It was my wife's friend - who owns a Mazda dealership and is a major gear-head (and a terrifically nice guy) - who owns a gorgeous 2014 Sapphire Blue V6S convertible which started me on this lust quest after I (we) test drove it, which got satisfied when I purchased my 2015 V6S in Stratus Gray w/Jet Interior & Camel stitching several months hence.

Besides my opinion that the coupe looks stunning (sure I can say "better" than the convertible but that's purely subjective; everyone's opinion is always right) my wife just didn't want a convertible, and I don't know too many women who do. Before anyone starts to rebut that last statement, I should let you know that we also own a 1990 Mazda Miata.

IF money were no object - never mind practicality - I'd have no problem with one of each.

 

That's arguable haha! However I particularly enjoy the switchover when it opens the valves up after 4k rpms in Normal Mode. From a loud high pitch to a massive bark.

 

When you change up it snorts like a hippo
And then when you put your foot down it bellows
And THEN when you take it off again...honestly,
Have you ever heard a soundtrack like that?

And if you push this little button here
You engage the sports exhaust system...
Which makes it even LOUDER

Now that's what I call haiku

 

The only convertibles I tend to like are hardtops and that is because I've never really liked the look of a ragtop when it was up. With the roof down, they mostly look pretty good especially if they have a nicely contoured rear deck.

I've only owned one convertible, an SLK and it was fun driving with the top down in Southern California. I quickly found that I didn't like doing it as much during mid day. The sun was just too much. But at night, now that was a whole different experience and the Merc's airscarf made it very comfortable.

 

I would love to hear a side-by-side comparison of my base car without active exhaust (std sport exhaust), and those with active exhaust and the valves closed. I drove a V6S just before purchasing mine without active exhaust, and my perception was that mine was considerably louder, but the valves probably weren't open on the S at the time. It didn't have the switch.

Another member here has suggested that the base sport exhaust is considerably louder than active exhaust switched off. I can't verify that and don't know of another car in my locale to compare it to.

All I know is my base car is one of the loudest exhausts I've driven. And it does bark, pop, and crackle more than plenty on deceleration and gets deeper, and of course much louder, higher in the rev range. It's almost as if the std exhaust is more open all the time.

However, it's hard to get multiple data points on that matter in this forum, because the only other active member here who doesn't seem to have active exhaust is F-Typical, who has the same impression. Perhaps it's a secret that Jaguar doesn't want to get out, since I doubt they've ever provided a base car without it for review, and they make more money selling cars with it.

 

Foosh I can actually confirm your theory. I rode with a friend today to lunch that has a non S V6 Coupe. He said his car sounds louder than mine in Quiet or Normal mode.

 

Thanks. I appreciate the additional datapoint. I knew I wasn't imagining things.

 

Anyone know if there will be any ecu tunes available soon for the V6s?

The car is by no means slow but knowing myself I will long for a bit of midrange punch while tracking this summer. I think the 420 hp range would be perfect.

 

A number of people have used or plan to use these guys. The offer a tune for all F-Type engines, including both V6s.

F Type

There is a location listed in Toronto.

 

Thank you Foosh. That seems interesting. I was hoping the torque figures would be a bit higher...37lbs feet isn't too crazy. Hopefully between now and spring there will be a graph showing the difference better.

 

Here in NY, we are required to have a front plate as well. I choose to take the chance & drive without it affixed. I'm not 100% sure but I think it's only needed when you are publicly parked. I have it in the rear in case an officer wants to see it. Never been pulled over for it . I constantly reminded my salesman while the car was on its way from order not to drill the front bumper. As far as convertibles go, I might've bought one if it was a hard top vert. Soft top convertibles look so much different than their coupe siblings.

 

Yup, I tell the guy the sale is off if they drill holes in the bumper. In CA the dealers actually make you sign a little disclaimer refusing front plates.

 

In all the years I lived in NYC (many) I never ran a front plate and, like you, kept it in the trunk...in case.

Let's face it, other than our esteemed F-Typer friends in Maryland, there are far greater infractions than no front plate. There are countless laws on the books which are either unnecessary, outdated, or both. No front license plate in my book doesn't even rank.

Unless I'm in Maryland (eating crab with F-Typers).

 

Funny, but I was looking through old pictures this morning, and was reminded that I did get away with this in MD. I had this made up on a site called:

www.licenseplates.tv




I don't know why, but I never did get stopped running this, perhaps because there was a front plate on the car. Maryland does let you run vintage plate styles as long as they match your registration plate number, which those did. I had it mounted with heavy-duty velcro underneath the front nose, and I attached the plate to brackets and the brackets to the velcro underneath.

 

I've had the car for three months now and I'm still quite enamored with the car.

So far I have had to take it in twice for 2 things :

1. a trim piece that was replaced under warranty.

2. A hissing sound everytime the exhaust baffles open up around 4k RPMs. The techs thing it's just them being dirty due to all the road grime and road dust.

3. I broke the front Plastick bumper trim. That's admittedly my own fault for driving in the winter.

Otherwise I've been quite satisfied with it. It sounds great and looks still phenomenal to me. I think the V6s could use a bit more punch down in the RPM range but that's nothing a tune cannot fix. I'm also still undecided if I will go for 20s or H&R springs to get rid of the wheel gap.

I was also hit by a car in a parking lot that took off so I will have to repair somehow the rear bumper. That basted. I tried buffing it and it hasn't worked so I will have to either use a harder compound or find someone to blend the paint.

Here's a picture with its bigger sibling.

 

In other news I had a chance to drive my friends new Maserati Mc Centennial edition and had a chance to compare it to the FTYPE.

The sound like the Jaguar is incredible as a Maserati should be. I also loved the carbon fiber interior pieces and all the leather. Beautiful car but I wasn't overly impressed with the speed. It felt like my 6S if not a bit slower. I don't think it's worth twice what I paid for my car but it certainly had its own charm.

 

Foosh, thanks for the referral.

 

RHO Plates are another option. Uses the tow-hook so no drilling required, and removable whenever necessary (in case proof of correction is required with a fix-it ticket).

Rho-plate no holes license plate bracket

 

I've got that for my MINI. The quirky nature of a MINI goes well with the offset plate. Not so for the F-Type. A front tag no taller than the center grille bumper will be perfect for the F-Type.

 

The wheel gap will be unaffected by 20"wheels as the outside diameters of the tires for all 3 wheel sizes are virtually identical. As the wheels get larger the sidewalls of the recommended tire sizes get shorter (lower profile). Springs are the only cost effective way to reduce the gap (.8"-1.3" depending on F-Type model and spring manufacturer).