Hello All.
In order to purchase an F type S AWD coupe for my next daily driver, I would have to sell my '69 Corvette Stingray, 350 small block V8, automatic, in order to afford it. I've had the '69 for about 10 years now and I do still love it. Its 'fairly' comfortable for short drives, mostly for early morning, evening, or weekend cruises, but the seats aren't the most comfortable and its not great for any spirited driving with its old transmission and suspension. I drive it as often as possible, weather permitting (no AC), sometimes a few days per week during Spring and Fall, early Summer, sometimes I go months in between drives, Winter of course and hot summers. Its no garage queen, not numbers matching, but its a very nice looking driver, and I get compliments every time I take her out. I had dreamed of owning a silver bumper corvette since I was 15 and this car was born in the same month and year I was, so there is some nostalgic value to this car as well. I had always thought that I'd keep it forever and leave it to my boys or to a grandchild.......
However, I've reached the 'obsessed' level with obtaining an F type to be my 'everyday is a great day cause you're driving an F type every day, car! My current daily driver of 9 years (boring CTS sedan) is on its last legs as well and I'm really itching for something new(er) and more fun.
The '69 also takes up the garage space needed for the F type.
I'm 50 and I'm thinking my days of tolerating a sports car as a daily driver are numbered which is another reason I think I should get into an F type sooner rather than later.
I've found a few F type S AWD coupes with the color and options I was hoping for,, out of state but I'm willing to go get it and drive it back, but I'm still wavering on the 'no turning back' decision to sell the '69 in order to afford it.
So, my question to you fellow car guys is this:
Would the owning/daily driving experience of the F type be worth the sacrifice of my '69?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

Go for it. You only live once. If you don't do it you will always wonder: What if?

My F-Type is not a daily driver because of the winters here and I would probably put about 35k miles per year on if I did. I do a lot of competitions that require an SUV to carry my gear. The F-Type is a little sparse in storage space. However without a doubt it is the most fun car I have ever had.

 

Go for it.
My F-Type is a daily driver, in fact it is my only car.
It works as a daily driver - comfortable, reliable, fairly good fuel economy and you can switch from 'burb cruiser to howling animal literally at the touch of a button and a wiggle of your right foot.
Only two "sacrifices" for me - it's not the easiest thing to park and the rear / three quarter vision is poor, but I have learned to live with that.
Make sure you get one with the vision pack which includes the rear cross-traffic warning system, works great and had saved my bacon a few times now.

 

Don’t worry. You’ll never look back. By comparison the C3 is a bone jarring sled with imprecise handling. The F-Type is perfect for a maturing gentleman to graduate into a refined GT car that can be comfortable on a daily basis as well as on long trips.

 

The answer to your question is a very simple YES. Every time you look at the Jaguar you will smile and your heart rate will increase. Every time you park the F-Type you will turn and look back at it - every time. The combination of beauty, performance, handling, comfort, the SOUND...very, very hard to beat. Yes, there are cars that might do one or other of these things - but all these things together? Not one.

 

Comparing it to a more comfortable GT (in my case the XKR), the F Type rides slightly harder (improves with softening of the seat, especially the better seats), is harder to get in and out of as it is lower, has no rear shelf for storage and the boot space is limited if you have a spare in there (most take it out). But then it handles far better, sounds great, the tech is much better, steers hugely better, and the transmission is lovely (personally if I was to buy again I would go manual as the chassis lends itself to it) and the boot space is pretty good with the spare out. There are some compromises, but nothing dramatic, and all worth the end result. I've had mine 4.5 years - 2.5 years longer than most cars I have owned, and it is my daily

 

Mine is mostly my daily driver,I'm retired. If you are a sports car person and all that goes with this than go for it.

 

A buddy of mine of 30+ years has a serious Corvette habit (C4, C5, C6 and C7). When I got my F-Type I called him, he was thrilled for me, "You bought a British Corvette." Technology changes a lot between your 1969 and today's F-Types, the F-Type isn't as sexy to look at when you open the bonnet (what is the point? nothing to do in there). But you will enjoy the modern ride, modern handling and lack of NHV (Noise, Harshness, Vibration). The F-Type makes plenty of noise, but it's polite about it. I have the active exhaust on my 2015 F-Type S, I love to switch it on in passing situations so we snarl at the slow cars we're passing. And while I appreciate the curves of the 69 Corvette, I think the F-Type is the prettiest car ever made.

 

Mine's my daily driver. I have another car, but it's an NA/6 Miata.

I don't know how it is to live with the 'Vette but the F-Type is pretty nice. Visibility is poor in town, but with the Vision Pack it's tolerable. Seats are comfortable (for me) and the ride is quite good (by my standards). Handling is good to past the point where you really shouldn't be doing that on public roads. It's more GT than Sports, but that's fine for a "maturing gentleman" <cough> <cough>.

 

Having been fortunate enough to own many corvettes, C3, C4, C5, C6, they have a special place in my heart but my F Type is definitely one of my favorites so far. Actually wish I could have kept everyone of them, especially my 71 C3.
Although none have been my daily driver, I could well imagine driving the F Type daily.
My advice would be sell a kidney and own both

 

If it's someone else's kidney, that'd make it easier.

 

I thought that was implied

 

Perhaps. I suspect my own internal organs are pretty much worthless at this point.

 

Yes, yes, Yes! go for it. I basically Daily my V6S awd vert, even tho I did just pick up a 2020 Hemi Ram 1500 4wd, but thats more for towing and hauling, but driving that for 3 days straight and hopping into the jag makes the jag even more awesome to drive!

 

Is your buddy always that rude?

 

The thought had crossed my mind.
Thank you everyone for the replies and advice!
This is what I'd have to give up.

 

Very well put. But she is an demanding and expensive English mistress. My F type V8S Convertible is a beast, and I only drive it perhaps a couple of times a month here in Florida, too hot. A few more times in the winder when the weather is perfect. But then there is the reliability, or lack of. Be prepared to spend big $ for everything when the warranty expires. Similar experience to my previous BMW with 4.4l twin turbo. Fell apart after the warranty.
Want reliability get a Hellcat or a ZL1 or a Shelby 500GT. That is where I am right now.
....................Until I step into the garage and look at the F type and start it up. Then common sense and rationality goes out the window.

 

Very nice pictures! What a work of art that Vette is, no doubt. But practical for a daily driver: no way. Do you parallel park the car on the street and risk someone dinging the chrome? Must be a beast to drive -- fun, but not every day.... Styling: fantastic, no doubt, but the F-Type stirs the heart too or you wouldn't be here asking the question. I think your Vette is a great weekend car -- but the F-Type has modern conveniences, modern handling, reliability and power. I've had my 2015 for 5 1/2 years, one minor problem 18 months in (cracked coolant pipe), other than that it's been 33,000 trouble-free miles. Would love to have both: I'd drive the Jaguar every day, save the Vette for Cars and Coffee...

 

There is no upside to 60s era cars - boomers who like them are getting to the end of driving days. Younger people like me don't want them because they handle very poorly unless you dump a lot of money and restomod them. You probably have another few years before prices start dropping. Just look at lack of demand for Model A to see where it going.

F-type is just day and night better car.

 

Agree with all the above, especially as Unhinged put it. You could look at it this way: the Corvette has given you years of pleasure and it's something you'll always reflect on fondly. But it no longer owes you anything. The F-Type is going to open a new chapter. It's right for you and you deserve it.