WHY I BOUGHT MY F-TYPE

Los Angeles‑based investor Evan Roklen explains why his plans to buy a Porsche 911 changed when he saw Jaguar’s all‑new F‑TYPE V8S.

Is the F‑TYPE your first Jaguar car you’ve ever owned?

Jaguar had never really been on my radar until I saw the XKR‑S. I loved the look of the car, loved that it had a 550HP supercharged V8 and loved that it was rare and something special. But in the end, I decided it was just too big of a car for me. Then the F‑TYPE came out and I decided that I had to get a better look at it on display at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. From there, I talked through the details with my local dealer and that was it. The F‑TYPE had everything I wanted in a performance roadster and I knew I had to have one.

Which F‑TYPE model did you end up purchasing?

I wanted the supercharged V8 F‑TYPE for the performance, and it turned out to be truly unbelievable and absolutely worth the price. I went for the Satellite Grey Metallic color, with a black interior with red stitching details and black wheels. I ordered the car in mid‑April and took delivery on June 21.

How are you enjoying it so far?

I work from home which means I don’t have to commute, so pretty much every mile I drive is for fun. Right now I have around 2,000 miles on the clock, mostly from driving up through Malibu and into the canyons. We have great driving roads, close to where I live, where you can really enjoy the performance and handling of the car. The F‑TYPE is just so exciting to drive; it feels really tight and agile and has such an amazing soundtrack. At the same time, it’s also a touring car when you want it to be, with a ride that doesn’t beat you up.

You had been planning to buy a Porsche 911. Why the change of mind?

I was shopping pretty deeply for a new 911. It’s a terrific car with a lot of performance and a fabulous heritage. But in the end, I didn’t feel it was special enough, and here in LA they are everywhere. The appeal of the F‑TYPE is that it looks beautiful and is different than anything on the road today. The Jaguar design team really did a fantastic job.

You went to the Castle Bromwich factory in the UK to see how the car is built?

Visiting manufacturing and design plants is something I really enjoy doing. I also have a Corvette that I bought in 2008 and went to the Bowling Green plant in Kentucky to see the production line and pick up the car. I did the same with my BMW M3, visiting the Munich factory to take delivery. The Castle Bromwich plant was fascinating and well worth the visit. It was great to see how Jaguar is using aluminum to build their cars.

You live in LA where there are exotic cars seemingly everywhere. What kind of reaction does the F‑TYPE get?

The reaction to the F‑TYPE is what really surprised me. I have people hanging out of car windows with cell phones taking pictures of the car. Every time I stop, I get people asking me what kind of car it is. I enjoy going to Sunday morning car shows and it seems there’s always people around the F‑TYPE, trying to get a better look, especially when I start it up. I’m not used to that kind of attention but I do enjoy sharing my enthusiasm about the car.

I think Jaguar just nailed it with this two‑seat convertible sports car. The F‑TYPE has the performance, the handling and great looks that totally set it apart. I am one very satisfied customer and can’t wait to see what the brand has in store for the years to come.