Buying and owning - experiences, hints and tips

[AndrewNoakes]

Hello all

I'm writing a book about the F-type. In fact it's not just about the current car but also previous cars which might have been potential E-type replacements - like the 1978 Pininfarina XJ Spider, various Jaguar concepts etc.

I'd like to include a chapter of advice to potential F-type buyers so I am keen to hear from owners about:

• the pros and cons of ownership of these cars

• how to choose which model to buy

• what goes wrong and how to fix it

• what buyers should look out for

Or any other advice which would be useful for someone who wants to by an F-type but isn't an expert on them.

No doubt there is plenty of good advice in the forums so I've got lots of reading to do. But I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has good advice or useful information they're keen to share.

[scm]

The only con I've found is the aching facial muscles from the permanent grin I have when driving it.

[Tel]

Hello all

I'm writing a book about the F-type. In fact it's not just about the current car but also previous cars which might have been potential E-type replacements - like the 1978 Pininfarina XJ Spider, various Jaguar concepts etc.

I'd like to include a chapter of advice to potential F-type buyers so I am keen to hear from owners about:

• the pros and cons of ownership of these cars

• how to choose which model to buy

• what goes wrong and how to fix it

• what buyers should look out for

Or any other advice which would be useful for someone who wants to by an F-type but isn't an expert on them.

No doubt there is plenty of good advice in the forums so I've got lots of reading to do. But I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has good advice or useful information they're keen to share.

I could quite easily write a book answering all of your questions...in actual fact, I think I have...in these forums!

Without sounding too pretentious, use the SEARCH feature on this website and you will find discussions that we have already had on these topics. You should be able to get at least 40% worth of good, 'chunky' material.

Being an F-Type nerd I have lots of original information on the forerunners to the F-Type design...i.e XJ41 and 42, XK180, C-X16 if you need anything. That said, most is obtainable on tinterweb.

[AndrewNoakes]

Yes I'm reading the forums - but it's helpful to know what to search for.

I wrote a book on the DB7 so I'm well versed in the XJ41/42...

[AndrewNoakes]

You should be able to get at least 40% worth of good, 'chunky' material

Still looking for the other 60%. Particularly interested in owners' experiences, good or bad, and advice to inform potential buyers of used F-types over the next few years.

[Lunar]

Hi Andrew,

I think it’s not an easy car to sum up, so would need more of a long conversation and lots of varied inputs to get a true picture of ownership.
Might be worth getting along to a meet - although Jaguar Owners Club do these better than we do, with the F-Type being a bit of a rarity on the roads.

In terms of things to research I would look at it as an Alfa - great looks, engine, noise, exclusivity, fun to drive - but then flaky electronics, rusty rear subframe, random failures (thinking injectors, pedestrian safety, roof motors).

But then the noise and smiles per gallon trump all that. It might not be a clinical German car, like a Porsche with a 4 cylinder Dyson engine - but thank goodness for that!

I do hope you intend to drive several flavours of F as part of your research, to better understand it

[Dan_Veluwe]

@Andrew.
The most natural way to collect the info and learn about the process of buying and selecting a car is by.. .. actually buying one...
So you first have to find out : whats your budget... Its for a book research, so I assume your publisher will provide the capital,
or else its a tax deduction for you..

[Backfire]

Oh dear Dan,
Buy a car? I don't think there is a publisher in the World who would pay for a car for a specialist book like this. Andrew is a respected motoring journalist who writes about many marques, and it's common and sensible practice to speak to as many owners as possible to get different perspectives.

[simpleR]

I have been considering writing something but I am not a writer and dont really know what to put TBH! I could talk about it all day long.
Perhaps going to the next Breakfast Club might assist you more.

With the looming petrol/diesel ban I think this could be my forever car (currently daily drive) and maybe in 3 to 5 years time when kids are grown up and leaving I might invest in something like a Fiesta ST for a second car. Something small(ish) with a bit of poke and fun.

Pro's - Everything really! Regardless of which engine they all have their merits. It really depends on what you are comparing it too. This can be tricky topic.

Con's - doesn't quite fit in smaller parking spaces. This has resulted in me being very very picky on parking spaces and generally aiming for ends of rows, corners, next to disabled bays for example. Pedestrian Safety System and airbags make me nervous so take all speed bumps at less than 11mph.

How to chose the right model - is there a wrong one? Pick your engine based on performance and needs, roof or no roof and a colour and select from a list of options you need or want. I only chose a 400 because it seemed to tick all the boxes and reviews seemed to suggest it had everything one would want as standard. I would suggest parking sensors are a must for a daily drive car. I am happy mine has camera, pano roof etc but I wouldn't be lost without them.

What goes wrong and how to fix it - not got to that stage yet. When something is wrong the dealer picks it up, fixes it and drops it back. I've had a new antenna as the sat nav, inControl etc stopped working. People seemed concerned with rear brace and rust, a few stuck active exhaust flaps, leaking rear diffs and roof related issues seem common on here.

If I was buying a second hand one 3+ years old then I would be looking for a Jag FSH, lower miles the better, I mean all the usual stuff really.

[scm]

Pick your engine based on performance and needs ...

Er, I think "wants" is a better word than "needs" - any Jag has more power than you really need. Speaking personally, of course.