Coupe or 2+2?

[Stevemorris]

It’s a lovely quandary to have I know, and my heart says always get what you really want and not what you can afford?

I have been looking at E Types for about a year now, watching auctions etc, even been to view a few, and have decided to bite the bullet and get one as mentioned in a previous post. My ideal car is, I think, is indeed the ‘holy grail’ and I am beginning to realise it maybe doesn’t exist even….

So, a compromise is needed, a re think, and although 2 years ago I would have said definitely no to a 2+2, I am now starting to look at them.

I definitely think the coupe is a better looking car, but the 2+2 offers more practicality in the longer doors etc, and it’s still a series one E Type Jaguar right?

I am going to look at one tomorrow in Stourbridge, a specialist, Classic Motor Cars. They have both there, so it’s a good time to do a side by side comparison and maybe a test drive of both, maybe that will help me decide? I used to work on these years ago as a mechanic and every time a 2+2 came in for repair we called it an ‘Old man’s car’, but then again, I am in that category now!

What’s anyone’s thoughts of 2+2 Vs. Coupe?

[mgcjag]

CMC have nice cars....SNGB is 5mins from them....2+2 vs fhc....as you know basically the same..looks the same from the drivers seat looking forwards...you doing the best thing looking at the 2 side by side....but look at a S2 if they have one....Steve

[40GT]

I too thought the same, I never even gave the 2+2 a thought, it was always a S1 FHC or nothing. Until a 2+2 came up ( without a Webasto!!!!! ), it needed work but it just looked right, darker colours do help hide the larger cabin I feel.

Some of the time there are 3 of us and the +2 is perfect for these times, this has made the choice such a positive so many times, otherwise it's a very comfortable car and especially if you're on the bigger side.

I would say if price isn't the problem and 3 up isn't needed, perhaps go for a FHC.

[malcolm]

I had a 2+2. Loved the roominess. I later went out in someone else's coupe and felt claustrophobic by comparison. The lower price does also help!

[Durango2k]

The view over the bonnet is 100% the same…

Carsten

[Gfhug]

Buy the best conditioned car you can afford.

Remember the S1 2+2 looks very different to the S2 2+2. Screen angle, 3 wipers vs 2 and other details. The view from the driver’s seat might be the same, but, and it’s a big but, the view when you look at the car as you approach it to unlock and drive is very important too. Will you appreciate it? In ten years time?

Geoff

[tim wood]

I’ve had both the FHC and the2+2.
The FHC was great when I was a young “flash harry” courting my wife. This was in the time when mini skirts were in fashion and her getting in and out was a real blessing !

Then the kids came along and the 2+2 sufficed until they grew legs. Still kept it for many years and to most people it’s still an E type.

Now the “ flash harry” element has gone along with much of my hair I’ve got the OTS to complete the experience!

(PS I paid about £700 for the FHC but it was rotten throughout)

Tim

[chrisfell]

2+2 every day of the week for me. I can use it. I do use it. I've driven it every year at least 4000 miles, 87500 miles in 23 years. I've done the weekly shop, during Covid that was for three households. I've filled it with DIY stuff to help out my son with his first new house. I've filled the car with plants and bags from the garden centre. I've taken waste to the recycling centre - even had a partly filled bulk bag in the back. And the car gets polished up for duties as a prom taxi and as a wedding car. And I've given fun rides for charity (organised by Goodwood). Mine even has seat belts in the back - useful when taking a Groom to his wedding this summer as his six year old son was to join him as a Page Boy. And this year's Prom taxi ride included a boyfriend who didn't mind sitting in the back for the half hour it took to get to the Prom. Try doing that in a FHC or OTS!

Only we know the car is not the original 150mph rocket ship that forced us to confront the sixties after more than a decade of austerity and rationing following WW2. Only we can see it is a little hunchbacked from some angles. But from the driver's seat it looks and sounds exactly like 9600HP, but without the crunchy Moss 'box, and it has enough headroom to keep a six footer's hair in place.

[malcolm]

Only we know the car is not the original 150mph rocket ship

Agree with all the above from Chris, as I did similarly, ACCEPT for the "rocket ship" bit. I did a few track days at Goodwood with the E Type register (part of the JDC) and I went past nearly all the other E Types, regardless of model. The 2+2 is 2 cwt heavier than the FHC of the same year, but it's also down to how well the engine is prepped. Below is me at the chicane, inside front wheel starting to lift, but car staying totally on track. On the Lavant straight we were hitting a genuine (sat nav) 110 mph + each lap, despite standard brakes meaning I was slowing early before the end of the straight.

[mgcjag]

So what happened with the visit to CMC....?

[Stevemorris]

The visit to CMC...

Arrived to be greeted by 'the' car, standing alone, outside, facing outwards so as the bonnet would be greeting me as soon as I turned the corner, looking immaculate, even the wheels were turned in slightly.

Fantastic presentation from the sales guy Richard. By his own admission he has only been involved with these cars for 6 months but I honestly couldn't fault him or his approach, truly professional.

The car...

Good from far but... Slightly unfair maybe as I am fairly fussy when it comes to cars, plus working on these years ago I know my way around them quite well, but it is fairly 'tired' as an example. It's been painted fairly recently id say, and not that well. The interior looks extremely tired, and as we all know it can be an open cheque book regarding that. My attention was drawn to the centre console, mainly because there's a big gap between that and the switch panel, this aroused my suspicions of course, and rightly so as the heritage certificate stated the car left the factory as an automatic, which means the console is incorrect (maybe from a coupe?) or its been made up, either way it looks very wrong.

I know the door fit is a very long topic of discussion, but this particular cars doors are a very poor fit, about an inch out at the top, which of course makes them very difficult to close. Bonnet is starting to sprout some corrosion, as are the floor pans, nothing serious, but would need some work in the near future (bonnet).

Mechanically, the car is good. The engine sounds sweet and pulls well, albeit its been replaced over the years (not a matching numbers car then), but there is a fairly bad oil leak which looks like it is coming from the front of the cylinder head. Although I couldn't say for sure it looks like the head gasket is leaking oil. Clutch is good, driveline is good, it has cooper craft front brakes, and standard rears, which look fairly new?

The car has curly hub wheels, which are in very good order, and standard 185 tyres. Steering seemed a little heavy but I am sure the steering wheel is incorrect. It also seemed to be tighter to the the right than to the left? Exhaust is stainless throughout, and the radiator looks in good order.

Basically, mechanically a good car, but cosmetically very challenged.....

And no I didn't buy it..

On a positive note, I dropped into SNGB and had a chat with them, got a contact for a chap at Hutson's who may be able to assist, but more importantly the have 20/50 MORRIS GOLDEN FILM ON SPECIAL OFFER AT £20 FOR 5 LITRES!!

I bought 10 litres as I use it in my bikes.

[mgcjag]

That's bad news.....CMC were well known for haveing very nice cars......all the times iv visited and looked around they only had spot on cars....I know they have branched out and are now not just Jags.....sounds like they have droped the ball.....Steve

[mgcjag]

If it was the green 2+2 then I can see plenty of issues by looking at the photos.....but did it help you decide on fhc or 2+2...?

[Stevemorris]

Yes it was the green 2+2 Steve. They are advertising it as Opalescent Dark Green, it clearly isn't. I would say it is BRG but a bit of ODG paint remains in the filler neck. Its actually a sale or return car, so not theirs, and I got the impression it was open to offers? It would have needed at least 10k spent on it to make it the car I would like it to be, interior/paintwork etc which would have put the car at 55k (the asking price was 45k), and we are straying into FHC money there...so I think its FHC for me.....Steve.

[malcolm]

Make sure you sit in both a FHC and a 2+2, preferably one straight after the other, before you decide.

[Stevemorris]

Thanks Malcolm. Fortunately, CMC had a Fixed Head Coupe there, and I did just that. I will be honest and say I found the FHC just as easy to get in and out of, which was my only concern really. I prefer the shape of the FHC over the 2+2 and would never really use the rear seats on the 2+2 either, so I am leaning towards the FHC of course, but you never know what's round the corner!

Steve.