F-Type R AWD v RWD
Discussion
A friend took me for a spin in an SVR last weekend. I was blown away by the power, the noise, the looks and pretty much everything else about the car. The traction away from rest in cold and damp conditions took my breath away. I’m hooked.
I can see some of the early 2014 and 2015 R models available under £50k, all of which are RWD. A lot of car for the money. The fact that the V8s are no longer made in RWD (and they weight 80kg less) just adds to the appeal.
I’m not a big fan of 4WD on sports cars and whilst my 993 is RWD, traction is rarely a problem. The RWD V8 F-Types have almost twice the power and of course, less weight over the rear wheels and I’ve read enough reviews to see that traction can be a problem even in good conditions.
For the record, the car won’t be a daily driver and it I’m quite happy driving sedately if the conditions dictate.
Would I regret not buying 4WD?
I can see some of the early 2014 and 2015 R models available under £50k, all of which are RWD. A lot of car for the money. The fact that the V8s are no longer made in RWD (and they weight 80kg less) just adds to the appeal.
I’m not a big fan of 4WD on sports cars and whilst my 993 is RWD, traction is rarely a problem. The RWD V8 F-Types have almost twice the power and of course, less weight over the rear wheels and I’ve read enough reviews to see that traction can be a problem even in good conditions.
For the record, the car won’t be a daily driver and it I’m quite happy driving sedately if the conditions dictate.
Would I regret not buying 4WD?
I’m a bit biased but I only looked for 2WD version, it’s the only one that feels alive for me. Traction is very much an issue in rain and low tenps, but that exactly what rewards the effort and smile time when pushing on. It has plenty of safe mode options, but place it in dynamic and traction off, respect it and have lots of fun. In Dynamic , I have it in Normsl suspension and steering setting .
Like 8bit, I've an XKR, even with the traction control on in normal mode you don't want to take things for granted. Shall we say it feels like the TC was setup by someone with a sense of humour. If you're used to powerful rear wheel drive cars its all fine but it will let you break traction almost any time you want to.
I’m the opposite, I don’t like the fact that I can’t get the power down in my XKR. 510PS is really too much for cars capabilities. Cold tyres it will soun up, flooring it at 70mph on m/way it spins up. Yes, I drive gingerly in cool wet weather, but I’d long for an AWD F-Type.
It even put me off an 550PS XKR-S due to the fact the extra power was unusable...
Each to their own....
It even put me off an 550PS XKR-S due to the fact the extra power was unusable...
Each to their own....
Triple7 said:
I’m the opposite, I don’t like the fact that I can’t get the power down in my XKR. 510PS is really too much for cars capabilities. Cold tyres it will soun up, flooring it at 70mph on m/way it spins up. Yes, I drive gingerly in cool wet weather, but I’d long for an AWD F-Type.
It even put me off an 550PS XKR-S due to the fact the extra power was unusable...
Each to their own....
What tyres are you using? I have Vredestein Ultrac Vortis on mine, yes in the current cold/damp/greasy conditions they're not taking much to break traction (winter mode helps a lot though) but even just now "flooring it at 70mph" won't make the rears spin up.It even put me off an 550PS XKR-S due to the fact the extra power was unusable...
Each to their own....
Regards XKR-S, the suspension is adjusted a bit over the base XKR to suit the extra power and I gather that's mostly at the top end anyway, I don't expect driveability at the low to mid range to be any worse than the XKR.
LeoSayer said:
Thanks everyone. I like a challenge.
The F-type chassis is probably a little better equipped to handle the 5.0 supercharged V8's output than the XK/XKR was but they do still have a reputation for being a bit lairy when provoked far enough. Nice problem to have though, happy shopping and don't forget to post photos when you make a purchase.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UQCQUtEHkf4
It was the above Goodwood road test that caught my eye.
The Type R v 911 Turbo S.
911 better dynamically in every area but still Jaguar is just more fun and appealing. I had a full day in 911 Turbo S and to be honest, not a drivers car at all. It’s too easy to drive too quick. The Ftype is far from easy in winter but so much fun and learning to drive anywhere near limit.
Been test driving a Guila QF recently and again reminded my about joy of feel and respect for a car rather than just big power and big traction via 4WD in say a 911 Turbo. But it is very much each to there own
It was the above Goodwood road test that caught my eye.
The Type R v 911 Turbo S.
911 better dynamically in every area but still Jaguar is just more fun and appealing. I had a full day in 911 Turbo S and to be honest, not a drivers car at all. It’s too easy to drive too quick. The Ftype is far from easy in winter but so much fun and learning to drive anywhere near limit.
Been test driving a Guila QF recently and again reminded my about joy of feel and respect for a car rather than just big power and big traction via 4WD in say a 911 Turbo. But it is very much each to there own
SagMan said:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UQCQUtEHkf4
It was the above Goodwood road test that caught my eye.
The Type R v 911 Turbo S.
911 better dynamically in every area but still Jaguar is just more fun and appealing. I had a full day in 911 Turbo S and to be honest, not a drivers car at all. It’s too easy to drive too quick. The Ftype is far from easy in winter but so much fun and learning to drive anywhere near limit.
Been test driving a Guila QF recently and again reminded my about joy of feel and respect for a car rather than just big power and big traction via 4WD in say a 911 Turbo. But it is very much each to there own
I must have watched 100 F-type videos but not that one, thanks. Says it all. It was the above Goodwood road test that caught my eye.
The Type R v 911 Turbo S.
911 better dynamically in every area but still Jaguar is just more fun and appealing. I had a full day in 911 Turbo S and to be honest, not a drivers car at all. It’s too easy to drive too quick. The Ftype is far from easy in winter but so much fun and learning to drive anywhere near limit.
Been test driving a Guila QF recently and again reminded my about joy of feel and respect for a car rather than just big power and big traction via 4WD in say a 911 Turbo. But it is very much each to there own
I love 911s but as they become more competent, I become less interested. Add the F-Type's looks V8 snarl and RWD and it's no contest for me.
I first saw the Coupe at the Geneva motor show in 2013 and fell in love with the looks - I couldn't stop looking at it.
But then I forgot about it because it wasn't attainable and I hardly ever seen them on the road.
Then I sat in one at a motor show more recently and realised that the driving position is absolutely spot on, something that I'm incredibly fussy about. The driver's seat goes so low.
I had a look at Autotrader. Seemingly there are only 14 RWD R Coupes within 100 miles of London.
That’s more than GT4’s or 991 GT3 manuals !!
FType R is not for everyone, the badge will not gain enough gravitas for that! But seriously the dynamics may not be Accomplished as a 911 Porsche, but that’s not the FType thing!
It’s a hooligan in full dynamic mode and very relaxed in normal mode, great compromise .
I’m looking to change for change sake, but no idea what to move into. I got to Demo for a week Alpha Guila QF, stunning saloon but not sure the next one right now. For a £40-50k used proposition, F Type R has me hooked still.
FType R is not for everyone, the badge will not gain enough gravitas for that! But seriously the dynamics may not be Accomplished as a 911 Porsche, but that’s not the FType thing!
It’s a hooligan in full dynamic mode and very relaxed in normal mode, great compromise .
I’m looking to change for change sake, but no idea what to move into. I got to Demo for a week Alpha Guila QF, stunning saloon but not sure the next one right now. For a £40-50k used proposition, F Type R has me hooked still.
8bit said:
What tyres are you using? I have Vredestein Ultrac Vortis on mine, yes in the current cold/damp/greasy conditions they're not taking much to break traction (winter mode helps a lot though) but even just now "flooring it at 70mph" won't make the rears spin up.
Regards XKR-S, the suspension is adjusted a bit over the base XKR to suit the extra power and I gather that's mostly at the top end anyway, I don't expect driveability at the low to mid range to be any worse than the XKR.
Just the OEM Dunlops....the XKR-S is frightening on a cool, shaded, damp road!Regards XKR-S, the suspension is adjusted a bit over the base XKR to suit the extra power and I gather that's mostly at the top end anyway, I don't expect driveability at the low to mid range to be any worse than the XKR.
Think the best of both worlds is the Dynamic R, all the suspension tweaks, but 510PS.
Triple7 said:
Just the OEM Dunlops....the XKR-S is frightening on a cool, shaded, damp road!
Think the best of both worlds is the Dynamic R, all the suspension tweaks, but 510PS.
Yeah, that's not going to help. My 5.0 XKR was very lairy on those.Think the best of both worlds is the Dynamic R, all the suspension tweaks, but 510PS.
Think you may be right on the Dynamic R. I said even after changing to the 5.0 that the 4.2 engine was probably the sweet spot for the X150 chassis, but the chassis refinements that came with the 5.0 engine made the overall package better. A 4.2 S/C with the 5.0 transmission, suspension and dynamics package would be about perfect IMHO.
Recently picked up the very same. Jag approved used will get you a 2yr warranty and £50k is a great budget to get a lovely car.
I must admit it is fairly interesting driving it slippery conditions, and this time of year the power is excessive. Looking forward to summer and better tyres and I'm sure it'll be great.
I must admit it is fairly interesting driving it slippery conditions, and this time of year the power is excessive. Looking forward to summer and better tyres and I'm sure it'll be great.
Hi there
I am selling my SVR and am open to offers on it:
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I've driven the V8S, V8R and now have the SVR.
V8S I did not get on with, car felt constantly loose on the rear, the first ten minutes are huge fun as you just bonfire the tyres everywhere especially if they are Pzero, slapping on MPSS or PS4S would make a big improvement.
V8R Coupe, even though it had more power, it also felt more planted and hooked up, obviously been a coupe helped but I do think Jaguar certainly made some improvements to the handling of the car, however in anything but a solid warm hot summers day you can't put the power down and again it can start to become more an annoyance, if its cold, or even worse wet, simply forget it.
In the end I made the decision to get the SVR for many reasons, first one its properly rare car with less than 200 coupes registered in UK and with production likely to end around 2020 I can see values firming up just like the halo cars of any brand always do.
What I totally love about the SVR is its huge flexibility, even in these torrid freezing wet conditions it nails 0-60 in 3.3s, at Vmax last year it was beating my mates Stage 4 GTR off the line to 150mph, which considering my car is stock and his GTR was running 670HP on race fuel really is incredible. It handed an 800HP M5 its backside at Vmax and also a Lamborghini Aventador, the SVR is one of the most under-rated cars on the market.
I've dyno mine, it made 610PS at Litchfields dyno, I've been to Santa Pod and ran a PB of 11.1@126mph, the performance and ability is epic, but the real party trick is the one thing Jaguar do not even tell you about, it was Dale Lomas who confirmed what I thought I was experiencing as he does the ring taxi and that is the drive modes impact the AWD on AWD models:
Wet/Snow: Power split is as close to 50/50 as possible and you feel it, it hooks up in wet and in turns feels like a Golf R, so planted.
Normal: 70% rear driven and can move more forward as needed.
Dynamic: 90% rear driven and can move more forward as needed.
Also in the SVR the ZF8 certainly feels sharper, essential twin clutch like, it is super sharp and instant on pedal and instant at locking up, but I love the fact that in dynamic mode the car feels rear driven, it will power slide if your inclined to do so. Then its wet you can leave it in dynamic and get properly sideways everywhere or you can throw it in wet mode and though it may still step out a little its a lot more planted, like I say Dale also confirmed this was the case and not just my imagination as he has 14,000 miles in the SVR ring taxi so he knows the car better than anyone.
Also the SVR feels much lighter than any of the other V8 models, its not quite as light feeling as a V6 but not far off, but what it has over any other F-Type is it can feel super planted, or it can slide and make you feel like a hero.
Jaguar made an incredible car and the sound of that supercharger and inconel exhaust is simply incredible.
I am selling my SVR and am open to offers on it:
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I've driven the V8S, V8R and now have the SVR.
V8S I did not get on with, car felt constantly loose on the rear, the first ten minutes are huge fun as you just bonfire the tyres everywhere especially if they are Pzero, slapping on MPSS or PS4S would make a big improvement.
V8R Coupe, even though it had more power, it also felt more planted and hooked up, obviously been a coupe helped but I do think Jaguar certainly made some improvements to the handling of the car, however in anything but a solid warm hot summers day you can't put the power down and again it can start to become more an annoyance, if its cold, or even worse wet, simply forget it.
In the end I made the decision to get the SVR for many reasons, first one its properly rare car with less than 200 coupes registered in UK and with production likely to end around 2020 I can see values firming up just like the halo cars of any brand always do.
What I totally love about the SVR is its huge flexibility, even in these torrid freezing wet conditions it nails 0-60 in 3.3s, at Vmax last year it was beating my mates Stage 4 GTR off the line to 150mph, which considering my car is stock and his GTR was running 670HP on race fuel really is incredible. It handed an 800HP M5 its backside at Vmax and also a Lamborghini Aventador, the SVR is one of the most under-rated cars on the market.
I've dyno mine, it made 610PS at Litchfields dyno, I've been to Santa Pod and ran a PB of 11.1@126mph, the performance and ability is epic, but the real party trick is the one thing Jaguar do not even tell you about, it was Dale Lomas who confirmed what I thought I was experiencing as he does the ring taxi and that is the drive modes impact the AWD on AWD models:
Wet/Snow: Power split is as close to 50/50 as possible and you feel it, it hooks up in wet and in turns feels like a Golf R, so planted.
Normal: 70% rear driven and can move more forward as needed.
Dynamic: 90% rear driven and can move more forward as needed.
Also in the SVR the ZF8 certainly feels sharper, essential twin clutch like, it is super sharp and instant on pedal and instant at locking up, but I love the fact that in dynamic mode the car feels rear driven, it will power slide if your inclined to do so. Then its wet you can leave it in dynamic and get properly sideways everywhere or you can throw it in wet mode and though it may still step out a little its a lot more planted, like I say Dale also confirmed this was the case and not just my imagination as he has 14,000 miles in the SVR ring taxi so he knows the car better than anyone.
Also the SVR feels much lighter than any of the other V8 models, its not quite as light feeling as a V6 but not far off, but what it has over any other F-Type is it can feel super planted, or it can slide and make you feel like a hero.
Jaguar made an incredible car and the sound of that supercharger and inconel exhaust is simply incredible.
I know I run the risk of turning this into a typical thread however out of curiosity what are people expecting their Rs to be worth in say 2 years time.
I know a few on here have mentioned they have bought an R for 50k from a dealer so what they thinking it will be worth in say 2 years at trade.
I know a few on here have mentioned they have bought an R for 50k from a dealer so what they thinking it will be worth in say 2 years at trade.
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