Spec sacrifices, and Project 7 pics

[AL1]

So I've been keeping an eye out for the right used F-Type Coupe for a few months, and so far there always seems to be one key spec feature missing.

I went along to my local dealer last week to talk to them, and the dealer said my required spec was going to be challenging to find. So I'm most likely going to have to compromise on something. I'm booked in for a test drive this week (first time driving an f-type, also first time driving an automatic). Can't wait

Below is a list of what I'd like, in order of importance, are there any of these that people who live with the cars think could be sacrificed fairly easily? Or should I just hold out in hope that the perfect spec will appear in the next few months and not rush in?

Oh and while I was there a Project 7 turned up, so would be rude not to post up pics. It sounded immense!

Reversing camera
Pano roof
Active switch exhaust
Front & rear parking aid
Heated seats
Cruise control (standard)
Side sills or design pack
Grey, white or IRR
Meridian sound system
Black pack

And the Project 7...

 

[davidd]

Is it really that hard to find that spec? At least you have a range of colours.

 

[jimbobc]

Grange Welwyn? My F Type is there today but didn't see the Project 7. They have a 16 plate IRR with just 46 miles.

 

[NBC fdff]

Hi
That looks almost exactly the spec I was looking for but I was on the hunt for the new ingenium engine. Colour shouldn't be an issue and the only reason I didn't take an ex demo was that I wanted the deep grey which is a 'premium' colour. Advantage of the new order was 0%finance was available

 

[AL1]

Grange Welwyn? My F Type is there today but didn't see the Project 7. They have a 16 plate IRR with just 46 miles.

Yep, well spotted!
It was last week that I popped in so Project 7 may have gone back to its owner. There were plenty of Aston martin and mclaren to drool over next door as well.

Saw the IRR online but no pano roof, and is at the top end of my budget so was a no go.

How have you got on with Jaguar Welwyn? They're my closest so will most likely stick with them for servicing even if they don't source my car.

 

[jimbobc]

Been pretty impressed. Bought the car in Stockport but Grange have done the warranty work. They are all car enthusiats too which I like. They were awarded a McLaren franchise and are moving to Hatfield business park with a JLR, Aston and McLaren dealer. I took several months to find my spec last Summer but only wanted IRR.

 

[daytona650]

So your only looking for a 2 litre? I'm suprised there are any used ones about yet.

 

[jimbobc]

re reading your spec I don't think that is hard to find particularly in white or grey. I've seen a fair few white ones with design kit that would likely have that spec although maybe not Meridian. I did find IRR hard to find as at first it was a £1300 option. What engine are you after?

 

[AL1]

So your only looking for a 2 litre? I'm suprised there are any used ones about yet.

It would help if I'd included the engine type wouldn't it! I'm after an older V6S, a 2014-2016, im not a fan of this trend that's coming about with losing 2 cylinders.

Meridian is at the lower end of my spec requirement, so could lose it if I need to. The heated seats were at the request of the girlfriend, so I have to weigh up how much trouble I'll be in if those aren't available!

 

[daytona650]

So your only looking for a 2 litre? I'm suprised there are any used ones about yet.

It would help if I'd included the engine type wouldn't it! I'm after an older V6S, a 2014-2016, im not a fan of this trend that's coming about with losing 2 cylinders.

Meridian is at the lower end of my spec requirement, so could lose it if I need to. The heated seats were at the request of the girlfriend, so I have to weigh up how much trouble I'll be in if those aren't available!

My wife wouldnt be without heated seats. The performance seats are nice too. In terms of the meridian - i have the middle stereo (380w) and it's fine.

 

[Kevs F Type]

For Info.... I live near Grange Welwyn, and test drove the "46" mile 3.0 S in Sapphire Blue. The price was too high and they wouldn't budge, so went elsewhere. To be honest, the dark blue didn't do it for me either. Today, I have a put a deposit down on a White 3.0 S, with the following spec:

Reversing camera
Panoramic roof
Active switch exhaust
Front & rear parking aid
Heated seats
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated Front Screen
Cruise control (standard)
Meridian sound system (380w)
14Way Memory Seats
Ambient Configurable Mood Lighting
Powered tailgate

and...negotiated a Premier Carpet for the Boot thrown in....

Regarding servicing, I would never use Grange Welwyn (except for maybe Jaguar software upgrades) as I use an Independent Jag Agent in Welwyn GC, who once worked for Jag and the two guys started up on their own. Quality place and half the price of the main stealerships... Anyone that wants their details just ask me.

 

[Aitch]

Yes please

and Welcome!

 

[Senninha]

Below is a list of what I'd like, in order of importance, are there any of these that people who live with the cars think could be sacrificed fairly easily?

Reversing camera
Pano roof
Active switch exhaust
Front & rear parking aid
Heated seats
Cruise control (standard)
Side sills or design pack
Grey, white or IRR
Meridian sound system
Black pack

Based on my ownership experience, I would keep Pano, active exhaust, parking aids, heated seats (and steering wheel if you find one) and cruise

I thought the camera was a waste of time so would happily let that go. Meridian was so poor that I only really turned the system on for the phone access. Black pack / design packs can be retro fitted so miss a good car because these are not already installed. With colour, I always decide what I DONT want then look at everything else .. you may surprise yourself and maybe find more spec than you thought ... by example, mine had cream leather ... I wouldn’t normally consider but when I saw the car it just worked and I brought it home

Does it have to be an S? Are they must haves for this spec? I had the 340 and it never felt lacking ... the extra horses only appear at the top end of the rev range anyway ... if there is spec then fair enough, if its just the numbers then consider a non S and have it mapped and give yourself 430!!

Good luck with the hunt and the test drive ....

 

[bigknd]

Lovely project 7
Have a look at Carwow.co.uk and spec a new one, you will be surprised that a brand new one is sometimes cheaper than a 6 Month or so used one

 

[AL1]

So I went for a test drive yesterday, albeit in one of the newer 2017 3.0 VS. I’m still trying to work out my initial thoughts, as I’m aware that I need to discount a couple of things in my head. I’m coming from a Porsche 987 Boxster so jumping back in that to drive home (along my favourite twisty road) did feel a lot more nippy and sporty.

· F-type feels a lot more like a ‘muscle’ car, coming from 245 bhp to 375bhp this was to be expected.
· It’s my first time with an autobox, and I didn’t get the chance to put it into semi-manual to use the paddles and change gear as I wanted. So it did feel a little sluggish, but I think I would have got this from any automatic having only driven manuals. How much do people find they drive it on the paddles?
· F-Type is obviously a lot heavier, but the ride is so much more comfortable than the boxster, which is needed to persuade the girlfriend that a driving holiday in Europe is a good idea!
· The test drive definitely wasn’t long enough, probably got 10 mins, a little dual carriageway, then a 40mph b road.
· Maybe I need to find a rental company with F-Types for a weekend to really get to grips with it.

In answer to everyone’s helpful comments, I’ll need to keep the reversing camera as the visibility out the back is limited at best, and my parking is terrible at best

It doesn’t have to be an S although it’s preferable, I just figured they had more chance of being higher spec’d.

Had a look at carwow, but the top end of my budget is around £50k and I think realistically I’d like to get an older car that’s already had its large depreciation hit, and leaves me more money to tinker with it later

 

[AL1]

For Info.... I live near Grange Welwyn, and test drove the "46" mile 3.0 S in Sapphire Blue. The price was too high and they wouldn't budge, so went elsewhere. To be honest, the dark blue didn't do it for me either. Today, I have a put a deposit down on a White 3.0 S, with the following

Regarding servicing, I would never use Grange Welwyn (except for maybe Jaguar software upgrades) as I use an Independent Jag Agent in Welwyn GC, who once worked for Jag and the two guys started up on their own. Quality place and half the price of the main stealerships... Anyone that wants their details just ask me.

That looks like pretty much perfect for me! Surprised I haven't seen that one before. Send over a link once you've secured it fully?

I've used Indys in the past, especially as the boxster is 12 years old now, but with a 2-3 year old car I was thinking of keeping it main stealer for the stamps and warranty.... are you going to Indy the f-type, and if so what's your warranty situation?

 

[jimbobc]

For Info.... I live near Grange Welwyn, and test drove the "46" mile 3.0 S in Sapphire Blue. The price was too high and they wouldn't budge, so went elsewhere. To be honest, the dark blue didn't do it for me either. Today, I have a put a deposit down on a White 3.0 S, with the following spec:

Reversing camera
Panoramic roof
Active switch exhaust
Front & rear parking aid
Heated seats
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated Front Screen
Cruise control (standard)
Meridian sound system (380w)
14Way Memory Seats
Ambient Configurable Mood Lighting
Powered tailgate

and...negotiated a Premier Carpet for the Boot thrown in....

Regarding servicing, I would never use Grange Welwyn (except for maybe Jaguar software upgrades) as I use an Independent Jag Agent in Welwyn GC, who once worked for Jag and the two guys started up on their own. Quality place and half the price of the main stealerships... Anyone that wants their details just ask me.

Sounds a great spec! They have a red one with 46 miles too. Wonder why they are so low - they are ex Jags cars.

I would like the independent details I have been told a year service is around £600 pretty much looks like oil and filter to me! Not sure whether I have to service it there to maintain warranty though.

 

[jimbobc]

So I went for a test drive yesterday, albeit in one of the newer 2017 3.0 VS. I’m still trying to work out my initial thoughts, as I’m aware that I need to discount a couple of things in my head. I’m coming from a Porsche 987 Boxster so jumping back in that to drive home (along my favourite twisty road) did feel a lot more nippy and sporty.

· F-type feels a lot more like a ‘muscle’ car, coming from 245 bhp to 375bhp this was to be expected.
· It’s my first time with an autobox, and I didn’t get the chance to put it into semi-manual to use the paddles and change gear as I wanted. So it did feel a little sluggish, but I think I would have got this from any automatic having only driven manuals. How much do people find they drive it on the paddles?
· F-Type is obviously a lot heavier, but the ride is so much more comfortable than the boxster, which is needed to persuade the girlfriend that a driving holiday in Europe is a good idea!
· The test drive definitely wasn’t long enough, probably got 10 mins, a little dual carriageway, then a 40mph b road.
· Maybe I need to find a rental company with F-Types for a weekend to really get to grips with it.

In answer to everyone’s helpful comments, I’ll need to keep the reversing camera as the visibility out the back is limited at best, and my parking is terrible at best

It doesn’t have to be an S although it’s preferable, I just figured they had more chance of being higher spec’d.

Had a look at carwow, but the top end of my budget is around £50k and I think realistically I’d like to get an older car that’s already had its large depreciation hit, and leaves me more money to tinker with it later

10 minutes is insulting on a £50k car! I tried the 918 back to back with the F-Type. The Porsche (4 cylinder) just didn't have the noise. More poised and probably quicker but clinical in comparison.

 

[Kevs F Type]

I did see the RED one in Welwyn but the price tag of around £5k more than I wanted to spend put me off.
There is a "top spec" one at Guy Salmon in Thames Ditton, Black on a 15 plate, so anyone searching for high spec, with only 5k miles for £47k might be well worth a shout....

Regarding the "Independent" in Welwyn GC.... G&D Auto's , Sterling Court, Mundells, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1EN Tel:- 01707-321311

Also, I have taken my previous two XF's to them for the past 7 years, and my X Type before that. I also have an F Pace, they will get the servicing on that as well as my F Type..... There are no warranty issues when you go to Independents. The Dealerships will say there is to gain your business, but JLR UK will honour any warranty work anyway providing you have the book stamped by a legitimate source.
These guys use all genuine Jag parts and use all the recommended oils etc. It's the same service, just with a better deal, and you meet the guys who actually will be working on your car....... Just take a visit before you book your car in, just to see they are stand-up guys (Gordon & Derek)...

 

[NBC fdff]

Hi AL1
When i was looking before ordering mine I was offered a 24hr test drive so i got to drive on all the roads i would use daily as well as a trip tithe supermarket!; mine will be a daily car Don't take anything less than a day to help you make up your mind. As others have said worth looking new....mine was about 6k more brand new than a 6 month old demo model so I don't think I'll lose much more than the demo in the first year. Plus 0% finance in the new car clinched it