M340i v F-Type
Discussion
Might not seem like obvious cars to compare but I'm going round and round on these. I was convinced I would get an M340i and waiting for the right spec used car. This would be around 2-3 years old, £35k - £40k. I keep going back to F-Types though. This is a car I've wanted for 10 years - based on looks alone, never driven one. I have driven an M340i and it was a good car, but didn't feel special.
I've been WFH for 3 years but my employment could take me anywhere in the country, so I'd prefer the AWD F-Type just in case I end up travelling cross country in Winter. Probably the V6 S. So these cars actually end up being fairly close in performance - AWD, around 370bhp. If I continue to WFH I'd be driving almost entirely for pleasure though, around 6k miles PA. I'm also looking to do some road trips (NC500 and into Europe) and maybe a track day.
My head tells me the BMW would be the sensible option and the Jag would be expensive pain. But I just want one.
Anyone have any experience of both or similar? Is the Jag so much more special it would be worth it? I will test drive one but it's easy to love a car on a test drive.
I've been WFH for 3 years but my employment could take me anywhere in the country, so I'd prefer the AWD F-Type just in case I end up travelling cross country in Winter. Probably the V6 S. So these cars actually end up being fairly close in performance - AWD, around 370bhp. If I continue to WFH I'd be driving almost entirely for pleasure though, around 6k miles PA. I'm also looking to do some road trips (NC500 and into Europe) and maybe a track day.
My head tells me the BMW would be the sensible option and the Jag would be expensive pain. But I just want one.
Anyone have any experience of both or similar? Is the Jag so much more special it would be worth it? I will test drive one but it's easy to love a car on a test drive.
There was someone a few weeks back trying to figure out what car to buy as their potentially last combustion engine car / retirement vehicle and a lot of the forum said the F-Type would be the best. However being a JLR product, they said try and buy one that has a warranty I believe as I dunno how the reliability is for F-Types in particular but not advised to buy without warranty for other Range Rovers and Jaguars etc it seems from reading here.
Thing is with the M340i is you'll probably be kicking yourself especially if it's a car you've been waiting 10+ years for, as to why you didn't just get the full M3. (maybe it's the AWD thing?)
I don't know fully about the F-Types nowadays as it's been a while since I followed them but I would always consider the V8 one only. The V6 ones do seem to make a nice noise also I believe, I never understood why they bothered with a four cylinder but there are people who buy them it seems. Seen Through Glass' V8 R with the quicksilver exhaust I believe he had on it was something else, if you look at the YouTube videos of that.
Based on the criteria you mentioned I'd probably say a RS3 or a TT RS or something like that, but I don't know if they're something that you would consider. There is something about the F Type though as others have said that makes every drive feel like an occasion apparently. This price range / area of car probably isn't my area of knowledge but hope my comment was useful
Thing is with the M340i is you'll probably be kicking yourself especially if it's a car you've been waiting 10+ years for, as to why you didn't just get the full M3. (maybe it's the AWD thing?)
I don't know fully about the F-Types nowadays as it's been a while since I followed them but I would always consider the V8 one only. The V6 ones do seem to make a nice noise also I believe, I never understood why they bothered with a four cylinder but there are people who buy them it seems. Seen Through Glass' V8 R with the quicksilver exhaust I believe he had on it was something else, if you look at the YouTube videos of that.
Based on the criteria you mentioned I'd probably say a RS3 or a TT RS or something like that, but I don't know if they're something that you would consider. There is something about the F Type though as others have said that makes every drive feel like an occasion apparently. This price range / area of car probably isn't my area of knowledge but hope my comment was useful
I had a 440i from new and am thinking of an F Type so can speak with some experience.
The B58 engine is magnificent. Reliable, torquey, sounds decent enough. The interior on a 3/4 is nicely done. Everything sits where it should, it all fits well and the biggest compliment is you never feel its lacking anything. Not a precision object to drive but I've done the NC500 twice in mine and it was a very enjoyable experience.
But it's not an F-type. People turn their heads at one of those. Common sense says v6 engine mated to the same zf8 auto as the bmw will have. I'll probably go that route, but I'm going to try the v8 first, knowing it'll probably mean I can't look at a six cylinder again!
The B58 engine is magnificent. Reliable, torquey, sounds decent enough. The interior on a 3/4 is nicely done. Everything sits where it should, it all fits well and the biggest compliment is you never feel its lacking anything. Not a precision object to drive but I've done the NC500 twice in mine and it was a very enjoyable experience.
But it's not an F-type. People turn their heads at one of those. Common sense says v6 engine mated to the same zf8 auto as the bmw will have. I'll probably go that route, but I'm going to try the v8 first, knowing it'll probably mean I can't look at a six cylinder again!
As has been said, really depends on if you can manage with the 2 seater. I had the same budget last year and although I would have loved an f-type, the two seats and the older JLR infotainment system put me off. I was part exing a 68 plate XE t30 which had the upgraded touch screen and the older version was renowned for being 'buggy'. I got an M4 2.5 years old 3000 miles (non-comp though) bang on £40k and I am really happy with it. There's a lot of options for that money and age. If you heart says f-type take a few for test drives not just one and if you still love it go for it IMHO
I might be able to help just a bit.
I owned a BMW M2 competition (2019) at the same time as a Jaguar F type V8 convertible (2013).
I still own the F type having bought it when it was three years old and at that point having only done 3000 miles. The M2 went 18 months ago.
The M2 was my daily driver and the F type my sunshine car. To be honest there is hardly any comparison, the F type is just a car that puts a smile on your face every time you look at it, then when you start it up it just sounds fantastic and makes you smile and quite often giggle almost every time you drive it. Having said that I very rarely take it out with the roof up, so I’m always getting all of the exhaust noise. I would highly recommend a test drive. Just make sure you find one with the exhaust button, and if you don’t make sure you switch it into dynamic, but only once you’ve driven a few miles down the road, that way you really will be able to tell the difference.
The M2 was a good car, but in all honesty didn’t really feel special enough. At the time I thought the M2 was a little disappointing, but now that it’s gone I do find that I miss it.
I also had a brief drive of a 135i, I can’t remember what year it was but a friend of mine had one on the lease and I wasn’t really particularly impressed with it, it really was just another BMW.
I owned a BMW M2 competition (2019) at the same time as a Jaguar F type V8 convertible (2013).
I still own the F type having bought it when it was three years old and at that point having only done 3000 miles. The M2 went 18 months ago.
The M2 was my daily driver and the F type my sunshine car. To be honest there is hardly any comparison, the F type is just a car that puts a smile on your face every time you look at it, then when you start it up it just sounds fantastic and makes you smile and quite often giggle almost every time you drive it. Having said that I very rarely take it out with the roof up, so I’m always getting all of the exhaust noise. I would highly recommend a test drive. Just make sure you find one with the exhaust button, and if you don’t make sure you switch it into dynamic, but only once you’ve driven a few miles down the road, that way you really will be able to tell the difference.
The M2 was a good car, but in all honesty didn’t really feel special enough. At the time I thought the M2 was a little disappointing, but now that it’s gone I do find that I miss it.
I also had a brief drive of a 135i, I can’t remember what year it was but a friend of mine had one on the lease and I wasn’t really particularly impressed with it, it really was just another BMW.
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