35i to F-type Jaguar ??

[HerrK]

After building one on the Jaguar configurator I am not impressed with the looks of the interior either. The Brits seem even more stingy with cup holders than the Germans. What is with that passenger grab bar really! I guess they are trying to challenge the passenger to adjust their climate controls. Another manufacturer douches all the three model versions without a real transmission.

As a side note I did have a new F30 3er with the N20 and 8 speed Steptronic, as a loaner, while my car was undergoing the battery cable safety recall. It ran great, like a scalded cat, the transmission was flawless and boring. Steering feel was non existant.

[AdamGarciaTX]

With all respect to everyone's opinion's, you can't really comment on something you haven't seen in the flesh. Granted in real life, opinions will still differ regardless; however, the only one with a basis for true comparison is Moo. I agree there doesn't look like there's a proper flow to the cabin, but behind the wheel may be a different story. I also don't like the minuscule taillights with the dot for a stoplight look to the back of the car, but again, in person I may see it differently. You never know until you actually see one in person and drive it.

Pictures are worth a thousand words but looks can be deceiving.

[Asbjorn]

Originally Posted by AdamGarciaTX

With all respect to everyone's opinion's, you can't really comment on something you haven't seen in the flesh. Granted in real life, opinions will still differ regardless; however, the only one with a basis for true comparison is Moo.

Ahem, those pictures from the Qingdao Auto Show were actually taken by myself!

[VailM3]

Originally Posted by Asbjorn

Ahem, those pictures from the Qingdao Auto Show were actually taken by myself!

I live in Geneva where it made its 1st showing...so yeah i have seen it sat in it, still much prefer my 35iS.

[Moo]

Re: F-Type interior. I felt it was better designed/built than our Z. Buttons/knobs felt solid. Of course that's just my subjective opinion; these cars are now in showrooms so you can go check them out in the flesh and make your own judgement. FWIW I thought the interior in the Carrera 991 and Cayman 981 were plain and substandard for the price in comparison.

BTW with the top up, there were zero creaks/rattles this particular attribute and the general interior build quality was uniform across cars because I swapped in/out with at least 5-6 F-Types.

Regarding the mid-console passenger handlebar: there were some sessions where they had instructors drive us around the track. Let me just say the handlebar was utilized aplenty The new BMW 6-series has similar "raised divider" design but not quite an "official" handlebar.

[jparnes1]

I wish they never took the pouncing jaguar off the hood. Now it's just another plain-looking hood.

[AdamGarciaTX]

Originally Posted by Asbjorn

Ahem, those pictures from the Qingdao Auto Show were actually taken by myself!

Lol. I do apologize. Asbjorn, VailM3, and Moo.

[AdamGarciaTX]

I do agree with the general sentiments here. I absolutely love my IS so much that this is my second e89. Anyone that sees it or I let sit in it (never drive it, she's mine) has the same comments/sentiments including drive-through workers: "Man this is gorgeous!","This is badass!", "This car feels good to sit in", and "Holy shit this thing is fast".

[z4z4z4]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

On a related note, I drove the F30 335 with the 8spd sport auto, which is a torque converter automatic, and the shift speeds and overall behavior felt very close to the DCT (included the feeling of locked torque converter vs. fully engaged clutch)

It isn't clear to me that old assumptions about torque converter based automatics being a no-go for performance hold true anymore...

[keepittrill]

The steering wheel is incredibly ugly, otherwise it's gorgeous on the inside.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

I wish they never took the pouncing jaguar off the hood. Now it's just another plain-looking hood.

Really? I don't like it that thing sticking out, just like a Merc, not aerodynamic and ruins the lines. Glad they took it out.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Really? I don't like it that thing sticking out, just like a Merc, not aerodynamic and ruins the lines. Glad they took it out.

Ahhhhh, it was a classic, like the flying wraith on the hood of a Rolls. I guess it was felt the it could impale some stupid pedestrian.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Ahhhhh, it was a classic, like the flying wraith on the hood of a Rolls. I guess it was felt the it could impale some stupid pedestrian.

LOL, that reminds me there was this ridiculous new 'innovation' that if a pedestrian was hit and fell onto the hood, the material would be extra soft or something to help support the person and mitigate injuries...I only glanced quickly at the article so not sure if it was a joke or serious. If it's real, that is crazy...how about not hitting the person in the 1st place, or the stupid person not cross the road recklessly?

[HerrK]

The pedestrian friendly hood is a EU vehicle regulation - not an innovation. Phase 1 was effective 2005 & Phase 2 in 2010. Has to do with preventing your favorite pedestrians head from hitting that pretty hood and them running into the shock tower or other close hard parts in the engine compartment. I bet you thought all those underhood plastic engine covers were just there for cosmetic reasons.

"Each year, automobiles kill more people than malnutrition, war and stomach cancer. That’s not including drivers and passengers. Obviously, the automobile – pedestrian toll is greatest in developing nations, where road safety is a strictly Darwinian affair. But the industrial world’s pedestrian “ksi” (killed or seriously injured) statistics are also pretty grim. Legislators in Europe, Japan and Korea have decided to take action. They’ve all developed legislative initiatives to force car makers to introduce new technology for reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries. America has no plans to get with the program. Over four thousand American pedestrians are killed in accidents with motor vehicles each year; some seventy thousand are injured."

Remember hit them hard, hit them low, and don't stop. If you kill them, there is less chance of being sued.

[army_men]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Remember hit them hard, hit them low, and don't stop. If you kill them, there is less chance of being sued

lmao. Ironically that's exactly what happens in some parts of the world. People would back up to grind the poor bastard again just to make sure.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by HerrK

The pedestrian friendly hood is a EU vehicle regulation - not an innovation. Phase 1 was effective 2005 & Phase 2 in 2010. Has to do with preventing your favorite pedestrians head from hitting that pretty hood and them running into the shock tower or other close hard parts in the engine compartment. I bet you thought all those underhood plastic engine covers were just there for cosmetic reasons.

"Each year, automobiles kill more people than malnutrition, war and stomach cancer. That’s not including drivers and passengers. Obviously, the automobile – pedestrian toll is greatest in developing nations, where road safety is a strictly Darwinian affair. But the industrial world’s pedestrian “ksi” (killed or seriously injured) statistics are also pretty grim. Legislators in Europe, Japan and Korea have decided to take action. They’ve all developed legislative initiatives to force car makers to introduce new technology for reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries. America has no plans to get with the program. Over four thousand American pedestrians are killed in accidents with motor vehicles each year; some seventy thousand are injured."

Remember hit them hard, hit them low, and don't stop. If you kill them, there is less chance of being sued.

Thx, I learned something. What a silly regulation(esp w/ the unintended effect of wanting to ensure they're dead), if a car hits a person, they're pretty much toast, so to instill some crazy law to try to mitigate injuries is just laughable.

EDIT: going back on topic, I guess the Jag has this feature? LOL.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by keepittrill

The steering wheel is incredibly ugly, otherwise it's gorgeous on the inside.

It's interesting that a relatively insignificant thing can have a major impact on your views isn't it. I wouldn't have bought a Z4 if the standard steering wheel had been the only one available. The "M" wheel makes all the difference to me.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by tranquility

if a car hits a person, they're pretty much toast, so to instill some crazy law to try to mitigate injuries is just laughable.

Actually under 10% of car/pedestrian collisions are fatal. And those "crazy" laws are there to decrease that number even further, so I really don't see what's so laughable about it (provided the laws work).

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by juhap

Actually under 10% of car/pedestrian collisions are fatal. And those "crazy" laws are there to decrease that number even further, so I really don't see what's so laughable about it (provided the laws work).

Somehow I don't see how having a jaguar hood ornament is going to make a big difference if your hit head on while crossing the street. If you get nailed by someone's front end, your'e in serious trouble, jaguar or not. I really miss it because it was so distinctive.

[SgtGigglebox]

Current Mercedes S-Class and Rolls Royce's have protruding hood mounted instruments of death.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Somehow I don't see how having a jaguar hood ornament is going to make a big difference if your hit head on while crossing the street. If you get nailed by someone's front end, your'e in serious trouble, jaguar or not. I really miss it because it was so distinctive.

That's not what HerrK was talking about and neither was I, although the hood ornament was probably removed for safety concerns too.

I was referring to regulation that requires the hood/bonnet of the car to be higher and deformable, so that in case of a collision the pedestrian is less likely to hit his head or at least not as hard. Citroen C6 and Jaguar XK are already equipped with active hoods, which helped them get a good pedestrian protection score in Euro NCAP crash tests.

And if you're driving the new Volvo V40 you'll find it increasingly difficult to kill pedestrians due to its pedestrian airbag. It won't wash away the blood automatically though

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by juhap

Actually under 10% of car/pedestrian collisions are fatal. And those "crazy" laws are there to decrease that number even further, so I really don't see what's so laughable about it (provided the laws work).

Sure, but w/ all the wasted resources in terms of keeping compliance for a ridiculous situation (i.e. trying to mitigate injury for hitting a person head-on and having him/her fall onto the hood), when the focus should have been on better driving (and walking) education.