THROUGH THE RANGE
Which trim level might suit you?
popping in older V8 F-Types, but there’s still no denying the appeal or the character on offer here.
The engine feels very under-stressed – because it is. Still, the 0-60mph time of 4.1 seconds is more than rapid enough, even if it trailed the Porsche’s effort. Where it did beat the 911 was from 50-70mph in the higher gears. The Jag’s margin of victory was by seconds in seventh and eighth, thanks to the swell of supercharged torque low down that hurls the car along relatively effortlessly.
Other improvements are noticeable, too. The ride feels more supple than before, and softer, and in some cases more comfortable than the 911’s. There’s also less road noise, something F-Types of old used to really suffer with. The steering feels more elastic and less direct than the Porsche’s, but it’s still a lovely weight and the rate of response is great; it inspires confidence and gives you a good connection with the front axle that lies out at the end of that long bonnet. That, in turn, brings us onto the next point: visibility.
Practicality score 3.4
WHILE it’s not a major consideration in a sports car, the Jag isn’t as practical compared with the 911. You don’t feel as confident placing the car, although standard parking sensors and a reversing camera come in handy.
The cabin also isn’t as spacious, while the F-Type is a strict two-seater. Still, the hatchback does mean there’s a decent level of boot space and enough for two people’s luggage, with 336 litres on offer.
Ownership score 4.0
SAFETY kit includes autonomous braking and lane-keep assist, plus six airbags on Coupé models. You can add blind-spot assist as part of a £450 pack that also brings rear cross-traffic alert, while the car should be relatively safe, thanks to its strong aluminium structure, too. Euro NCAP hasn’t tested it, though.
Running costs score 3.5
FUEL will be one of the biggest expenses for owners, and with a supercharged V8, it’s unsurprising that the
F-Type managed only 23.9mpg on average. This means you’ll spend just over £2,800 at the pumps over an average 12,000 miles per year.
The Porsche chalked up a 2mpg margin, so annual petrol costs will be closer to £2,590. But if you use the full performance on offer in both models – and you will, because they’re intoxicating cars to drive – their economy will plummet and the costs will rise.
While the F-Type emits more CO2 than the 911, at 252g/km compared with 207g/km, both cars sit in the top 37 per cent Benefit-in-Kind class. Drivers running these as business machines will pay £7,283 in company car tax for the Porsche and £5,847 for the Jaguar.
AS we have mentioned, the F-Type comes with four or eight-cylinder power now, with this P450 model sitting in the middle of the engine line-up. You can get it as a convertible or a coupé and with rear or four-wheel drive, but our deals focus on the AWD hard-top model.
Your trim choice starts with R-Dynamic, which features equipment such as LED lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a digital dash alongside the 10-inch infotainment system, smartphone connectivity, parking sensors and a reversing camera, lane-keep assist, cruise and climate control.
In fact, First Edition trim only really adds better electric seats and some different interior upholstery and details, so given R-Dynamic spec costs £790 a month and First Edition is £917, we’d take the £4,572 saving over our example three-year PCP deal. These figures are based on a £20,000 deposit (with £4,000 more from Jaguar) and are limited to 10,000 miles per year.
Our choice:
F-Type P450 AWD R-Dynamic
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