]

Any V8 F-Type simply is more nose heavy than a V6 although I wouldn't expect it to be very noticeable during a brief test drive. If it was an AWD that may also have contributed to the feeling.

Technically it is yes. But having owned both in RWD form, I disagree, you won't notice., Even of years of ownership, never mind a brief test drive. The biggest difference was going from hydraulic to electric steering. AWD vs FWD is another matter, the V8 AWD I drove did feel different. Remember the V6\V8 share the same block, just different heads, we're talking 15-20kg difference max over the front axle.

 

[Billymcmred]

Drive a few, most if not all are at dealers (only 1 private sales of 75 edition last time I checked on auto trader) so test drive shouldn’t be an issue, confirm service history don’t assume because they say FSH it is a FSH you’d be surprised how often services are missing or late
Watch out for “ex management” cars some members have great experiences with them some not (me)
If you find something you like post the registration on here and ask for a check, I got some really great help
One last point just remember your a customer the dealers are sales people they are not your friend
Good luck with your search

You clearly has repeated serious issues with the "ex management" cars - what were they, and how did you discover their past?

The dealer was buying “ex management” cars direct from JLR closed auction, the registration number and where first registered identifies the car as a ex management car, the group also helped with registration checks, anyway it turned out they purchased the cars without seeing them sold whatever turned up, they didn’t really care it seemed almost like they were doing me a favour, I had two from same dealer, one I think been damaged and poorly repaired but looked great when I picked it up after a few washes quite a lot of issues became apparent (paint), the second one I had to replace the first one after getting it home (200 mile drive) the rear valance was loose and almost coming off was the obvious issue JLR assistance came out to sort and pointed out a “few” more issues, I lost trust in dealer and “ex management” cars so returned under consumer rights act
Found my current car in local ish dealership definitely not ex management car

 

[JRT]

Many thanks Billymcmred. Really helpful, and really good advice. Cheers. Funnily enough, I had recently been looking at a Firenze red one at my local JLR dealer and the salesman mentioned that they had bought it from a closed JLR auction. There were 2 or 3 trim issues with it and I thought the interior looked a little scruffy for such a new car. It didn't feel quite right.

 

[YorkshireSam]

Really good advice - many thanks. Lots to think about there.
Curiously, I did have a brief test drive of a P450 (at a JLR dealer) and found the steering to be surprisingly, and not very pleasantly, heavy. The whole car feeling very nose-heavy. That was not my earlier impression from years ago of the V6. Any thoughts?

The weight difference between the V6 and V8 is minimal - the V6 is essentially a V8 block with two cylinders blanked off.

However, the perception that the V6 feels lighter is definitely reflected in reviews by motor journalists etc. Personally I think gearing, torque curves and possibly even noise contribute to that perception more than the weight difference itself.

I think the facelift cars (ie P450s) did have a revised steering system too, but may be wrong. Either way, I wouldn't describe mine as heavy.

I've never owned a V6 though so would be interested to her the views of members who have owned both.

 

[B8RS4]

Having recently sold my P450 AWD 75. I can comment as follows.

A really great car, I love the V8 sound so it was always the V8 for me and definitely ditch PZeros if it has them on. Prior to selling I had mine aligned as it felt a bit wayward and it is partially a characteristic of my car in that on undulating roads the geo seems to change and so one minute it feels like oversteer and the next understeer but I tend to think (no expert) that some of this is down to the tyres. I have a rear wheel drive car now and that has much more traction pulling out of side roads, again I suspect tyres has alot to do with it.

You wont be disappointed and thy are a thing of beauty.

 

[Billymcmred]

Many thanks Billymcmred. Really helpful, and really good advice. Cheers. Funnily enough, I had recently been looking at a Firenze red one at my local JLR dealer and the salesman mentioned that they had bought it from a closed JLR auction. There were 2 or 3 trim issues with it and I thought the interior looked a little scruffy for such a new car. It didn't feel quite right.

I basically realised the ex management cars were leased or given to employees they didn’t actually own the car so I’m my experience weren’t really cared for or looked after in the same why someone who purchased the car would look after it
Good luck with your search
P.s Firenze ref good choice

 

[Purplecat]

Sold my car to a dealer this week - sad to see it go had it for 3 years and apart from general maintenance no issues with it. Seemed to be a good time to sell as prices have risen a bit since the winter. If the next owner appears on here and wants any info drop me a line

 

[MArtyn Veg]

Really good advice - many thanks. Lots to think about there.
Curiously, I did have a brief test drive of a P450 (at a JLR dealer) and found the steering to be surprisingly, and not very pleasantly, heavy. The whole car feeling very nose-heavy. That was not my earlier impression from years ago of the V6. Any thoughts?

The weight difference between the V6 and V8 is minimal - the V6 is essentially a V8 block with two cylinders blanked off.

However, the perception that the V6 feels lighter is definitely reflected in reviews by motor journalists etc. Personally I think gearing, torque curves and possibly even noise contribute to that perception more than the weight difference itself.

I think the facelift cars (ie P450s) did have a revised steering system too, but may be wrong. Either way, I wouldn't describe mine as heavy.

I've never owned a V6 though so would be interested to her the views of members who have owned both.

I’ve been lucky enough to own a MY18 V6 RWD and my current MY21 V8 AWD. As I’m no technical expert I’m afraid I can’t add any more technical info or insight to above but what I can say is getting out of the V6 and straight into the V8 I would definitely agree with the motor journalists. The initial overall feel I had was that the V8 felt heavier. Not in a bad way at all as both cars were and is an incredible drive just different. 12 months on from switching I’m loving every time I get behind the wheel but will never forget how I loved my first dream car the V6!