Interested in subjective thoughts on whether you prefer the F type with a fixed rear spoiler or no fixed spoiler? What do you think of how a fixed spoiler affects the look of the rear haunches and/or side profile lines? Do you think it negatively changes the character of the car or enhances it?
I'm looking at 2 400 sports, and being they are out of state, I can only judge them by photos and short videos. One has a large, fixed, body colored, factory spoiler, the other one doesn't. I can't quite tell if I like the fixed spoiler or not. I never considered one before, but the F type with the fixed spoiler is a slightly better buy.

 

I didn't know you could get a body coloured fin I thought they all were black, and I didn't know you could get an F-Type sans fin.
I learn something new every day!

 

I think he may be talking about a rear Wing/Spoiler...Not fin? But not sure. When it says a Large Fixed Fin...Makes me think he is not talking about the antenna? But who knows...

DC

 

Do you mean spoiler, on the back hatch? Or the sharkfin antenna thing on the roof?

I dont have the fixed spoiler. I've seen a few that I like and a few I dont. Thge OEM one looks OK to me. I'd take it with the spoiler and if you get sick of it, get the piece without it put on which shouldnt cost much. I thought about getting one for my car for a change but then the lid would hit the garage door when both are up, that used to happen with my XKR and it was a bit of a PITA. It was enough to put me off getting one - that and the $3,000 cost, from memory.

If you mean the sharkfin antenna on the roof, I reckon the car would look better without it.

 

Sorry, yes, I meant fixed rear spoiler. Changed original post to reflect that. In my day, we called them "fins".

 

It's a $3000 upgrade? Wow!

 

I thought I remembered reading a post saying the stock fixed spoiler could be had for around $1200 plus paint. So if you can get a car with the fixed spoiler as a “better buy”, you could always try to swap with someone in the future.

 

I don't care for the SVR spoiler. I prefer the "pure" F-type lines. Just my personal opinion.

 

Imo the SVR spoiler is the one to get as it retains the active functionality. Although I believe the F Type looks good enough without a spoiler as well.

 

Ah, but the OP isn't talking about the SVR spoiler, but the "standard" fixed rear spoiler. I'm lucky enough to have one on mine and I much prefer it - I think the F-Type looks much better from the back with the spoiler, the deployable one (IMO) looks a bit naff when it's raised. Colour coded, it adds a little "meanness" to the overall look.

 

Horses for courses, asking "spoiler or no spoiler" is going to get you replies saying "yes" from people with it and "no" from people without. Some of the 'withouts' will say "yes" because they wanted the spoiler but didn't want to pay for it. Unless you have the opportunity to more closely inspect a car with and without the spoiler option, you'll have to go with photos on t'internet and see which makes you go slightly weaker at the knees.

When I was speccing mine up I decided against it (despite advice from an F-Type owner that it was a nice option) as I preferred the cleaner lines sans-spoiler. It's also quite nice seeing the Jaguar logo in the rearview mirror when it's raised, but I'll be honest, I'm mostly concentrating on what's in front of me.

 

And you can keep those "clean lines" by driving slowly, the perfect way to drive an F-Type!

 

I had to Google "driving slowly". My car came with a 2 speed transmission, "stop" and "sorry officer, I won't do it again, honest"

 

It looks like the design of the fixed spoiler may have changed a little over time. Here is the current offering. Personally, I like the deployable type. I think the fixed one looks like H-E-Double Hockeysticks

 

It's so much a personal preference thing. I, personally, think the fixed spoiler takes away from the lines of the rear of the car. I also like Saabs, so there is no accounting for taste.

 

+1. If I had liked the look of the fixed spoiler, I would have ordered it with the car. Of course, the standard spoiler, when deployed, looks like crap, but when it's serving its purpose, what do I care?

 

Have to agree , I had thoughts on getting one when I purchased my car, but decided not, it just doesn't look right , to me it's as if it was an after thought and as you said the hockey style fixings looks all wrong. If I was going for a raised type the svr spoiler look nice and suits the cars lines.

 

The fixed one always looked like an afterthought to me. I passed on a used one at a local dealership in large part because it had the fixed spoiler, even though it checked many of my other boxes.
I don't really like when the deployable spoiler comes up either, but I don't hate it enough to bother disabling it.

 

I tend to agree that most of the spoiler options are not good looking. The SVR one wasn’t bad but still I too like the cleaner lines. If I was running constantly over 130mph then maybe I’d feel different but I only get to do that once a year.......(hmm Maine trips with a certain forum group?).

That said taste is subj3ctive and I love SAABs, real SAABs, not the GM Opel Vectra platform versions. Give me the classic 900.

 

Horses for courses as they say.
For me it either has to be ‘no’ spoiler (i.e. the little pop up duck tail) or a huge ‘in your face’ spoiler.


Then again, I have an 86 911 with a whale tail and a duck tail.

If we all liked the same thing, wouldn’t life be boring!

Only you know what you like, but I would buy on miles, condition, warranty and price first (if used) and options and color second (as long as you like it and it won’t affect the resale too much!) I think the days of a used Jag being bought by the older board director type are long gone, so I wouldn’t worry about being conservative in your choice.

If you want a fin, then go for it!