Went down the F-Type rabbit hole a bit last night...

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori) 04/02/2020 at 10:18 • Filed to: blue pill

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Late night Zoom call with friends led down the rabbit hole of “cheap” manual F-Types. Don’t get me wrong... I love my C30, but after owning it for seven years I certainly see the flaws. O wning the S-Type, I have a minor lust fo r power and rear-wheel drive.

So down the rabbit hole I went. I was sad to learn it was only available in a supercharged v6 err that the only ones I could find for sale were supercharged V6. In fact a nationwide search on CarGurus and AutoTrader show no manual V8s available in the US. I’m going to guess you could get a manual or a V8 but not both . I’m sure the V6 is a fantastic engine and more than enough go for the vehicle, but it makes me sad knowing there is a crazier engine available, just out of reach.

Also while there were a few examples in the mid $30k range, many others were floating into the $40s, $50s, and beyond.

So while these are beautiful cars and I would very much love to have one...

but...

I still really like the Volvo and even more so enjoy owning all five cars in the clear. Having no car payment is pretty excellent. Even if I got top dollar for the C30 I’d be looking at $15k+ in car loans on a used Jag and that.... no...

Well I’m glad I wrote this. I was feeling a little... lusty for the big coupe but typing it all out I am secure in the knowledge I still love the C30 more.

As long as it is cool with me looking at other cars...

MrDakka > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 10:27

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I went down this rabbit hole before I bought my car and yeah the thought I'd be paying at least $30k for a used Jag was enough leverage to get me out of that hole.

Sovande > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 10:32

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You could always convert the C30 to AWD and have more fun with it. There are a bunch of write ups and even a shop that will do it for you. 

Milky > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 10:42

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After reading 0% APR articles last night I too went down the rabbit hole. Found this sad description for a lovely car. I take no joy in , but wonder if COVID is going to put a lot of sports cars (read: someone’s 2nd car) on the market.

“2018 Lc500. Life necessitates sale. You won t find a cleaner one cheaper. Just serviced, great shape needs nothing.”

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Sovande 04/02/2020 at 11:08

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If I started giving it more power it might be worth it.  Already it isn’t great at putting down the power it has...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Milky 04/02/2020 at 11:10

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Yeah 0% financing, long loan periods, and deferred payments are... tasty.

I don’t need or even want another car otherwise I’d consider breaking quarantine for one...

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 11:27

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I remember a Clarkson tg segment and some magazine reviews when they first came out about the engine choices. I recall the conclusions being that while everyone’s inner 12 year old wants the V8 F-type, they are way better cars with the V6. Allegedly the middle engine, 380hp V6 in the F-t ype S makes for the best car.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 11:33

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I’m going down the rabbit hole for these as well, but also for Challenger R/T scat packs... And Range Rover Classics... I’m starting to loose grip with reality lol. 

Sovande > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 11:37

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Yeah, and if you increase it, it gets worse. You could always put in a limited slip differential . Quaife makes one, I think

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 11:50

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How about a C6Z06?427ci of fury with a proper stick!

They are usually found around the $ 30k mark too

Nick Has an Exocet > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 12:45

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I just bought a 2015 F-Type Coupe R in British Racing Green last month. I also looked at V6S manuals but a lot of those cars were horribly spec’d. The only one I could find locally had a white interior.

I ended up buying the 2015 R because it’s a 1 year only RWD version of the R. I think the manual S suffers from “journalists darling” syndrome - like all those journalists who used to say that the V6 performance package mustang was the best buy. 10 years later, would you rather have a V6 Mustang or a base GT? GT all the way.

On the R, I don’t really miss having a manual. The 8 speed is really really good and I need both hands on the wheel. I went for a drive last night and broke traction at 100+ mph shifting into 5th.

My experience this far has been mixed though. I had a bolt come loose in the engine bay bracing that caused a nasty sound and was a pain to find (hand built, yay) and I bent a wheel. Replacements are unobtainlium and I’ve now ordered a custom set of wheels (literally being made) because there’s nothing off the shelf that fits a 5x108 in staggered 20x9 / 20x10.5.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Milky 04/02/2020 at 13:07

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Is that an unusually low price, or what these are going for used? That’s some tasty depreciation if so.

If it gets to about half that in a few more years wow that’d be an amazing cruiser to pick up. 

Milky > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/02/2020 at 13:19

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Thats the cheapest one on Autotrader, but they are in the 60s now.   I’ve been watching the prices on them specifically to buy in a couple years.  Come on depreciation! 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Milky 04/02/2020 at 13:44

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What’s the transmission like in these things? I believe the reviews when the car first came out were quite favorable - it’s no sports car, but as a luxury cruiser that it’s excellent.

I’m assuming that means the transmission isn’t a piece of crap and doesn’t ruin the experience? Believe this also comes with the active rear diff as an option?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/02/2020 at 14:45

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Not really. I like them just fine but they are not really my style.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Nick Has an Exocet 04/02/2020 at 14:55

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That is a beautiful car and awesome that you got the RWD V8.

I have... mixed feelings about the auto vs manual. Clearly I can compromise on it as my S-Type R and my Land Rover are both auto. I like them just fine. ZF seems to be able to make a good transmission and I’ve heard the ZF 8-speed is a feat of engineering. (The 9-speed on the other hand...)

But...

I sure do like to be able to row my own. I love that my C30 is a modern(ish) luxury (ish) car with a delightful 6-speed manual and I have 0 hesitation driving it in any and every situation.*

So yeah... tl;dr I’m not sure I’m ready to compromise on that. Plus if I want a fast, RWD, automatic I could do worse than throwing so go-faster bits at my S-Type haha.

*Ok there was that one time I DESTROYED my left ankle hiking and really wished I had brought an automatic to that trip... The 4 hour drive home was... unpleasant.

Milky > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/02/2020 at 15:47

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Pretty sure reviews said the 10spd was damn near dual clutch fast. I’ve been wanting to test drive one but there aren’t many around Detroit.  On the to do list post covid for sure.  

Nick Has an Exocet > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 16:32

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Hah yeah. I think the F-Type makes for a good second car or third car. My other 2 cars are manual so if I need to scratch that itch, I can.

Can the s-type handle go faster parts without blowing up? I keep my Miata around for mods, though I am building a Bluetooth exhaust cutout for the F-Type to leave the exhaust 100% open.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 16:59

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Vettes do bring baggage with them

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/02/2020 at 17:18

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They do. So much. But also I’m just not a fan of them and I can’t say why.  That said I’m sure I’d enjoy the crap out of it if I found myself behind the wheel of one.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Milky 04/02/2020 at 17:24

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Yeah, gorgeous to look at. Was amazing to sit in at the auto show. Getting to drive one would be the next step...and depreciation. Damn that’d be an amazing car to buy and just hold on to forever.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Nick Has an Exocet 04/02/2020 at 17:24

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Allegedly the S-Type R can get to 500HP with a pulle y, mild tune, and a few other bits and be fine. Mine is going to get a comprehensive service, including changing the supercharger oil, and I’ll go from there.

Pro tip on the exhaust cut out: A friend of mine had an RF based  one and managed to program it into his homelink.  Don’t know if that fits what you’re looking to do, but it seems like it’d be easier than BT.

Nick Has an Exocet > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/02/2020 at 19:00

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That’s pretty much what I’m going to do. I’m going to 3d print a little blade connector to put the fuse in-line then add in a bluetooth controlled relay ($12 on ebay). They make a homelink one as well - just a different controller.

I’m sure that S-Type R sounds awesome. I would be worried about blowing it up, hahaha. They make a pulley for the F-Type V8's that gets you well over 600hp.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/07/2020 at 14:28

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Once you go JAAAG, you never go BAAACK?