You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

My car is also a near twin of the one reviewed on Top Gear -- the exception being that mine has the optional additional trunk space (ie, no spare). Props to Jeremy for guidance on how to improve the ride.

 

I saw the V8S, drove the V8S, and ordered the R Coupe--needed a bigger trunk!

 

+1, only seen two, one near our dealership, may have been a test drive and at Katie's C&C.

 

Finally saw both parts of the Patagonia special. Have to say the Argentines come across like a bunch of pathetic idiots.

 

Looks like Episode 7 this weekend will have the F-Type Coupe R: Episode 7 | Season 22 | Episode Guide | Top Gear | BBC America

 

The top gear clip on the f type was one my biggest qualms (ninja comment: what is a qualm? I meant to say something that bothered me) bout the car. He goes, this car does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, it's so fast. and then he shows us his face yelling for three m
inutes. I used to watch top gear, till that review. Honestly, they just hate on non British people and cars and crack jokes about them.
then I saw the Chris Harris vid with the f type and the Carrera. That was a good honest review. That showed me what's good about the car, and what minor drawbacks it had. Also the cnet review. I just ignored what they said about the exhaust, but otherwise those are now my two references on cars.
end rant.

 

I agree with you about Chris Harris' review - it had a good, balanced style. Cnet one wasn't too bad either.

However, I don't completely agree with your take on Top Gear. You have to start with the acknowledgement that Top Gear is entertainment aimed at a broad range of viewers, and is also, openly a comedy show. Then you have to factor in that the Brits are masters of dry wit and irony. They so overdo the, "It's British. It's a Jaaaaaag!" thing, because that is the joke of itself. I don't believe for a minute that they believe every British car is superior to the rest of the worlds brands - the joke is that they want it to be so.

I think the Top Gear brand has done a great service to car enthusiasts by widening the appeal of all things automotive and made it accessible to those that don't talk the secret language of the garage!

 

+1 on Top Gear.

Over time, no model escapes unscathed no matter how desirable. They may be very flattering on one occasion, but they'll eventually come back and skewer the same model for something else later. However, the writing is brilliant and all very entertaining.

 

Watching it now. This is the link I used. No idea if it'll still be available by the time you click on it. But it works for me. I'm hoping they say "Jaaaag" a lot. LOL

https://mega.co.nz/#!Lg5BiY4Q!ACh5HA...3862s9nacE0p_M

 

I YouTube'd just the F-Type segment. Enjoy.

 

Thanks for posting. I wouldn't have got to watch it until tomorrow.

I'm a bit disappointed though, when they said they were reviewing the NEW F-Type R Coupe, I was hoping they did the NEW 2016 AWD...

 

Kind of a disappointing review.. Sounds like Clarkson's getting old, maybe he should drive one of his other cars if he wants a quiet ride.

 

I thought the review was great. I was expecting him to say it was all useless based on Hammond's time in the car, but it was surprisingly fair and filled with R worthy hooliganism. I also agree with all but one of the complaints. My seat squeaks and it is annoying, I can have just as much trouble touching the touchscreen, and the blind spots are quite large. However, you can easily drive the R as quietly as you want. No growling exhaust or snappy back fires. Dynamic mode off, sport exhaust off, drive like a normal human being.

Lap time was pretty good too. Too bad they never took the V6S convertible around last time.

A couple for comparisons:

1:19.8 - C7 Stingray
1:20.9 - SLR McLaren
1:21.6 - Coupe R
1:21.9 - Ford GT
1:22.3 - R8 V10 Spyder
1:23.3 - XKR-S
1.26.7 - XFR

Full List

 

Agree it was a good review. I liked the subtle dig to Jag's heritage as on old persons car with all the hats in the trunk.

The silly bit about having too firm a ride to accurately touch the screen was a bit silly, albeit a tongue-in-cheek segue in to changing to Dynamic mode. Really - how big do the touch screen buttons need to be?

The Stig time was very respectable. Removes a bit of doubt about whether I made the right decision not buying an R8 V10 (yes, I know the R8 times are on damp track). That time puts it in very good company!

 

I agree it was fair and entertaining as usual. There was a little bit of what every F-Type owner, regardless of model, wanted to see and hear. For those who chose the V6, Clarkson said would be the one he would buy to live with everyday. His thought process was precisely what led me to my choice, having driven them all.

And BTW, I can easily fit 17 hats in the convertible trunk, including a Busby.

 

I've lost my busby. Must get around to ordering another.

I can't believe he's suggesting he'd buy the V6 because the V8 is too noisy all the time. That's just plain nonsense, given he did the whole piece with the active exhaust (deliberately) turned on.

Then again, it is Top Gear, which is, after all, just plain nonsense! (That's why I watch it. )

 

He actually didn't state that as the reason, but I see why you were motivated to make that attribution. As for active exhaust and noise, he said it didn't matter if you turned it off, because once into the throttle, it automatically opens again.

And since you've decided to "quibble," my interpretation in the whole context of the piece was that it's really not a question of significantly lower noise because the V6 is very loud as well, but it's just a higher frequency type of loud, minus all the bass thumping. It's also just "over-the-top" all the time. That was my attribution.

As I've said here before, I'm traditionally a long-time V8 guy, and I thought that's what I would buy when I started comparing, but I just liked the feel of the V6 better all around since I have no desire to track this car.

To each his/her own . . .

 

Yep - makes the world an interesting place.

 

Funnily enough I had exactly the same complaint about the black and white touchscreen with the '12 XF. I was always pushing the wrong button when I was driving, but I think it is more that the buttons are much smaller than the blue one (the complaint about the blue one is that you have to go through more screens). I was happy to go back to the blue screen in the XKR, but the startup lag on the HDD was also a factor.

Overall an excellent review. This series has been much better, IMO the best for years.