Jaguar X Type 3.0 V6 SE

Having just bought this car,I may be a touch premature in rating it so highly,however,so far it is exactly what a car should be,practical enough to cope with day to day transportation requirements,plenty of power on tap,unbelievable handling and fantastic looks.

I am fortunate enough to have the manual version and it just flies through the rev range in each gear effortlessly as well as cornering as if on rails,I previously owned a BMW 535 sport and thought that was rapid with superb handling,but the X type has it as far as I am concerned on both those counts.

Anyway,as I said maybe a touch premature in my praise and it really requires a longer period of ownership before a more accurate review may be written,but so far,I can,t get enough of it.

Makes the journey to work great and the looks you get.

If you want economy buy a diesel, if you want a cheaper car don't buy prestige get a Volkswagen and pretend its an Audi, but if you really want a quality presitige car that is reasonably affordale (comparared to the bigger prestige cars) buy a Jaguar X-Type, more class than a 3 series or equivelent merc and cerainly more character.

OK, a lot of bad things have been said about the X-type by many people. I'm not one of them. I've owned a Jaguar X-type 3 litre SE from new and am well satisfied. The car's done nearly 60,000 miles in 3 years and it hasn't broken down once. The engine is a delight and the handling with 4WD truly excellent through corners. And the ride is pretty good too - I have never driven a more comfortable, responsive car. Maybe this is the Mondeo heritage, but who cares? It's a superb long distance cruiser which is very agile on side roads, as well as being reasonably economical. Even at 85 on the motorway I get close to 30 mpg, this out of a 240-something BHP power plant. It's had one recall for the automatic handbrake adjuster, and been in the shop for new side window rubbers and a minor niggle on the display computer. The only disappointment? The manual gearbox which is clunky and is not up to the performance standards of the rest of the car. Yes, I'd buy another one.

Having bought my Jaguar X Type 3.0 V6 SE auto brand new in February 02 I have been plagued by many minor niggling issues such as knocking and rattling. But most notably I have found the ride to be very harsh and unrefined (even with the suspension in comfort mode). This has made its presence felt by a constant vibration from the steering, which has as much to do with the road surface on which you are traveling as any particular 'failed' component in the stearing setup.

Basically, for a car that claims to compete with the BMW 3 series and the mercedes C class, the level of quality both inside and just does not quite cut it!

Here is a summary of the parts that have been replaced on the vehicle since new (all under warranty)

2 x Gearbox

2 x Washer jets

1 x propshaft

1 x stearing rack

1 x replacement seat

1 x replacement centre console

2 x tracking rods

2 x tyres (under warranty)

2 x front disks

2 x front pads

4 x suspension bushes

1 x exhaust

1 x Aircon Pump

10 x wheel balancing!

2 x geometry setup (approx £170 each)

My latest problem has be an intermitant starting problem, which has been the final straw!

Price new £27000 partexchange offer $14000 !

On he plus side the car is great when it works, and the dealer support has been excellent

Good Luck!