Man Maths: Jaguar F-Type

But it’s the coupé that I covet now, mostly for the looks, particularly from the rear three-quarters. If you can look past the scratchy plastics, flaky switchgear and frankly inadequate infotainment system, the F-Type’s interior becomes a great place from which to watch a road disappear beneath that long bonnet.

The F-Type was compromised from day one. It was based on a cut down XK platform, meaning it was effectively seven years old before it had reached its first birthday. The aluminium body should have made it lighter than some rivals, but whenever I’ve weighed these cars they’ve been heavier than advertised. I suppose if you hang a load of heavy steel off an aluminium structure, the weight saving benefits will be wiped out.

Because the F-Type was developed on a budget, or built to a cost, or possibly both. In too many ways, it shows. The V6 engines, for instance, are really just V8s with two pistons whipped out, the cylinders blanked off and the camshafts cut down accordingly. The engine block itself is no smaller.

But even with one hand tied behind its back, Jaguar built a great sports car. Of course it’s the 500bhp V8 that you want nowadays, partly for the performance and the noise, but also because they can turn their rear tyres from a solid to a gas at will. The four-wheel drive version that followed a few years later was objectively better by far, but that over-engined hotrod feel of the RWD car does make for a memorable drive.

The trouble is, the cheapest V8s are still £10,000 more expensive than the cheapest V6 S models, which themselves are not exactly under-endowed with 380bhp (like the V8s they’re supercharged too). I found several good examples for less than £20,000, the most affordable significantly so. If I had the money I’d take a V8 every time, but until then, I’d be quite happy tearing about the place in a V6 F-Type. Mine would be dark in colour with silver wheels and no brightwork – as good as the F-Type ever looked, in my view.

What’s equally appealing about these cars is that their mechanicals are so tried and tested I don’t think you’d worry about them at all. An Aston Martin V8 Vantage of similar vintage would cause you many more sleepless nights, I’m sure. And as I get older, considerations like that seem to become more and more important.

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