Well, this is still very much an option. It's actually my back up plan. But I better hurry up. With the hideous new F-type just launched, the old and MUCH more beautiful shape once sold out is gone forever. Let alone finding a new V6 manual.

They ruined the F-type which now looks like a wannabe Audi, like the rest of Jag's current line up.

 

My X150 is a coupe unlike my X100.
hbn

 

Let's wait and see if the 2022 F-Type actually will be the mid-engine hybrid that so many people have speculated. Of course that will probably be a Dual Clutch auto anyway.
Manuals, while fun, are archaic technology that is slower, less efficient and dirtier than the modern auto equivalents.

 

Most of the damage was done to the front end...what were they thinking...hopefully the mid engine replacement gets it right.

 

Well, I honestly couldn't care less if autos are faster and more efficient. They are a bore to drive in my opinion. Especially if I'm talking about a sports car.

 

Is anybody really excited for a rear mid engine F type? I honestly hope it's still a a front engine RWD 2 seater. Like the Corvette C8. A wannabe, poor man's Ferrari. No thanks! Especially that this will give them the excuse to raise the price of the F-type even more. Let them make a supercar with mid engine. Keep the still affordable sports car in the classic coupe layout.

 

Oh man. What a 180 degrees turn of events.

So you were comparing a convertible one generation older to a coupe almost 10 years younger. Now your handling complains start making more sense. What an apples to orange comparison.

 

I am anxious to see it if it happens. With the engine behind it's quite fun. There are more Jaguar dealers than Lotus and McLaren combined, so it could be an easier ownership experience.

 

MikeV8,
I compared them because that's what I have. Of course, coupes are going to be tighter than convertibles, especially on a new, better developed chassis with more modern suspension pieces, but the X100 convertible's handling at speed is so poor in comparison to even an X150 convertible that it's hard to imagine the X100 coupe being "light years" better.

 

I think you will be much better off by choosing an existing make with a manual transmission and increasing the HP. Your money will be much better spent upgrading something that is already engineered.

 

What could be in the US is import an mid 90's MB 300SL manual. Plaid seats and all. Would be age exempt. Check on autoscout24

 

I just ran across this thread. From a mechanical perspective installing a manual transmission in either a 4.2L X-100 or X150 would be a straight forward conversion. I have a very-very very slow project going to install a TR-6060 into one of my 03 or 04 STRs. I have a flywheel design, and adapter plate for the transmission designed. You could use an AM flywheel and clutch with a custom clutch plate, but I found it less expensive to fabircate a custom flywheel rather than pay the exorbidant price sellers want for an AM flywheel/clutch.

The most challenging part will be spoofing the ECM to ignore shift point and torque outputs from the transmission (transmission delete). (This is where Cambo and/or Thermo probably have the most experience regarding these vehicles CAN systems.) I think that Andrew at Jaguar Specialties might be able to provide input regarding the ECM messages between the trans and ECM/BCM on the earlier X100s
The X150s with 4.2Ls have a next generation CAN system, that is easier to tune, but has been hacked less than the earlier XK8/Rs

Here is a quick list of parts and price ranges for what you will need. Labor is the real biggy here and Cambo probably quoted $10K in material and $10K in labor. If he runs into some real electrical problems, he could burn through $10K in labor really fast.
Item Cost USD Low High
Flywheel - AM or Custom Aluminum 500.00 1,000.00

Clutch assembly 400.00 1,200.00

Clutch actuator 200.00 200.00

Clutch master cylinder 50.00 200.00

Clutch pedal assembly 100.00 300.00

Custom Drive shaft* 400.00 1,200.00

* Get rid of donuts and use standard CV style

*Can mean different trans output shaft and Diff input shaft.

Material cost estimate $4,250.00 $10,600.00

 

Sure. But convertibles of any kind are not really performers. With the exception of something like a Portofino etc. Judging by your low marks to your X100 convertible and my experience of driving X100 coupes, I would say if the difference is not light years better towards the coupe is very close.

Like I said, the coupe got good marks when it was released. Got compliments over the DB7 and even BMWs of the same class if I remember correct. You can still find the videos and articles online. Of course a brand new sports coupe will probably handle much better. But I would never say a X100 coupe is a lost case or would take a fortune to make it handle "properly".

 

I agree.

The question is what other option from an existing make with a manual transmission? I think we have spoken about pretty much all the options on this tread.

What other special, RWD, front engine, manual transission, swooping lines coupe with a large-ish engine in the "affordable" realm is there?

A Mustang, Camaro, Corvette etc are just not any special.

Neither will be anything Japanese. Unless we are talking about a Toyota 2000 etc. A Supra MKIV is a bit special but would never pay current prices for what it is. And impossible to find an unmolested example. 350Z, 370Z etc just not special at all. No sense of occasion whatsoever.

So the choice is hard.

Pretty much boils down to this:

Maserati 3200 GT or 4200 GT.
V8 Vantage
DB7 i6. (DB7 V12 GT is nice. But overpriced for what it is really).
F-Type V6 manual

That's pretty much it! And we have talked about all these options in detail and why I still prefer the X150 or X100.

Mercedes makes nothing with a manual which is interesting.

Porsche has no new front engine coupe.

BMW, even if I could stomach them, has nothing apart from maybe the Z4 coupe, which is uglier than a sin. Z3 coupe even worse.

VW no thanks (that includes Audi) and they make no RWD coupe anyways.

So what else is there unless I go really old like pre 1995? Even then, 944 is a 4 pot, 928 looks like a frog, XJS looks bad, V8 Vantage costs an arm and a leg for what is effectively early 70s tech. Mercedes still had nothing in manual and interesting back then. BMW ditto.

So if you have a suggestion, I'm all years.

 

But that's a convertible, not a coupe.

 

Some interesting info. Thanks!

I'm no electronics expert. But I keep thinking it can't be that hard if I'm willing to lose some of the electronics functions? I mean old school sports cars had none of them. The car needs the engine and gearbox to drive. I guess the mechanical side is straight forward.

I have asked this before in the thread and got no answer. But what if I ditch most of the superfluous electronics stuff? Do we really need CATS for example? Aren't there stand alone intakes/throttles etc? I wouldn't go as far as going with carburetors. But isn't there any stand alone aftermarket injection system? Or the problem here is passing emissions regulations?

I mean, the car needs an engine. The engine needs fuel. So it needs a fuel intake system. Needs an alternator to generate power. Water pump and all standard accessories. Then it needs a manual gearbox. We have a driving car. For extras, I only need AC, which any car can have and probably ABS and airbag for some safety. The rest of the electronics humpa-lupa I can do without! I couldn't care less if I have stability control and stuff like that. Traction control would be nice if I can turn it off. But it would be a problem, screw it!

What am I missing in my already fried by the situation brain?

 

I somewhat agree as the mechanical stuff is pretty straight forward . There would be a lot of searching for parts and the design and fabrication of some of them but it shouldn't be to much of a challenge. The part requiring the challenge is how the transmission talks to the rest of the on board electronics. What is required to delete the TCU and how would you talk to the rest of the car. Would it be a SW change or just some electrical wiring changes. This would be assuming you use the 4.2 or 5.0 engine as is. If you go with a non jaguar engine then you have a new can of worms to open. I'd like to see some do it.

 

What is your all-in budget on this vehicle? (i.e. the total cost you intend to spend for a completed car?)

 

How about this, ready to go = https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1984-jaguar-xjs-4/?

 

Stand alone engine management system, Motec, etc will solve the electronics issues. Maybe transplant a Vantage manual drive train? The 4.7 litre V8 is very similar to the Jag 4.2L AJV8.