Hey guys, I need some help.

I'm buying a F-Type V6 Supercharged P380 2019 with 13.900km in Brazil, single owner and completely stock car, but there is also the option to buy an older V8 R Supercharged 2014 with 25.000 km but with more owners, less car history and being an early version of the car.

Here in Brazil, due to heat, these cars are much more prone to have cooling issues, so that is something to consider.

I am wrong to choose the "newer" v6 supercharged over the V8? Price difference is quite irrelevant! I`m concerned over realibility issues, in Brazil everything is double or triple the cost to fix and takes a lifetime.

Thanks!

 

History and condition is important with these cars. Cooling issues can be dealt with if they haven't already, but if the car has already been overheated, run low on oil, etc. then you're in for trouble. Look for cars that have been taken care of, have service records, and definitely get a PPI from a reputable shop for either car. Have them check for signs of dried coolant, check the diff oil, belts, etc for signs of neglect. Then pick the best condition car.

 

I’ve always found that in situations like this, your gut will tell you which way to go. I went thru it at the dealership when buying my FType. They had two BRG Type R’s in stock, a coupe and a vert. I’d never owned a convertible and heard both pros and cons from friends who had. In the end I knew what I really wanted…

Sage advice from bfrank1972, make sure you get a thorough inspection done for both. Above all - enjoy the process!

 

Check if the 2019 does not have OPF. That would be a dealbreaker for me (I went 2016 instead of 2020 within my budget for this reason).

 

Reliability wise the P380 sounds like a much safer bet. Lots of bits and pieces under the skin of the cars have developed throughout the model years and for what it's worth, the P380 will have the newer stronger version of the infamous coolant system Y pipe. In the newer car you'd also not have to deal with the sticky interior issue which the old one will have and which I believe is more common in hot climates.

More owners, weirdly low mileage and an incomplete history feel a bit like red flags to me.

Good point about the particulate filter which quiets down the cars a fair bit. Don't know about Brazil but if I recall correctly US market cars never got that filter so maybe its also a non issue in Brazil, assuming that the car was originally delivered to Brazil.

Apart from the reliability, age and condition though - have you thought about what kind of F-Type you want? The V6S/P380 and R are both amazing cars in different ways but pretty different... one feeling and sounding more "exotic" like an Italian sports car and the other feeling more like a muscle car so it's good to figure out what your expectations are so you don't get disappointed after having chosen a car just because it's newer and in better condition or just because it has more horsepower.

 

Up to MY21, GPFs were market specific and you are correct in that the US didn't get them. From MY22 onward, all cars--regardless of market--have the GPF from the factory, as Jaguar decided to streamline the production process (and save $$$) by installing them on all cars.

 

I had a similar quandary between a used '14 or '15R and the new 16.5 V6S I ended up buying. I was swayed mainly by the better infotainment and slightly better interior in the newer car because I had the earlier version in an XF and really didnt like it at all, and had the newer version in an XE and really liked it. I tend to focus on little things and thought that the infotainment would put me off the R and I wouldnt keep it.

But since then I have done a bunch of mods to the S to make it more like the R (pulley/tune/quad pipes, mainly sound related), and while I love my car to bits and have no regrets (owned it 8 years coming on 9 which is double the longest I've ever owned a car before), I probably would have been better off buying the R and spending my money on infotainment upgrades. Also an RWD R is kind of the ideal for me, which influences me a little.

 

A one-owner car is always a better choice in principle, especially if it comes with a service record. Regarding the choice of engine, in my experience there is no possibility to legally use all the power of a V6S (380 hp). This engine, like the V8, can get you into a lot of trouble very, very quickly. The V6S as it came from the factory (not modified in any way) is beautifully balanced, very fast, sounds terrific, very comfortable, ever satisfying, a joy to drive and very reliable. While any F-Type is addictive, the 380 hp coupe was my choice years ago and I have never regretted it - not for a moment. Just looking at it makes me melt.
Both engines should have the upgraded coolant pipes installed as a matter of safety, the aluminium pipes being preferable to the plastic pipes.

 

E aí Marcos, blz?

I'd go with the newer V6 but make sure you drive it first. Jaguar started fitting GPF (gasoline particle filter) in 2018 which muffled the exhaust sound a fair bit. Removing Fuse 15 will get some but not all original sound back.

Boa sorte.

 

I'm obviously biased but couldn't agree more about the V6S, especially in RWD form. It's just a magical road car and the engine is just perfect character and power wise. I had my two previous Jags remapped and this is the first one I left stock because I have zero interest in any more straight line grunt. And that's coming from someone who lives in a place where there are loads of roads where the car can be pushed hard, and does drive it hard quite a lot.

 

Good point about the infotainment. I also had the same system as the early F-Types had in an XF and quite liked it but the infotainment is massively better in the newer F-Types. The 2019 car will probably have the latest 10" screen system with CarPlay/AA.

These days it's fortunately so easy to add CarPlay/AA in older cars so the crappy infotainment shouldn't be an issue for anyone buying an older F-Type. Being a late MY18 mine is one of the last with the 8" screen so it has all the latest infotainment features except CarPlay/AA. Easily sorted by adding an aftermarket CarPlay/AA module and I rarely see or use the standard infotainment now because whenever I unlock the car it starts wireless CarPlay by default.

 

The more modern infotainment system is another positive point for the V6 even though it never bothers me that mine came with the stock 8" system. I much prefer buttons personally.

Hard off to the OP for being brave enough to consider buying an F-type in Brazil. People in the UK, Europe and U.S would struggle to justify one considering the asking price of about 70K dollars for a 2019 model and the extortionate prices for everything.

OP, watch this video as it will be helpful. The overheating issue is a very small concern if you go for the 2019 model as it will be fitted with the updated albeit plastic cooling pipes. I'd be looking to replace them on the V8 if they're stock still.

 

That was a wise decision. For the very same reason, I went for a very low-mileage 2016 coupe S.

 

I’m a huge fan of V8s but in this particular situation the 2019 v6 would be the choice I’d go with probably. As was said, quite a few niggly things were addressed in these cars over the years. The 2014 could be a bit of a hassle in this regard.

Best of luck with your purchase

 

A ‘14 V8 is solidly in the early timing chain service window?

 

The 2019 gets my vote as I have that engine and year.

An easy way to check for past and pending coolant mishaps is to shine a black light in a dark garage to look for coolant fluorescence in the engine bay, especially by the firewall.


@marcosebba Boa Sorte!