The perfect car for a weekend getaway – The Jaguar F-Type Sport
Because a car doesn't get much better than this...
, As another long week drew to a close, an hour or so on the golf course seemed almost essential to let off some steam.
These days, I usually switch my phone off upon arrival as a rule. However, on this occasion, I was remiss enough to forget to sever this particular digital limb. So, having barely limbered up, my ringtone started inevitably chiming out – to both my dismay, and the tut-tutting of my fellow golfers.
Less than three minutes later, I was back on the road – whisked away from the course but with the prospect of some different stress relief in the delivery of a new Jaguar F-Type Sport 400, mine for the weekend.
If ever there were a car to turn heads, this is it. With sleek lines that set the pulse racing alone, and a powerful 3.0 litre V6 engine that is more than vocal, I looked set to roar the specialist sportscar across the plains of Suffolk for a weekend of adventure.
Having recently moved to the area, I decided to make the most of such an exquisite chariot, and explore my freshly-found surroundings. With a flurry of activities and events taking place in this usually-sleepy corner of Britain, it looked set to be quite the trip. The QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket was to be in full swing, and sunny forecasts promised to show the car in – literally – the best light. Cue a route to the Suffolk Food Hall to stock up on local picnic produce and then to the open road. Loaded up with a hamper, rug and jackets, the Jaguar still had plenty of room to spare.
Pulling onto the motorway was a pleasure, smooth and steady, but a constant eye on the speedometer was required to keep such a powerful set of wheels in check. It wasn’t long before other drivers were slowing alongside to admire the ride – and, even though the monotony of the motorway isn’t this car’s natural habitat, the Sport 400 did a hell of a job ramping up the excitement factor.
After gliding into Newmarket, the racing itself was excellent entertainment – as Best of British as the wheels on which we arrived. And, even though my betting left much to be desired, the picnic – of local Suffolk chorizo, homemade asparagus quiche and the Ploughman’s Scotch egg – ticked all the boxes.
Back in the Jaguar, with a full stomach and an empty wallet I headed home – gathering yet more appreciative looks and turned heads as I went, (and given the sun hadn’t shone quite as much as I had hoped for the heated steering wheel was a welcome if novel benefit!)
When Sunday rolled around, I decided to leave the motorway behind and delve deeper in the Suffolk countryside. A perfect excuse to discover what natural gems the county had to offer – I envisaged the trip would turn into a celebration of gastronomy as much as it would geography. Not wanting to get too lost, the Sat-Nav (which was as high tech as you would expect) was essential, and the fact that parking suggestions flashed up on arrival at each destination, an added bonus.
Orford was my first stop, for a starter of oysters and potted shrimp at the Butley Oysterage and, upon glancing a sign boasting that the Unruly Pig was the ‘Best Suffolk Pub 2016/17’, I instantly knew where I was to be having my main. And boy, did it live up to my exacting standards. Almost as highly as the Jaguar itself, by now, had surpassed any expectations I had before slipping into its ergonomic driving seat.
The only thing I realised this car could not promise was a peaceful drive through the country. But who on earth wants that?
Instead, this is a boisterous car. It knows what it can do and it is not afraid to shout about it – aesthetically, in terms of performance, or audibly. My soundtrack – a throaty grumble from the engine – with the active exhaust enabled – blended scarily seamlessly with the best of AC/DC – which tumbled from the plentiful 10 speakers and two subwoofers as if messrs Johnson, Young and Rudd were passengers themselves.
That said, the F-Type handles country lanes with grace and confidence – the antithesis of the hard rock vibe it gives off when pushed. The torque vectoring and sophisticated computer management gadgetry maximise performance around corners and this, combined with the figure-hugging, premium-leather performance seats, creates an atmosphere of luxury and comfort atop an explosive engine.
The car, with its impeccable white styling and clean lines – not to mention unrivalled mechanics – was sadly missed come Monday morning, after the last rumble of its enviable engine had faded away. But with such a well-driven adventure under my belt, and the experience of testing such a refined set of wheels fresh in my mind, I would not be forgetting the purr of this particular Jaguar in a hurry.
This article was sponsored by Jaguar. For more information, visit here.
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