I am looking forward to test driving one to form my own opinion. For now I took away this:

Can't wait to see what they do with the SVR.

 

Interesting and conflicting reports on the manual trans...

The Motortrend guys says "it hit me that I'd held this particular stick before. But where? Then, on a quick 3-2 downshift where I missed second and the lever wound up banging against a dead spot I call a "ghost detent," it hit me. This is the same plug-n-play ZF unit used by BMW for the 335i. Ropey, rubbery, but mostly old-feeling, this particular manual is out of step with the otherwise contemporary Jaguar. The shifter's fine, and that's about the nicest thing I can say about it."

The Autoweek guy says "The manual gearbox is shared with the XE sedan, features semi-dry-sump lubrication and a 45-mm throw, and has closer ratios to suit the F-Type’s sportier brief. The press material also draws attention to the development time lavished on shift lever mounting bushings and the rod linkage in the search for driver-pleasing tactility....

....there’s a stickiness when you pull or push the lever over the neutral threshold, and the throw could be shorter."

So is it the same box as the BMW which is ropey? or have the ratio's and the shifter been tweaked to make it sticky?

I highly doubt that the ratio's have been changed. ZF doesn't do that, for anyone...

 

I get the feeling these reviewers have spent so much time driving automatics and ersatz manuals (dual-clutch) that they don't remember (or ever even knew) what a good gearbox feels like. We will just need to wait and individually assess how it feels to each of us. I personally prefer the notchy indent feel between gears on my Gen 1 MINI, but hate the spongy/slipery smooth shift on my wife's Gen 2 MINI which she prefers.
As far as the F-Type MT: It is what it is (at least for now).

 

I'm looking forward to driving the manual myself. After reading 40+ years of car reviewer drivel, I don't pay much attention to them, and they are usually all over the map.

 

All makes for interesting reading - and, I, like others take other people's opinions with a certain grain of salt - and, sure it will be (would be) interesting driving the new variations.

Having said that, I am 100% thrilled - even living in the snowbelt - with my 2015 RWD Automatic V6S and have no intentions of "upgrading" which, to some, might actually be a "downgrade".

To each his/her own.

 

If my car's engine does sound like marbles-in-a-blender inside the cabin, I have to say I like it.

"Does it Blend?" Yes...

 

Now that you've reminded me, that comment has been placed on my top-10 list of stupid car reviewer comments.

 

The most significant statement in the Motor trend article is in the comments below the article, " the F type is the only car the female layers look at in a garage full of Bentleys, Ferrari's, etc......."

 

2016 Jaguar F-type Manual and AWD First Drive ? Review ? Car and Driver

 

Now, that C&D review has some credibility with me, unlike the Autoweek gibberish.

 

Nothing really new here: Jaguar is making subtle changes to the 2016 F-Type - Business Insider

 

More of a fact sheet than a review, really. Any of us could have written that.

 

One more review: 2016 Jaguar F-Type AWD and Manual Review

 

"on those few occasions when retiree owners use more than half-throttle in the wet"

What a dumb comment!

But it sums up the image problem that Jag needs to abolish. Getting in to motorsport would help.

 

That comment is simply ignorant.

It belies the snarky elitism that a lot of senior automotive journalists possess. Annoying.

Jaguar has slowly progressed in reducing the average age of their demographic....but this is a call to action!!! Go out and tell people about how this is the NEW Jaguar, and that their cars are just as well built as the German competition.

Point out the design details, the history, the fusion of cutting edge design with conservative British sensibility....point out the performance and value....

If you are passionate, that will be infectious and raise awareness....we are ambassadors..... We are defenders of the faith....

 

Perhaps he meant that he wet himself when he used more than half throttle?