What is the Jaguar F-Type V8 S?

This is Jaguar’s return to building a true sports car. For a long time, under Ford, Jaguar really only built luxury sedans and coupes. You could maybe get away with calling the early 2000s XKR a grand touring car, but it wasn’t even remotely close to being a proper, driver-focused sports car. Much of Jaguar’s brand image has been built on racing success, and building iconic sports cars, such as the E-Type, so the new F-Type is a much needed return to form.

How is the the driving experience in the V8 S?

This green F-Type you see here was extremely exciting to drive. I have experienced Jaguar’s supercharged 5.0L V8 engine in their entire range of R and R-S models, and it never seems to get old. In fact, if anything, I think the F-Type is the most enjoyable platform for the engine that I’ve yet experienced. This, of course, should come as no surprise seeing as how the F-Type is the smallest and lightest car that Jaguar currently makes.

In the V8 S, I would be lying if I said that savage power plant did not dominate the experience. Stepping on the gas pedal is like putting a cattle-prod to the behind of a rhinoceros, and the acceleration feels nothing short of explosive, especially on the tight back roads I was driving on. The F-Type hurls you back into your seat violently as the speed piles on and your surroundings turn into an indistinguishable blur. It is fast, very, very fast.

 

On top of the speed there is the brutal sound of that supercharged V8, and with no roof there is no filter. The sound of this engine reminds me of the first time I heard gangster rap, it was so raw, so crude and intimidating, but I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Yes, I am aware that Jaguar has designed the exhaust to burble and pop as you drive along, and yes that means the F-Type is a bit contrived. But honestly, it isn’t tacky like the fake engine sounds coming from the speakers in the BMW M6, and I wouldn’t want to have the F-Type any other way. After all, this car is all about having an experience, and every time the car backfired a little shiver of excitement shot up my spine.

As far as the rest of the driving experience is concerned, the F-Type V8 S remains a tight-handling sports car. It’s chassis dealt with the somewhat uneven road surface quite nicely, and it inspired plenty of confidence in its ability to handle corners. Just remember to be smooth with the gas pedal, and this cat won’t bite, or at least not too hard…

The F-Type’s steering is quick and very accurate, but a little light on road feel, as to be expected these days.  Throttle response is crisp, and the brakes feel confident and powerful. You sit really low in the car, and the sensation is that its center of mass must be scraping the road surface itself. Overall the driving dynamics work well for the sort of car this is.

Lastly, the F-Type’s ZF 8 speed gearbox is one of the best-executed automatics on the market, although I would prefer a dual clutch or a manual, myself. The automatic does a great job for what it is, and it manages not to hinder the overall experience. That is, plainly, the highest praise I can give it because a dull transmission can ruin an otherwise phenomenal car.

   

How fast is the Jaguar F-Type V8 S?

In short, faster than Jaguar says it is. I honestly don’t buy their claim that they actually spent time and money, however much, to detune this V8 to 495hp. It’s a lot cheaper just to say “495hp” and leave output at the same 510hp you get in the XKR… which they do want people to keep purchasing, right?

Either way, Motor Trend shattered Jaguar’s official performance claims with thier actual test results showing 0-60mph in just 3.4 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 11.6 seconds at 122mph. They also put the F-Type on a chassis dyno and found that it made 447hp and 405ft/lbs of torque at the rear wheels, further indicating that this Jag is, indeed, under rated on paper. The top speed, should you also like to live dangerously, on this V8 S model is supposedly 186mph, and that is plenty in a roadster like this.

How does the F-Type V8 S compare the the V6 S?

I drove the two back-to-back this summer, and it is unbelievable to me how two cars that look almost identical can have such different personalities.

The V6 is a more balanced overall experience, with horsepower in an even dose with its handling. The V8, on the other hand, has gone off the deep end with its horsepower while still retaining the same handling prowess as the V6 model. Okay, if I’m totally honest, the front end does feel a bit more nimble in the V6 than the V8, but the difference is not huge by any means.

I loved the F-Type V6 S, it was a fantastic experience. However, if it came down to spending my money on one of these, the F-Type V8 S is really the one I’d want to have. You see, despite the two cars each having a different sort of character, they actually both cost around the same amount of money. The loaded V6 S you want costs around $96,000 and the loaded V8 S you want runs around $106,00 — for people spending this sort of money on a car, $10,000 just isn’t that much extra to spend. So why not have the one with 500hp?

Being totally honest, while I loved the V6 S, it really should be more like $80,000 fully loaded for what you get. Conversely, the V8 S is a total an complete bargain for around $100 grand, and having all that gratuitous horsepower will make you feel like your money has been well spent. The V8 S is just the more exciting car by a fairly large margin, and yes, it is entirely because you feel like you’ve been shot out of a cannon every time you get on the gas.

Would you have an F-Type V8 S over a Porsche 911 Carrera S?

In a heartbeat. Not only does a similarly optioned Jag cost $30k-$40k less, but the F-Type just has a lot more curb appeal than the Porsche. I love Porsches, but they all look the same. The F-Type just has a lot more zesty flavor in its overall experience, and that is what you spend six figures to have.

What about an F-Type vs a V8 Audi R8?

While the R8 certainly meets the F-Type in exotic appeal, when it comes down to speed, the Jag will blow the Audi’s doors off. You will need an R8 V10 to take on the V8 S, and for that you will spend another $40-$60 grand.

How does the F-Type compare to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage?

While I do concede that some of the Aston’s driving dynamics are a bit better than the Jag’s, such as the steering and the option of a clutch pedal, in the end of the day, the F-Type renders the Vantage completely useless, pointless, and worthless. For around $40,000 less, you get a similar car that is in a completely different league of performance and excitement.

How about the new C7 Corvette, how does that stand up against the Jag?

Damn, I knew this question would come up at some point. The truth is that the C7 may in fact be the best Vette yet, and you can have a loaded one for right around $70,000. On top of that the Corvette does offer you the option of a 7 speed manual transmission, a major advantage over the F-Type for driving purists. The Corvette is a touch down on horsepower from the F-Type V8 S, but that’s nothing your $30,000 in comparative savings couldn’t solve. Performance stock for stock should be similar, though, because the Vette is also a good bit lighter than the Jag, surprisingly. Adding further insult to injury, the Corvette also trounces the F-Type’s practical functionality, with its nice big hatchback trunk. Yes, it does, indeed seem like the C7 Corvette may well have the Jag F-Type in checkmate here.

The thing is, though, the Jag and the Vette have two distinctly different flavors to them, with the Corvette being a blue-collar hero and the F-Type being a white-collar icon. This means that many folks who would buy a Corvette wouldn’t even consider the Jag, and some folks who would go for the Jag wouldn’t be caught dead in a Corvette, what with its plebeian “Chevy” badge and all.

Car for car, the C7 C0rvette surely has the F-Type’s number. But in the real world they often aren’t competing for the same buyers. For that reason, the two cars are not as directly comparable as the other options mentioned above.

F-Type Convertible vs F-Type Coupe, what would you have?

I think the F-Type Coupe is pure automotive pornography, it probably does as much justice to the original E-Type’s design as any modern, mass produced car design could. Having said that, I would always go for the F-Type Convertible.

Basically it comes down to the purpose of a car like this. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t a daily driver due to its lack of practicality alone. That means it will be used for special occasions or for when I just feel like going for a drive. Being purely for recreational driving, I want to maximize the amount of fun and enjoyment that I get from my F-Type, and put simply, a roof takes some of that enjoyment away.

Going back to my gangster rap reference from earlier, if the F-Type Convertible is the full raunchy album with the parental advisory sticker on the front, then the F-Type Coupe would be the edited version with all of that glorious profanity bleeped out. That means coupe is but a neutered version of the total F-Type experience, so despite it being breathtakingly gorgeous to look at, the convertible is still the way I’d go.

 

What are the F-Type’s strong points?

-Fantastic, thrilling driving experience

-Wind in your hair fun

-Curb appeal

-Fit and finish

-That engine

-Great value for money

What are the F-Type’s weak points?

-Practicality — the trunk fits half a golf back, or nothing if you have the spare tire.

-Needs a manual transmission — because I’m obligated to say that as a purist.

Verdict

The Jaguar F-Type is a fantastically well executed modern sports car with clear roots back to its rich heritage. Jaguar could have easily messed it up big time, but they didn’t, happily.

While the F-Type V6 S is a great car, the V8 S is the one to buy because it’s higher level of performance makes it one of the best values available in its market segment full of higher-order sports cars. Sure the F-Type is fast, but where it really succeeds is in its total experience.

WoM Score: Jaguar F-Type V8 S

Primary Function: Performance: 2
Secondary Functions: Luxury(2) Practicality(1): 1.5
Visual Appeal: 2
Build Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2

Final Score: 9.5/10

-Article by Nick Walker