Long time lurker, just signed up. I am seriously considering ordering a new 2021 F type and have some questions and welcome opinions. My intention is to build an F Type in true Grand Turisimo form. I won't be tracking the car and it will just be a weekend driver or one to take up the California coast for short vacations. Here is what I am thinking so far:

2021 JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE F-TYPE R-DYNAMICP380 AWD AUTOMATIC
EXTERIOR: British Racing Green, 20" Style 5060, 5 spoke, Gloss Silver Finish wheels, Red brake calipers with 380mm front and 325mm rear brakes and Body-colored roof. I don't care for the panoramic roof
INTERIOR: Tan Windsor leather Performance seats with Tan/Tan interior and Interior Luxury Pack Plus
For options I don't need the dual zone Climate Pack and don't know that I will want to spring for the Meridan Surround Sound. I do like the keyless entry and powered tailgate, Homelink system plus configurable dynamics.

My questions:
Is the 380 HP Supercharged engine a good performer ? Of course I would like to see it be around 425 HP with rear wheel drive only and a six speed manual but don't know that I would really use the power of the 575 HP V8.
Are the optional 380mm front and 376mm rear brakes necessary if I would not be tracking the car ?

Thanks

 

Yes. Also, you can get the VAP tune to bump up the power:

https://www.velocityap.com/product/3...26-ecu-tuning/

Yes. Even if you don't plan to track the car, that option will immensely assist in resale value when/if you decided to change vehicles.

 

Well, define optional in context of "should I buy an F-type" conversation. Nobody needs larger and better calipers on F-type in the same way nobody needs an F-type. It is nice to have. If you have the means, I highly recommend both.

 

Make sure you understand downsides of tuning, such as voided warranty.

 

I would get the v8 straight up rather then get the v6 and add the tune later at extra cost.
But that's just me.

 

Tuning in itself doesn't void a warranty directly. However, if it's deemed the tuned caused a warranty issue, then your claim can be denied. This has been proven in the US court system already (at least in the USA). Canada may be different.

 

I wouldnt bother with the configurable dynamics. There is barely anything to configure, the only benefit is that you can have it in dynamic mode without stiffer suspension. I felt like I was missing out not having it in the F Type so optioned it in the XE and was mightily disappointed.

With wheels personally I would get it with the cheapest 19's and then replace them with forged 20's or 21's immediately. It makes a huge difference.

The 380hp is a good performer. The p400 is noticeably better. With a pulley and tune at 450hp it is a different car, though I probably wouldnt do that until the warranty was running down.

 

I just did a couple of trial builds on the Jaguar website. If I compared both the V6 and V8 models, similarly optioned out there is about a $20K difference in price, ~ $94K vs $114k. If it were closer to $10k for the V8 upgrades maybe I would consider it. We'll see just how flush I am feeling when it is time to pull the trigger.

I live in the mountains and think if I ever put my foot into it with the V8 I'd likely go off a cliff like the end scene of Thelma & Louise. My last sports car was a Nissan 370Z with 337 HP and it seemed plenty powerful but like a typical motorhead I always thought that another 50 HP or so would have been fun. What I want now, at age 65 is a comfortable tourer with some luxury appointments but still enough under the hood that if I want to get onto the freeway and put a smile on my face when I put the hammer down, the car will satisfy.

 

Go drive one and you'll know if 380hp is enough for you. It's a pretty heavy car but I actually enjoy that things aren't immediately illegal when I'm just trying to have a fun drive.
Get the bigger brakes if only to fill out the wheels. Small rotors behind 20" wheels look comical.

 

Spec looks spot on. Definitely spring for the big brakes.

The world needs more BRG F types. Go for it!

 

I guess I'll have to go and drive one of the V6 models and see if it feels sufficiently powerful. I see what you guys mean about the bigger brakes, which are standard on the V8 model along with the red caliper option which I like.
Forged wheels are about a $5 K option. That seems like a lot of money. Are they that much lighter than the alloy wheels ? I like the looks of the 20" alloy wheels, style #5060 which are only a $500 option on the V6 model or $1520 extra if I also include the larger brakes and red calipers with the wheels.

I have owned several sports car and sport coupes in a silver metallic finish. But when it comes to a Jaguar, the only color for me has to be BRG.

 

On the v6 putting aftermarket forged wheels on with michelin rubber was the biggest single improvement I've ever made to a car. The handling is massively improved and the car feels heaps lighter particularly on quick direction changes. I'd do that before fiddling with the engine tune, and I say that having done both.

The Jag wheels are very heavy, the forged are much lighter. Not sure what the OEM forged ones are like though, I think you can only get them on the SVR but I'm not sure.

BRG is quite a lovely colour. Personally I like it with the black pack and black wheels, though I think a lot of people prefer it with the silver trim and wheels. Looks great either way.

 

Are the optional 380mm front and 376mm rear brakes necessary if I would not be tracking the car ?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

I have them in my AWD S and wouldn't get another F-Type will smaller brakes. If I could I would get the ceramics. Def get the 376mm. It helps resale and a lot better stopping power, especially with some high temp fluid and Porterfield Pads.

 

If you live in the mountains you will appreciate larger calipers and lighter V6 upfront. V8 has unquestionably more power, but V6 is more balanced and easier to turn.

 

While It is still lighter, With the AWD the difference in front end feel/weight isn't nearly as much as coming from a rwd V6. The AWD has definitely made the F-type quit a porker. But even more reason to go for the larger disks, more stopping power never hurt anyone. I think best power to weight Ratio is the RWD 15 R, and the lightest being a base manual v6.

 

Unless you have more than the car that's following you too closely ...

 

If you apply tune then you will not get any warranty coverage for engine or transmission as any fault will be blamed on tune.

 

Dwight,

I recently purchased a 2021 BRG which happens to mirror the one you describe in your opening thread. It is the R model with 575 HP which comes with some of the extras being discussed. Your concern/question regarding the "too much power..." on mountain roads while valid should not deter that decision. We travel on highway 50 between our homes in Northern California and the Lake Tahoe area regularly, which are windy and have cliffs. I've made that trip in three different F Types; a 6 cyl 380 HP, 8 cyl 550 HP and now the 575 HP. The current 2021 is equipped with the newer suspension and wider tires which make the handling noticeably better than my previous two. As a practical matter, the 380 HP is more than enough and I came close to purchasing one. In retrospect, I am very glad that I went for the R as I will have this car for at least three years and enjoy the available power and originally equipped extras.

Bottom line, no way will you go wrong with either decision!

 

We’ve been running these VAP tunes for close to five years now. Have any of these cars been denied warranty work on the basis of one of these tunes?

 

There is no such thing as too much power to control a vehicle. The primary reasons for losing control in the twisties is either poor throttle mapping, the loose nut behind the wheel or both.