USED Jaguar X-type Estate (01 - 09)

My car

I owned one of the the very first diesel estates sold in South Wales, I owned it for 19 months and covered nearly 22000 miles, it was reliable, comfortable to drive, economical and extremely practical.

The car suffered three minor electrical problems during my ownership, which were solved very swiftly by either Jaguar Assist or the Dealer. The reason for selling it in Oct 2005 was unemployment, but now that I am gainfully employed again, and my situation has significantly improved. I can't wait to sample the new 2.2 Diesel Estate. To me it is my ideal car, I have looked at the alternatives and for me the Jag is the best overall choice for my needs.

My only gripe was Tyre wear, but I wont choose the larger 17" Cayman Alloys and ultra low profile Pirelli tyres, I'll specify the the standard 16" Alloys. This way I can add several thousand extra miles for my money.

My advice to anyone considering a compact estate is by the X Type, you will always reach your destination relaxed and with a smile on your face. I can't wait for my next one. My longest test was a 2200 mile trip across europe in 10 days, the car was a dream, I have had several so called market leaders, including Volvo V70's, BMW 3 Series and a C class. The X Type out performed each of them interms of comfort, relaibility and economy, there is a lot of bad press about the state of Jaguar at present, but I can't wait to drive another.

My car

I have had this car for just over 18 months and it is a world apart from previous Jaguars I have owned. It is awful.

Since I have had this car I have had three alloys replaced (due to substantial cracks developing)I find it hard to believe this is due "impact damage" as I drive for a living (30-40K miles/year) and have never had this problem on other cars (incidentally the design of the alloys has now been changed to strengthen them).

The 2.0D engine is seriously underpowered, in the mid range, making overtaking interesting, the only thing I can commend the car on when behind the wheel is roadholding, which is good.

In the cabin the interior is starting to look dated compared to Audi and the leather facing on the Sports Seats has worn off after one year. On the plus side I do like the green/amber lighting on the instrumentation.

After sales service has been mixed with some dealers being helpful and others dreadful (almost on a par with some German car companies).

Overall I am afraid this is the last Jaguar I shall be buying for the forseable future (Audi next time) unless something dramatic changes in the company's design and build quality, attention to detail and overall interest in customer satisfaction.

My car

Prior to ordering my 2.2D X Type Sport, I test drove all of the natural competitors that were on the company car list: The BMW 3 Series Touring which was completely 'souless' with interior plastics resembling those on an office printer or copier and had back jarring ride quality. The Audi A4 felt which felt very dated inside,had a tiny boot,cramped rear and poor performance. The Mercedes 'C'Class which was noisy, sluggish and just didn't feel special enough for the money.

In summary there really was no competition to the Jag and I was surprised to see just how different my impressions were compared to those of the 'Professional Road Tester' - it is therefore vital that if you are considering any car that you test drive yourself and form your own opinion.

The car is supremely comfortable (don't believe all of the comments about the seat squabs being too narrow, the seats being too high etc..) and imediately feels so. The balance between handling and ride quality is perfect with the sport suspension - firmish ride with a sure footedness that enables you to have some real fun on twisty 'A' and 'B' roads. The performance is staggering for a diesel, particularly when joining the motorway in 4th gear and it returns over 35mpg despite being driven hard most of the time.

Better still is that I have had no faults to date and get a great dose of 'Feel Good Factor' when it comes to driving home each evening.

My car

The 2.2d Sport is only available with manual box, which is mated to a poor clutch, it is extremely easy to stall, (I have driven for 30+ years) and is a nightmare in a traffic jam. The wheels/ tyres look fantastic, but are fragile, so living in the country as I do means frequent tyre/ wheel damage. Re-balancing is proving very difficult.

Inside the drivers seat aches my clutch leg, as the bolster rubs under my knee, and the throttle pedal is high vs the clutch which needs to be pressed fully down. The seats are not particularly comfortable on a longish journey.

All the toys work well, but they are no compensation for the poor driving experience. I believe this car will suit drivers who like to drive flat out, or potential owners on a test drive, who will get a kick out of the diesel's grunt.