Independent of this or any review - positive, negative, or even neutral - I have little doubt (and based on your thoughtful - and if you ask me, "proper" - criteria) you will be. Good luck!

Jay, as you guess, I am not worried. Overall, the V6s manual has its shortcomings which I intend on addressing. Out of the gate, it sits too high, has a long shift throw and is slower than my tuned MINI. If I can't get it to my liking, I'll give up and throw a Tremec 5 speed into a '15 R. Now that jag makes the manual, all the trim pieces are available to do a conversion, including the pedals. (However, I'm guessing I'll get the S to my liking)

Why anyway. As much as I might think the manual would be cool, the auto is awesome.....

It's a psychosis some of us have. My Land Cruiser has 3 gear boxes: a 4 speed transmission, a 2 speed transfer case and a 2 speed splitter for a total of 16 speeds. Please don't make fun of the behaviorally challenged.

You're too shifty.

:icon_naughty:

If anyone can do it - make it precisely the way they want - it's you. I have faith in you my manually oriented friend.

While I defintely concur with you Tar1018 that the auto is brilliant (I'm exclusively in Dynamic Mode using paddle shifters 100% of the time) - I wouldn't have it any other way (and I too enjoy the occasional MT) - we've had this discussion here before with a dedicated group of MT devotees. Power to them I say.

This is the big advantage of the production of the V6S manual to me - parts availability for a V8 conversion. That is my long term plan for my V8S.

Hopefully by the time I am ready to do this it will be a commonplace modification.

Meanwhile, I am still hoping Jaguar gets around to making manual shift V8 models. If the transmission just needs a little beefing up it seems like better bearings, stronger shafts and hardened gearsets for the one in the V6 would be possible for a price. I have already been assured the software can be tweaked.

ZF already makes the stronger gearbox. With any luck, the bellhousing will swap over. Or it's the same. But the gear ratios might be wacky.

Cars | 6-Speed Manual Transmission - ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Good to know. This would make the ultimate F-Type. Also, lame excuse as to why Jaguar isn't making manual V-8 cars if ZF is already building a manual box that can handle the V8 torque.

Ah not quite, the "bigger" S6-53 6-speed is only rated to 600Nm, the 5.0L S/C engine is putting out 680Nm in stock form. So no, it can't handle the torque.

I was looking at the ZF alternatives as well, but As Cambo says, none are up to the 680 Nm of the R. The Tremec T-56 Magnum is the only manual at 950 Nm I know can handle the full potential of the R. I believe they have a bell housing to fit that engine.

The later C6s (after 2008) moved to the T-6060 which can handle more torque and was considerably smoother. The C7 is now the 6070, which is a 7-speed box. It sounds like the T-56 "Magnum" must be an upgraded version of the old T-56.

Also, for years, Corvettes have had the trannies mounted just forward of the rear axle, to balance the car. Do you know the weight difference between the ZF box and the T-56?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...4203ce0841.jpg

Maybe the author has not driven many manuals. You never know.

The T-56 Magnum is the aftermarket name for the T-6060. At 135# dry, it's 21# heavier than the ZF-8HP70(H).

Perhaps a somewhat more realistic view of the 6 speed here

First Drive: 2016 Jaguar F-Type Manual and AWD

Orkney

They weren't exactly glowing in their comments in the AWD in the first part of that article.

Raise the ground clearance, throw on AWD... it's turning into a high performance, 2 passenger crossover. As B.B. King would lament:"The thirll is gone". Cherish your RWD Rs.

I SERIOUSLY doubt the thrill is gone, and I've watched a few test drive videos of the 2016 AWD. Nobody (other than this one article) seems to think anything bad about the new AWD system. Add to that, the extra 1/2 inch or so of ground clearance is just what I needed to not scrape getting into my driveway.

I still want to see a comparison test on a closed track, with one driver doing back to back laps with RWD then AWD...