Would you ever trade your XK for an F-Type?
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Carolinas
A shift from 6th to 2nd I'll double clutch that and save the synchros.
I now remember test driving a 924 Turbo.
The owner said not to go to first as it'd grind if you tried.
There was a look of bewilderment in his face when I dropped into first from a good rolling clip and was no grind.
I knew right then this was not a car to buy. Owner didn't know how to take care of it or drive it.
Things I noticed later, empty coolant tank. More comfirmation not to buy.
With my own 944 I would sometimes check how precise my rev matching was by not moving the clutch pedal at all when shifting.
Then I ended up owning two cars with two different gear ratios and that level of mental precision didn't hot swap.
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: North Texas
That state especially but any other as well. Something to always consider when making a change- guilty as charged here as well. If I can't decide, this will often reel me back to reality. How much is the swap or addition worth to you for some additional theft on the side? Unexpected 'expense' we forget about. Until it's too late!
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From: North Texas
Indeed. But hopefully not before the X100 gets its fair dues! It's about friggin' time, for good examples. Not that I'm biased...
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Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Clovis California
XKR
Don't get me wrong, I love my 2007 XK. I love the styling, the exhaust notes, the trunk, and even the back seats. Unfortunately, I do get tired of the brittle plastics, the rattles, the faded and tired navigation screens and all the other small things that make the car feel a little old and tired. Even my 2012 XF feels so much tighter, quieter, with materials that feel like a higher quality.
Has anyone thought about moving up to an F-Type? The 2014 examples could be had for around $30k.
This is a serious question and your opinions are welcome.
Thanks,
Ken
Has anyone thought about moving up to an F-Type? The 2014 examples could be had for around $30k.
This is a serious question and your opinions are welcome.
Thanks,
Ken
i love mine. Simply a better looking car.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 55
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From: Dearborn, MI
F-Type
I've come dangerously close to buying a manual F-Type a couple of times after recently selling my XF. I want something more engaging aside from the fact that it's drop dead gorgeous & can be shifted properly. I am now leaning toward a 981 Cayman S, however. I know, sacrilege, but I long for the feel of my mid-engined Lotus. The 981 being thoroughly modern, also lighter in weight, reliable, more practical & relatively affordable are bonuses. I've owned 3 Jaguars, never a Porsche.
Thoughts / experiences?
Thoughts / experiences?
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 422
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I've come dangerously close to buying a manual F-Type a couple of times after recently selling my XF. I want something more engaging aside from the fact that it's drop dead gorgeous & can be shifted properly. I am now leaning toward a 981 Cayman S, however. I know, sacrilege, but I long for the feel of my mid-engined Lotus. The 981 being thoroughly modern, also lighter in weight, reliable, more practical & relatively affordable are bonuses. I've owned 3 Jaguars, never a Porsche.
Thoughts / experiences?
Thoughts / experiences?
Then I think you should buy another Lotus. A while back I was considering a V8 Esprit and low mileage excellent condition ones were around 40k. The Evora S I drove certainly felt far more direct and nimble than a 911. A Porsche won't feel half as unique or special because they are everywhere. Plus with a Cayman you will always feel like you're driving a poor-mans 911. Styling is subjective but to me all German cars look bland and sterile/soulless. Germans reputation for being more reliable than other nations cars is not reality, at least for the past 20+ years. They are over-priced for what they are and spares prices are astronomical. I also don't like the image that driving a German car lends to it's owner, especially BMW or Porsche.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Carolinas
Question for those who have driven cars without synchromesh.
Say, you are reversing out of a parking spot and then go for a fowards gear.
How long do you spend with the clutch disengaged waiting for friction to slow the input shaft to match the stopped outputshaft enough to get into gear quietly?
Or just shut the engine off, put it into first, then restart?
Or is idle slow enough you can just force it hard without too much drama?
Say, you are reversing out of a parking spot and then go for a fowards gear.
How long do you spend with the clutch disengaged waiting for friction to slow the input shaft to match the stopped outputshaft enough to get into gear quietly?
Or just shut the engine off, put it into first, then restart?
Or is idle slow enough you can just force it hard without too much drama?
Last edited by Tervuren; Sep 25, 2020 at 09:42 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 103
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From: Spring Lake, MI, USA
If it was the right color and option combo, I'd trade in a second. Faster=better.
For your rattle problem; if part can be removed without catastrophic damage boil for 10 minutes, staring with cool water. This will bring back oxygen into the ABS polymer and return a significant amount of flexibility. Found thru Google search and was written by some plastics expert. Have done to some parts and it does work. Strange but true!
For your rattle problem; if part can be removed without catastrophic damage boil for 10 minutes, staring with cool water. This will bring back oxygen into the ABS polymer and return a significant amount of flexibility. Found thru Google search and was written by some plastics expert. Have done to some parts and it does work. Strange but true!
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 55
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From: Dearborn, MI
Standard 911 have become GT(s) & I have never considered one. Caymans have emerged as the light nimble Porsche sporting option, no longer a poor man's 911.
I remember a saying that Lotus owners trailered their cars to events whereas Porsche owners drove theirs. That was years back, maybe no longer true. Only that my XF broke 250 miles from the nearest dealer. Glad it was under warranty, still took 4 days out of our vacation.
I remember a saying that Lotus owners trailered their cars to events whereas Porsche owners drove theirs. That was years back, maybe no longer true. Only that my XF broke 250 miles from the nearest dealer. Glad it was under warranty, still took 4 days out of our vacation.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,116
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From: Atlanta suburbs
Question for those who have driven cars without synchromesh.
Say, you are reversing out of a parking spot and then go for a fowards gear.
How long do you spend with the clutch disengaged waiting for friction to slow the input shaft to match the stopped outputshaft enough to get into gear quietly?
Or just shut the engine off, put it into first, then restart?
Or is idle slow enough you can just force it hard without too much drama?
Say, you are reversing out of a parking spot and then go for a fowards gear.
How long do you spend with the clutch disengaged waiting for friction to slow the input shaft to match the stopped outputshaft enough to get into gear quietly?
Or just shut the engine off, put it into first, then restart?
Or is idle slow enough you can just force it hard without too much drama?
I also learned that it wasn't necessary to use the clutch at all. If I revved the engine while driving with the clutch engaged and applied light pressure on the shift knob until I got to the "magic" RPMs, I could feel where it would slip into gear and not make any grinding noise. Only problem with that is it took a lot longer than simply using the clutch pedal.
Last edited by Stuart S; Sep 25, 2020 at 02:37 PM. Reason: Added quote
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 758
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From: Seattle, WA
I've got a friend with a 1928 Bentley 3 Litre. No synchromesh there. You have to double clutch 1 to 2. If you're quick you can 'slam' 2 to 3 and 3 to 4. Owner says that's why they used to call it a crash box. The one thing I didn't figure out well is the 4 to 3 transition. You have to do it just right or you gotta start all over again. /lol
I also agree with the comments that the 911 is tending towards the GT end of the spectrum and the 718 line is picking up the sports car side. Is why we are eagerly awaiting the GTS4 we ordered to show up, despite having driven a 992 / 911. Although, and this may be heretical to the Porsche faithful, I do really like the new dash design in the 992s.
I also agree with the comments that the 911 is tending towards the GT end of the spectrum and the 718 line is picking up the sports car side. Is why we are eagerly awaiting the GTS4 we ordered to show up, despite having driven a 992 / 911. Although, and this may be heretical to the Porsche faithful, I do really like the new dash design in the 992s.
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From: Los Angeles
My 2010XKR now has approximately 180,000 miles on it. It still looks and drives almost like new, and it will "die" with me. Having driven the F-type V8S when it first came out, I loved the theatre of sound, the handling, the feel. I did not like the plasticky center console, the tightness, the miniscule trunk of the convertible that I drove. But, I love the look of the coupe, and wouldn't mind adding one in the future. The fact that a car doesn't have the most up-to-date navigation screen, or every nanny contraption. It always starts for me with aesthetics, I have to love what the car looks like first. The F-type is very nice, the X150 is exceptionally nice. For my sports car addiction, I just have to "suffer" driving my '72 Pantera for thrills, and now that my '68 Pontiac GTO is back from restoration, my driving life is complete.
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From: London
Land Rover cars getting really bad press on this side of the pond at moment and jaguars fairing just slightly better also tesla is second bottom to both , Not good news
I fear for the brand as in these troubled times people will avoid buying them and once again due to poor build quality and management the brand could go
I fear for the brand as in these troubled times people will avoid buying them and once again due to poor build quality and management the brand could go
Last edited by George05; Sep 25, 2020 at 06:16 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 48
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From: Brisbane
That's funny. When the Ftype first came out I sat in one at the dealer, and it struck me how plasticy it's interior was in comparison to my 2008 XKR (Portfolio).
The cubby doors between the seats especially surprised me. I wouldn't have expected anything that cheap in a Kia let alone a Jag.
Grumpy old man rant follows:
I agree the XKR nav is dated, but I don't care because I'll use my phone anyway. I still haven't seen any car's built-in nav system that's
as good or up-to-date as what comes on your phone for free. Heck in 2008 the XKR portfolio was the most expensive model in Jag's
entire range, but Jag stopped supporting my car's bluetooth updates when the car was only 3 years old (so the contacts screen
stays empty for any Android phone newer than about 2010, so now you can't make a call from the screen).
Just 2 years later Jag then stopped providing nav system updates for it.
Consequently I think us consumers are very much going the wrong way with car tech. Manufacturers are acting like of course
you want/need every faddy even ridiculous gadget in your car, but I for one much prefer cars with as little tech as possible.
Less expensive/irreplaceable stuff to go wrong, lower cost, less weight which directly translates to better performance and gas mileage.
I much prefer physical buttons and dials that you can find and use without having to take your eyes off the road, compared to
stepping through pages to find some button on an LCD screen, that will inevitably stop working when you can no longer
get replacements from Jag, so then the whole car becomes effectively useless.
Buying a classic car old enough to be pre-tech, just with a modern crate engine/trans swap keeps appealing more and more to me.
I reckon if any manufacturer made a fast, pretty car with minimal (only legally required) tech and no LCD screens, just a standard
stereo-sized slot like every car had before mid 90's, so anyone could easily fit whatever after-market tech they wanted,
they'd sell millions. At least I'd be first in line.
Now get off my lawn :-)
The cubby doors between the seats especially surprised me. I wouldn't have expected anything that cheap in a Kia let alone a Jag.
Grumpy old man rant follows:
I agree the XKR nav is dated, but I don't care because I'll use my phone anyway. I still haven't seen any car's built-in nav system that's
as good or up-to-date as what comes on your phone for free. Heck in 2008 the XKR portfolio was the most expensive model in Jag's
entire range, but Jag stopped supporting my car's bluetooth updates when the car was only 3 years old (so the contacts screen
stays empty for any Android phone newer than about 2010, so now you can't make a call from the screen).
Just 2 years later Jag then stopped providing nav system updates for it.
Consequently I think us consumers are very much going the wrong way with car tech. Manufacturers are acting like of course
you want/need every faddy even ridiculous gadget in your car, but I for one much prefer cars with as little tech as possible.
Less expensive/irreplaceable stuff to go wrong, lower cost, less weight which directly translates to better performance and gas mileage.
I much prefer physical buttons and dials that you can find and use without having to take your eyes off the road, compared to
stepping through pages to find some button on an LCD screen, that will inevitably stop working when you can no longer
get replacements from Jag, so then the whole car becomes effectively useless.
Buying a classic car old enough to be pre-tech, just with a modern crate engine/trans swap keeps appealing more and more to me.
I reckon if any manufacturer made a fast, pretty car with minimal (only legally required) tech and no LCD screens, just a standard
stereo-sized slot like every car had before mid 90's, so anyone could easily fit whatever after-market tech they wanted,
they'd sell millions. At least I'd be first in line.
Now get off my lawn :-)
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,116
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From: Atlanta suburbs
But now, almost 30 years later, I realize the true meaning of the popular German advertising slogan at that time. "Built mit Fahrvergnügen!" Although it was a VW ad campaign, Fahrvergnügen really applies to all German luxury automobile engineering, including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Little did I know back then what it really really meant. Fahrvergnügen, built with parts that are hard to get and are really expensive!
Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 53
Likes: 12
From: Upstate New York
I don't consider it really "moving up" so much as it would be "changing up". It's a different kind of car. I've been warning to them with time, but i feel currently I'd rather have a DB9 versus an early F Type R. The F Type R is raucous, and a real sports car; the DB9 is a sporty GT; just completely different. The F Type R is a very cool car though!
I have had my 07 XKR from 50 to almost 70k miles and just over 2 years. I just took it on a work trip to 180 miles away over this last weekend. Held my equipment, luggage and other gear all in the hatch, and I could put my purse and backup printed maps in the back seat. It was comfortable enough ride wise, interior is an enjoyable place to be, and even the cheaper Alpine variant stereo sounded nice with some burned CDs (i need to buy that audio interface). I do not know if the trip would have been as enjoyable in an F Type R. It was highways and garbage roads; not twisties.
The inner tech is of its time. I think the touchscreen was pretty decent for 07, but the Bluetooth call only audio and no aux input is also of its time. Again, I'm probably going to buy the media interface today; an aux jack is BETTER than nothing it's not as convenient as Bluetooth media audio and such. I'll just accept that this is the price to pay for an excellent car at bargain basement money.
My game plan is to keep my 07 XKR, sell my 00 XKR and add a DB9/GranTurismo. I just find a GT car works great for my life, and maybe I'll find room for an F Type R later, but I'm not ready.
I have had my 07 XKR from 50 to almost 70k miles and just over 2 years. I just took it on a work trip to 180 miles away over this last weekend. Held my equipment, luggage and other gear all in the hatch, and I could put my purse and backup printed maps in the back seat. It was comfortable enough ride wise, interior is an enjoyable place to be, and even the cheaper Alpine variant stereo sounded nice with some burned CDs (i need to buy that audio interface). I do not know if the trip would have been as enjoyable in an F Type R. It was highways and garbage roads; not twisties.
The inner tech is of its time. I think the touchscreen was pretty decent for 07, but the Bluetooth call only audio and no aux input is also of its time. Again, I'm probably going to buy the media interface today; an aux jack is BETTER than nothing it's not as convenient as Bluetooth media audio and such. I'll just accept that this is the price to pay for an excellent car at bargain basement money.
My game plan is to keep my 07 XKR, sell my 00 XKR and add a DB9/GranTurismo. I just find a GT car works great for my life, and maybe I'll find room for an F Type R later, but I'm not ready.
Try this for bluetooth media - - works for me with my Android phone! Plugs into the iPod jack and allows for bluetooth media stream. One minor quirk - the start/stop of media has to be controlled using the car interface, i.e. if you press pause on a media stream on your phone, it pauses for a second but then starts playing again unless you press the pause button on the iPod interface controls on the car's entertainment screen.
Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 48
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From: DFW
I'll add to the pile of similar opinions already posted 
I love my '16 F-Type R Convertible. I could never have it as a daily driver, though. Much less as my only vehicle. It's an absolutely fantastic car. handling, acceleration, braking, etc... it's a legit sports car. You likely wouldn't compare the XK to a Porche 911, and neither should you to the F-Type. The XK is very, very different. The only logical solution is to buy the F-Type and keep the XK
I love my '16 F-Type R Convertible. I could never have it as a daily driver, though. Much less as my only vehicle. It's an absolutely fantastic car. handling, acceleration, braking, etc... it's a legit sports car. You likely wouldn't compare the XK to a Porche 911, and neither should you to the F-Type. The XK is very, very different. The only logical solution is to buy the F-Type and keep the XK
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1
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From: Vermont
I traded my 07 XK for an 2016 F-TYPE. The XK has more room for lluggage etc for traveling and the rear seats are great for kids, but if you are an adrenaline junkie get an F-TYPE. I live in Vermont and the F-TYPE is way more fun on our winding country roads. I have also made trips from home to Florida in both cars and both are very comfortable for those long drives, and I have had no problem fitting carryon size luggage in the boot.
