2014 Jaguar F Type
Test Drive

The invitation from our good friend Paige Casamento of Marin Luxury Cars in Corte Madera, California offering us a drive in the 2014 Jaguar F Type V8S was the chance for another road trip. Which we gladly took on.

The second thought is the engine and performance of the F Type. Let me say up front that I have not even been in a E Type Jaguar so I can not draw a direct comparison. But taking cars from the day of the E Type and having seen it compete, I think that I can draw some conclusions as to the E Type's performance of the day.

The Supercharged V8S car, which I drove, is where this F Type stands out along with many other things, and thus achieves the E Type replacement title.

Driving Impressions:
First the Car is over the top in all points. However the drive was very disappointing. But not for what you are now thinking. This striking car has sooooo ... many features and attributes that the simple 3 left turns and short blast up the freeway left me very sad and somewhat wanting. Something like, looking down at your ice cream as it lays on the hot sidewalk, where it fell after just one lick.

The Driving Day at Marin Luxury Cars was a big deal and there were a lot of people wanting to have a go at the F Type. Paige had created a real show to present the Stunning Jaguar and part of the show was a real Cheetah. Not the racecar from the 1960's but a real cat named Tango, from Project Survival's Cat Haven. I think that Tango is a real nice pussycat, although a large one. The Jaguar however is a beast. Especially the V8S.

The F Type's interior is laid out in a quite straightforward manner, with more adjustments than your desktop computer. In fact I would not be surprised if there was not more computing power flying down the road with you than in todays kids fastest gaming computers.

Dave Matthias was my host for the drive and gave me a tour of the touch screen in the dash.

The F Type has several levels of adjustment on performance for each of; "Engine", "Suspension", "Steering" and "Gear Shift". These changes are individually programmable and are not setup to be a "package" of changes like that which other performance cars offer. That is saying, one can program the car to one's own style rather than adapting your expectations to that of some unknown engineer.

The car's features run off on a long list. Power windows, seats, outside mirrors and dash. Yes. Power dash. The AC vents pop-up from the center of the dash and retract into it when off. The Steering wheel has a major bunch of buttons that I could not even begin to address in the short time I was at the wheel.

The center console was full of switches and 2 levers. A stubby lever to move into performance mode ("Sport Mode") and the proper longer lever to select the shifting style. No round Knob found on the 'Lesser" Jaguar models. "Park" and "parking brake" were each a switch. Rear facing camera can be turned on while moving forward, presumable so one can get the plate number of tail-gaters

The interior was made out with proper English leather, with contrasting stitching available. All rather bold considering all F Types are convertibles

After a quick review of the major features, Dave was out the driveway and with the V8 exhaust note set to "Really-Neat-Sound" we accelerated down the onramp and onto the Freeway. It was a nice bit of acceleration and Dave said that he was just barely onto the pedal. At the next off ramp Dave pulled over and turned the left seat over to me.

With the seats, mirrors and steering wheel set for me to work this bright Red 3,500 Lb, Supercharged 5.0 Liter, 495 HP ground based rocket ship I was ready. Inching forward I touched the left pedal as cars were approaching and the reaction was very abrupt.

My first Jaguar drive, and I think the only early Jaguar I have driven, was an XK120 back in the 1960' and I recall the abrupt response of that car to foot-on, foot-off action due to the huge engine and light car.

The 5.0 Liter V8 with its supercharger slams you into the back of the seat when the right foot moves even the smallest amount. The brakes are just as sensitive, something like a switch. On for rocket speed. Off for Stop-Right-There... Now. Granted we had the car set at "Sport Mode". As noted above I only enjoyed this car for a short run that started out with a short stint on a surface street leading to a long radius 180-degree change of direction under the freeway to an intersection prior to entering the freeway.

I entered the 180 turn at around 30 MPH. Just before the exit of the curve I pressed the right loud peddle and the 5 liter V8, fully ingesting the supercharged fuel-air mixture, exploded forward with a twitch and chirp as the electronic stabilization system kicked in and moderated my over aggressive behavior. At low speed there was no hesitation. Just instant, near brutal, action.

Entering the Freeway and finding a place in the traffic, I could experience the F's behavior in everyday type driving. Dave said that the F had a single as apposed to the more highly responsive 'duel' clutch system, and that seemed to explain the slight delay of response when shifting down at freeway speeds to effect an aggressive forward speed increase.

The F Type is a comfortable top end touring car and behaves in a smooth flat stable manner for lane changes and avoidance type maneuvers. At slower speeds, at least in the setting we had, there was some jolting from the roadway surface. Hard braking from higher speeds was smooth and did not exhibit the 'grab' that I experienced when just barely moving.

Jaguar once made road cars that were able to race hard over long distances. But as time moved on the Jaguar became a car to take to the opera. It is a different world from the one in which the SS, XK120 and the XK E Type prowled the streets and back roads; But the F Type certainly has a spiritual link and soul of those big cats, and you too Tango.

No! That that didn't happen! But it makes one wonder; Is this Jaguar faster than a Cheetah?

END