The 'E' Type Forum

Straight forward question ...

Given a similar spec and similar priced car in superb condition, which would you choose and why - Series 1 Coupe or Series II OTS.

It's a decision I'm struggling with at the moment!

Have u driven both....if not try them both out.....its just down to personal choice as a driver unless your speculating on values......Steve

mgcjag wrote:Have u driven both....if not try them both out.....its just down to personal choice as a driver unless your speculating on values......Steve

I've driven several examples of both! My ideal would be a S1 OTS but the prices are too high. So I've got to compromise but not sure which way to go ... :?

You're the only one that can answer your question. Do you prefer the coupe or the OTS? There are strong fans of both series although as you know, the Series I's command a higher price. Many series II owners feel with some objectivity that they really are a better car for less money. Some (including Sir William) think that the coupe has better lines and is more beautiful. Personally, I love the look of my OTS with the hood down and you can't beat the open air feeling and visibility on a nice day. OTOH, on a cold, inclement day, the coupe is the way to go (with no rust proofing having been applied to my rust-free car, I avoid coupe weather like the plague.) You have to ask yourself (with your budgetary constraints) would you be happier with the Series I with your second choice body style or vice versa? Believe me, once you make your choice and get behind the wheel, you won't be able to wipe the grin off of your face!

hello Chris
actually for me the citeria for deciding are rather straighforward

If you live in a climate that allows you to remove the hood in more than 50% of the days , with WAF, then choose an OTS

on contrary, choose FHC

I can talk with some experience as I have 2 convertibles, and despite the fact that I live in the southern part of France (not Rivoera, though), I only use them with the top down less than 5% of the time; either it's too cold, too rainy, too overcast, too sunny, either my wife if complaining about the wind, the pollens , too much sun etc

and I will add on a personal touch that I find the OTS ugly with its hood on, which will be in 95% of the cases (have you noticed how few pics of an OTS with hood on there are on the web ?)

then you might ask yourself a last question : do I want to have children or grand children sharing my passion ? ...then what you need is a 2+2 !
:)

I have a SI OTS

It must be 6-8 months since I had the top UP

I love the air in the hair thing, but on the other hand I think it detracts a bit of the feeling of the car. It feels more cozy with the top up.

I would not swap it for a FHC but I wouldn't mind one for those rainy days

But there is no doubt that the S1 Coupe is the most beautiful of all the E Types

drcarrera wrote:Straight forward question ...

Given a similar spec and similar priced car in superb condition, which would you choose and why - Series 1 Coupe or Series II OTS.

It's a decision I'm struggling with at the moment!

If you arent too tall,.....for practicality, the S1 coupe in the UK.

For fun and wind in your hair the S2 OTS, but you will use it far less with our climate, well, we dont have a climate, we just have weather

My money's on the S1 FHC, or S1 2+2 if you have kids / grandkids.

For me, the OTS with the top down looks fantastic - but hood up, it looks the worst of the lot to me. And in the UK, I'm with Rolando - you hardly eber have the hod down. I also had a TR4, and found that half the time it is too wet; half of the remaining time, too cold. Half of that quarter remaining, to windy. Half of that eighth, you're on dual carriageways or motorways and you're too exposed and it's too noisy. So, a fraction of the time spent with the hood down, looking worse than the coupe.
My choice was a 2+2 with sunroof. I get the room I need, including headroom, and (with the wind deflector up) I get the open air feel when I want without being blown to bits. Also, my wife doesn't nag me about her hair being ruined!
All just personal views of course. Go with the heart!

Dont forget when your in it your not looking at it......u can always put a hard top on an OTS.....Steve

Hardtops seem to be going the same way as the cars: http://tinyurl.com/owsuusa

Yes factory ones are bit step but a friend purchased one of the cheaper replicas... ?400 and had it sprayed to match his OTS ?160,. Great for use in the winter or rainy days and only a specialist would know the difference. http://www.honeybournemouldings.co.uk/jaguar.htm Steve

I'm going to stick my neck out on the line here but i would probably go with S1 FHC (that's coming from a BIG OTS fan) When I do anything with E-types you can usually find me hanging around two S1 FHCs and they are most civilised cars to be in and very pretty. Plenty of room, very practical, and it's a S1 (I sense a bit of Series 1 snobbery on my behalf, sorry!) Saying that though, with the view over the bonnet you'll not tell the difference between a S1 and S2 OTS, and if someone offered me one I almost certainly wouldn't say no

Not very helpful I guess in the end! Either car is amazing and you'll be happy either way.

If you want everyone to know business is at your salon get an OTS, otherwise it's a FHC every time...

I thought it was the Healey 3000 that are the 'hairdresser's' car

All convertibles really..... with the possible honourable exception of the Ferrari Daytona Spyder (which coincidentally is one of the few Ferraris that doesn't mark you out as kn*b )

I am sure I read somewhere that any FHC with a sunroof and beige interior was officially recognised as a hairdressers car? 8)

Au contraire. A car so described is universally recognised as off-the-scale butch :D

PS Anyway, it's a Webasto. We Webasto owners are very touchy about having our roof referred to as just 'a sunroof'....