Jaguar F-Type 2013 review - CarBuyer

Опубликовано 3 июня 2013, 15:02

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"The Jaguar F-Type is a stylish and desirable two-seater sports car that's brilliant to drive."

Yes, it's been a long time coming hasn't it? But Jaguar has finally got round to building a two seater sports car again - ladies and gentlemen I give you the F-Type

This car is clearly the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type. But don't expect any retro olde-worldey styling here. This is a thoroughly modern looking sports car with an all aluminium body that's been designed to slip through the air as effortlessly as possible.

Inside, F-Type feels every inch a true sports car with a dash is angled towards the driver and body hugging sports seats that hold you firmly in place. It's got some really nice touches too such as heater vents which stay hidden until they are needed.

Jaguar set out to create a really sharp handling and fun sports car with the F-Type and let me assure you they have done just that. The steering is nice and quick yet the car is never twitchy. And in the corners this thing just stays completely flat and grips and grips. Yet when you are just cruising along the adaptive dampers make sure that its still a comfy car to travel in.

And if you tire of having the wind in your hair you can easily raise the roof on the move at up to 30mph. And with it up the F-Type is a surprisingly quiet car to travel in.... so long as you don't put the car in dynamic mode as this brings the active exhaust into play.

In sport mode you also get a sharper throttle response, weighted steering, stiffer suspension and faster shifts from the excellent paddle shift eight speed automatic gearbox.

You can get the F-Type in three different flavours. This is the range-topping 488bhp 5.0litre supercharged V8S and its absolutely mental. But you don't actually want it. The one you want is the 3.0-litre supercharge V6 S - it still has 375bhp and can do 0-62 mpg in about 5 seconds and being less nose heavy is actually sharper to drive. The car you don't want is the entry level 335bhp V6. It's still quick enough but it doesn't get the adaptive dampers, nor active exhaust, nor a limited slip differential like the other cars do. And those bits of kit are important. Believe me they are.

There are some other issues with the F-Type too. The touch screen infotainment system is a bit old and awkward to use. While Jaguar has taken a leaf out of Porsches book by charging for stuff that should be standard like a wind deflector. Speaking of which, poor in car storage and a boot that's' not only tiny but is an awkward shape means the F-Type isn't as practical as a Boxster which is not only cheaper but if I'm honest even better to drive too.

Still, the difference is marginal and if you ask me this is far the more manly looking car. In fact Jaguar should be proud of the F-Type, it proves that after all these years it still knows how to build a cracking two-seater sports car.