Gents, I have a F-Type S (V8) and often I step on the gas from a standstill or at a low speed the back end slips just a little bit before stabilizing and allowing the car to move forward. My tires are regular street tires (not anything exceptionally sticky). Traction control is default on. Dry and wet roads. Whenever this happens I back off the gas out of fear of losing control, or worse.

Presumably Jag could program the cars NOT to do this.. ie, when you hit the gas the car throttles the throttle allowing for a smooth yet powerful acceleration. Yet it happens to me quite frequently. So my question is: does the ECU allow a little fishtail for fun, and is this safe? Do you guys just "go with it" and assume the car will straighten out?

I previously owned a few 911s including a turbo and given the rear engine design the cars would never slip/slide/fishtail... just go. I know Jag tries to make the backend of the F-type heavier by putting the battery there, etc..

 

They have - it's called snow/ice/rain mode.

 

Or simply normal mode rather than dynamic. If you have the OEM Pirellis, many of us have moved on to Michelins.

Weight distribution is close to 50/50, I think.

 

I think a lot of us bought the car because it DOES do this

that said, PSS or PS4s tires will make a big difference

 

^^^ i was thinking this exact same thing! The P-Zero's do lack in traction sometimes, but its a 500hp RWD....Try the PS4's (they are a better tire) but you can still wax those from a stop also with too much skinny pedal.

 

I suspect that Jag was assuming that you had at least some nominal control over your right foot. Not even my 450hp V6 will behave itself under a planted foot launch despite the MP4S tires and all the normal nannies deployed.

 

Control sure.. I can soft accelerate but it would be nice to have the car do a 100% efficient launch rather than me guessing where it should be. After all its an automatic tranny! I suppose this is why the V8 doesn't have a launch control like the V6 which basically goes full gas. Maybe there should be? I'll try the snow/ice mode as described above for my launches (shedding a tear).

 

What the heck is that?

 

You post is very cringe-worthy and I had hard time not to deservingly flaming you for this.

 

An automatic tranny is a cyborg transsexual person. Keep up with times old man.

 

The car has no way of knowing you will fishtail until you fishtail.
Same as anti-lock brakes.

The reason you are losing grip initially is without doubt the compound in your tries drying out, i.e they are getting old.

my 510hp V8R does not do this, until the tires get old.

 

Jaguar engineered three "fixes" to your problem.
- Cripple the V8S by putting it in snow mode.
- Get a 4-banger F-Type.
- Get an AWD F-Type (not really fair to compare with the 911 Turbo, otherwise)

The suggestion for Michelins is good advice, but won't solve the basic dynamics of putting that much HP in a RWD car.

Or, you could get a Hellcat and you'd forget your question.

 

I think pretty much every one with a V8 has had this "problem" at first. The trick is to learn to roll on the gas instead of just standing on it.

I love the ability to hang the tail out - one of the reasons I bought the car.

 

I"m old; I hate all the nannies and usually drive with TC disabled......yes, you need to know how much throttle to apply before the tires lose traction - especially in a corner. Developing that skill is part of the fun to me.

Dave

 

I have a loaded gun.
I pull the trigger.
I am pissed the gun fires the bullet?
The car is actually very smooth when the pedal is pressed gradually.
The car spins when you MASH the throttle and yes, you will spin the wheels, the car has 495hp...

 

I thought this was a windup!