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Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / Science and Technology => Topic started by: Wayne on July 27, 2009, 05:12:30 AM
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To the gentle English folks...
What can you tell me about the late-model Jaguar X-Type? It looks like I have an opportunity to pick one up for a decent price, but would be interested in the opinions of English dudes who might actually know more about the English oriented "Baby Jag" than I do.
Wayne
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To the gentle English folks...
What can you tell me about the late-model Jaguar X-Type? It looks like I have an opportunity to pick one up for a decent price, but would be interested in the opinions of English dudes who might actually know more about the English oriented "Baby Jag" than I do.
Wayne
Probably my least favourite jag... When buying a car like a jaguar I want something a bit more special :)
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Probably my least favourite jag... When buying a car like a jaguar I want something a bit more special :)
With a budget of $6000 USD or so, "a bit more special Jag" is not really in the picture, but compared to the US cars I can buy, the X-type Jag is really "a bit more special" than I can afford as it is.
Yes, I know it's a rebodied Ford Mondeo/Contour, but it's freaking beautiful and drives much better than any Ford I've ever driven.
Wayne
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With a budget of $6000 USD or so, "a bit more special Jag" is not really in the picture, but compared to the US cars I can buy, the X-type Jag is really "a bit more special" than I can afford as it is.
Yes, I know it's a rebodied Ford Mondeo/Contour, but it's freaking beautiful and drives much better than any Ford I've ever driven.
Wayne
If you are comparing it to the mechanicaly similar mondeo... Then yeah, the Jaguar engineers have done a pretty good job on it.
I think you should get a Mazda Miata instead ;)
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maybe this helps
http://www.topgear.com/uk/jaguar/x-type
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I'd say go for the XJ220.
But then again, who is me? I'm not British, nor do I have a driver's licence (yet).
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I'd say go for the XJ220.
But then again, who is me? I'm not British, nor do I have a driver's licence (yet).
You find me a 2004 XJ220 for 6 grand USD within 500 miles with less than 100,000 miles on it and I'll have to consider it. Otherwise, might as well wish for the mythical "Ferrari found in a barn".
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I think you should get a Mazda Miata instead ;)
Only problem with that is that I'd have to buy two of them. One for each foot, like roller skates.
6'4", 300# remember? A bit of a tough fit.
Wayne
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Well, I'm not a UK guy, so I'm not sure why I was reading here... But my two biggest contracts were Visteon and Ford back when the 'Baby Jag' was released, so I remember quite a bit about it.
From Ford's point of view, this was the Jag that nearly killed Jaguar, and probably was one of the final nails in Jaques Nasser's coffin. Not only could he not run a major market automaker, he couldn't even run his pet project PAG right! The X-Type was supposed to be an entry-level Jag, but it was widely panned everywhere, and really hurt the status symbol standing of Jaguar Cars. It had the rare trifecta of losing money, prestige, and angering more senior customers.
That's not to say it's a bad car, though. The Contour/Mystique/Mondeo were good cars, but had some unusual quality issues. You'd either have no problems, whatsoever, or you'd get a lemon that never would be right. There was no middle ground. It was either a great car, or the reason that person swore to never buy another Ford product. The Jag based on it had better looks, better handling, all wheel drive, and nicer interior. I'm not sure it was spared the quality issues, though.
Personally, I'd have a hard time recommending a late model X-Type. From a performance point of view, I think there are a LOT better choices in that age/price range. From a status symbol point of view, I think there are better choices, as well.
But, if you really like the looks of it, and have always wanted a Jag, it's a relatively low-cost way to get in one. That is something you can't cross-shop.
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TopGear have mentioned the X Type, and have said that it is, like the mondeo that it's based on, it is a nice car with a very nice feel. Indeed they suggested it was a serious challenge to BMW's 5 series in terms of rep car of choice.
Unfortunately, that was in of itself a problem - Jags were up until the X Type a strictly luxury item - strictly upper management stock. The X Type killed all of that stone dead.
$6k is not bad at all. It's a sound a capable car mechanically and Jag's engineers really did improve the internals.
What it isn't however, is a Jag and if that is why you're looking at this, I would strongly urge you to consider looking into collecters clubs or car auctions.
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I'm afraid I don't know too much about that car really so can't help. The last guy I knew who had any kind of jaguar complained that it rusted easily. I don't know if that was model specific or just a one off but something to read up on.
Probably your best bet is to ask at one of the owner forums (http://www.x-type.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php) about their experiences.
Good luck, I hope you manage to pick up a good deal.
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Thanks for the feedback guys. As it is, the current owner kept futzing around with getting it ready to sell, so my dad and I ran off today and found me a little basic Mazda pickup truck with a tiny, anemic 4-cylinder (also made by ford) and 5-speed.
Underpowered, but 30 mpg and it's paid for, which is the major important part for me.
Wayne
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Thanks for the feedback guys. As it is, the current owner kept futzing around with getting it ready to sell, so my dad and I ran off today and found me a little basic Mazda pickup truck with a tiny, anemic 4-cylinder (also made by ford) and 5-speed.
Underpowered, but 30 mpg and it's paid for, which is the major important part for me.
Wayne
No, I said Miata! Bah! ;)
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No, I said Miata! Bah! ;)
... and again, I'd have to have one Miata (roller skate) for each foot. There's no way my big ass fits in a miata.
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... and again, I'd have to have one Miata (roller skate) for each foot. There's no way my big ass fits in a miata.
Hahah, I'm just kidding! Yeah the Miata is tiny!
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Hahah, I'm just kidding! Yeah the Miata is tiny!
check out my blog entry on the subject.
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I am from the UK (well, Scotland), but I can say that the Jag X-Type, although being effectively a Mondeo Chassis, it's nothing like the Mondeo for what it's worth. Rule of thumb is, for me at least, if it's got decent mileage for it's age, is in good condition, and is reasonably priced then go for it if it's within your budget and you like it. I own a Saab 9-3 Hirsch and it's constantly getting compared to the Vauxhall Vectra, and although it shares the same Wheelbase etc, it's nothing like a Vectra and similarly the Jag is nothing like the Mondeo. The refinement and the drive in the Jag is very special in comparison but conversely it's not a fully fledged Jag as you would expect but then again, that's reflected in the price. If you go for it, I wish you good fortune with it.
John