Falling in love all over again
JAGUAR tricked me. I was all set to order the new F-Type Roadster after it had been launched at the 2013 Paris motor show. It looked fantastic in photographs and even better in the metal. Mrs Goodwin, who’s always loved Jags, was fully on board for this purchase.
Before the show Jaguar had sent us a press release that contained the interesting fact that if the E-Type, which was launched in 1961, was introduced today it would cost £38,000 allowing for inflation. I took this a hint that the new car would cost under 40 grand which with a PCP deal would have made it possible for us to buy one. Especially if we went light on options.
Then Jaguar shafted our plan by throwing the sheets off the car to reveal a price tag of £58,500.Too much. Jaguar then launched a coupe version – which was even more annoying because I really fell in love with that car.As with the orginal E-Type I much prefer the coupe version than the convertible both for looks and practicality.
After a week in this new facelifted F-Type the hunger has bit again.That entry-level model from 2013 was powered by a supercharged 3.0-litreV6 engine that produced 340bhp but the top spec cars used Jag’s 5.0-litreV8.
The car got a first facelift in 2017 when Jaguar also fitted a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the first time.TheV6 has been given the chop in this 2020 car but theV8s with either 444bhp or 567bhp (both supercharged) are both still available.As is the 296bhp 2.0-litre engine.
That’s the version we’ve been testing, in a coupe body.At £54,060 it’s the cheapest F-Type that you can buy.And one of the nicest. Now of course you don’t get the V8’s firepower or its car chase sound effects, but you do get a car that’s quick enough for the road and cheaper to run and buy.
And one, thanks to a saving of 120kg, that handles better too.The