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I am running one at the moment a 2.0d estate 2006 in BRG its worth it for the style and it does what it says on the box I have not found the seats at all uncomfortable or the clutch heavy,mine has 16" alloys which I think for UK roads will be better.I had a Honda accord estate before lovely car except for the the atrocious (non)heating system something I found impossible to live with in winter.
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wife's car is 2.0 D SE estate, we've had it for 4 years and do all our long journeys in it
i'd have no hesitation in recommending it, albeit i'd prefer the 2.2 as you're contemplating, just to get a bit more urge for A road overtakes
the 17" wheels with Pirelli P Zero's are a harder ride than i'd anticipated, but maybe i'm spoilt by my own car (S type SE on 16" rims). I'm wondering if i can get all 4 tyres to the point they all need changing at once and trying Pirelli P6000's as they're the ones on my car and i cannot fault them (not sure whether the wheels will take them, but will ask). Handling, for an estate car, is exceptional, I cannot believe how sure footed it is, so that's the obvious compromise with the wheels/tyres.
The interior has worn very well, despite being a light beige leather.. and we absolutely love the light colured leather and wood trim, can't understand why the magazine testers berate it so. Jag usually give you a decent amount of kit as standard, compared to much of the opposition,which is a bonus.
Faults, haven't been that many. The glass window catch in the rear boot door has failed twice, once under warranty, so there's an obvious fault there...but in reality not that expensive. X Types and S Types can have door latches stick...and this one is booked in for tomorrow to have the driver's door one done (intermittent fault, which can easily be overrided by giving it a light clump on the handle with your fist...but nevertheless not acceptable). Other than that an EGR valve breather pipe and a headlamp bulb, which was a sod to get to.
Peformance, even with the 2 litre is very good IMO, so the 2.2 will be even better, although if you push quite hard you can get the mpg into the late thirties. If you're on choke and doing constant stop/start it'll be mid thirties. I'd imagine the 2.2 would negate somewhat the need to press as much in a 2.0, so fuel consumption ought to even out.
Someone above made a comment about the Mondeo comparison. In reality there's not a great deal of similarity, esp the newer ones. From memory i think it was 18% of shared components and many of them (e.g. suspension) were set up to come from the luxury angle. Not only that, as also mentioned above, the Mondeo is a pretty accomplished car anyway... and for some reason an X Type's Mondeo heritage is seen by some as a negative, whereas other marques sharing is not e.g. Toyota/Lexus or VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda. I think it's the same as Skoda, the ignorant think it's a problem, whereas those in the know realise it isn't, it is in fact a bonus.
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Now they do an auto version this is one car I will consider when I change the A3.
The Jag website is also one of the best I have used for finding cars with specfic options. Fully kitted ex demo autos with a few thousand on the clock are around the £20k mark.
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I liked the idea of a late used one, but the manual saloons I sat in had no room to the left of the clutch pedal, which killed it for me.
Don't expect a footrest, but having to rest my left foot under the clutch pedal is not acceptable.
Had a drive in an auto and liked it very much, but 20K for a used one was just a bit too much.
Incidentally, the dealer I went to - Minster Harrogate - has now shut, although the other Minsters are still open.
Edited by ifithelps on 11/03/2009 at 15:00
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Seems to me that the OP should keep the Skoda - sounds like a perfect car for the commuting slog - and maybe instead find a cheap fun car for going out at weekends and holidays? MX5 etc.
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Had a drive in an auto and liked it very much but 20K for a used one was just a bit too much.
I've been looking quite closely recently to see the cost to change options for buying either a new or nearly new auto 2.2 diesel, either SE or Sovereign spec. Our existing car was bought as a demonstrator, with a load of extras on it, 6 weeks old with approx 1500 miles (albeit we 'borrowed' it to go on holiday to get the mileage over 3,000 and then had to give it back to be mothballed for a month, until it was 3 months old, when Jag would let the dealer sell it) with a £4,500 discount off new list, although obviously a second hand car to us (4 years ago). Drive the Deal will do a brand new one for over £6,000 off and you're the first owner. There are other outfits offering cheaper prices, but they don't get the recommendations on this or other sites, so i'm not brave enough to try that.
IMO the discount broker, if reliable and recommended, is the way to do it,unless you're going well second hand.
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Wow! What a response, many thanks indeed and much useful feedback. Yes indeed, why not keep the current car, nothing wrong with it and going well. I did have a weekend car for 8 years, hence the moniker, but in reality never used it much. Tried an everyday classic instead, the Merc w124 diesel, a lovely car but just not reliable enough and a bit clumpy and sluggish round the back lanes. The idea of an Octy vRS crossed my mind but very few on autotrader when I looked. My spend is around the 9k mark and once over 5 figures I get more uncomfortable. In reality I can afford more but am just mean, and reckon I can get a nice enough car for the money I am prepared to spend. Hence the Subaru is not in the frame, but a superb car by all accounts and just a matter of waiting. A friend has the V50, and a nice enough car but not in indulgence territory for me, as this car would be. It does seem that the X type drivers are very pleased on the whole with their cars with very few faults reported and the 2.2 looks a good choice, but maybe not with the 18" wheels as advertised with the one I have in mind. Not concerned about the Ford underpinnings, in fact I see that as a bonus (spares, service, reliability etc). So seat comfort, foot room and heavy clutch look like things to check with maybe another thought about the vRS. I really dont want a newer one - I have never really got the hang of depreciation after buying an A35 for £7/10/0 and selling it after 20k miles for £35.
So thank you all so much for your input, I will go and take a look this weekend and no doubt take my time and enjoy the process.
many thanks MGs
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I think you should think again about the BMW
E90 320d SE would offer you something over and above the skoda. Dont be put off by one bad dealer and some run flat trouble.
if you dont like them fair enough, but they are good cars
alfa 159?
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Westpig: Are you a high-ranking Police Officer then, Mr 2 Jags?
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High ranking, madux?
You've obviously not checked police pay recently.
A couple of Jags is PC money. :)
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one of them is worth about £1,500 which is fast heading for bangernomics territory..and the other one about £8,000........so not exactly in the uber rich territory...or John Prescott's
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Nick, thanks for the thought about the 3 series BMW. I did have a 520 petrol some years ago and was very pleased with it, but cant get comfortable with run flats and no spare. I gather the 3 series 2.0d are very economical and so tick that box. But rear wheel drive and so not so attractive from that point of view, and i just wonder if the 3 series might be a bit too snug for a biggish bloke. However I think the x series could be tightish too, but at least a little cheaper. My next door neighbour has just bought a 325d so will offer him a pint (we live next door to a pub) in return for a sit in it. Plan to take a look at the x series after the weekend visitors leave on sunday. If i am being honest the trouble is i am a bit of a tightfist and like the idea of a good value for money buy, and the X type seems good from both purchase and running costs perspective. that's the trouble with having a dad who was a bank manager and drummed the idea of thriftiness into me at an early age. But as we know from others who post here, life happens around you and you cant be sensible all your life otherwise you wont have any. So a few grand in the big picture of things is hardly big bananas.
Thanks, MGs
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based on this thread I took myself into a local Jag dealer and arranged test drive of a 2.2D salon. I was prepared to push the boat out for a great car. Boy was I disappointed and shocked. Staff were good - just a shame that the car I wanted to buy wasn't in. Never mind, let's go out in this one - almost identical (full leather rather than half).
Seats were a bit too firm under the thighs for 4 hour M-way journeys and the lag from the turbo to kick in was disappointing. Steering felt heavy, but it gripped, switch gear felt solid and visability was good.
I'm afarid I decided against for now. So I popped next door to Ford and took a Mondeo for a spin expecting the worse. Very pleased though. Seat adjustment was fantastic, visability for a big car was great - in fact it felt same as a Focus - but better? Seats supportive, but not hard. No delay when I floored it, smooth ride, loads of space. I might just get one...
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I'm afarid I decided against for now. So I popped next door to Ford and took a Mondeo for a spin expecting the worse. it smooth ride loads of space. I might just get one...
I had similar experience, a couple months back, but was more tempted with Mazda 6 estate, rather than Mondeo.
Try one, before you decide!!
& I'm still thinking it should be Chrysler 300, anyway!!
But not just yet, got to get the outside of the huse finished first!
VB
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I popped next door to Ford and took a Mondeo for a spin expecting the worse. Very pleased though. I might just get one...>>
Haven't intervened before because I hate to dampen anyone's enthusiasm. But, as someone who deliberately chose a Mondeo over an X-type (and haven't regretted it for a moment) I am delighted that you have reached the right conclusion. After only a few minutes in the Jag my wife said "this doesn't give us anything the Mondeo wouldn't; and I already felt cramped.
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hi OC
so daily life with mondeo is good? Not too big? smooth ride, okay on fuel? tell me more - what is it like to live with?
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I did in fact have a test drive in a 2.2d estate. I was impressed with the engine and performance and quietness and refinement was very good. It did seem a very snug fit and the roof line sloped sharply to the windscreen. The seat seemed quite narrow and I am not that wide in the nether regions. So I liked the car, but would need another close look and perhaps a longer drive to make up my mind. First impressions are all very well but I spend 2.5 hours a day on many days. Funnily enough I came home and checked out Mondeo STs on autotrader, on a like for like miles/age basis looked to be about 3k cheaper. User reviews on various website are very positive indeed and no chronic faults seem to emerge, also fuel economy seems good. But in my case not the clear cut decision I might have hoped for, not a problem as my current car has plenty of legs in it and I always enjoy the search.
MGs
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hi barneybear
Well, horses for courses I suppose. Mine is the MK 3, so not quite as vast as the latest version (and narrower than a Focus or Mini); but still I like to know where I am going to park it before I set out (but then I'm a pretty nervous parker). Mine is the 2.5 24v petrol version as roadtested by HJ (sorry, don't know how to do a link on this site) except that mine has the 5-speed automatic box with manual override. I agree with everything that HJ says. I didn't expect economy, and it isn't there, but I am happy to settle for the 30 mpg overall through the life of the car so far in return for the very great refinement and pleasure from the engine and gearbox. Most of the miles on mine have been on motorways, at which it excels subject only to one point - I can't escape a feeling that its natural cruising speed is quite a lot higher than allowed in France! The car's only trip to Germany really was great fun. Also great fun is a good bit of fastish twisty. If most of the driving is in town, then frankly I would say give it a pass, as although the visibility is excellent as you say the car does feel just a little bit heavy and firm-riding at low speed (it has 17" alloys). The best tribute to the suspension is to look at the back of one which goes past you on the motorway (and compare it with a BMW, for instance). It feels beautifully planted on the road at any decent speed and I always - to an extent greater than with any car I've had - get out of it feeling that the drive has been engaging and fun. The (hatchback) boot is vast and the back seats look good (though no-one has ever sat on them!). The car accommodates my fairish height and huge feet very well indeed.
I like the car very much and my wife says it is a great car in which to be a passenger. Others will know better than I whether the same pleasure is available from a diesel version (I paid my respects to diesel by trying a diesel Focus, and thought it the most frightful contraption I'd ever come across, but clearly most BR's would disagree so let's not start on that).
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many thanks sir.
I've already got 6 points, so not risking a 2.4 model! Tested the 2.0 diesel (140bhp)which felt about the same as my 1.9 (130bhp) Megan estate which I really like, but 36,000 miles done and itchy to change. Maybe another 6 months, see how the credit crunch hits (I'm self employed), and if not affected then serious consideration for the big Ford. My miles are M-way, long haul each time, so "waftability" is important. Thanks for "intervening" - I thought I must have missed something, or tested a Jag-rougue.
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