The Rare Six-Cylinder Manual Sports Car You Should Buy If You Can't Afford A Porsche 911
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2024 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Take the Jaguar F-Type for example. It looks stunning, can be had with a range of engines and body styles, and all at a fraction of the price of a 911. If you have been hankering after a sporty coupe or convertible with a six-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, you may have overlooked the F-Type altogether. After all, weren't they all automatics? Well, not exactly...
We searched for rare yet affordable 911 alternatives that were offered with a six-cylinder engine, rear-wheel-drive, and a manual transmission, and this was the result.
The Jaguar F-Type
2020 Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe Gold Front Angled View
Jaguar F-Type Production Details
Model Years | 2014-2024 |
Global Sales | 87,731 |
Engine Options | Turbocharged I4 / supercharged V6 / supercharged V8 |
Body Types | Coupe / soft-top convertible |
Layout | RWD / AWD |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic / 6-speed manual |
The Jaguar F-Type arrived for the 2014 MY to replace the stunning but aging XK grand tourer. Over a long ten-year production cycle, it went through several updates, improvements, and changes. Engine options ranged from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to supercharged six and eight-cylinder models.
Debuting as a convertible first, it was the marque's first two-seater sports car in nearly four decades. A coupe was soon added to the range, and, initially, all models were rear-wheel-drive, but optional all-wheel-drive was also offered on certain trims, and from 2015, a manual transmission was available on both the 340 hp and 380 hp V6 variants. A major facelift in 2021 saw big changes inside and out, but the range was trimmed down. 2024 was the final year of production, with 87,731 F-Types sold in total.
jaguar f-type badge yellow
Jaguar F-Type Manual
2016 Jaguar F-Type S Coupe Black Interior Manual Shifter
Manual Transmission F-Type Models
Offering a manual transmission in a modern sports car is not all that common anymore. So, when Jaguar quietly introduced a manual transmission option for the F-Type, you would have thought it would have been done with a bit more fanfare. Yet, little mention was made of it in contemporary press releases. The manual option was introduced in 2015 and was offered solely for the supercharged V6 models with rear-wheel drive. It added a few tenths to the 0-60mph time, but the aim was to please the enthusiasts who had been clamoring for a manual for years.
Model | F-Type V6 | F-Type V6 S |
Engine | 3.0L supercharged V6 | 3.0L supercharged V6 |
Power | 340 hp | 380 hp |
Torque | 332 lb-ft | 339 lb-ft |
0-60 mph | 5.5 seconds | 5.3 seconds |
Road testers at the time were enthused about how much more fun the stick shift added to the driving experience, yet as is usually the case, sales were slow, with most customers preferring the eight-speed auto instead. Of the 87,731 F-Types sold globally, 31,199 found homes in the US. While there is no official breakdown for manual transmission models, data sourced from Jaguar forums and F-Type registries suggest that not many more than 1,000 were ordered. That makes the manual Shift F-Type way rarer than any of its competitors.
Jaguar F-Type Rear Driving Sunset Yellow
The Most Reliable Model Year For The Jaguar F-Type
We could happily recommend any model year Jaguar F-Type, but some of them are more reliable than others.
Used prices are pretty decent when you take those low production figures into account. While there aren't many for sale, the average asking price for a 2016/2017 model ranges between $30,000 to $40,000. That's in line with the automatic variants and the alternatives we have picked below. With so few manual F-Types available, you can't get too picky, but try to hold out for the V6 S, as it offers an additional 40 hp and a limited-slip differential over the base V6 model.
Are There Any Other Manual Alternatives?
2024 Porsche 718 Boxter - exterior
F-Type Alternatives
Make and Model | Porsche 718 Cayman S | BMW M2 | Corvette C7 Stingray |
Engine | 2.5L turbo H4 | 3.0L turbo I6 | 6.2L NA V8 |
Power | 345 hp | 365 hp | 455 hp |
Torque | 310 lb-ft | 343 lb-ft | 460 lb-ft |
0-60mph | 4.4 seconds | 4.4 seconds | 4.0 seconds est |
Average Price (2016 MY) | $40,000-$50,000 | $25,000-$40,000 | $28,000-$45,000 |
Finding a direct rival to the F-Type is not an easy task. There are precious few two-seater, six-cylinder, manual-transmission sports cars that fit the bill. The 911 is the closest, even though it has rear seats, and we were specifically looking for an alternative to the default choice in this segment. Most 2015 models sell for between $70,000 to $110,000, which puts them out of contention anyway. Rivals like the Toyota Supra and Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 were also considered, but both were too expensive to qualify.
2023 Toyota Supra (Manual) review
2023 Toyota Supra: Straight-Six Engine With A Manual Transmission
After 3 model years on sale, Toyota has listened to the enthusiasts who begged for a Manual transmission in the GR Supra sports car.
The Porsche 718 Cayman (or Boxster) comes in pretty close, but while it is the sharper driving tool, and its turbocharged flat-four is potent, it can't match the Jag for aural pleasure. Even in V6 form, the F-Type rips and snorts its way through each gear in a very satisfying way. The BMW M2 is a superb driver's car, even in its earliest iteration, where it had a less aggressive suspension setup and a hotted-up version of the N55 motor instead of a true S-spec M engine.
It's also priced below most F-Types from the same year, but lacks the exotic look and feel of the F-Type. That's the result of it being based on a family car and not a clean-sheet sports car design. The C7 Corvette offered an unbeatable price/performance proposition when new, and it remains a superb choice as a used buy. It sounds and goes better than the F-Type but falls slightly short on interior quality and is not exactly rare.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Time Is Running Out To Buy A Gas-Powered Porsche 718 Cayman Or Boxster
The combustion-powered model was expected to live on alongside the EV, but it seems the gas 718 will depart as the electric one arrives.
So, where does the F-Type fit in? It was never a class leader, even when new, but as a used buy, its charms are better appreciated when outright performance and handling ability are less of a concern. If you are after a characterful and sporty driving experience, with the added involvement that a manual transmission offers, a stick shift Jag F-Type is just about perfect.
Buy A Jag Before It's Too Late
2018 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Silver Front Angled View Driving
Nostalgia can often cause us to do strange things. Whether it's paying way too much for a random Rolling Stones record, or holding on to that scrappy football shirt for decades, we ascribe value in strange ways. Jaguar has long been a brand that relies on nostalgia and historical achievements for its sales. With the brand reinventing itself as an all-electric automaker from 2025 on, that feeling of wanting to recapture the "good ol' days" is even stronger.
2024 Jaguar F-Type Convertible Is The END Of The V8 British Roadster
Video: Saying Goodbye To The Jaguar F-Type Is A Farewell To Many Things
What's next for Jaguar, after killing off the F-Type?
If the urge strikes you to make good on this feeling, the F-Type is a great option. It looks superb, offers strong performance, and the manual transmission only adds to its enjoyment. While BMW, Porsche, and Chevrolet may still bring out gas-powered manual sports cars in the future, the F-Type marks the end of an era. Get one before everyone else does.
Sources: AutoTempest, BMW, Chevrolet, Classic.com, Jaguar, Porsche, Jaguarforums.com.
