I might be an IT-working couch potato, but I also enjoy the occasional multi-day hike, as you might have seen from other posts I’ve written about walks and tracks. And in an effort to tick all New Zealand Great Walks, my wife and I were set to do the Paparoa Track this Waitangi long weekend, but a landslide at the track changed our plans last second.
With everything already booked (and non-refundable), we tried to find other alternatives, but handling the logistics can be quite difficult, namely for traversing stretches of road and lake. On the latter, we were able to exchange water taxi vouchers around for other vessels and, on the former, it was Eyrewell Forest Motor Company that came to the rescue.
I have gone through a Jaguar discovery journey recently, having tried both the E-Pace and the F-Pace. It was enough to give me a taste of what the brand stands for, and a realization that it was only going to be through a sedan or coupé that I would get the full taste of what the big cats can actually offer. And, thanks to EFMC, I could finally cross that British boundary through none other than the F-Type!
This being the pre-facelift version, I consider it to be the best looking F. The front fascia on the new ones is more modern, granted, but it’s just not as handsome. The rear end, however, is always gorgeous, bringing lines that hark back to the absolutely iconic E-Type. My friends used to call my 2016 MX-5 a baby F-Type and from this view, I can see the resemblance.
Our journey started with a grocery stop to get some of the items for the trip sorted. The boot, which was already filled to the brim with our full size suitcase and two backpacks, could only take half of it, but this is 100% more our fault than the car’s, as the boot shape is actually surprisingly usable. Around town, the F-Type might feel bulky, with its long hood, compromised visibility and overall inertia.
But, as to be expected from any GT worth its weight, it is on the motorway that it shows its full potential. It made our initial stint of 350km a non-stop journey, something that I have not done in a long time, and a massive testament to the car’s ability to eat miles in comfort and pace.
Considering our chariot was so special this time around, my comment on the track itself will be more brief. This not being one of the actual Great Walks, the infrastructure provided by the Department of Conservation, be it in the huts or through the track, is not as comprehensive. You will hike for 8 hours without a single toilet, and two of the three huts we used had their bunks in the same room as the common areas/kitchen. Nothing that experienced hikers will be too mad about, but something to prepare for, as is the fact that the track itself is not as friendly to novices.
Where it compensates, though, is on the views. You quickly move from a beautiful, deep, mossy forest to open mountain valleys, always following the rivers created by the water flowing from one lake to the next. It can be challenging at times, but there is plenty of shelter and the flatter areas allow you to soak in the incredible views of the mountain valleys.
At the end of the second day, 25km into the walk, the hut is mere minutes away from what is one of the highlights of the track, Blue Lake itself. It is considered to be the clearest body of fresh water in the world, with visibility measured around the 80m mark. Even though you can’t go in due to its sacred nature to the local iwi, it is indeed very blue, and very clear.
It also marked the beginning to an optional detour, leading to Lake Constance, New Zealand’s largest alpine lake. Another one where touching the waters is not permitted, so it was more a feast for the eyes while keeping the sandflies from feasting on us.
Due to the time we had available for this track, this represented our midpoint, and where we started our return. We had to walk back days 1 and 2 together on day 3, so it was intense and rushed. At least there was an F-Type waiting for me at the end of all of that!
The cold start makes the experience special from the jump, with an initial snarl worthy of the big feline badge. And if you’re still reading, you are probably wondering how the F-Type drives, right? Spoiler alert: it’s great. It has loads of character, and purity of purpose (my favourite trait in a car).
The lightning fast steering I noticed in other Jags is finally matched by the dynamics and handling prowess of the chassis in the F-Type, and, of course, a powertrain that invites you to drive it like it should be driven. The F-Type body is a versatile platform that allowed Jag to put a 4, a 6 or an 8 cylinder under the reverse-opening clamshell bonnet to address as many slices of the market as possible. I got the supercharged V6 and ahh, what a V6 this is…
Even though you barely ever get to hear the supercharger, this is still very much a forced induction motor. The screamy screw does its job alright, with a wall of torque exactly where the engine sounds its best. You get to experience the most of the power alongside a beautiful crescendo of the engine note, but higher into the RPM range, there is a perceptible drop. At that point, you’re better off letting the ZF automatic upshift for an engaging rinse and repeat.
That’s what makes GTs so special, and a breed of car I like so much. You sacrifice some of the practicality of a sedan or wagon, and some of the dynamics of a proper sports car, to find a balance in something that still looks and sounds amazing, and can be driven for long distances in comfort. What more could you ask for to amp you up for a 3 day hike, and to have a good time driving back?
The F-Type is a very special car, a great representation of everything that Jaguar knows how to do well. I am watching closely, as are a lot of other people, how the future steps of the brand will shape up their presence in the market after that controversial rebrand.
I guess we’ll see! And, in the meantime, if you want to secure a slice of this amazing chapter of their history, this very F-Type is for sale through the amazing EFMC. Tell them we sent you and maybe this can become something I do again – bar the landslide. Thanks, EFMC, for coming to the rescue and providing this amazing opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
