2014-2017 Jaguar F-Type used car review

You might wonder how the heck a car sold in limited numbers and only since 2014 could ever be available on the second-hand market in reasonable numbers. But when it's a sports car, then all the usual bets are off.

You see, a 12-month-old sports car is literally and figuratively last year's model; in the world of high-end sporty cars, being seen in the latest and greatest is what it's all about, so trade-in times are typically shorter than for, say, a sedan or hatchback.

Which is how the slinky Jaguar F-Type happens to be available in pre-loved form in numbers sufficient to make it a real prospect for some second-hand fun. More than that, however, the F-Type was designed to be the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type and that, as much as anything makes the F-Type special.

But just in case you thought maybe a Jaguar built under the stewardship of Indian conglomerate Tata, might not be a real Jaguar, know that the F-Type is still built in Britain (in Birmingham, actually).

It certainly looked the goods, too, and as well as a modern, swoopy shape, some of the detail work was very reminiscent of the mighty E-Type. The tail-lights, in particular, and the centrally-mounted, twin exhaust pipes all spoke loudly of the E-Type.

Like the original E-Type of the swinging '60s, the F-Type was available in coupe and convertible form and, as demanded by a modern marketplace, a choice of engines.

From the 2016 model-year on, the F-Type was available with all-wheel-drive as an option, but the bargain buys now are the earliest cars which were rear-drive only. That said, there was no shortage of grip with those huge rear tyres and the rear-drive car was also lighter and a `purer' experience.

The range started with the V6 which got a 3.0-litre engine with a supercharger to boost power to 250kW and a good-for-3.0-litres 450Nm of torque.

The V6 models got the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic with a traditional torque converter rather than the in-vogue double-clutch arrangement. What was clever about the automatic gearbox, though, was that once it had shifted into second from first gear, the torque converter was by-passed, effectively making the driveline as responsive as a manual or double-clutch transmission.

The next step up was the F-Type S which used the same basic V6 engine but with a higher specification that lifted power to 280kW and 460Nm.

The first of two V8 options was the V8S which used a 5.0-litre V8 with a supercharger to crank out a meaningful 364kW of power, a tune that was only available in the roadster (convertible).

The range-topping F-Type was the F-Type R which was fitted with the same 5.0-litre V8 engine with more boost from the supercharger to produce a mighty 404kW of power and a monster 680Nm of torque. The catch was you could only get it in the coupe model.

It was also treated to a rowdy active exhaust system which, when triggered, emitted an absolutely biblical holler that won't be appreciated by the neighbours. Or the police, presumably.

Most of these cars will still be subject to a portion of the factory warranty, but that's conditional on the car having a full service record. That said, any F-Type without a comprehensive service file is one we'd be steering clear of in the first place. It's not just that cars like these cost of a lot of money and deserve to be looked after, but any gap in the service history at this stage suggests an owner that just didn't care.

For that reason, any F-Type affected by a couple of recalls should also have been attended to. Having said that, the recall for early V6 models seems a bit of an over-reaction in a market like Australia.

Though largely academic, the F-Type was fitted with a device that limited top-speed if the rear spoiler failed to deploy. It seems a glitch in the on-board programming could fail to engage this speed limiter with the chance that the high speeds involved could produce instability (without the rear spoiler deployed).

But why was this an over-reaction? Because the speed at which the computer would pull the pin on further acceleration was a purely theoretical (in this country) 217km/h.

Of more concern was a recall for later model (2017-2018) model F-Types to check and fix if necessary a faulty batch of seat-belt pretensioners.

In V8 models, the biggest reliability glitch has been a few early-build car with a knocking noise from the engine bay. Usually this turned out to be excessive backlash in the supercharger drive arrangement and, in many cases, the entire supercharger assembly was replaced. Excessive whine from the supercharger was sometimes also cause for that assembly to be replaced under warranty.

While we're fans of high performance here at Drive.com.au - and 404kW and 680Nm is a powerful argument - the strange thing is that there's an awful lot to like (not just price) about the V6 versions, particularly the V6 S.

It really does make a sound highly reminiscent of the old E-Type (which was also a six-cylinder car for most of its life) and the lighter engine makes the car feel a bit more nimble through the steering wheel.

It still goes fast enough to be convincing and although it lacks the all-out grunt of the V8 model, it always has enough in reserve to be a fulfilling drive.

Best of all, it can be had with the slick-shifting manual gearbox which is not only smooth and accurate, it absolutely makes the most of that engine and its ability to create tail-pipe symphonies.

In the final wash-up, the F-Type is not especially retro, but it does enough to recall the legend of the E-Type without reproducing the earlier car's numerous faults and foibles.

And that, surely, is what a modern heritage sports car should be all about.

Nuts and bolts

Engines: 3.0-litre V6 petrol/5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol

Transmissions: Six-speed manual/Eight-speed automatic

Fuel economy (combined): 8.8 litres per 100km (V6)/11.1 litres (V8R)

Safety rating (courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au): Not listed

Our rating: 4 stars

Likes:

• It's retro, but only up to a point.
• Mega V8 engine.
• Responsive, tuneful V6.
• Great looking inside and out.

Dislikes:

• It's a complicated beast.
• Small cockpit.
• Almost zero luggage pace in convertible.
• V8 might just be too shouty.

Competitors

Porsche 911 - The sports coupe by which all others are measured. Technically impeccable and highly rewarding to drive. Expensive, though, and some argue some purity has been lost in 991 model. 4.5 stars

Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Exclusive and stunning to look at. V8 engine is sonorous and silky and fast enough if not actually ballistic fast (in supercar terms). For those James Bond fantasies, there is no substitute. 4 stars

Maserati GranTurismo - With a V8 engine from Ferrari and styling that finally gelled, the GranTurismo was always sex on wheels. It was also an occasional four-seater and elevated the Maserati brand to new heights. 4 stars

What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide)

Model   Year       New                      Now

V6           2014       $119,900                $72,900

V6S        2014       $152,300                $92,700

V8R        2014       $219,600                $133,500

V6           2015       $124,470                $81,300

V6S        2015       $156,770                $103,000

V8R        2015       $226,580                $148,700

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