Somerset Newbie!

S

Sit

New member
Afternoon,

Completely stumbled across the forum by accident whilst researching F Type buying advice and it returned a couple of threads on here - what a great resource!

So in the next month or so I will be in the market for an F Type convertible, preferably a V6S but I am not too picky. Owned a lot of cars previously, my last being a 997.1 Carrera cab in Seal Grey which I adored!

cd9214fa-e22c-4634-8ca6-db140eb97f7d.jpeg

Which as you can see took me to Le Mans along with 7 good friends for a weekend at Le Mans 24H. So many great memories about that trip but it was then that my interest in the F Type was first piqued! On the ferry as we arrived in port they had loaded all the Le Mans cars on one deck, the cacophony of exhaust notes when everyone started up was beautiful but the standout was a white F Type V6 S - it blew me away just how good it sounded!

When I returned from Le Mans I moved the 911 ok and had a run of pickup trucks (my daughter has a horse so these are fairly useful tools!). Heading into 2025 we have another trip planned to watch the F1 at Spa so it only seems fitting that it’s time to pick up another road trip car and the F Type is absolutely at the top of the list.

Very excited to get out and test a few, would really like a contrasting interior, the sports seats and active exhaust but beyond that I am pretty easy. Also intrigued by tuning, only a map and pulley, but 400bhp in one of these sounds about perfect!

I also happen to live only about 10mins from Swallows Jaguar a specialist dealer/service centre for Jag.

I will keep you posted with my purchase journey and in the meantime get reading and looking at what some of you have done to your cars.

SiT
 
I did Somerset -> Spa this year (for the 100th anniversary 24hr race) and although the drive was 14 hours door to door, with a break taking the Dover-Calais ferry, it was only near the very end of the trip that I started to get a bit sore. Definitely wasn't the sort of trip that had me worrying about the return leg.

Did Le Mans last year and although we took the overnight Newhaven-Dieppe ferry on the way out, we came back via the tunnel. As with Spa, it was only near the very end of that return leg that I started to get to the point where I wanted to get out and have a proper stretch around.

EDIT: Oh, and welcome!
 
Gents, let's please meet up for a beer sometime. I'm down near Plymouth, regularly up in your neck of the woods with the Jaaaag.
 
Welcome young man…..like you I was blown way with the sound of the V6S.

So much so that after loads of research (helped thoroughly by the guys on here) I am collecting my white one on Saturday.

Always up for a meet although I’m miles away from you……..😎
 
Which as you can see took me to Le Mans along with 7 good friends for a weekend at Le Mans 24H. :x

[/quote]

Welcome to the group.
I have to ask how did you fit 7 in that :? :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
The upper pulley and tune has to be the best value upgrade going for the (artificially restricted) base V6 - an additional 65bhp for just a few hundred pounds!
And of course it’s still nicely around the 400 Sport level which has no mechanical engine upgrades, so tuned engine reliability is not a concern.

Re. the seats it’s maybe the (winged) Performance seats you mean - the Sports seats are the standard (Porsche-like) ones.

Enjoy the search and we look forward to the photos! 😎
 
Cluck said:
I did Somerset -> Spa this year (for the 100th anniversary 24hr race) and although the drive was 14 hours door to door, with a break taking the Dover-Calais ferry, it was only near the very end of the trip that I started to get a bit sore. Definitely wasn't the sort of trip that had me worrying about the return leg.

Did Le Mans last year and although we took the overnight Newhaven-Dieppe ferry on the way out, we came back via the tunnel. As with Spa, it was only near the very end of that return leg that I started to get to the point where I wanted to get out and have a proper stretch around.

EDIT: Oh, and welcome!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post, good to know they can eat up the miles ok.

Sit
 
Madpig56 said:
Welcome young man…..like you I was blown way with the sound of the V6S.

So much so that after loads of research (helped thoroughly by the guys on here) I am collecting my white one on Saturday.

Always up for a meet although I’m miles away from you……..😎
Click to expand...

Sounds perfect Madpig, a lovely colour combo and the sort of thing I would love. Congrats - bet you are super excited! 😛

Sit
 
Billymcmred said:
Which as you can see took me to Le Mans along with 7 good friends for a weekend at Le Mans 24H. :x
Click to expand...

Welcome to the group.
I have to ask how did you fit 7 in that :? :lol: :lol: :lol:
[/quote]

lol! Indeed more than 2 was a squeeze as my daughter used to testify on a regular basis 🙄 no pleasing some people!

Sit
 
Tim Atkinson said:
Welcome! Contrast interiors are rare, and you might have to prioritise that in your decision-making, or settle for a Jet interior on a car which ticks all your other boxes. They usually sell very quickly, too, so it would be wise to set up your search parameters on AutoTrader etc and be ready to pounce if you see something that takes your fancy.
Click to expand...

Yes not many have popped up when looking, already experiencing budget creep 🫣

I am an out and out convertible man, if the car I am buying is offered as a convertible it’s no contest for me. The extra dimension driving with the roof down offers is something that can’t be matched. BUT every time I see a coupe F Type I can’t get over its staggering beauty and proportions, miniature Vantage right there (which was also on my shortlist strangely enough 🧐)

Sorry for whoever this belongs to but it stopped me in my tracks -

IMG_2827.jpeg

Just look at it!

So I could be tempted with a tin top…….

Sit
 
Lunar said:
The upper pulley and tune has to be the best value upgrade going for the (artificially restricted) base V6 - an additional 65bhp for just a few hundred pounds!
And of course it’s still nicely around the 400 Sport level which has no mechanical engine upgrades, so tuned engine reliability is not a concern.

Re. the seats it’s maybe the (winged) Performance seats you mean - the Sports seats are the standard (Porsche-like) ones.

Enjoy the search and we look forward to the photos! 😎
Click to expand...

Yes the winged ones similar to the SVR items in the RRS are the ones I had seen I liked. The tuning potential for minimal outlay is fab, 400ish has to be a sweet spot I think on todays roads.

I am not a track person and just want to have an experience whether I am commuting into work or heading across Europe.

Sit
 
Ooh another stolen photo (sorry!) but can this skirt/diffuser be purchased and fitted aftermarket?

IMG_2829.jpeg

Sit
 
Talking about a different dimension, consider a manual transmission F-type, available as an RWD V6 or V6 S. The latter being more desirable for the active suspension and LSD but sharing the same engine and everything else with the former which with a tune alone can get to 400hp that the engine is rated for. Exhaust noise is very similar but the base model sounds more natural IMO. Look for a 2018 model year for unobstructed noise (no GPF which was fitted on all V6 from mid 2018).

I daily mine and have done 6K spirited miles since buying it on Boxing Day. Not once I felt that it was short of power, fun or engagement. 200 manual F-types were made for the UK market. 188 are there somewhere along with mine 😊. Their price is bound to rise with time.

Hope this helps and good luck!
 

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WShudds said:
Talking about a different dimension, consider a manual transmission F-type, available as an RWD V6 or V6 S. The latter being more desirable for the active suspension and LSD but sharing the same engine and everything else with the former which with a tune alone can get to 400hp that the engine is rated for. Exhaust noise is very similar but the base model sounds more natural IMO. Look for a 2018 model year for unobstructed noise (no GPF which was fitted on all V6 from mid 2018).

I daily mine and have done 6K spirited miles since buying it on Boxing Day. Not once I felt that it was short of power, fun or engagement. 200 manual F-types were made for the UK market. 188 are there somewhere along with mine 😊. Their price is bound to rise with time.

Hope this helps and good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post WShudds, I did not know there was a manual in existence! 😮 Did you set out to buy a manual and did you consider both auto and manual?

Being a petrol head I do love a manual although in this world we live in today with busy roads, stop start traffic etc the auto is an attractive proposition. I think if there was a manual for sale when I come to purchase in around a month I would absolutely consider it.

Thanks for pointing out and I am glad you are enjoying yours 👍

Sit
 
Welcome SiT. You live in a hotspot for tuning your potential F-Type. Along with Swallows you have David Appleby Engineering on your doorstep…

https://www.davidapplebyengineering.com/

Enjoy the search for your new car 👍
 
^^^ I had no idea they'd moved so close - they were a couple of hours drive away when I enquired about the tuning package they offer from VAP. Good to know, cheers :)
 
Cluck said:
^^^ I had no idea they'd moved so close - they were a couple of hours drive away when I enquired about the tuning package they offer from VAP. Good to know, cheers :)
Click to expand...

Was gutted when they moved further south. Due to HS2 apparently.

James very responsive to email queries & would absolutely recommend them. VAP have rightly earned a good reputation worldwide. My car has performed faultlessly since upgraded 👍
 
DaddyDarren said:
Cluck said:
^^^ I had no idea they'd moved so close - they were a couple of hours drive away when I enquired about the tuning package they offer from VAP. Good to know, cheers :)
Click to expand...

Was gutted when they moved further south. Due to HS2 apparently.

James very responsive to email queries & would absolutely recommend them. VAP have rightly earned a good reputation worldwide. My car has performed faultlessly since upgraded 👍
Click to expand...
Unfortunately for VAP (and DAB), I've already gone with another tuner - mostly because of price and DAB's insistence that I either leave the car with them for 2 days (which really wasn't convenient when they were 2 hours away) or pay £300 extra for the privilege of doing the download and upload of the ECU data myself. £1200 vs <£400 was a no-brainer.

Apols for the hijack, was just interested to see DAB's new location. It's quite handy for me if my local Land Rover dealer does stop servicing Jags.
 
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