No surprise that 87% of you want an F1. What is more surprising is that the W1 scored zero votes. I think the car might just fall flat. Let’s lower the price to civilian standards this week. I just finished a turn in a BMW Z4 with a manual transmission, but its $77k price tag gives me pause because a Jaguar F-TYPE R is available.
The 2021 Jaguar F-TYPE R Convertible vs the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i
See the 2021 F-TYPE listing here
This story is less about the Z4, of which a full review is coming some time next month. But what I will say is this: feels like a 3 Series with a power folding top. I doubt it’s the sports car experience you’re looking for, even with a manual transmission.
As mentioned in the intro, the Z4 is expensive. Yes, it’s still $40,000 cheaper than the Jaguar F-TYPE R convertible. With good reason, because the F-TYPE is faster, sounds better, looks better, and makes the kinds of sounds usually reserved for Saturday night at 2AM.
Sadly, 2024 is the Jag’s final year, so although you may still find one on the lot, chances are slim. And though there are many, many used examples available dating back to 2014, we want the face-lifted model. Man, that car looks good.
Updated models are quite rare, but I’ve just found the one – a vert in British Racing Green.
The 2021 Jaguar F-TYPE R Convertible
The F-TYPE comes in lesser flavors, but trust me, the supercharged V-8 is worth the price of entry. The car is very fast in this form, but it’s not going to give you Corvette Z06 performance even if it is the same price.
That’s why I think it’s important to select the convertible option. You’ll be able to savor the experience much more. Our example here has:
- 14,000 miles
- British Racing Green over black. A shame it’s not tan/brown.
- No mods, clean title
- Still has a CPO warranty until 2026!
- 5.0-liter supercharged V8, rated at 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque
- ZF eight-speed. Feels great. No stick available.
- Minor scuffs under the front bumper, but no real flaws.
- 20-inch Style 5060 wheels finished in gloss black
- Bid to $37,500 so far
Remember, it sounds like this…
Finding comps are difficult. Here’s one that didn’t sell for $63,700, with an original MSRP of $116,000. That’s some serious depreciation – I’m sure it would have sold at $70k. It would definitely be less than a new Z4. Speaking of…
The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i
If you want to row your own in a Z4, it must be the M40i variant, and it must be equipped with the Handschalter Package. It comes with a bunch of goodies, but as my demo shows, you’re still not fully loaded until you reach $77k. That’s more than the Jaaaag.
There’s no way you’ll find a manual on the used lot now, because they just came out. You can always order one, and BMW has said the manual isn’t a limited run – they will make as many as they can sell. Looking locally, I found one here, so they seem to be easy enough to get.
So what will it be? The stoic German, or the crazy Brit?
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