All that being said, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the heck out of the manual F-Type. You can go for the plain vanilla F-Type that puts out 340 hp or the F-Type S that pushes 380 horsepower. Both are married to a lightweight ZF transmission, and put out 332 lb-ft and 338 lb-ft of torque, respectively. That’s plenty for hurtling the lightweight car around back roads of New York and Pennsylvania with a smile on your face. While those numbers pale in comparison to the V-8 AWD R version of the F-Type we also drove, its still pure physical fun.

Now, pardon me while I fan myself, and uh, shift gears. More track-oriented, and much less squirrelly in corners than the previous generation, the V-8 F-Type R puts out 550 horsepower and a whopping 502 lb-ft of torque. The R Coupe does 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and the Convertible version matches it. Married to an 8-speed automatic transmission Jaguar calls “Quickshift,” it makes being behind the wheel like driving a raucous ball of energy around the track at Monticello. 

On the road, the V-8 Supercharged engine still sounds incredible. Find a tunnel or a good rock outcropping and let the exhaust sing in Sport mode. People will smile at you and give you a thumbs up, or scowl at all that glorious noise you’re making. Either way, it’s a blast.

The V-8 F-Type Rs will come with standard AWD while the S Coupe will offer AWD as an option—but only with the automatic transmission. This means that if you want, you won’t have to worry as much about (accidentally) hanging the tail out or getting stuck in a quarter-inch of snow. In normal driving, 100% of the torque is sent to the rear wheels. When the system senses, or even anticipates, slip, it sends as much as 50% of the torque to the front. They system is constantly working to reduce both understeer and oversteer, adjusting for the driver as it works. On the track the V-8 R AWD version can be pushed harder into and out of the turns without that “uh oh” moment if the driver puts their foot into it.

The new 2016 models also get an upgraded electric power assist steering system that is surprisingly good in 90% of situations. Road feel is translated to the driver clearly and cleanly without any strange numb feeling. The system even compensates for ambient temperature so the driver gets the most realistic feedback from the road.  

Oh, and about all those niggling concerns over reliability—the typical Jaguar gremlins: the company is assuaging those fears with a generous set of vehicle coverage plans. A 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty plus a 5-year, 60,0000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance plan are both included. Jaguar is also including a system they call InControl which allows buyers to press a button and get 24/7 roadside assistance or emergency calling. It’s Jags version of OnStar and it comes free with the 5-year/60,000-mile coverage (after that you have to buy a subscription to the service).

The 6-speed manual F-Type Coupe starts at $65,000 base while the convertible starts at $68,100. The top of the line AWD F-Type R Coupe starts at $103,600 and its convertible brother starts $2,850 above that. It’s quite the entertaining way to shift yourself.