Nice write-up. I quote: "The new manual? From the purist’s perspective, how can it go wrong? When other manufacturers are moving away from manuals, even in their sports cars, Jaguar is adding one to the F-Type. That alone merits a standing ovation."

2016 Jaguar F-Type manual transmission review, test drive, specs, price and photo gallery

 

autoworldnews:first-drive-review-2016-jaguar-f-type-v6s-manual-coupe

Autos.ca:first-drive-2016-jaguar-f-type

 

Interesting note in the write-ups about the change in "snap, crackle & pop" with the manual gearbox. Given that the reviewers get an afternoon at most with the car, it will be up to all of us with orders to figure out the right actions between throttle, clutch and gearbox to summon the snarling demons from the tailpipe.

Orkney

 

Agreed, that part really got my attention. I'm also a die-hard manual guy, and the F-Type was my very first sports car with an auto. Even though I've been amazed at how good the ZF auto-box is, and how much fun it is to paddle shift, it's the popping and crackling that make my daily drives so much fun.

You get those in normal around-town, stop and go driving in the auto car, without having to bounce it off the rev limiter. It's the #1 thing I like so much about the F-Type. I've been thinking about trading in a year or so for a manual, but I'd have a hard time giving up that beautiful soundtrack on my daily commutes, where it's simply not possible to drive it on the edge.

 

Yet another tantalizing, yet fluffy report on the V6S MT. Oh well. Back to the waiting.

 

Really thought I wanted a manual on the F-Type I planned to buy, and I'm like many who have driven manuals all my life. The sales rep said, "We don't know when we might get one you can test drive, maybe mid-summer." There's no way I'd order any car without a test drive; the well stated "fluffy reports" of lizzardo are well spoken. No mag article is going to convince me with mere words. I'm actually surprized that so many have reported they ordered one already, unless they are in Europe where they had a chance to test it first. I drove the ZF 8-speed, which was convincing, and decided I didn't want to wait. For me it's not about the bubbly sound of the engine which anyone can love and get giddy about. It's the entire integrated experience of driving this car.

 

The local dealer was unlikely to get a manual at all, at least in any reasonable time-frame. I put my deposit down in November, and five months later was still the only one really interested in a manual transmission.

The Auto World News report is fluff. I was a little too casual including the Autoweek report in the same category.

The ZF is the first automatic that I thought I could live with, but I too want the integrated driving experience. For me, that includes doing my own shifting.

Yes, I ordered one without driving one. I've driven five of the six F-Type variants though, and decided to take my chances.

 

Was chatting with my sales rep at the local Jaguar dealer a couple of days ago, and in talking about the 2016 cars he said they've had virtually no interest in the manual.

 

I have always assumed that manual F types will be produced I quantities of about 100 or so per year, so it's going to be a rare animal. I also purchased my MV6S without test driving one, I knew what was coming from the F Type, and decided if I was going to own one, it was worth waiting for the manual. The rest of the family drive various auto shifters, but I was seeking to replace my ancient Acura Legend 6 speed coupe.

So if the schedules hold, in about 7 weeks the first ones will arrive in the U.S., and there will be some user reports. I am really hoping they did not remove the glorious sound track.

Orkney

 

I read somewhere that Jag is counting on 10% of their V6 sales to be MTs. I suspect it will be closer to the average for cars that offer manuals (around 7%). With either number, I doubt that dealers will invest in inventory that so few buyers will be interested in. I suspect most buyers will have to order the manuals untested.
I based my order on a test drive of the transmission (ZF S6-45) as executed on the Bimmers. Not an ideal testing platform to determine how it will perform on the F-Type, but good enough to identify any fatal flaws. My conclusion was that it's competent but could use some tweaks in the linkage for shorter and more precise throws. I am certain the aftermarket will offer solutions as it did for the Bimmers.

In neutral the popping can be produced merely by blipping the throttle. I would assume that popping will therefore occur whenever you downshift, regardless of whether you are driving the car hard. I suspect that the reviewer was not double-clutching on the way down, which I always do by force of habit. As lizzardo say, we won't know anything for certain until a number of us have the cars in hand.

 

I would have guessed the percentage of manual sales to be higher given the enthusiasts who are buying this car, but I'd have to defer to their judgment; it's their business. Our local dealers are low-volume I think, and you make a good point as to when they may have a manual available for a test drive. There was no firm estimate when mine might get a car, so I have to assume they haven't included one in their allocation yet. It could be along wait; glad I went ahead as I did.

I have a BMW 3 series manual and love it as does my wife, but I couldn't extrapolate that manual to what it might be like in the F-Type. It's not just the transmission, but how it performs on the F with the engine, rear axle, and what ever else Jag does different. I couldn't do it without a test drive, especially after my test drives of the AM and Cayman S with manuals, neither of which I would buy. But to each his own, and I sincerely wish that when it's delivered, it's better than you hoped for. I look forward to hearing about it.

 

+1. I wouldn't do it without a test drive either.

 

-1, but I'm not sensible. Really. Not. Sensible.


I plan on the F-Type 6S 6-speed as my daily driver, and with near certainty, my *only* operational car. Oh, and my only operational motorcycle is completely mental.

 

Presumably, the most you would lose is your deposit if you decided you really didn't want it? (Not that that's going to happen.)

 

No. It's refundable. It's possible they would hold my deposit until they find another buyer, but they can't keep the money if I don't buy the car.


That's all hypothetical, to be sure.

 

lizzardo - Let me say, "I like your style." Make a decision, go forward, never look back or second guess. No reason to. It'll be a great car for you. Even if the F-Type manual is a little different than you expected, after some familiarity with it, you'll adapt.

I did enjoy driving the Cayman S manual at times (is it the same tranny as the F-Type?), and I think I could have adapted, but it was a more work than I really wanted to do on a regular basis. It wouldn't be my choice for a daily driver in the city; it requires too much effort. I couldn't get over the hump on that. The AM manual was a brute, really stiff clutch, poor driving position for my anatomy and with the long pedal throw, and just impossible for me. I'd like to be seen in the car, but that was the end of the romance. I also have to think about my wife. She loves to drive, but wouldn't like to drive either car. She wouldn't get behind the wheel on either test drive. I have another British car with a manual, a 1965 TR-4 which I bought new, so it's been long since a part of me. She doesn't/won't drive it at all; it's not all that quirky... to me. We both loved the F-Type the way it was from the first few minutes we were in it. Decision made.

What is your estimated delivery date? Just wondering. I might start a new thread on that... things seem to be changing and we all could use a update on what each is hearing.

 

Since the Cayman employs a transaxle, it definitely is not the same transmission. The Cayman uses a GETRAG 466. The S may do likewise.

Here is the thread tracking manual transmission delivery dates: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f...-speed-133797/

 

OK, thanks. But not many have ordered the manual, 7 was the last count I've seen here. A lot more have ordered the auto I suspect. I'd like to see a bigger sample.

 

Not many, to be sure. Only 9 , by my last count, on this forum based on 2 or 3 different threads.

 

I would guess there won't be serious consideration of the manual until a few show up, and the early adopters can get a feel for the car. If, like my ancient 6MT Legend, it's a barn burner, word will get around. If it's a dud, you won't see a big uptake.

But given this is the car that Ian Callum wanted built, I am guessing it has it's own magic.

I can't think more than a couple of hundred are going to be built, so it's not a cash cow. More likely they bolted a ZF manual onto an F a while ago, and there was some enthusiasm among the staff.

I am also going to assume these stories will come out later this year, once they are in circulation. To those of you waiting to see if it's fair or foul, the first production articles are headed for late July turn over in the U.S. So some number of days after that.

Anyone in the UK on this board have one on order? The rumor is the UK ones show up next week or the week following.

Orkney