Although this isn't my first post on the forum and even though I've had the misfortune of running a whole "trouble thread" which the forum helped me manage and sort, it's high time I made a proper intro now that I've had my '19 R-Dynamic almost 2 full days!

First, though, lemme reiterate my gratitude to everyone on the forum. I first came here looking for insight and inspiration, both of which I found in abundance and which helped power my fascination with the F-Type. So many posts and threads here really reassured me that these cars-- which I'd never even seen "in the flesh" until yesterday!-- were very much worth driving and owning. Going back to the heyday of the XKR, I used to think that was the car I'd replace my Porsche 928 with when the time came. Well, when the time came, it was the even more gorgeous F-Type that won my heart.

I watched the F-Type market for about 8 months, learning as much as I could here and across the internet, so when this MY19.5 P380 R-Dynamic coupe RWD with 42k landed in my search window, I knew it was prime game. I was nonetheless reluctant to both buy a car sight-unseen and off a Toyota dealer lot, but too many positive factors aligned to ignore it. It was a car with all the most important-to-me spec, notably the 380hp, the R-Dynamic trim level for the LSD and adaptive dynamics, exterior black package, and the 2nd gen tech spec and facelift. The Carpathian Grey was the only thing I wasn't crazy about, but I didn't want to sit around waiting for something which might not ever come on market at a price I could afford, so I decided to move on it.

I'd used an inspection service called Car Advisors on another F-Type I was looking at, and got absolutely sterling service from them. However, they were not operating in Franklin, TN, outside Nashville, where this car was located, so I employed a service called Lemon Squad. Well, something is better than nothing, but I was not at all impressed with what a Lemon Squad inspection provided. I was, however, satisfied enough to think the risk was low enough, so here we are. I had the car shipped up to MI in an enclosed trailer brokered by an outfit called ATS, which took only two days and went without the figurative hitch.

So the car... It's a MY19.5 P380 R-Dynamic coupe RWD. It appears to have most every option other than Climate Pack 2, the one that provides heated/cooled seats and dual zone climate control. No biggies for me, though, as this is only a fair weather fun car for me, not a daily driver. As I mentioned, it's Carpathian Grey over Pimiento red and Ebony. It has my favorite wheels, the diamond turned dark Gyrodyne 20". It's stock insofar as I can tell, and in very good condition throughout. I was happy that it had tinted windows, and very pleasantly surprised to see that it has clear PPF on the front fascia, forward hood, and mirrors. CarFax shows it was a one owner car.

The only issues are a cracked valance just above the tailpipe outlet, and relatedly I think, a backup camera that's not properly located in its bumper hole. The camera works, but the view is slightly "vignetted" because it's not flush with the bumper face as it should be. Hopefully I can correct both those things in short order. I also noticed I can't seem to find the Dynamic setting page where I should be able to adjust the dampers, steering feel, and stuff like that. I'm not sure why that is. Other than those things, the car seems perfect and I've no complaints at all!

I had a small crisis the day I took delivery in that I had a misfire problem after the initial drive and after a washing. It seems to have been a low battery problem; after charging overnight, it drove around all day today perfectly.

I have no plans to mod the car beyond adding an Escort remote radar (and if I can afford it, laser) system and probably a Velocity AP ECU tune to get the power up to just beyond 400hp and the concomitant torque increase.

I think that's about it for now, and before closing with pictures I'll just say that I look forward to contributing to the forum!

 

Odds on it doesn't have i-Dynamic activated, my V6S came that way as well as it's an added cost option even on the S and R-dynamic.
A JRL dealership could in theory activate it (turn it on) but they flat out won't.
It involves a simple software tweak to the Car Configuration File (CCF) using the JLR proprietary software.
In my case with an older F-Type that was the old system called SDD (System Driven Diagnostics) but in your case you have the newer system called Pathfinder.
I had mine tweaked and i-Dynamic turned on by Cambo (on here) a few years ago as he has all the necessary SDD equipment and know-how, but in your case you would need to find an independent JLR specialist who has the Pathfinder gear, not an easy find.
That said I rarely if ever use the i-Dynamic system, I played with it a little at the start then once I found my preferred settings - Dynamic for throttle response, gearbox and steering and Normal for suspension - I have simply left it locked to those settings and never bothered to change them.

Edit - I can also see that you have the smaller 326 mm rear brakes, ie the "High Performance" braking package, which was standard on both the S and R-Dynamic.
Mine was the same but I DIY upgraded the rear brakes to the bigger 376 mm jobbies a few years ago.
It was a fairly simple and straightforward and not particularly expensive job especially seeing as I already had a set of the larger rotors laying around.
The only parts you need are the rotors, calipers (and brackets), brake pads and splash shields. Brake lines etc stay the same and it's simply "plug and play".
Not much improvement in braking performance, I did it mainly for looks as the stock 326 mm rotors look weeny inside 20" rims.

 

Do me a favor. Stop by Lewis Jewelers and ask DK if he wants to go for a ride. Tell him Rob sent you. He’s been wanting a Cayman and talking to me about it all winter. I kept telling him The Jag was a better choice but wasn’t willing to drive 8 hours back home to prove it. He’s now convinced the idea of a Cayman is probably better than the actual ownership of a Cayman and is thinking newer Miata. 😑


When I was living in A2 we both owned 95.5 S6’s. Both chipped but different chips. He found a Mustang 4 wheel dyno in Toledo and we ran them because they felt so different. Proved he had more torque and I had more HP which was what our butt dyno’s suggested.

 

Thanks for the insights! Regarding the i-Dynamic, it’s funny how Jag have so, so many options on these! It must be a real pain-in-the-*** build-spec’ing one new; I have long been perplexed by the scarcity of options like the extended leather wrapping the center console and red headliner, but I can imagine at some point it starts to feel like getting “nickel and dimed,” especially when you’re already in for nearly 100 large on the 6cyl.

I wouldn’t have guessed i-Dynamic was optional on R-Dynamic; that’s a surprise! However, I like that better than harboring the fear, as I was, that some backyard mechanic installed the wrong software on the car after some kind of catastrophe!

I guess I can live without i-Dynamic; like you, I probably wouldn’t use it much anyway. My Alfa Giulia has adjustable dampers in Dynamic mode and I scarcely touch ‘em.

The brakes probably won’t happen either. A $6k bill for the Escort remote radar/laser system is gonna tap me out on this car!

 

Have ya told the wife yet? ;-0

Welcome aboard, and congrats on the new ride!

 

Sure, I’ll stop in on DK and let him take it for a spin! Maybe it’ll curry some favor on Breitling pricing!

As a longtime “Audi fan” myself— I’ve had 5kCSTQ, 3Ln/a and 2.7L biturbo A6, and 4.2L A8L, all Quattro— I agree the F is a better choice than Cayman, a car which does have its charms, though.

 

She was a little irked when I pulled up out of nowhere in it, but later admitted she was impressed with it before she knew it was me! Ouch, but also 😁! Maybe that explains why, when it was sitting in the garage on Day 1, broken, she didn’t freak out. I’ll take her to dinner at a place with valet; around here, the F is a shoe-in for front row parking!

 

Congrats on the new Jag. I followed your earlier wash troubles. Got my R 12mo ago and my wife didn't know I was searching until the day I said "we are going to look at buying a Jag" and got it that afternoon.
Like your's mine is red interior. Wife says it looks like a bordello, but I love it. She does not like to drive it, says the 575hp intimidates her (and she drives a C7 Corvette manual stick)
My son-in-law liked mine so much 3 weeks after getting mine he got a 2021 V6 very similar to your's in Georgia
My stable and my son-in-laws

 

Thanks so much! If I could have swung, financially, an R in silver like yours, I would have, but alas... I love the F in Rhodium Silver above all else, followed by whites, so the Carpathian was a real compromise for me. I'm sure it'll grow on me...if it doesn't, I guess I have to go shopping for a silver R!

I love the bright, athletic look of the 5-spokes on your SIL's car, and have a similar story with my FIL, only in reverse. When I purchased my 928, he was really excited; he was a dyed-in-the-wool car guy, so to land a car-loving SIL was great for him! Shortly thereafter, my wife and I took off to Europe to an extended vacation and I left the Porsche with him, which led to him buying one after we got back! We enjoyed the shared hobby together, with car club and all that, for many years, and produced lots of fond memories. I hope you and SIL enjoy the same!

I've currently got a '76 Fiat 124 in the garage, too!



And yes, I'm getting ready for spring cleanup! Ignore the rug in the back seat... 🙃

 

The R-Dynamic badge on the side vent is a previous owner added extra badge. If you like it, keep it. **Edit: I was wrong. That is how it comes from the factory for the R-Dynamic

The color combo really works. Great looking spec!

 

What do you mean? It looks typical OE to me. Or are you just saying it is one of myriad factory options?

 

Ha! I used to have one and also helped a friend fixing his as well... Beautiful car. Love that Pininfarina design.








Well, I really had three... one parts car




and one shell a friend gave me... but all are gone now...

 

That is a fantastic 124. Not many Fiat lovers out there. I had two. Fully restored 1975 I should have kept, but got laid off and needed cash.
My before and after 1975.

 

Turns out I was wrong. I've seen people pop S and R badges on the side, which Jaguar never did, but apparently, they did place that R-Dynamic badge on the side vent at the factory. I was today years old when I learned that.

 

Mine's a '76 that's all original, except for the carpets, which I switched out a couple of years ago. Well, it also has a Sprint sport cam that my FIL put in very long ago; he bought it new, and it came to me through my wife. Great fun to drive in that old school, bare-bones, kinda rickety way! We just use it for short trips around town, and infrequently at that; neither my wife nor I are convertible people. My favorite top-down time is fall, when I can zip up the collar, tuck down the hat, and enjoy the sunshine in cool air.

 

all original '76 and no rust in Mich. !!!!
My first 124 was a 1975 I bought new and it started rusting around the rear fenders in 12 mo. I drove it daily for 5yr.
The one I restored, another 1975, I bought 10yr later and it was turning to dust. Replaced with fiberglass front fenders and bottom side skirts.

 

Yeah, I know that's remarkable for a Fiat of that vintage to be rust free, but it was always just a "fair weather fun car," garage kept, too, so it scarcely even got wet!

 

@wachuko I like the wheels on the red shell car; very '80s memories!

 

Not sure about the F you bought, but on my 2017 there is a setting via the touchscreen to enable valet mode. Here's a link to the 2019 online manual:

https://www.ownerinfo.jaguar.com/mod...cument/1391850

Valet mode allows the car to be driven, but protects it from crazies.

Congrats on the car, hope all works out! Good thing you have the garage space!

 

Thanks, and yes, mine also has Valet mode. I'll probably need it less for valets than for my 19 year old daughter!