We know it's pretty, but how does it actually drive...
Discussion
I don't believe that I've read an article or heard anybody say to me how a Jaguar E-type actually drives. I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc. I know we've got some E-Type owners on here, so just thought I'd ask.
Thanks. Random question over to you.
Thanks. Random question over to you.
Jderh said:
I don't believe that I've read an article or heard anybody say to me how a Jaguar E-type actually drives. I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc. I know we've got some E-Type owners on here, so just thought I'd ask.
Thanks. Random question over to you.
I dunno, had mine 2 years and its more dismantled than ever at the moment! give me a couple of years and I'll let you know.Thanks. Random question over to you.
Jderh said:
I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc.
Compared to what....?Drove well compared to other car designs of half a century ago
Compared to a modern car....err...
Well actually, just don't compare an E or any other classic of any generation with anything from another generation....it's a pointless exercise really.
aeropilot said:
Jderh said:
I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc.
Compared to what....?Drove well compared to other car designs of half a century ago
Compared to a modern car....err...
Well actually, just don't compare an E or any other classic of any generation with anything from another generation....it's a pointless exercise really.
Treat it as a classis car and you'll have a great time, with a beautiful, wgraceful car. I know some people do drive theirs every day, but they are not good everyday cars.
Edited to add: Lowdrag will be along soon to say "nonsense", and I'm doing the E-type a grave dis-service.
Edited by williamp on Thursday 21st February 12:39
I've been lucky to drive a Series 1 (might have been a 1.5) E-Type for a pootle and also to be driven in anger in a couple by my late Dad and all I can say is yes, brakes aren't great compared to a brand new car, eary Moss boxes are blooming fiddly, steering I thought was good and the power/acceleration is phenomenal on a well sorted car, quicker than something like a 330Ci.
The handling was superb, all new sporty cars seem to bang and crash over the smallest imperpection in the road these days and I found the E-Type comfortable (well, a bit uncomfortable seats, being squished in at 6"4!!), but ride quality good and handling superb, skinny (in comparison to now )tyres, so lots of tail out motoring!!
The only mechanical problem I encountered was a blown fuse, but once you undo the chrome plate on the dashboard, there was a detailed diagram of the loom and fuses and it was extremely easy to trace and replace, much easier than a modern jukebox of a car!!
I'm sure if you got a time-warp car from the '60s that was exactly what it was like out of the factory it probably wouldn't be as good, but all the little mods here and there and knowledge over time has made the E-Type (IMO) the car it should was billed as, if not much better and I'd love one.
The handling was superb, all new sporty cars seem to bang and crash over the smallest imperpection in the road these days and I found the E-Type comfortable (well, a bit uncomfortable seats, being squished in at 6"4!!), but ride quality good and handling superb, skinny (in comparison to now )tyres, so lots of tail out motoring!!
The only mechanical problem I encountered was a blown fuse, but once you undo the chrome plate on the dashboard, there was a detailed diagram of the loom and fuses and it was extremely easy to trace and replace, much easier than a modern jukebox of a car!!
I'm sure if you got a time-warp car from the '60s that was exactly what it was like out of the factory it probably wouldn't be as good, but all the little mods here and there and knowledge over time has made the E-Type (IMO) the car it should was billed as, if not much better and I'd love one.
The one impression I have from driving an e-type was the torque - any speed, any gear and it just goes... The benefit of having 3 mahoosive carburettors gurgling petrol into the engine (with extra jets when you press the accelerator) compared with modern fuel injection.
Not so environmentally friendly but they can't half pull!
Not so environmentally friendly but they can't half pull!
williamp said:
aeropilot said:
Jderh said:
I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc.
Compared to what....?Drove well compared to other car designs of half a century ago
Compared to a modern car....err...
Well actually, just don't compare an E or any other classic of any generation with anything from another generation....it's a pointless exercise really.
Treat it as a classis car and you'll have a great time, with a beautiful, wgraceful car. I know some people do drive theirs every day, but they are not good everyday cars.
Edited to add: Lowdrag will be along soon to say "nonsense", and I'm doing the E-type a grave dis-service.
Edited by williamp on Thursday 21st February 12:39
No, I don't try and compare it to moderns since on the twisty bits a GTi Golf will walk away, but then I don't have a classic car for that purpose. If you've got a GTi and jump into an E type and try it for the first time you'll walk away disappointed, but like sex the more you get to know her the better it gets. I have it because it needs input to get the best out of it and when well driven gives that warm glow of satisfaction, like a year back at St Mary's when I was sideways all the way to Lavant. She's old and a bit doggy now, but there are so many memories in that car that despite my more over-riding love of the racing cars now I could never think of selling her.
Oh, and one final point: Just how many other cars do you know where you can start the engine, put her in 4th gear, rev to 2,000 and slip the clutch, let the clutch out fully at 12mph and then drive to 130mph all in top gear?
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 22 February 09:58
lowdrag said:
williamp said:
aeropilot said:
Jderh said:
I know it's a bit of an abrupt question, but it occured to me that since it was one of my dream cars I wanted to hear what it was like to drive. I know it's devastatingly gorgeous and can top out at 145, but, how does an E-type drive? Handle, move, grip, etc.
Compared to what....?Drove well compared to other car designs of half a century ago
Compared to a modern car....err...
Well actually, just don't compare an E or any other classic of any generation with anything from another generation....it's a pointless exercise really.
Treat it as a classis car and you'll have a great time, with a beautiful, wgraceful car. I know some people do drive theirs every day, but they are not good everyday cars.
Edited to add: Lowdrag will be along soon to say "nonsense", and I'm doing the E-type a grave dis-service.
Edited by williamp on Thursday 21st February 12:39
No, I don't try and compare it to moderns since on the twisty bits a GTi Golf will walk away, but then I don't have a classic car for that purpose. If you've got a GTi and jump into an E type and try it for the first time you'll walk away disappointed, but like sex the more you get to know her the better it gets. I have it because it needs input to get the best out of it and when well driven gives that warm glow of satisfaction, like a year back at St Mary's when I was sideways all the way to Lavant. She's old and a bit doggy now, but there are so many memories in that car that despite my more over-riding love of the racing cars now I could never think of selling her.
Oh, and one final point: Just how many other cars do you know where you can start the engine, put her in 4th gear, rev to 2,000 and slip the clutch, let the clutch out fully at 12mph and then drive to 130mph all in top gear?
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 22 February 09:58
In standard form the brakes would probably be the biggest deficit for regular driving. They weren't that good in period.
With a few simple mods there's no reason why an E-type couldn't be used regularly. They have a good ride and are still adequately fast.
With a few more mods they can compete with almost anything - check out Eagle E types for example.
I ran a modified series 1 fhc for a while and sold it to a chap who now uses it as his every day car. It replaced his Boxter which he found too boring !
With a few simple mods there's no reason why an E-type couldn't be used regularly. They have a good ride and are still adequately fast.
With a few more mods they can compete with almost anything - check out Eagle E types for example.
I ran a modified series 1 fhc for a while and sold it to a chap who now uses it as his every day car. It replaced his Boxter which he found too boring !
I've not done many miles in one, but my limited experience reflects others comments above.
Brakes are rubbish and grip is terrible by modern standards, but the relatively long stroke and variable choke SU carbs give it lots of torque.
The noises and the ambience are what really sets older cars apart from the anodyne appliances we drive these daysd, though, and it's very difficult to express them in words.
Brakes are rubbish and grip is terrible by modern standards, but the relatively long stroke and variable choke SU carbs give it lots of torque.
The noises and the ambience are what really sets older cars apart from the anodyne appliances we drive these daysd, though, and it's very difficult to express them in words.
RichB said:
tvrgit said:
The benefit of having 3 mahoosive carburettors gurgling petrol into the engine (with extra jets when you press the accelerator)
What would they be then, Webbers? The standard SUs didn't have any extra jets that I know of...Ren-Raku said:
lowdrag said:
Oh, and one final point: Just how many other cars do you know where you can start the engine, put her in 4th gear, rev to 2,000 and slip the clutch, let the clutch out fully at 12mph and then drive to 130mph all in top gear?
If it's in 4th, then the Aston Martin Vnaquish I believe. If it's in top gear, then I know of no other.Edited by lowdrag on Friday 22 February 09:58
Jaguar used to benchmark their cars 0-100 in top.
Sam_68 said:
I've not done many miles in one, but my limited experience reflects others comments above.
Brakes are rubbish and grip is terrible by modern standards, but the relatively long stroke and variable choke SU carbs give it lots of torque.
The noises and the ambience are what really sets older cars apart from the anodyne appliances we drive these daysd, though, and it's very difficult to express them in words.
I've never driven a series I E-type, only series III.Brakes are rubbish and grip is terrible by modern standards, but the relatively long stroke and variable choke SU carbs give it lots of torque.
The noises and the ambience are what really sets older cars apart from the anodyne appliances we drive these daysd, though, and it's very difficult to express them in words.
But I've got an XK150 which currently has the original brakes. I wouldn't describe them as rubbish. I know there was a problem with the original servo used in the E-Type, which was different to the 150s. The XKs brakes are still adequate for road use. They are easily strong enough to lock up the tyres. At Goodwood they were stronger than my nerves, I could brake from about 120 just after the 50 yard board for Woodcote. OK after 6 laps and then parking up the brakes needed a rest and pumping back on again, but that's hardly like road driving.
With the brakes you need to use a lot more effort than a modern car.
Ultimate stopping power will be less, but a lot of that is the tyres.
Butt there is still quite a lot of stopping power available. The one time I've had to brake hard on the motorway in my XK, it was certainly stopping fast enough that you start looking nervously in the rear view mirror at the bloody great 4x4 that was getting rather to close for comfort.
As I said, I don't have an E-Type, I've got the previous model. I imaging that the market for E-Type parts is better than that for the XK. But I know that for the XK there are several options for fitting more modern brake callipers and discs if you want them.
In many ways I'd image that driving the E-Type would be easier than driving many modern cars. As other have pointed out, the XK engine is wonderful, the torque it generates needs to be experienced. Most modern cars are gutless in comparison. Situations that many modern cars would require you to drop 2 gears are instead dispatched with a slight flexing of the right ankle.
But it doesn't really make sense to compare these cars with today's equivalents. Lots of things have changed in the 50 years (today!) since my car left the production line.
All I can say is go and find a well sorted one and take it for a drive. You might find that it's not for you. You might fall in love.
Me, I'd been looking for a 10 year old Aston and I fell in love with a 50 year old Jag.
a8hex said:
Ren-Raku said:
lowdrag said:
Oh, and one final point: Just how many other cars do you know where you can start the engine, put her in 4th gear, rev to 2,000 and slip the clutch, let the clutch out fully at 12mph and then drive to 130mph all in top gear?
If it's in 4th, then the Aston Martin Vnaquish I believe. If it's in top gear, then I know of no other.Edited by lowdrag on Friday 22 February 09:58
Jaguar used to benchmark their cars 0-100 in top.
For me - it's a bit of an experience. It's uncomfortable as I'm too tall for my seat in the series I. I need to think about what I am doing and remember to use my brain. Not the most forgiving car. Mine's also very hot so I don't like it in high summer, noisy, smelly and I worry whether other cars/lorries can see you.
Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
Coco H said:
For me - it's a bit of an experience. It's uncomfortable as I'm too tall for my seat in the series I. I need to think about what I am doing and remember to use my brain. Not the most forgiving car. Mine's also very hot so I don't like it in high summer, noisy, smelly and I worry whether other cars/lorries can see you.
Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
If it's running hot then the problem is one of three things:-Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
1. Normally a later model thermostat is in the car. Get an original type from one of the specialists and see how it performs.
2. Radiator is not performing - might need a damn good scour under pressure.
3. If not, then possibly the waterways in the block are silted up. Once again, a cleansing agent and a damn good pressure wash should help.
Mine's a flat floor 1961 and I rarely need the fan at all. Hope this helps.
lowdrag said:
Coco H said:
For me - it's a bit of an experience. It's uncomfortable as I'm too tall for my seat in the series I. I need to think about what I am doing and remember to use my brain. Not the most forgiving car. Mine's also very hot so I don't like it in high summer, noisy, smelly and I worry whether other cars/lorries can see you.
Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
If it's running hot then the problem is one of three things:-Still sticking the clog down makes up for all of that.
1. Normally a later model thermostat is in the car. Get an original type from one of the specialists and see how it performs.
2. Radiator is not performing - might need a damn good scour under pressure.
3. If not, then possibly the waterways in the block are silted up. Once again, a cleansing agent and a damn good pressure wash should help.
Mine's a flat floor 1961 and I rarely need the fan at all. Hope this helps.
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