Poor old Jaguar X-Type

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The Jaguar X-Type.

Gets a lot of bad press. Has been pretty much universally slated since it came out. 'It's just a Mondeo in a party frock!' everybody says. 'Its not what a proper Jag should be!' says everyone else.

So off they all went to Audi and BMW, where they bought 3 Series and A4 instead.

You can see what the idea behind the X-Type was. The bread and butter cars of the prestige marques are, however good the M5, RS6, 5/7 Series, E Class et al are, the compact executives. Everyone wants a 318i or an A4 2.0 TDI S-Line on the drive. You can't blame Jaguar for wanting a peice of that action - every marque needs an entry level car and before the X-Type Jaguar didn't really have one - the S-Type is hardly entry level.

So they built the X-Type on the Mondeo platform.

I wonder why this was such a henious crime? It's not as if its a BAD platform, is it? Infact stripping it back to pure technical ability the Mondeo Mk3 platform was one of, if not THE, best FWD large vehicle platforms of its time. Name one company with a better one? The Vectra was woeful. The Passat was no better in terms of dynamics. So, chassis wise, I do have to wonder why the X-Type being Mondeo based was a bad thing.

Personally, I'd suggest its actually a great thing.

I think the X-Type was and is a much underrated car. Lets look at the strengths.

1) It's built on a class leading, world beating platform. YES, its wrong wheel drive (or 4 wheel drive in 2.5 and 3.0 form) but then so is the Audi A4 and that didn't hamper that, did it?

2) They did a nice 2.5 V6 and 3.0 V6 in AWD form. Lovely. If you wanted a diesel, they did one of those as well. Sure, it was a Ford 4 pot and 4 pot diesels are rubbish but then Audi's awful 1.9 TDI sold by the bucketload.

3) It does not look like a Mondeo inside or out. Infact, it betrays none of its Mondeo roots to the casual bystander. Or indeed anyone who isnt a car geek.

4) You get a posh exterior, nice Jaguar interior, all for the same as you'd pay for an A4 or a 3 Series.

5) These days they offer EXCELLENT value. Less than £5k gets you a lovely X-Type. And stick a private plate on it and nobody will suspect you are driving around in a 4 grand car. A 4 grand 3 Series is a heap of rubbish with 6 previous owners which you'll find parked in a dodgy area of Birmingham.

6) They look like this...

2005jaguarxtypesportsid.jpg


Poor thing. It dies this year. I think it was better than anyone gave it credit for. At least it leaves behind an opportunity to get lots of flash for not much cash.
 
Ok, i know nothing about X-Types, but i occasionally see ones with multispoke alloys and (i think) a more aggressive bodykit. Is this some kind of special edition one?
 
Take a look at some of these. What else would you get for this money thats the same age. A Mondeo perhaps? Maybe a Passat. Perhaps a Vectra? Certainly not a 3 Series, Audi A4 or Lexus IS220D.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1309352.htm

£7500 for an 06 plate diesel prestige estate?

Anyone fancy a nice sub 100k mile 2002 330i SE Auto with leather for £4k? Keep dreaming. However...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1319650.htm

Or theres this for £3200...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1364137.htm

Massively under-rated cars, IMHO. You wont even get an ST220 for that!
 
I looked at these a while a go, was staggered how much car you got for the money. I've been in a sport one and it was actually a nice place to be!
 
And they don't even seem to attract the sort of knucklehead who dreams of buying a 'beemer innit'. I've not tried to buy an X-Type but I doubt it'd be as hard as it is to buy a decent used BMW.
 
[TW]Fox;15642734 said:
And they don't even seem to attract the sort of knucklehead who dreams of buying a 'beemer innit'. I've not tried to buy an X-Type but I doubt it'd be as hard as it is to buy a decent used BMW.

They do in Brum:(
 
I'm a fan of the X type, would take one anyday, a lot of car for the money to be honest.
 
Well,

As a "Proper" Jag owner, to me it wasnt that the X type was a bad car, its that the Jaguar marque was dragged down to its level.

My XKR is crippling me with repairs and with insurance due in 3 weeks (getting quotes for £1200 for some reason? £300 more than last year despite being 26 with 8 years no claims, no accidents and only 3 points)... and i have thought about selling. As a Jag man, i would rather have no jag at all than have to downgrade to an X type.

Perhaps the X type is comparable to the Boxster - a poor mans way of getting the badge?
 
Just saying what I have thought for years Fox.

X-Type is underated and far more individual than an equivalent A4 or 3 Series. I think the X-Type is stunning to look at compared to the other 2.
 
So despite the fact that every X-Type was aimed at people who spent more on a car than you, you feel they are a poor mans Jag...

I think this kinda warped image thing people have going on is what ruined the X-Types chances.
 
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