USED Jaguar X-type Estate (01 - 09)

My car

I drive a 2.0d SE and I am very impressed with the refinement of the diesel engine. It has loads of low-down power and cruises at 80 all day and returns 47mpg at a steady 75mph. Having two kids under four and a dog the estate get used a lot and has stood up the constant abuse three-year-olds give it. The driving position can be fine-tuned to suit all only one complaint: it should have a driver's memory on the seats cause the wife insists on having her spin as well. When I want my speed fix I use my Kawasaki ZX-6R.

My car

The Estate Sport looks superb and provides the perfect British Q Car. It looks better than the saloon somehow and the rear view is very compact. The cabin is excellent and even at 6'2" I find the seat and wheel adjustment combinations can always produce a comfortable driving position.

The acceleration is very satisfying indeed and the whole thing moves along with a feeling of calmness and quiet with the engine note intruding wonderfully when you step on the gas.

Ride and handiling are superb giving the whole driving experience a real quality feel compared with the Mondeo (which is a very good car). The overall impression is that the car looks right and feels right; it feels 'tight' in the way that really good cars do.

As far as the estate bit is concerned the opening window is excellent and useful, just remember not to slam it too hard, you don't need to! Room is more than adequate for most uses, including trips to the tip, but buy something to protect the carpet.

The whole idea of a compact sporting estate car appeals to me and with the 3.0-litre X-type Jag have produced a great product. A driver's car with a difference. A good-looker with peerless ride and handling. A British Q Car that will leave people standing then blend into the traffic. A useful family car that will double as a sporting saloon when the owner driver is on his own.

The price you pay? Thirty thousand quid and probably 24mpg. Add ten grand and you could aspire to an XJ6 but that's a diffe

My car

I drive 2 litr diesel se estate version. I have just moved from a 3-series estate.

I find the Jaguar a very refined car to drive, especially on the motorway where I seem to spend most of my time. I average about 36,000 miles per year and again find the car very comfortable to drive. This is where it wins hands down compared to the BMW as with the electric seats you can easily make adjustments.

When taking the car onto the B roads again it handles surprisingly well for a big car. Even though the drive feels different to that of the bmw it still has a sporty enough feel to it when you want to let loose. The fit and finish of the car is right up there with its German rivals, it is refreshing to be looking at a different designed dashboard and also not looking at the usual red dash lights.

The biggest winner for mean and the main reason for choosing the car is its chunky looks and the great amount of boot space. I can fit both my daughters cycles in the boot and still keep the back seats upright, family man showing my age maybe but I cannot be on my own as daily I am seeing more people driving this estate model, and when I really want to have a blast I've always got my Fireblade.

My car

Despite Ford underpinnings, the X-type looks and feels like a Jaguar. Fuel consumption isn't great, though, because it needs a six-speed gearbox. Probably could have gained two inches or so more rear leg room with a bit of a redesign and or reposiitoning of the dash related to the front seat position. There seems to be a lot of space behind the pedals and the width of the dash itself seems excessive. Can't believe there is neither a drop down section between the sun visors nor even a darkened section of the windscreen to block out the sun. My car is very young, it remains to be seen how well it wears. I suspect the soft suspension will become very soft after 50,000-plus miles.