@Gibbo so how is the jag treating you ? i recall the mustang being in the dealers a few times. is the jag any better ?
5000 miles so far, zero issues, only dealer visit was for a software update to the sound system (make it sound better) and for 1l oil top up as in 5000 miles it has consumed 0.7l of oil and the biggest consumption 1/2 litre seem to be after making several 200mph attempts at vmax.
So far all good, no mechanical issues whatsoever, just a car that is far quicker than I ever expected.
Now I am getting dry weather, its a pretty incredible car, let me try and summarise:
Looks / Interior / Noise
Obviously this will differ for everyone, but the car gets huge amount of attention, easily on par with the Saleen Mustang I had years ago in that regard, the colour helps as its one of the nicest blues you will see on any car, I think only the Porsche blues of similar shade are as good, was parked with a brand new GTS on Monday which was a very similar blue, just marginally lighter. But looks I really like it, the car has incredible presence both parked and on the road, always get request from other motorist to give it a rev, which is not the easiest as it means putting the auto into N, but I generally oblige which always gets approval and a major thumbs up. The F-Type is a stunning looking motor, but are almost a bit to classy looking, like say an Aston Martin. The SVR corrects this issue and makes the car more hardcore looking, after seeing SVR's without the wing, I have to say the wing is an absolute must, it just makes a good looking car look an incredible car and an incredibly rare site on the road, I've never seen another SVR on the public road. For rarity and positive public response its on par with my Saleen Mustang, its a proper petrol heads car but one the whole general public seem to positively respond too.
Interior is pretty damn amazing, lovely soft leather and alcantara everywhere, the infotainment and dials are for my liking a bit dated, I'd rate the Mustang as better, but in all fairness in a sports / supercar they really are an after thought. As long as I can see my speed, see what gear I am in I am happy.
Noise, ah its mental, first car I've ever owned where I don't want an exhaust, it grunts, growls, purrs, pops, bangs, explodes, gunfire, brappp, farts, gargles, its like they managed to dial in such a wide array of tones and you never know what you might get on an up shift or over run, but full throttle is ear piercing loud but with incredible tone to it.
Engine / Performance
The whole car feels over-engined, by that I mean great, no matter what RPM, you put your foot down at 1000rpm, the front-end raises and the car accelerates and that power continues to build in a perfectly linear fashion right to around 6500rpm, so though its not particular rev happy like my previous cars, because its got so much power and torque down low the power band is just as great as a high revving NA car, because 1500-6500rpm this car accelerates very well.
Also the way the car responds to throttle inputs and accelerates makes you feel like its more a 700HP car or a much lighter car (1500kg) as it just gets up and goes in such a ferocious manner.
The only downside I'd say is silly speeds, the acceleration drops off around 170mph, due to entering 6th (1:1) gear, Jaguar could have done shorter ratio's, but in fairness its not slow by any means, but when your mates have tuned 670HP GTRs and 800HP Mustangs the on the roll performance into triple digits the SVR does become outgunned in the dry, of course those are modified cars and in all fairness on a 3rd gear roll from 50-130mph my mates 800HP Mustang pulls ahead by 2-3 car lengths which is quite a good result for the SVR and his Mustang has totally eaten alive R8 V10's, AMG GTR's and R35 GTR's, been a RWD 800HP manual, its 3rd, 4th and 5th gear acceleration rolling is devastating to pretty much any car, so to only lose out by 2-3 lengths is not end of the world and nothing a smaller pulley and tune won't fix which also on the plus side comes cheap at £1000 or £1500 if you do both pulleys for even more power.
But right now even stock power is really exceptional in this car because it feels so ferocious and so over engined, its like a combination of driving a sports, muscle and super car all rolled into one, good work Jaguar!
Lets remember in damp conditions it recorded a 3s 0-60 and 7.3s 0-100 and has done quarter mile in 11.2@124mph essentially stock and I firmly believe its got more in it still.
Handling / Brakes
This for me is where Jaguar seem to have achieved something not many other cars can achieve, its just as capable as say a GTR on the road or track, but a hell of a lot more fun. Having driven a lot of proper fast stuff on both road and track, the problem is nowadays is so many cars are not so enjoyable on the road unless you doing twice the speed limit.
A perfect example is a Caterham is the most fun you will ever have on the road below the speed limit. Whereas a GTR for comparison is numb and dull legal speeds, you really have to wind them up, do more than double the speed limit to feel like your driving fast and been engaged, they made the chassis so capable, but with no element of danger so to speak. The RWD F-Types I found were too twitchy and really needed an incredible driver to pilot them at what they are truly capable of doing, which is fine if you just want a fun, alive car and not too bother about all out ability and your an average driver, but I also like the fun but also the ability to go really fast as I am an average driver.
The SVR and I am sure its same for other AWD models have the ability of covering ground just as quick as say a GTR, in fact better on rougher UK roads as the suspension has a lot more compliance to it when in normal mode compared to a GTR's comfort mode, so it has a level of compliance not many other cars offer. But where the F-Type AWD really shines is you feel a bit nervous, the car feels alive without you approaching its chassis limits, but because of this can make it very engaging at speeds around the speed limits, as that short wheel base dials in an element of fun so its a lot of fun and challenge to drive without having to drive stupidly fast, particular in the dynamic mode which makes the car feel RWD biased. Now if you drive the car really hard on the road, let the back end step out but keep your foot planted you can go insanely fast in it and allow the AWD, torque vectoring and E-diff do their job which means it can cover ground at an exceptional rate.
So it can be fun around legal speeds, but its also more than capable of doing double the speed limits should you so wish, the chassis just has an element of fun/edginess to it, which means you don't need to push so hard. Even though it is AWD it is very rear biased, so getting sideways off a roundabout or corner exit is very possible in the dry and for the more professional driver if you grab it my the scruff of its neck it will handle like an EVO and power slide.
Also the ability to lock the AWD close to 50/50 with snow/wet mode is also very nice and I use it for drag racing and in the wet as the car has a more planted feel.
Brakes are average, hence me upgrading to get more stopping power and brake feel, which is now much better, only issue is too much brake dive and its under braking where the car shows its porky weight (1700kg), otherwise in acceleration and handling it feels a much lighter car, but under braking with suspension in normal it drives a lot. (Am sure a ceramic equipped car stops spot on by the way).
However now its warm, dry I find myself on better roads putting suspension in dynamic which solves the brake dive as it sets the dampers firmer and makes the car even more fun and direct. Its a very direct car, incredible front-end, marginal understeer at limit that is very easy to make neutral or over steer with power.
I really love it, really quite the car.
Now Jaguar should make an SVR CSL/GT4 edition, so take my car, 600PS, RWD, carbon buckets, reduce infotainment (less speakers / amps), cup 2 tyres, ceramic only brakes or 2PC iron, 19" forged wheels with more tyre wall, additional downforce and with say 600PS and lets say 1500kg it would be one totally insane car, but of course more aimed for track work than road work. Where my SVR truly shines is how its such a capable all weather super car that is a true amazing all rounder and a true daily super car.
Cracking car, no plans to change it and they seem to be even appreciating in the blue/carbon/bigwing specification, so could have maybe even been a smart purchase too, though the plan is to keep it pretty much long term, nothing else quite takes my fancy, shall just tune this upto 700HP.
