JAGUAR might be in the doldrums financially but it still produces the most scintillating cars and they beautifully continue its marvellous sporting history.

The F-Type two seater is the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type, which Enzo Ferrari called the most beautiful car in the world, and I would heartily agree with him.

Only once in my career have I had the chance to drive one of those stunning cars, and I've never forgotten it.

But I have no doubt that the gorgeous F-Type will, in years to come, also take its place among the top and most sought after classic cars.

Its brilliant and astonishing abilities have delighted me ever since I first drove one, from stupendous performance to top notch handling and a decently comfortable ride. What's not to like.

Early models from 2013 with average mileage of 70,000 miles are now down to as little as £22,000, but most on the market have covered many fewer miles and are therefore a good deal more expensive.

Convertible and coupe versions are available of course, but here, I'm going to concentrate on the soft-top Roadster.

Lowering or raising the hood takes just 12 seconds, and can be done at up to 30 miles an hour if the need arises. With it closed, things are water and wind proof and reasonably refined and quiet.

But the range of engines - mostly V6s and V8s - sound so fantastic with the roof down that most enthusiastic owners will leave it there even in the winter!

Latterly there has been an i4 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder with 300bhp, but all the earlier models had supercharged V6 and V8 units.

The i4 is no slouch - as you would expect with so much power. It covers the zero to 60 miles an hour sprint in 5.7 seconds and is capable of 31 miles per gallon.

Next up the range is the V6 Supercharged with 340bhp, which reaches 60 in 5.3 seconds and has a best of 27mpg. Above that comes the V6 S. This has 380 or later 400bhp and can get to 60 in 4.9 seconds with economy best of 32mpg.

The S is available with rear or four wheel drive (4WD), while the first two models are only available with rear wheel drive (RWD).

The S also comes with a switchable exhaust system, where the driver can change between fairly quiet and overrun popping hooligan at the touch of a button, plus a limited slip differential and adaptive suspension.

Finally we come to the R models, all of which have an amazing sounding 5.0-litre V8. The R-Dynamic has 450bhp and gets to 60 in 4.5 seconds, while the R has another 100bhp and gets there is a storming 4.1.

Finally, the range-topping SVR boasts no less than 575bhp, and brings the sprint down to a true supercar level of just 3.5 seconds.

All the V8s are rated at 25 or 26mpg, but I would not expect much better than 20 in everyday driving.

On one driving day with Jaguar at its Fen End handling circuit near Kenilworth in Warwickshire I was able to turn off all the electronics to find out just where the amazingly high grip limits were. The V6 I drove was absolutely brilliant.

The gearbox has Sport, Snow and Manual modes, and manual changes can be made using paddles behind the steering wheel.

I found that in Sport mode the auto did everything quicker than I could have done it myself.

Inside, the cabin is a bespoke and sumptuous place to ride. All models have leather upholstery with excellent seat adjustment, sat nav, keyless entry and starting, a very good sound system and a huge raft of electronic safety devices to keep you on the straight and narrow.

Pay £21,600 for a '15 15-reg 3.0-litre 340bhp Supercharged auto drophead, or £27,560 for an ‘18 18-reg i4 Turbocharged auto.

Coupes at the lower end of the range will be about £500 to £1,000 more.