F-Type as a daily driver?
Discussion
I use one as a daily driver and my biggest worry is parking the thing . Inevitably in these Parking Bays you are sandwiched in between two halfwits in Leased SUVs , its not their vehicle so they dont give a flying f**k . The other thing of course when you use any Sports car as daily driver is that it begins to lose that specialness you get when you perhaps only use it at the weekend . Blind spots over both shoulders can also be a problem as can the cars width when parking so you have to watch those alloy wheels . Go for the Coupe rather than the Convertible as you at least have a useable boot , its also a much more responsive vehicle and a harder ride than the car you currently have . Make sure you get a decent spec as there are some poverty ones out there and under no circumstances consider a V6 , anyone who says its in any way comparable to the V8 R is an imbecile . Recognising you from Jaguar forums over the years I thoroughly recommend the car to you , Caldera Red with the Black Wheels I think is perhaps one of its strongest colours , some others I think fail to do the car justice . The usual Jaguar checks apply , good luck with what you decide .
Edited by reddiesel on Saturday 19th February 20:06
I ran a 2WD V8R as a daily for 2 years and loved it. I would echo the concerns about parking - because it is a wide car. Mine was very reliable - no faults or warning lights. Great on a long run - I took it to the Italian lakes. A wild thing on damp country roads - worth changing the standard Pirellis for Michelin P4s. If you run it daily through the winter watch for rust on the underside. Otherwise fab. Enjoy!
Very useful advice - thank you all.
I was planning on the V8 (I hadn't realised there was a V6!), why am I seeing YT vids saying the V6 sounds better? That's impossible surely?
My XKR has "rear seats" but to be honest, the only thing that could fit in there are a couple of shopping bags or Warwick Davis.
Sterillium said:
My XKR has "rear seats" but to be honest, the only thing that could fit in there are a couple of shopping bags or Warwick Davis.
Or as JC commented about the XJ, Douglas Bader 
In the case of the convertible XKR the rear seats are really useful
that's where the luggage goes.
StoutBench said:
Never considered the F Type to not be a daily? It's not a supercar it's intended to be a daily.
It depends on your situation I suppose . I know an Asian Restaurateur who uses a McLaren as a daily driver and an Architect with an SVR and four kids who uses the Skoda daily and the SVR for special occasions .Sterillium said:
Very useful advice - thank you all.
I was planning on the V8 (I hadn't realised there was a V6!), why am I seeing YT vids saying the V6 sounds better? That's impossible surely?
My XKR has "rear seats" but to be honest, the only thing that could fit in there are a couple of shopping bags or Warwick Davis.
There are several v6 versions - and they do sound superb - but better / worse is subjective...I was planning on the V8 (I hadn't realised there was a V6!), why am I seeing YT vids saying the V6 sounds better? That's impossible surely?
My XKR has "rear seats" but to be honest, the only thing that could fit in there are a couple of shopping bags or Warwick Davis.
There is a certain amount of consensus that the v6 is a better weight balanced car and that the v8 can be over-powered
When I traded the M5 (400HP) in for an F-Type, I didn't feel I needed the v8 power (400 was more than I ever needed), so decided to go for the V6 - very happy with it (and I have another car which is a v8 anyway!)
a8hex said:
In the case of the convertible XKR the rear seats are really useful
that's where the luggage goes.
Yes, they hold more than the boot and with the roof down you can just drop stuff straight in.that's where the luggage goes.
Going away for a week's holiday you need all that space. You can also get two big bags of bark mulch in... not sure you could do that in an F-Type.
Simpo Two said:
a8hex said:
In the case of the convertible XKR the rear seats are really useful
that's where the luggage goes.
Yes, they hold more than the boot and with the roof down you can just drop stuff straight in.that's where the luggage goes.
Going away for a week's holiday you need all that space. You can also get two big bags of bark mulch in... not sure you could do that in an F-Type.
Wouldn't know about the mulch, er'n'doors has an estate so I'm not sullying the toy with that kind of muck.
Panamax said:
Sterillium said:
not worried about fuel (because I don't have to pay for it 
)
Sounds as though you may not have fully understood the current "benefits in kind" taxation of car fuel. You're paying alright.) But yes, F-type should be fine as a daily driver.
Edited by fatboy b on Monday 21st February 19:34
Simpo Two said:
a8hex said:
In the case of the convertible XKR the rear seats are really useful
that's where the luggage goes.
Yes, they hold more than the boot and with the roof down you can just drop stuff straight in.that's where the luggage goes.
Going away for a week's holiday you need all that space. You can also get two big bags of bark mulch in... not sure you could do that in an F-Type.
It did take a few test-packs to get the optimum bag-usage.
fatboy b said:
We did a two-weeker in Europe in the F-Type last year. Plenty of boot space, and no I never wore the same pair of grundies more than once
It did take a few test-packs to get the optimum bag-usage.
I believe there's a really difference between the XKR and F-Type when it comes to luggage capacity. I think there's an interview with Ian Callum somewhere online about this, with the XKR they assumed it wouldn't be the owners only car whereas they thought that might be the case with the F-Type, so luggage capacity was a design consideration when developing the F-Type, but presumably when they were designing the XKR convertible they assume that the owner would have their staff deliver any luggage. The boot on the convertible is tiny. It did take a few test-packs to get the optimum bag-usage.
Don't they do custom luggage for the F-Type too? I don't think it was done for the X150.
a8hex said:
Wouldn't know about the mulch, er'n'doors has an estate so I'm not sullying the toy with that kind of muck.
It was in bags not loose... 
a8hex said:
presumably when they were designing the XKR convertible they assume that the owner would have their staff deliver any luggage. The boot on the convertible is tiny.
Hah, look in the back of a DB9 Volante! Not only does it have to store the roof, it has half the gearbox too (so you can go round corners at 300mph, so useful).Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 22 February 10:03
a8hex said:
Wouldn't know about the mulch, er'n'doors has an estate so I'm not sullying the toy with that kind of muck.
It was in bags not loose... a8hex said:
presumably when they were designing the XKR convertible they assume that the owner would have their staff deliver any luggage. The boot on the convertible is tiny.
Hah, look in the back of a DB9 Volante! Not only does it have to store the roof, it has half the gearbox too (so you can go round corners at 300mph, so useful).Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 22 February 10:04
a8hex said:
I believe there's a really difference between the XKR and F-Type when it comes to luggage capacity. I think there's an interview with Ian Callum somewhere online about this, with the XKR they assumed it wouldn't be the owners only car whereas they thought that might be the case with the F-Type, so luggage capacity was a design consideration when developing the F-Type, but presumably when they were designing the XKR convertible they assume that the owner would have their staff deliver any luggage. The boot on the convertible is tiny.
Don't they do custom luggage for the F-Type too? I don't think it was done for the X150.
Of course there is a real difference between the luggage capacity of both cars and anyone who has owned both will confirm this . The key lies in the differing intended use of each vehicle and both being designed accordingly . The X150 primary function was as a GT for crossing Continents with the ability to carry the necessary luggage whereas the F Types was designed as a proper sports car with weight saving measures etc etcDon't they do custom luggage for the F-Type too? I don't think it was done for the X150.
They do custom Luggage for the F Type and its complete Made in China junk and best avoided . You wouldn't carry it into Lidl let alone a good Hotel .
There is a Company in Lavendon J Tusting who do all the luggage for Aston Martin . I went there in the end as I took the view it was British jobs and a first class Product that lasts a lifetime .
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