Gooday. Unfortunately I've never driven the manual but I have the pulley/tune in the 6 and it is fantastic, also the VAP quad exhaust (also fantastic, sounds epic). Personally I prefer the RWD cars to the AWD especially on the track (well I should say only on the track, I've never driven the R on the road though I had an XKR for a few years) and I also thought the 6 handled much better on the track than the RWD R. But everything about driving the F Type screams to me that it should be a manual. The auto is brilliant, but it is missing the further engagement of the shifter and clutch. And that's something you enjoy on the road, every day (unless you get stuck in traffic a lot in which case it is a curse).

In the end assuming you dont get stuck in traffic, thinking of costs to do everything, assuming (say) $10K for pulley, tune, and exhaust, I'd buy the manual 6 if it was $15K less than the R. If you like centre pipes then you wont want the quad exhaust and so the 6 $10K less than the R modded with pulley and tune will still be a big saving, some of which you could put into forged wheels and michelins which make an enormous difference to handling - like night and day.

 

Got mine from Unhinged who had them fabricated himself. At least two of us (I think Uncle Fishbits was the other) sent Unhinged our original shifter so more could be fabricated. Unhinged will need to weigh in on availability, but in my opinion its a no-brainer if available.

 

Interestingly, manual F-types already appreciating where I live. In 500 km search radius on autotrader there is only 1 manual and it is 10K asking over automatics.

 

If you are going to tune for power, manual is not the way to go unless you *know* how to drive. This is because drivetrain isn't adequately dampened, after you dump a clutch few times on your tuned car you will be shopping for new differential and transmission.

 

Honestly, I love my 6MT. Power is power and I could get it in many cars. But in my opinion the combination of character and flair that makes the F-Type unique is only amplified by the manual transmission. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Mine is tuned, but like said above I am somewhat careful with it. The dealership tech even warned me, lol. I am not interested in launching the car hard or doing burnouts etc, I have my beater E46 for that

 

Just my opinion, I don't think the F-Type is the car you want if you want a manual. Some people have few issues with the manuals, most have a lot of issues. IMO, I would look at if you want the V6S or V8 automagic.

 

You can only know by driving both and seeing which you like better.
Perhaps another way to look at it is to imagine you have your F type and meet someone with theirs. If one is a MT V6 and the other a V8, would you be envious or cont​​​​​ent if you were in one and the other driver was in the other.
Personally, I am happy with my MT V6S and when I eventually swap it out, it will be for either another manual transmission car or an electric vehicle (if an interesting enough one comes along) but that is my personal preference.

 

... so many cars
... so little time.

Drive 'em both and see which one resonates with you.
(but the 6MT may disappear off the market before you decide)

Note: I am chatting with Unhingd about light weight flywheels and Stage 2 clutches from SPEC which should give the 6MT even more bite and response.

 

wait a tic... Can the 6MT be swapped into a V8 Car? (RWD)

How much does the automagic talk with the engine or body controller? can the automagic transmission controller be mimicked?
I suppose the pedal cluster, shifter bits, drive shaft, and possibly rear transmission mount need to be carried over.
I used to do Auto to Manual swaps on Volvo 740's... it was easy enough back then.

 

Go for what you truly enjoy the most.


Now that super-quick EVs are noticeably proliferating, the 0-60 pissing contest has become truly pointless - so never mind that aspect.

I tested a V6S manual, an AWD R, and then another V6S manual (the one I ultimately bought).

My personal impressions:

The AWD R is ferocious, violent, and pins you to your seat in a straight line. And sweet Jesus did I love the sound. Oh, that sound.
However, the extra weight was quite noticeable to me. As someone who derives most of his driving enjoyment from (the aspiration to) gracefully negotiate twisties and explore handling characteristics, this was a minus. Besides, I drive way too fast already. Do I really need to be tempted by the ability to get to jailable speeds that much easier? And of course, the lack of third pedal was a minus. I missed the extra engagement and skill factor that comes with an MT.

To me, the V6S sounded *good enough* (in my opinion it's the best-sounding car after the R), and it was *quick enough*. I don't care if I'm not the quickest car on the road, only if I'm quick enough to have fun.
For me, the pros were:
- I get to do my own shifting
- lighter, better handling
- RWD (see above)
These were enough to overcome the relative deficit of power and sound relative to the AWD R.

Since purchasing, I've installed the Unhingd short-shifter (had the honour of being the guinea pig for Version 2.0), and that increased my enjoyment substantially.
I also installed a throttle pedal attachment for super-easy heel-toe (just something I enjoy doing).

I waffle between "this is plenty of power, I don't think I'd ever need more", and "on second thought, I wouldn't mind a smidge more... just for fun".

So, I plan to join the pulley & tune club once my warranty's up later this year. It'll be my yearly present to myself.
I'm already deeply in love with my car, I can only imagine how hard it will be to not spend every waking second in the driver's seat once the pulley & tune are online.

 

Not to fear. All these issues are resolvable. The short-shifter will tighten up the throw giving it almost a gated shifter feel and the Gen 4 clutch that was finally issued cured the upshift slip. The 450hp stage 2 tune will almost make you forget the power you’re missing from the R since the V6 is a much lighter car.

 

I seem to recall someone recently looking for a grey '16 F Type S with a 6-speed manual, 36K miles. If so, here you go:

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=297717875

 

Just posted the below in another thread. Get the manual unless the 8cyl is RWD. My 1 cent opinion. I'm not much of a "stuff" guy or materialist, and the manual is the greatest decision of my life, considering my wife was the one that decided on me. LOL But I was coming from something like 20yrs of 123hp in a 4cyl Wrangler hahaha. I would have killed myself with the 8.
-------

The take rate on manuals was <4%, so you've got a legend of a car there.
The GT3 take rate was 70%
https://www.thedrive.com/news/39478/...l-transmission

Maybe it was the goofy marketing Jag did?
https://www.autoguide.com/blog/wp-co...nual_Final.pdf
At the time I thought it was cute, but now I just realize their marketing department thought it wise to target people who had no idea what a MT was? sheesh

 

That JLR marketing on the manual tranny is priceless, and now we know the whole story on what happened to some of those first generation clutches. Wink