Opinions on Jaguars

These days, Jags are Fords.

I did look into the X-type, when I was shopping for a winter car. Look out for the markup on the options -- they'll jack the sticker price by a huge margin. I disqualified it mostly because it was too big to fit in the garage (in the space vacated by a Celica AllTrac).

I'd say compare the Audi and the Volvo S60/S70.

I went with an EVO, but it has the kind of cheap interior appropriate to a "winter beater".

 

The new S-Type 4.2 is a rocket and quiet as a ghost.

For my money, I'd take a used 2001 XJR at half the price. More prestige, power and MONEY at the end of the day...

The 99-03 XJs are as rock solid a car as you could ask for. Go for the R or the VDP though or don't get one.

Nick

 

My Jag made my Ferrari look dependable.

 

Bought a 2002 X-Type new for a work/winter driver. I enjoy it and other then the 1st year issues its been very reliabile. I have 39k on it now and have not touched it . Orig. brakes and tires. Gets about 24-25 mpg avg and fits nicely under the Fcar lift. Wife enjoys driving it and the AWD makes driving in the snow/wet worry free. I have always had Jags (XK-E,XJ-6 , XJS) because they were unreliable and inexpensive to buy used(I've fixed them all). Always would get a steal price and then drive them to 100k and sell them. I'm trading the X-Type in this year and either getting a new 05 or wait for the 06 X-Type. Enjoy the ride

 

It's too bad that corporate acquisitions have "blanded" formerly interesting cars like Jaguar and Saab. If they could just leave them alone, it wouldn't be so bad. But without "platform sharing", acquisitions don't make much financial sense.

 

Newer jags work better than the old, but they lack soul. XK/XJ cars are worth looking into. Stay away from the S (mondeo) in general, prone to myriad failures although I don't know if they've fixed them since.

Check with some of the jag fans here (Sunny) for forums where you can find a more informed set of people to question.

--Dan

 

More and more Jags remind me of what luxury cars, like mercedes used to be like. More attention to comfort then gizmo's. Gizmo's were for the Japenese cars.

The XJ6 I drove for a while will always be for me the definition of what luxury should be like.

As for reliablility, well they're British and they're trying Jolly hard on the electrical bits. They're bound to get it right sooner or latter.

 

Look into the xj8 super. It got really good reviews. Or look into an xk8.
I had an 85 xjs v12 and that's the smoothest car I have ever driven. You have to know how to work on the older cars though if you buy one. There's always something intermittent with them.

 

Agreed. The XJs are pure grace.

 

My dad bought my mother a 2004 X type 2.5. The interior is gorgeous, but a little cramped for my taste. Not enough pep with a full passenger load. He paid just under $25K. I believe it came with a four year warranty including oil changes, etc. It's a pretty car and gets them lots of respect from valets, etc. I wouldn't pay sticker, but for under $25K I think it was a steal.

 

Well good choice on selecting the Jaguar

I have a '99 XJ/8 - absolutely love it.
(amost as much as my Dino - but they are
two different cars)

 

Get a 2002 X-Type with a select edition warranty. The first year had some growing pains. The ride of the X-Type with AWD is a comfortable ride, they are almost as smooth as the heavier XJ sedans and quite a bargain after someone else took the first two year depreciation hits. Believe it or not, your not loosing much interior room at all on the normal XJ6/XJ8's vs the S-Type and XJ sedans. I would recommend the 3.0L over the 2.5L. What is the price range your looking at?

Cheers,
Sunny