To new buyers and those considering it. Should I daily drive?
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From: Pennsylvania
To new buyers and those considering it. Should I daily drive?
I've had my 14 V8S for over 3-1/2 years now and it's no garage queen by any measure as I'm at 34k miles in that time but it's never been my daily driver. I work in Northern Virginia/DC area but actually live 80+ miles away in Pennsylvania. I tend to go down and stay 2-3 days and then return. All during that time driving to meetings between many of our metro area offices and clients. Lots of stop and go, lots of traffic and lots of really poor drivers.....unhingd excepted of course!
Well these last two weeks I have been "forced" (yes please pity me) to drive my FTYPE into the bowls of that DC metro meat grinder since my sons car has been in the shop for repairs from a careless driver who rear ended his 2011 Infiniti G37 IPL. Now I've taken long trips in my FTYPE and many short ones but commuting with it has never occurred till now. After two straight weeks, with a third week likely, I offer the following observations to those who ponder the question: Should I buy an FTYPE as a daily driver?
1. The car is so extremely well planted and sure footed that I've never felt like I had to be tentive in traffic.
2. It's handled high heat (100+) and crippling humidity quite well with the AC being extremely effective. Stopped using recirculation on the system as it would ramp up the humidity making the car feel warmer than it should
3. People on the roads have tended to defer and lay back from me quite a bit, part of that because being right behind an FTYPE is an open invitation to get pelted by road stones...but more from what is clearly a healthy respect it seems. Sure the occasional a-hole tries to play but I don't rise to the bait.
4. The radio really does suck in general but what the hell, who cares
5. It can get into almost any space, road or building I've needed to get into
6. I've seen at least two of our fellow felines on the road with polite waves all around.
7. It generates as always an astonishing amount of looks and compliments
8. I've actually discovered that I love the car even more.
9. Around town mileage has been around 20mpg
Bottom line: while I've had a few moments of anxious concern over others on the road and the occasional road debris slolom adventure, it's an extremely satisfying daily driver. If your on the fence I say go for it!
One ftype nut's opinion
Well these last two weeks I have been "forced" (yes please pity me) to drive my FTYPE into the bowls of that DC metro meat grinder since my sons car has been in the shop for repairs from a careless driver who rear ended his 2011 Infiniti G37 IPL. Now I've taken long trips in my FTYPE and many short ones but commuting with it has never occurred till now. After two straight weeks, with a third week likely, I offer the following observations to those who ponder the question: Should I buy an FTYPE as a daily driver?
1. The car is so extremely well planted and sure footed that I've never felt like I had to be tentive in traffic.
2. It's handled high heat (100+) and crippling humidity quite well with the AC being extremely effective. Stopped using recirculation on the system as it would ramp up the humidity making the car feel warmer than it should
3. People on the roads have tended to defer and lay back from me quite a bit, part of that because being right behind an FTYPE is an open invitation to get pelted by road stones...but more from what is clearly a healthy respect it seems. Sure the occasional a-hole tries to play but I don't rise to the bait.
4. The radio really does suck in general but what the hell, who cares
5. It can get into almost any space, road or building I've needed to get into
6. I've seen at least two of our fellow felines on the road with polite waves all around.
7. It generates as always an astonishing amount of looks and compliments
8. I've actually discovered that I love the car even more.
9. Around town mileage has been around 20mpg
Bottom line: while I've had a few moments of anxious concern over others on the road and the occasional road debris slolom adventure, it's an extremely satisfying daily driver. If your on the fence I say go for it!
One ftype nut's opinion
+2. I drive the F-Type now everywhere except when I have to carry the softball team equipment to the field (not that everything doesn't fit...I just don't want to muck or scratch up the interior with muddy base mats and sharp edged pitching screens).
Veteran Member
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From: New Zealand
I have been driving Jags for over 30 years and each one has been a daily driver. I even chuck the sails, centre board, wet suit, life jacket etc in the trunk of my '10 XKR when I go racing my yacht at the weekends.
I don't however take it to the mountains when I go snowboarding because my Subaru Outback is better suited for those sort of things!
I don't however take it to the mountains when I go snowboarding because my Subaru Outback is better suited for those sort of things!
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Metrowest Boston
I daily-drive mine April-November, except when it’s raining. Top is generally down if it’s above 50 degrees. The radio does suck, but I’ve found the audio to be mostly decent playing MP3s from a USB stick.
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: People's Republik of MD
I commuted in mine for over 2 years rain or shine (but no snow). Rarely used the air, but I concur with Marco's comments. No car stereo works well topless which IMHO is the only way to have an FT. Fuel economy -who cares? Lots of smiles / mile though!
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From: Canada, eh
I commute in my car. In previous years I had other cars, including convertibles out of the road, but last fall I mothballed them for long term storage and didn't take them out this year. That is, I was surprised to see that I heavily preferred F-type in all circumstances. This summer is probably the first time in a long while that I have only one car out on the road for myself.
In this, F-type is saving me money, as running multiple cars with insurance and maintenance (esp. on classic cars) is costly. F-type is decent on fuel (I get 11L/100km combined and leadfooted), especially when compared to large displacement V8 classics that I have.
About the only thing I miss is chrome. Why is there no chrome anywhere on modern cars? I LOVE CHROME. IT IS SHINY.
In this, F-type is saving me money, as running multiple cars with insurance and maintenance (esp. on classic cars) is costly. F-type is decent on fuel (I get 11L/100km combined and leadfooted), especially when compared to large displacement V8 classics that I have.
About the only thing I miss is chrome. Why is there no chrome anywhere on modern cars? I LOVE CHROME. IT IS SHINY.
Last edited by SinF; Jul 20, 2018 at 09:33 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Philadelphia, PA
That was a lovely way of putting things!! 
I am gad you are enjoying the F as its meant to be. Sadly cannot say the same for myself as I use it as my weekend driver. But going from a Hyundai to the Jag makes the Jag feel much more special. It brings back the feeling as to when I first drove it and went wow.
I am gad you are enjoying the F as its meant to be. Sadly cannot say the same for myself as I use it as my weekend driver. But going from a Hyundai to the Jag makes the Jag feel much more special. It brings back the feeling as to when I first drove it and went wow.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,506
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From: South Carolina
I agree with SinF: "I LOVE CHROME. IT IS SHINY."
I always thought Jaguar and Harley-Davidson had the highest quality chrome, but Jag has taken to using brushed stainless, or whatever it is, in lieu thereof.
I always thought Jaguar and Harley-Davidson had the highest quality chrome, but Jag has taken to using brushed stainless, or whatever it is, in lieu thereof.
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 167
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From: Boston, MA
I daily drive mine and adore it. I can't see any reason to save the miles for someone else down the road, I'd rather enjoy them myself. New work commitments have me splitting time between LA and Bos starting this fall and I'm struggling not to find an excuse to pick up another convertible to leave out in LA -- sadly a second F-Type is out of budget but there's a Beck 550 Spyder on BaT right now...
When I have mine, she’s my daily driver. So irritated currently with our good weather (not many thunderstorms even) and I’m stuck in a Disco. I’m one of those that no matter what if it isn’t raining and is over 50 degrees that top is down.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC
I have no problem with anyone who has a premium car and wants to keep it aside for preservation and/or ideal weather. But, in general, driving the car is what I bought it for; so I do. I've even brought trees home from the nursery in it (a vert has its advantages). The exception would be on an icy/snowy day when the wife's F-Pace gets the call - but there's an element of survival in that case.
Back when I was a teenager, my mother once wanted to borrow my Civic to go grocery shopping, instead of her Rolls. Being something of a smart aleck, I told her that if she couldn't drive her car to the store, she couldn't afford it.
Back when I was a teenager, my mother once wanted to borrow my Civic to go grocery shopping, instead of her Rolls. Being something of a smart aleck, I told her that if she couldn't drive her car to the store, she couldn't afford it.
Last edited by uncheel; Jul 21, 2018 at 07:29 PM.
