Jaguar F-TYPE, E-TYPE, I-PACE or trusty Ford S-Max?

Which would you choose? Roger Lightfoot took each for a test drive recently and this is what he thinks of them.

I have yearned to own a Jaguar since I worked at the Coventry Jaguar factory as a graduate in the 80’s. Might I be tempted to finally abandon my trusty diesel S-Max?!


I was incredibly fortunate to be sponsored by Jaguar Cars whilst studying Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University from 1982 to 1986.

Some of my happiest memories are from my time working on the factory floor at Radford, Castle Bromwich (where they built Spitfire in WW2) and Browns Lane. I worked mainly within the noise, vibration and handling (NVH) development team and this involved some exciting times in prototype cars at the proving grounds at Gayden and Mira.

I’ve wanted to own a Jaguar ever since I left the Browns Lane factory for the last time in 1986.

But I’m a practical chap with three kids. We’ve spent the last 20 years driving all over Europe with the boot full of skis, golf clubs and suitcases. The Ford S-Max swallows up the luggage and miles in equal measure. It’s a superb family car.

But with all three children having flown the nest I’ll have a little more freedom when it comes to choosing my next car. I, therefore, jumped at the chance when Barretts Jaguar kindly offered to lend me a Jaguar I-PACE and a Jaguar F-PACE for a couple of weekends.

By chance, I borrowed the F-PACE on the same weekend of our Summer Classic Car Auction and one of the star lots was this gorgeous Jaguar E-TYPE.

Production of the E-TYPE ended in 1975. When I joined Jaguar Cars the F-TYPE was already being planned. I can recall being shown around the top-secret design studio. Three talented designers were painstakingly hand-carving a life-sized model of a new prototype F-TYPE in clay. It was stunning.

That was in 1983. It would be 30 years before the F-TYPE finally rolled off the production lines in 2013.

So, what did I make of the F-TYPE?

I drove the Jaguar F-Type P300 Convertible with a 2.0 L turbocharged inline-4 engine rated at 296 hp in white with red leather interior. Red leather might sound a bit ‘loud’ but the tone was somewhat understated and looks great with the top down basking in the summer sunshine.

The F-TYPE is a gorgeous looking car. Everyone I spoke with was of the same opinion. The designers have managed to combine classic Jaguar styling with a very modern purposeful look without being ‘flash’.

This car will no doubt turn a few heads but for the right reasons. It is a very smart design. I love it.

The engineers have been equally successful. This is a fabulous car to drive. At low speeds, the ride is comfortable with very little of the harshness that plagues many performance cars.

And at higher speeds, it just feels like it is on rails. I was not brave enough to push Barretts’ demonstrator to the limit. You’d have to drive so fast to test the road holding; speeds which would not be safe on our roads. Nor did I want to call out their rescue truck! But I’d love to put it to the test on the track. It felt brilliant to me.

It was only when I returned the F-TYPE that they told me it was the ‘baby’ P300. But this car is still very quick, the drivetrain delivers bundles of power very smoothly. It’s a great drive.

It goes without saying that I’m not getting my golf clubs in the F-TYPE. But that’s not the point of this car. The interior is pretty much spot on. I loved the driving position and all the controls were well executed. I felt like I was cocooned in a cockpit rather than in the interior of a typical car.

The automatic folding roof is very clever too and I was surprised how well the wind was controlled at speed. It was quite a treat to drive this over to my son’s house at Canterbury on a sunny Sunday with the roof down.

The F-TYPE is a great car. I’d love one.

How did the F-TYPE compare to the E-Type?

The E-TYPE is a classic classic – there is little doubt in that. The lines are classic and the model we were selling was fitted with the V12 engine – another classic!

In Hobbs Parker red, this car would look just fantastic on my drive. But what would it be like to own and drive?

Obviously, like the F-TYPE I won’t be taking this to the golf course either.

I only drove this a few hundred metres around our auction site so I could take some marketing photos and my overriding sense was that this car made me feel alive – nervous even.

I was aware that I was driving something very precious and expensive for that matter. This was special.

Whilst the engine and gearbox were fine, I was shocked at how appalling the brakes and steering are for what was one of the finest sports cars of its time. By comparison with any modern car, this felt dangerous.

But that’s not to say I wouldn’t like one. I would. I’d just drive it very carefully.

Moving into the 21st Century and the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE

In the late ’90s, my father owned a very early Toyota Prius. In truth, it was a ‘bit rubbish’.

Note: Jon Chapman (MD of Hobbs Parker Car Auctions) tells me that the modern Prius is a very good car with exceptional reliability and in strong demand at auction.

Obviously, things have moved on and unless hydrogen cells have their way electric cars are the future. Many manufacturers, including Volkswagen, have gone all-in and confirmed they will stop producing petrol and diesel cars in the next decade or so.

I’ve been wondering about making the switch to an electric to do my bit for the environment, save a few pennies on fuel costs and avoid the pain of weekly visits to fill up. How I hate that on a wet and windy winter’s night.

When Barretts delivered the I-PACE to our auction site I was expecting to have to listen to many minutes of detailed instructions. Not so, ‘just press the start button, select drive or reverse and you’re ready to go’. Over the next couple of days, I really began to appreciate the simplicity of driving the I-PACE.

I pressed drive, squeezed the accelerator and I was off. No noise at all. It was surreal.

Having spent a little while becoming accustomed to the clever regenerative braking system I pushed on a little.

The maximum torque and power, which I noted at around 350KW on the dashboard or almost 400 HP in old money according to the specs, delivered astonishing performance. Fast and smooth. The acceleration to 60 mph is so quick it shocked a passenger or two. Especially one of my life-long friends who was still wearing her dressing gown when I offered her a quick go at 8 am on Saturday as I passed by her house. She screamed!

The road-holding is fantastic too. Like the F-TYPE, I did not push it but it too felt like it was on rails. The four-wheel-drive provides an extra level of confidence which I especially liked. The ride quality is great – the lumps and bumps on the lanes to Woodchurch are damped very effectively and the car eats up the miles on the M20 with very little noise or fuss.

Although there’s nothing very remarkable about the external styling, the Jaguar notes are still present and this is a good looking car without being overtly flash or space-age. It looks very purposeful and I like it.

The interior of the I-PACE is luxurious and very comfortable. In particular, I thought that the various integrated display screens on the dash looked fabulous in a very understated Jaguar way. And I managed to squeeze two sets of golf clubs in too!

In summary, the I-PACE is the most accomplished car that I have ever driven.

Will I give up my trusty Ford S-Max?

In all honestly, I’m unlikely to ever own an F-TYPE; or E-TYPE for that matter. As much as I love them both, they are just not practical enough for me and so they would only work as a third car and I’m not going to get away with that.

The I-PACE, on the other hand, is a completely different matter. And in many ways, I wish I’d never driven it.

When the time came to hand the keys back to Barretts, I jumped into my 20-plate Ford S-Max Titanium – this is a good car – leather, lots of bells and whistles – I’ve owned several over the last 10 years or so and they have been great.

But!

When I drove out of our auction site in the S-Max to go home that evening it felt like I had gone back to the industrial revolution.

The I-PACE is so much better in every way. It feels so ‘now’ and I want one.

I won’t be changing my car for a couple of years and when the time comes the I-PACE will be on my shortlist. It’s a brilliant car.

If you’d like to try one for yourself give the nice people at Barretts a call on 01233 506080. Tell them Roger Lightfoot says the I-PACE is amazing and recommended you test drive one. They’ll be pleased to help.

 

 

 

 


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Planning regime changes to allow more flexible use of buildings

By Steve Davies

The Government initially implemented Permitted Development Rights (PDR) to make it relatively simple to convert office space into residential accommodation, and now it has made further changes which allow premises used as shops, for financial […]

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Assets for sale? Take time to qualify for relief

By Vicky Hutton-Squire

Under this relief, qualifying assets result in a reduced rate of Capital Gains Tax of 10% on the value of the sale, with a limit of up to £10 million during your lifetime. Compared against […]

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Otties Farm - New Dairy for yoghurt and cheese making

Three generations have worked the land at Ottinge since the turn of last century. The rolling green hills of the Elham Valley make for perfect dairy country and so the cows arrived to the pastures […]

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The farming voice must be heard for a Green Brexit

By Jon Rimmer

The beginning of May sees the deadline for Kent landowners and farmers to give their views on DEFRA’s ‘Health & Harmony: The Future for Food, Farming and the Environment in a Green Brexit’. If adopted, […]

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Planning permission granted for 14 homes in Whitfield

Proposals to build 14 high quality homes at Whitfield have been given the go-ahead by Dover District Council. Permissions for the new four and five bed properties was secured by Hobbs Parker Property Consultants, with […]

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How to make the best of a Compulsory Purchase Order

By Sam Snart

As a result there is likely to be an ongoing demand to use compulsory purchase powers (CPOs) to make it all happen – and that can often be difficult for the landowner unless they’ve got […]

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Permitted development in town centres

By Steve Davies

Potential planning changes could have implications for our town centres, which is timely given the ongoing crop of high profile retail administrations. The Government consultation on Permitted Developments Rights covering the upward extensions of buildings […]

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Tenancy planning for landowners

By Matthew Sawdon

As politicians continue to wrestle with Brexit, there is obviously significant uncertainty. What we do know is that Brexit – if it happens – will bring changes, and landlords and tenants alike should be prepared. There could be changes to financial […]

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Netflix linked with move to Ashford?

By Sam Snart

The possible plans for a European filming hub presented recently to Ashford Borough Council could transform the long-abandoned Newtown railway works into seven state-of-the-art film studios. If the project goes ahead, the studios could sit […]

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Thinking local is the answer when planning to develop

By Elizabeth Welch

Successful development is often about having the right land in the right place, but when it comes to the right timing, the progress of the Local Plan process can often make or break a deal or decision. With districts […]

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Housing secured in the Green Belt

A Grade II-listed oast house and associated farm buildings will be transformed into six homes after Sevenoaks District Council gave the green light for the development at Foxbury Farm, Stone Street, near Seal. Permission has been given to convert the […]

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National Planning Policy Framework update

By Steve Davies

The redesign of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has given councils greater powers to promote housing. However, the Government can now punish councils if they don’t deliver the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The reality is most authorities, cashstrapped by […]

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Make the right choice for your farm dispersal sale

By John Rossiter

For them it can be a stressful event, full of important decisions and the responsibility to maximise income. Despite how it might look to anyone turning up on the day, every farm dispersal sale comes with its own list […]

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Vicky Phillips returns to Hobbs Parker's Property Consultants team

By Sam Snart

Having reached the position of Partner in her previous role at a national firm, Vicky has a wealth of experience in farm, land and estate valuations in the south-east and nationally, for private client, high […]

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Change of use and permitted development to support the high street

‘Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes’, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, consults on possible new permitted development (PD) rights which could make it easier to change the use of buildings […]

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Hobbs Parker welcomes new Senior Planner to the team

By Jon Rimmer

Senior Planning Consultant Elizabeth Welch joins the team after almost a decade at Dover District Council. Prior to her local authority work, Elizabeth has worked at Bovis Homes, Barton Wilmore and Ward Homes. She is a fully qualified Chartered Town Planner […]

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Inheritance tax relief for farm businesses

By Sam Snart

It is not uncommon for farm businesses to shy away from Inheritance Tax planning, as it is sometimes controversial within families, and almost always time-consuming. However, a proactive approach is vital in tax planning to ensure eligibility for relevant reliefs. Farm […]

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Solar farms advice for landowners

The key advancement is the reduction of installation costs and increase in efficiency of the solar panels. The average installation is priced at around £600,000 per MW compared to £1.4m in 2011, and wholesale energy prices are still […]

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Why 2019 is the right time to invest in Ashford

By Sally Randall

“If you have ever wished you’d invested somewhere that has regenerated, you will know that you are already too late.” These are the words of Alex Davies, Managing Director for Hobbs Parker Estate Agents, an […]

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Green plans could mean red light for development

By Steve Davies

Ashford-based Hobbs Parker Property Consultants LLP (HPPC) is concerned that if confirmed DEFRA’s consultation about development delivering a bio-diversity net gain will introduce an additional requirement on developers that will need to be addressed from […]

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Ten of the world's best selling Prius hybrid cars for sale

By Jon Chapman

Today we will be selling ten of the world’s best selling hybrid cars. If you’ve been to Gatwick or Heathrow airport you will probably have seen hundreds of these dependable and economical cars ferrying passengers 24 […]

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Wonderful Jaguar XJ8 For Sale

By Jon Chapman

This is a wonderfully rare car from a lovely local family who purchased it new. There certainly cannot be many with this provenance. Just the one owner with only 18,000 miles. The owners, a local […]

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The History of W & B Hobbs and The Hobbs Parker Group

By Roger Lightfoot

This clip from the Kentish Gazette dated 28th August 1849 casts doubt on the firm’s long-held belief that W & B Hobbs was established in 1850. It has piqued my interest in the early years of our […]

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Ladies in waiting, early winter sunshine

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A development opportunity half done!

By Bill Lightfoot

Congratulations, you did it. Your local authority
 has granted you planning permission for development. It’s in your hand, signed. The corks are popping! Hold on just a minute, because as well
 as you’ve done so far, […]

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19 New Development Sites for Ashford

By Steve Davies

The draft local plan was put out to consultation last year. It has been reviewed by the Council and the latest version of the plan is due to be put to the Council’s cabinet with […]

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The Best Restaurants in Kent and East Sussex

By Sally Randall

The next best thing to eating good food, may be talking about it. Certainly asking in the Hobbs Parker offices about people’s favourite restaurants leads to a mouth-watering conversation about how spoilt for choice we […]

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Listed Buildings Advice

The market for period property is booming and the older the house or cottage, the more likely it is to be listed. By listing a property, it celebrates a building’s special architectural and historic features […]

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Outlook Summer 2017

By Sam Snart

In this edition: We look at how owners of brownfield sites looking to bring forward housing-led development could be given permission in principle (PiP) after new planning legislation came into force on 15 April, according […]

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The best pubs in and around Ashford and Tenterden

By Sally Randall

When I was young going to the pub generally meant me and my siblings sitting in the beer garden squabbling over a pack of Ready Salted whilst my parents nipped in for a pint and […]

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Ryelands in the mist at Marsh Green

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Cattle at pasture

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Romney ewe with quads

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Romney ewe with lambs

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Sussex heifer in a field

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Sussex Cattle in a barn

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Planning to succeed

By Steve Davies

As a result, development can be difficult, especially for housebuilders, as many local communities fail to recognise the need
to increase the demand of the growing population. The Government, which is publicly committed to delivering a […]

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Could the latest business rates revaluation hit your pocket?

By Sam Snart

Farm buildings and agricultural land will continue to be exempt from business rates as long as they are being used for agriculture. However, many farmers may have diversified since the last revaluation in 2010 and […]

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Is now the right time to diversify?

By Sam Snart

As well as developing your business plan and securing the necessary finance, many face the challenge of avoiding lengthy and costly planning applications, especially with many farms being in the AoNB or close to SSSIs […]

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Favourable exchange rate brings timely relief to farmers

By Matthew Sawdon

Recent forecasts for net farm income for all farm types for the year to March 2016 are down by 25 per cent, equivalent to an average of £13,000. The 2016 exchange rate for this year’s […]

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Will your second home also be your pension?

By Simon Godfrey

Recent research suggests that the level of income people aspire to retire on each year has increased from £35,000 to £42,000 yet this would require a pension pot of more than £1 million. Evidence shows […]

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Will solar panels increase the value of my home?

By Alex Davies

As the weather gets colder and darker, and the heating and lights stay on longer, there’s one thing I can predict with even more certainty than the Queen’s Speech broadcasting on Christmas Day. The arrival […]

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Is it time to loosen the Green Belt?

By Sam Snart

With demand for housing continuing at an unprecedented rate, despite the possible implications of Brexit, some people are asking: Is it time to review the Green Belt and its role and current size? However, Sajid […]

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Plans for new home in AONB given consent

Permission has been granted to replace vacant farm buildings with a three bedroom house on farmland in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) overlooking the Pilgrims’ Way in Brabourne. Ashford Borough Councillors voted by […]

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Renewable Energy – is it beginning to run on empty?

By Jon Rimmer

Last year didn’t end brightly, and despite what’s happening in other countries, 2016 could see the beginning of the dark ages for renewable energy projects in the UK. As if the changes in feed-in tariffs […]

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Permitted Development Rights for rural buildings

The current legislation offers an excellent opportunity to farmers and landowners to quickly and cost-effectively secure planning permission for new dwellings in rural areas. It applies to buildings up to 450m2 in area and/or three […]

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Agricultural Grant Scheme Launched for Hedgerows and Boundaries

By Matthew Sawdon

The deadline for applications is 30 April. Benefits may be obtained for capital items such as hedge planting, laying and coppicing, earth bank restoration stone-faced bank repair and restoration, and stone wall restoration. A woodland […]

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Our recommended golf courses in Kent and East Sussex

By Roger Lightfoot

As a golfing destination, Kent and East Sussex has a huge amount going for it. We’re blessed with a better than average climate (compared with other parts of the UK) which means we enjoy more […]

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How to gain planning permission -- a view from both sides of the fence

By Steve Davies

  Having joined Hobbs Parker Property Consultants six months ago, with nearly 30 years’ planning experience gained at Canterbury City Council and local authorities, Steve Davies gives an insight into the world on both sides […]

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What does Brexit mean for the whole planning system?

By Jon Rimmer

It’s been impossible to get away from the issue of the European Union referendum and the vote to leave. However, it’s important to consider what it might mean for the whole planning environment and how […]

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The best beaches in Kent and East Sussex

By Sally Randall

We explore the best beaches in Kent and East Sussex — for your children, dogs and foodie friends — as we work our way round the South East’s beautiful coastline. It’s a funny thing that […]

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Why do kitchens sell houses?

By Alex Davies

The party is in the kitchen! When we have a party at our house my wife and I spend hours making our living room look nice and then most of the evening trying to get […]

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Is selling some land an option in 2016?

By Sam Snart

There appears to be very little confidence of an improvement in outlook for the agricultural sector in the short term. So, is selling an option for some in 2016? The controversial option is to sell
 […]

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New team rising to challenge

By Roger Lightfoot

New team rising to challenge To ensure Hobbs Parker Property Consultants respond to the need for the best possible property, land, planning and development advice, we have made a number of changes to our senior […]

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