So after nearly 8 years of fantastic XF ownerhip it's time to move on. Fortunately I'm staying with the brand and yesterday I traded in my XF 3.0 S/C AWD for an F-type as my new combined daily driver, fun car and road trip car.
It's been a long research and search process and I was actually going to get an F-type only in a few months. Then this incredible example showed up at a dealer over in Germany only half an hour from home and I realised it was the kind of unicorn I was looking for. I wasn't interested in ordering a new one and have scanned the western European market (mainly Germany but also Benelux) for a couple of months, gradually realising that what I was looking for was rare as hens teeth: a relatively new high spec V6S/P380 coupé, not black or white, with the pano roof and with a non black interior.
Engine wise I really tried to like the P300 - test drove both a pre-facelift and facelift - but had to conclude it wasn't for me. As much as I love the AJ133 I've never been interested in having one in an F-type. The 400 was a no go because of its interior. I wanted as much driving tech and toys as possible so it had to be the V6S/P380.
So here's what I ended up with - a loaded late MY18 380hp V6 RWD R-Dynamic.
Bought as approved with 2 years warranty from a JLR dealer nearby. Immaculate car with an immaculate history. The same dealer sold it new to the previous owner, who apparently now has moved over to an AMG GT and regrets the change.
Exterior: British racing green with the design black pack, pano roof and my favourite F-type wheels - the 20" carbon blades.
Interior: the full fat extended leather spec in siena tan with the heated/cooled performance seats, interior black pack, carbon trim, flat bottom steering wheel, the sport pedals etc.
It has the 8" ICTP which is exactly what I want because it has the physical buttons and I can add CarPlay. In terms of toys it has everything you can get in an F-Type except four things: AHBA, DAB (usless in Europe), the surround stereo version and the secure tracker ICTP add-on. None of which I would want anyway. Not sure I'd have specced some of the other kit it has like homelink, parallel park assistant and interior black pack but consider them as a bonus.
Being a loaded RWD V6S it has all the driving kit you can get in an F-Type (except ceramic brakes): active exhaust, adaptive dampers, LSD, launch control, configurable dynamic mode, upgraded big 380/376 mm brakes (thankfully specced in black and not red!) etc.
The first small mods I did was to remove the engine cover and to move over LED footwell lights and the aluminium paddles from my XF. Next is to install the mirror/indicator lights from my XF and probably a rear debadge.
I've been on the road for most of the day today and think the car is bloody brilliant. That said I'll be spending less time over here and more time over at different F-Type forums but will definitely still keeping an eye on this place.
It's been a long research and search process and I was actually going to get an F-type only in a few months. Then this incredible example showed up at a dealer over in Germany only half an hour from home and I realised it was the kind of unicorn I was looking for. I wasn't interested in ordering a new one and have scanned the western European market (mainly Germany but also Benelux) for a couple of months, gradually realising that what I was looking for was rare as hens teeth: a relatively new high spec V6S/P380 coupé, not black or white, with the pano roof and with a non black interior.
Engine wise I really tried to like the P300 - test drove both a pre-facelift and facelift - but had to conclude it wasn't for me. As much as I love the AJ133 I've never been interested in having one in an F-type. The 400 was a no go because of its interior. I wanted as much driving tech and toys as possible so it had to be the V6S/P380.
So here's what I ended up with - a loaded late MY18 380hp V6 RWD R-Dynamic.
Bought as approved with 2 years warranty from a JLR dealer nearby. Immaculate car with an immaculate history. The same dealer sold it new to the previous owner, who apparently now has moved over to an AMG GT and regrets the change.
Exterior: British racing green with the design black pack, pano roof and my favourite F-type wheels - the 20" carbon blades.
Interior: the full fat extended leather spec in siena tan with the heated/cooled performance seats, interior black pack, carbon trim, flat bottom steering wheel, the sport pedals etc.
It has the 8" ICTP which is exactly what I want because it has the physical buttons and I can add CarPlay. In terms of toys it has everything you can get in an F-Type except four things: AHBA, DAB (usless in Europe), the surround stereo version and the secure tracker ICTP add-on. None of which I would want anyway. Not sure I'd have specced some of the other kit it has like homelink, parallel park assistant and interior black pack but consider them as a bonus.
Being a loaded RWD V6S it has all the driving kit you can get in an F-Type (except ceramic brakes): active exhaust, adaptive dampers, LSD, launch control, configurable dynamic mode, upgraded big 380/376 mm brakes (thankfully specced in black and not red!) etc.
The first small mods I did was to remove the engine cover and to move over LED footwell lights and the aluminium paddles from my XF. Next is to install the mirror/indicator lights from my XF and probably a rear debadge.
I've been on the road for most of the day today and think the car is bloody brilliant. That said I'll be spending less time over here and more time over at different F-Type forums but will definitely still keeping an eye on this place.