It's kind of ironic that, last night, I was contemplating posting a thread about how I was having a hard time getting used to my F-Type and here I am today feeling in love. Last night I was wanting to blame my doubts on a feeling of the vehicle's "bigness," maybe slightly dull driving dynamics, or the set-back driving position behind that long bonnet... or was it just me? I didn't know how to phrase it right because I didn't know what was going on, so I didn't post anything. And good thing, because today was the first legitimately warm day since I got it about a month ago, so I had the windows down and-- bam!-- I was connecting with the car in a way I hadn't yet! I didn't drive but just around town, but it really started talking to me and began hitting the turns a little harder and pushing the car harder. I just felt really comfy.

So, I'm hoping today was a breakthrough day for me, and from here on out, I'll only feel increasingly confident in what is obviously a very competent car. It's still definitely feeling more GT than Sports, which makes me think a little more than the 380hp it has would be welcome, just to up the shove without having to get so deep in the throttle. With the more aggressive driving, I also became aware of the traction control intrusion on driving dynamics, and so may want to give it a go in TracDSC or whatever it's called, and see how that feels, or maybe even turn it off sometime. I'd like to have a sense of the natural limits and handling behavior at those limits.

The F definitely has less direct, slower turning feel than my '19 Alfa Giulia Q4 while feeling much bigger and more solid than the '88 and '89 Porsche 928 S4s I had for many years, so I needed some recalibration for sure. I also bought the F without ever having driven one before this one landed in my garage, and honestly, I can't recall even ever having seen one in the flesh, either, so I got into this car with really zero experience and zero reality-based expectations, which I think let a seed of worry plant in the back of my brain; had I fallen for the hype and the F just really isn't that great? Well today I feel like that little seedling turned to dust and blew away!

I'm thinking I might even drive it to work tomorrow, just because I had so much fun today!

Hi, I'm Chaadster, and I'm an F-Type fan!

 

There's no hype about the F-Type -it's all true!
Glad you're enjoying it.

 

I recall reading shortly after I bought mine in December 23 "wait until the roads dry up and you'll be the happiest driver on the road". And indeed that's been the case. Now that the days are longer, there's no better feeling than taking the longer way back home after a busy day in the office and driving the F-type on curvy and mostly empty roads.

 

Bet brakes aren't as grabby as the Alpha!

 

Welcome to the club. I had the exact same feeling when I bought my F-Type. I came from a Genesis G70 3.3T - that's a great car with great driving dynamics, power and features. Now the F-Type is of course another level but dynamically the G70 felt lighter on it's feet and somehow more direct. I think it's simply because it's a newer platform and likely the same with the Gulia. (Side note: My decision was between the F-Type and Guilia QV) - What I've found is that the limits of the F-Type are higher and to experience that dynamic feeling and prowess, I needed to push the car further than I did the G70. I also found the V8 more laid back but if you hit it hard, the car really moves. (Mine is the P450). I LOVE the looks and sound of the F-Type and it gets mega attention. I just found I was treating it with too much caution and needed to unleash the cat to enjoy it properly.

 

That may be true, but I've been driving Alfas since 2017, so I'm pretty inured to any sensation of grabbiness. But yeah, probably the Alfa brakes are more touchy.

 

For me, I bought my 2024 R without driving one first. I’ve never looked back. Not once did I have a thought that I made a wrong choice. This car was made for me. I’m in heaven. End of story ;-o

Honestly, it’s as close to a perfect car for me as I can think of (in my reach). I considered several different options, but this was the one that ticked the most boxes and made the most sense to me (all things considered).

The only other 2 near my price bracket that I was looking at reasonably seriously was the LC500 and Carerra S. The LC just didn’t have the vibe I wanted in the end, or the performance. Porsche as a company is sorta getting on my nerves. That had a lot to do with why I didn’t bother, but the 911 Carerra S also just did not ring my bell the same way as the F-Type R either.

 

Oh, that's good to hear! I really was wondering if it was me or the car; I guess a bit of both. I will say that I've had a lot of cars and driven a lot more, and the F is one of the most particular I can recall in a long time. It just has it's own unique dynamic...in my experience.

My biz partner and I used to have a '17 Giulia QV as a company car, and I drove it quite a bit. Those things are absolutely unreal, and perhaps the best driving sports sedan of the modern era and because of where we are in history, the *last* and best driving sports sedan. I seriously thought about getting one instead of the F-Type-- we sold the QV back in '19, and sold the company in '20-- but having a Giulia as a DD and having experience driving the QV, it just didn't make as much sense as trying something new. I did wind up bringing the Giulia (my second, BTW) to work today and was thinking how sweet a piece of kit it is...

I totally agree with the speed/aggressiveness needed to bring out the best in the F. I really need to get a radar detector/laser "shifter" system in the car ASAP, but I've been dragging my feet due to the high cost, $4k+, of needing a remote system due to my car having a signal-blocking athermic windscreen. Ugh.

 

Make sure you review and setup the dynamic settings on the second screen. Out of the box on mine the Dynamic screen defaulted personal settings, rather than factory, and the personal settings are all set to comfort for whatever insane reason. Meaning the only thing your dynamic button is doing is opening valves and turning the lights red. You’re missing out if you haven’t confirmed these are set to your preferences (aka all dynamic).

congrats on connecting with the car!

 

Can you explain more what you mean?

 

uh oh, I hope that’s not the case, because my R-Dynamic does not have the settings screen, which incomprehensibly, was optional! I had no idea about that until after I bought it and started looking for the settings. Oh well, I’ve had those features on other cars and never fuss with them really, so I suppose I’ll live.

It does have the adjustable dampers—I can see the wire coming out the top mount— and it behaves like an LSD when coming out of corners, so it’s got the “basic” R-Dynamic stuff and I can only hope everything is getting “sprt adjustment” when in Dynamic.

I’ve not yet driven the car in anything but Dynamic, so I can’t comment on how it compares to regular drive mode.

 

I guess I’m thinking about the feeling of bigness and solidity, and the attendant inertia. I also feel like I’m steering a great distance behind the car’s pivot point, like when I dial in steering wheel input, the car seems to swing its nose a bit before it feels like I’m sitting on the pivot. Slow steering is what its called, I think. It’s not Alfa quick, and reminds more, in a way, of my old ‘86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, which was a car I really grew to love, bit was the most peculiar to learn to drive well.

I expected the F-Type to feel like a Porsche 928, but it does not. The 928 feels more lively at low speeds and gains composure the more you push it. The F works the opposite, requiring speed to awaken it. Maybe that’s just the effect of +30 years worth of car tech, but nonetheless it’s palpable.

 

Yeah older cars like the 928 are lighter, our cars are heavy (but safer, with more bells and whistles). Especially early 928s. Every car will feel different, you will get used to it - and if you are in to modding, go with some lighter forged rims, maybe lighter brakes rotors. Rims alone you can usually shave 40-50 lbs unsprung, will make the car feel much more lively. That, plus check tire pressures and maybe a slightly more aggressive alignment.

 

The latest iteration of the F-type (>= MY2021) is supposed to be noticeably improved for both handling and steering feel. Not that this would necessarily make it feel like a feather weight ;-0, but I would be curious to back-to-back compare the 2. I have seen direct comments by some of the more serious reviewers that the improvements are very noticeable…

 

I installed a Uniden radar/laser detector in my P450, first by suction cups that would not mount high enough to receive signals thru the attenuated glass; of course it did not work at all in the forwared direction. Not wanting to give up I hit upon the idea of mounting it on the passenger side sun visor with rubber bands and zip ties and that brings the height up enough to receive signals thru the area that is basically designed for E-ZPass toll collectors as I understand. Problem solved--at least for me.

 

The "insane reason" was probably when the first "quietening" software update was done - it did that to mine. It pays to check your settings whenever it goes into a dealer.

 

Just making sure you didn't overlook it--the setting screen is only available when the car is in Dynamic Mode. When you put it in Dynamic Mode you should see helmet icon as the far right bottom button choice (on the 10" screen) and pressing that brings you into the screen that gives you the options.