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My heart is set on getting a 2015 ish F Type. Firstly I was shocked to see a 4 cylinder version but my real question is what are the pros/cons of the 5 liter versus the 3. Cost of fuel being the least important to me. TIA.
You'll find a range of opinions here, but there isn't a wrong answer. If you're dead set on getting a manual, the V6 is your only option. Otherwise it's pretty much down to the money vs. desired power output. If you're looking specifically at 15MY, they'll all be RWD so you won't have to consider the AWD situation.
It's absolutely a factor... both in cost and power. If you can afford the V8, it's more exciting in my opinion. Sounds better. But there are plenty of people who would disagree with me on that. Some people like that the V6 has less weight on the nose, and appreciate the more raspy/high pitched exhaust note. Best to test drive both.
My first jag was a 10 year old xj6 with 10,000 miles on it. It might as well have been new. I adored that car. It had a 2.8 L straight six, loved every minute of driving it. I should try a 6 out.
My heart is set on getting a 2015 ish F Type. Firstly I was shocked to see a 4 cylinder version but my real question is what are the pros/cons of the 5 liter versus the 3. Cost of fuel being the least important to me. TIA.
IMO it's this simple:
If you want a manual get the v6 (only option).
Otherwise get the v8 (because why not).
Do test drives, although that is easier to say than to do. I find the 6 is more than adequate and the F is heavy enough without the 8, or the AWD. The sweet spot may be the S. I had an XK8, and always regretted not going for the XKR. In that case I thought the performance of the XK8 could have stood some improvement. Times and tastes change. When I first became interested in cars, F1 was 1.5 litres and the I lusted after a Lotus Elan (1.5 liter, 125 hp, 1500 pounds).
There's a big power difference between the two. Both in AWD form a tuned V8 runs around 3 secs (fastest recorded run is 2.86) to 60. A tuned V6 runs around 4 seconds (fastest recorded is 3.77). Untuned a 2015 R will run around 3.3 and a V6 S will run around 4.9.
As far as weight, its not that aa big a difference as you might think since both use the same basic block. A RWD V8 is about the same weight as an AWD V6. The difference between a same MY V8 and V6 is around about 175 lbs.
Mpg is about the same too, some say the lower gearing of V8 (1100 RPM at 60 mph) actually results in the same or slightly better mpg than the V6 with some SVR owners reporting as high as 32 hwy. I see 30 mpg instantaneous mpg on a level on road cruise control at 70 mph (1400 RPM) in 8th in my tuned V8. I probably get as low as 5 mpg, too, so its all about restraint.
To me the sound of the V8 is deeper and richer, but some prefer the more F1 wail of the V6. A convertible submerges you in the sound much more than a coupe, if you enjoy that sort of thing.
They are all great cars so you can't go wrong, but I think a tuned 2014 or 2015 V8 RWD with a high-end tire upgrade is the sweet spot.
Also, for the ulimate stop light racer AWD is going to be faster from a dig. If R888Rs don't help after getting a few months more out of my 4Ss, I'm going old school with sandbags in the trunk.
More is always better, if you can handle it. With V8, you want an AWD version as early RWD cars are too Viper-like in handling characteristics and are traction-limited.
Besides sound, people seem to have a strong preference on the number and placement of the exhaust. Some think dual pipes in the center is more true to the E-Type lineage, some really like the look of the quads.
Jeremy Clarkson (who could be summarized as a talking doll who knows but one phrase: “MORE POWER”) said of upgrading to the V8: “I wouldn’t bother”
That's all very true, I am one of those people (or perhaps I am the person) who was very happy with the performance of the 380hp version but obsessed over sound and quad pipes so ended up with pulley and tune and quad exhaust and 450hp. The performance is wicked but I would have been just as happy with my 380hp but the sound and quad pipes.
The quotes from Clarkson above are from when he was driving the car with the roof down. That does take the sound in the 6 to another level as the coupe is much, much quieter inside especially in the 6 (I have guessed the centre placement of the pipes might contribute to that). I wonder whether he would say the same thing if he had been driving the coupe.
I'm one of the "S is the sweet spot" folks, but was also limited by my antediluvian obsession with manual transmissions. I drove the V6, V6S, V8S back in 14-15, all autos, all RWD. I thought the V8 was too loud and it sounded uncouth, and could feel the extra weight in the nose. Since I like serpentine country roads, the V6S fit thte bill. Going from the V6 to the S gets you a few upgrades, such as the LSD. The gearing between the two is also slightly different, with the S being geared taller.
The V8 was a hoot to drive though, it's just that it felt more muscle car and even the 6/6S are already heavy enough to be GT instead of sports. For most of my driving, GT is fine. I commuted year 'round on pretty hard-core sportbikes for quite a few years, so a little comfort is OK. When I do hit the back roads, the luxury does hurt a little, but not enough that I regret my decision.
I definitely agree with the characterization that V8s sound more muscle-y, and for me that wasn't really a positive. I love the look of the quad pipes though (especially with the body colored diffuser), pushes it into the exotic end of the sports car aesthetics spectrum.
I wouldn't have said no to the V8 if someone else was buying it for me, but the truth is while I actively seek out time and space to enjoy my car, living in civilization I usually come up short. I have not brought the car to its limits, and may not ever. There may be a Miata in my future, to address this.
True the V8 is a brute, but the exhaust note is really a ferocious big cat, at heart. Jag did a sensational job of putting a vicious lion/jag vibe into the exhaust note.
The only car review I've seen that captures the character of the F-Type V8 sound is this one
02-22-2020, 11:16 AM
