Just bought a 2014 V8S convertible in silver. My first Jag. Traded in my 997 C2S cabriolet. Thought about a 991 cab but I wanted something a bit more dramatic. The 997 was fun but I just couldn't get it to be the roadster I wanted it to be. It was convertible, 6 speed, RWD but the sound was lacking passion even after high flow headers, catless pipes, and performance exhaust. Plus, lots of 911s in my neck of the woods (FL) and I wanted something that looked and sounded exotic/beautiful/dramatic.
Some thoughts on the Jag. It is a real head turner. People are always stopping and looking like I drove up in a Bugatti or something. I guess its because there aren't that many on the road and its a real looker. Love the way it looks and love, love, love the way it sounds. I rarely am using the radio now: top down and loud button on. I had a smart top on the 997 so that's the first thing I did to the jag, super convenient with one touch opening. Put in rubber mats too.
Driving impressions. Lots of power, but I have to say its hard to lay it all down without fish-taling. Although I doubt I'll buy an AWD F type, I can see where it would be a benefit with all the V8 power. I usually flash my vehicles for more power but I don't think I will because its tail happy already. Its harder to control the power with an automatic rather than a manual transmission.
This is my first automatic sports care ever. This has been the hardest to get used to. Usually keep it in auto, b/c I haven't adjusted to the paddles yet. Is there a way to switch to neutral from the paddles?? When I'm coming to a stop in a stick, I pop it from 4th into neutral and coast to a stop, then stick it in first to go. I've found that in the Jag, I have to paddle down to each gear when coming to a stop which doesn't feel natural. Is there a better way?
Looking forward to being part of the forum!
GatorSkin

 

Congrats. No way to put it N. But you can just leave it in 4th. It'll go back to 1 automatically to prevent stalling. At least that's what i remember.

 

Thanks, shift. I'll try that.

 

welcome Gator Skin! Beautiful car - congrats and enjoy!

 

Congratulations! Great to see another Florida Jag! There were not many of us with F-Types at first but we are catching up. Really like the color combination and the wheels (I have those wheels too).

 

Thanks, lovemonet. I love the turbines too.

 

Welcome Gator. Congrats on your beautiful Jag. Enjoy.

 

I have to ask as I saw the Stevinson dealer plate on your car. I know they are big in the Denver area but have they opened a Jaguar dealership in Florida?

 

Congratulations!

 

Bought it from them in Denver via phone b/c it was low miles, right color/options, and cpo. Shipped it here.

 

Gorgeous color combo, Gator. The silver turbines with the silver paint and light interior look stunning.

 

Nice! Welcome to the forum and Florida hooligans.

 

Thanks. I'm a big silver fan. Last 6 or 7 cars have been silver. Never looks dirty, always looks fast. I considered dark wheels w/silver body, but in the end I went w the all silver look, especially w the light interior. All kind of meshes. My first silver car was a 2002 boxster with gray top, light gray interior, and brushed silver wheels. That's what started the trend.

 

Nice car! Have fun and congratulations! I really like those rims. Maybe I'll switch at some point. Enjoy your weather for driving.

 

Thanks. There's no putting her away for winter here in north Florida. Today's drive was 71 degrees and clear skies. Top down year round.

 

You don't have to downshift at all when coming to a stop - it does a good job on its own. No neutral with the paddle shifters. To go from manual paddle shifting back to auto, hold both paddles for a second or two.

I used mostly auto shifting for the first year, but I discovered I get a lot more interesting exhaust sounds with the paddles. (I have active exhaust, but not switchable.)

 

Cool, thanks. Ur right, I get a lot more sounds when I decel from high rpms in manual mode

 

Absolutely--aggressive paddle downshifts result in more fuel injected to produce the revs required to match the gear selected, which begets more unburned fuel in the exhaust, which begets more explosive combustion in said exhaust, which begets a more exhilarating sound-track!

Letting the automatic do it alone turns the volume way down because all downshifts in that mode are a much closer match.

In addition, flipping the console selector to "dynamic mode" changes the throttle mapping to a more aggressive setting, which also causes the ECU to inject more fuel during the process of deceleration.

 

I have my paddles disabled in non-dynamic mode, but I always turn on dynamic mode anyway.

 

A real good example of how the AT along with its modern day brains have taken over some of the joys of driving. Just think how exhilarating it would will be to personally have full control over the above processes (your feet provide the shift mapping). I can only imagine what that car will sound like with double clutching on the downshift.


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