Hi!
I am in talks to purchase a F type, and the owner swears that his car is a V6S,although the VIN he provided me turns back a regular V6. Is it a thing to have the S on the back like the M on the BMW's?


Thank you

 

Yes, it's not unknown for a base owner to whack an S badge on the back.
Easiest way to tell for sure is on the dash, a real S has the logo on the metal part of the dash just above the centre screen, the base has nothing, and short of replacing that whole panel I doubt there is a factory looking way to add a false S badge there.

 

We will see more badge shenanigans now that 4 banger F-types are out there. No idea why people bother, like anyone other than other Jag owners would even know the difference.

Key differences for F-type are: V8 vs. V6; AWD vs. RWD; Automatic vs. Manual.

As to V6 vs V6S - the same engine, V6 is detuned V6S but even that is negligible. Obviously with trim levels there are differences, but depending on year some of the S options could be put on base. In US you can't even get a real stripper F-type, as even "base" corresponds to "premium" in UK.

With S, you get LSD, adjustable suspension, and option to get bigger brakes. Active exhaust makes it drone less on the highway. Blind spot monitor is also necessary on this car, visibility isn't great unless top down in a convertible.

 

I remember getting a choice on that panel "finisher" when I ordered my car. I don't recall if both options had the 'S' although I do know that the one I chose did.

My car was delivered with the wrong badges on the rear (RWD S badged as AWD R) but the grille was correct. Sticking a different badge on the rear is easy, but the grille has a pad for the badge on S and R models that I believe is missing on the base model. Replacing the grille is a much more onerous undertaking.

 

+1. No S on the front...most probably not an "S". Another tell tale: Are the bumper and front & rear splitters matte black or glossy black? If matte black, then it's a base model unless they were wrapped with matte film like mine. (I hate glossy black plastic)

 

The base doesn't have side skirts.

 

The trim level in the VIN, the 6th & 7th digits; i.e. SAJWAXX

60 or 6A = ST1 Coupe = V6 Base Coupe
61 or 6B = ST2 Coupe = V6S Coupe
62 or 6C = ST4 Coupe = (V8S Coupe, not built)
63 or 6D = ST7 Coupe = R Coupe
64 or 6E = ST1 Convertible = V6 Base Convertible
65 or 6F = ST2 Convertible = V6S Convertible
66 or 6G = ST4 Convertible = V8S Convertible
67 or 6H = ST7 Convertible = R Convertible
68 or 6K = SVR Convertible
69 or 6J = SVR Coupe
70 or 7A = Project 7

And then for 2018 the VIN structure goes out the window and is being totally re-organised...

 

Neither do many of the S level cars. The skirts were options.

 

Mine is definitely an S but the S on the dash panel is eliminated with the choice of interior finish.

 

+1

 

Hmm...

Brakes?

 

Good point. Base has Performance brakes (silver calipers) as standard, V6S has High Performance (black calipers) as standard. I know you could upgrade the V6S brakes, but my brochures don't say if you could upgrade the base brakes.

I would imagine you'd have to upgrade the base 18" wheels to 19" before you could upgrade the brakes.

That's another point: base has 18" wheels standard, V6S has 19" standard.

 

Many of these options are MY dependent. For 2016, the only year I know, you could not upgrade silver brakes on a V6 but you could upgrade to red calipers on the V6S. You could get 19 and 20 inch wheels on both but only 18 inch on the V6.

 

Okay, the base doesn't have configurable dynamics (in the UK at least)

 

same in the US

 

It was an option on MY14 in the US on the V6S (I don't have it), so that isn't definitive either.

I would tend to believe the OP's decoding of the VIN as the most reliable way to tell.

 

My '14 SV6 has the performance package which came with interior black package that did not have S on dash.

 

If the seller has a base model being presented as a "S," it would give me some pause, whether it's deception or just ignorance.

 

Deception would constitute fraud as there is an $11K price difference.

 

Not sure why anyone would fudge a badge besides trying to deceive some clueless person who may buy it privately. I do however like hearing R owners sometimes boast over a base or S, considering with the payments I've seen tossed around here for all models, I pay more per month for my new custom base than the owners of these older dealer lot R's. If you want an R they are definitely obtainable.