^ i can easily imagine. i've always loved jags. first car i ever wrecked was a 53 xk 120M and had an e type 65. family used to collect 'em. i know i would also love owing that r type coupe. i just derived great satisfaction knowing this guys car was not any faster than this old porker is

 

I always loved them too. I always longed for a 120, one of my dream cars. I did have a truly pristine '64 E-Type Coupe years ago, loved it! Then an '80 SC Targa in Guards Red. Loved having the P car more than actually driving it. I rode motorcycles every day it wasn't snowing, then drove the truck. Little time for sports cars. Next was a V-12 XJS, a 1990. Very nice car, actually liked it better than my SC.

 

I had 1988 V-12 XJS nice car loved driving it until it burnt up almost taking my garage with it= pushed it out of the garage it rolled down my driveway and stopped next to a tree where it finished cooking ah good times lol.

 

It's funny this subject came up. Just a few weeks ago I was just thinking kinda the same thing, only about my '07 Boxster S.
I absolutely *love* my mildly tuned 996TT and plan to keep it long enough to leave it to my grandson in my will However, every time I get in it, it just feels so... well, big! The shifter is big and heavy, the steering is great, but not razor sharp like the Box, (AWD?). And while there is nothing to compare to the kick in the back when the turbos kick in, it can be just a little lethargic to throttle inputs.
My commute is ~15 miles of autocross style backroads around a reservoir and the Boxster simply dances around the corners. The TT is faster, but it's more point and shoot. No sooner have the turbos come on song, it's time to shut it down and hammer on the brakes.
It may be sacrilege to some, but on those roads the Boxster is actually more fun. Slower than the TT by some margin, but more fun.

 

truly unlike any any other cars. hey wait! that describes ours too
but the e type was something else. the 120m, well. not many cars would do 120 mph back in 54 LOL. jags are a indeed a class of their own. until ford bought em i suppose

 

couldn't have said it better. Left behind the NA motor in fear of it blowing up as OP had happen with his 40th. Still the sport exhaust PSE on the C4S was intoxicating, and the gear ratio was much better. I find myself wanting to shift up in the turbo more, but then it lags. In the end, it's much quicker and more fun on the track!

 

The more I think about it, and the more I drive the NA and the TT back to back, I realize the main culprit might be the tall gearing on the TT not the lag. Yeah the TT feels heavier, the throttle response feels somewhat "disconnected" compared to the NA but I think with a closer gear ratio it would be more fun. As I mentioned before, there is very near a full gear difference between the 40th Ann model an the TT at highway speeds. The NA 6th gear = The TT 5th gear.


Here is a crazy question: Has anyone changed their gearing? Can it be done? GT3 gear ratio would be nice.

 

the 996 gt3 had interchangeable gear ratios ( iirc? ) while folks do change out the gears in the 996 turbo, it's usually for taller ratios, not shorter. 1st is ridiculous

 

1st s ridiculous....I think 3,4,5 & 6 could closer together. 6th is useless bellow 80 MPH

 

^^ agree. i gave some thought to changing up gearing while my box was last opened and decided against it, since i'm mostly just hill climbing and live mainly in 2/3rd. but definitely something to consider for trackers and autobahners.

most folks say 6th!? whats that!?