richdraper

if were talking about the new range, the XE... to small. the XF... well, i initially was going to seriously consider it, until i sat in the back of one and realised there's not actually much more room the 10 year old 159 i have sat on the drive. my only niggle with the 159... its incredibly uncomfortable for me to drive with the smallest persons car seat behind the drivers seat (for convenience and safety reasons) because i just cant get the seat far enough back. If i drive it solo to work its a beautiful car, damn it, almost perfect. i love the interior, love its presence, love its feedback and whole driving experience, yeah it could do with a couple more toys and bigger/better cup holders... but its an alfa, they're beautifully styled but not very 'practical' (i know most if not everyone will agree but im a big italian fan, and cant stand VAGs). The XK isnt an option, having a family and all so im left with the XJ... if id have found the right V8 XJ (X350/X358) before the X-Type id probably have bitten. this next bit may offend, I'm sorry, its nothing personal... My only problem with this whole 'earlier generation' of jags is the styling, they're a little aged. yes i know they were aiming to keep the 'heritage' going and i understand their reasons for it but the new stuff is the facelift, i personally think, jag so desperately needed. Thats not to say i wouldnt own anything from the early/mid 2000s because given the right trim package and options lists theres a handfull about. Personally if this X i have, had anything but the dash trim & engine it does, the deal would have been off before it was even on. Having said that, for me, the S-types are timeless in black with the projector headlights the 'Sport' body kit and the grey diamond dash trim, im not a fan of the large grille on the S but given the right attention they become more muted and acceptable for me. don't misconstrue this as my behaviour on the roads but you'll learn as my time here matures, that i love to keep my cars as close to factory as possible, but im also a MASSIVE fan of 'sleepers'. whilst i could quite happily own and daily drive things like skylines and 'hot hatches' they attract the 'wrong' kind of attention, they goad you into situations that you simply wouldnt be in if you drove anyhting else. My brother owns a '65 plate Civic Type R and im honestly thinking of taking him to the shrink. he bought it from factory, it cost him in the region of £35k it does 0-60 in 5.7sec, it rattles the marrow in your bones and is a horiffic thing to drive day in, day out. the interior is plasticy the toys arent particularly refined, its buttons feel cheap, the tech is buggy and not very well thought out its a £16k car with a fast engine and some suspension tweaks... the X351 on the otherhand, you can pick up for circa£35k it does 0-60 in 4.6Sec (if you get the 542BHP option) and it does it all whilst massaging your shoulders and envolping you in luxury, the interior is beautiful, the buttons have 'feel' to them, the toys are plentyful and its just a better place to be... its a £100k+ car for a 3rd of the price. I'm yet to persuede Coventrys Guy Salmon branch to let me have a spin in one but fear it will be frowned upon because i'm literally gonna be joy riding it. im in no position to buy one either new or Approved Used from them and they damn well know it when i turn in with my 54 plate X-type.

they're definately an aquired taste... when they galvo dipped the bodies it was a game-changer for the lancia group, much earlier than the 90's and i sadly have to agree with you #rustinpieces. i had 1 cinq that was a rot box but it spent its life on the coast... the rest were written off or sold before the cancer could take hold (not that there was any sign of it anyway, if im honest). they have a certain grin factor... the little ones were just like driving a go kart everywhere. and you had to work them to make them keep up with traffic, but so. much. fun! the 20v Coupe was/is my favourite, the 5cyl has a certain 'symphony' to it, again its a car you had to actually drive to go quick loads of grins. i considered the S-Type again and again, but the draw of the 2010-2014 XJL 5.0 Supercharged V8 was just too much. Ill be looking to upgrade in 5 or so years, by which time ill have a 15 and a 7 year old, makes sense, to me, to get a nice big car, with PLENTY of legroom, and also a little bit of power for the phogey driving it. I toyed with notion of a German boat in the shape of a LWB V12 '7' or the W12 A8L, but the XJ just has 'something' that appeals to me a little more. possibly the kitty on the front, possibly the fact that the motor still has a lot of power left to release, either way, regardless of reason, thats ultimately where i want to be.

Thanks Joe, useful links.

reasonably economical, i suppose i can agree with that, I've some how managed 26mpg on the dash since owning... was expecting 30s but it also has a small tank which compounds the feeling its thirsty even more. Also sorry for your loss. :( ive had 3 Cinquecentos, all black, all sportings, all either written off (not by me) or uneconomical to repair... a Seicento, sporting... which managed to turn itself upside down... then had a break got into a Gen6 Celica GT went and bought a Stilo when the Celica was costing too much in fuel... wife bought a Coupe 20v which i still have in the garage, still completely orignal chassis and suspension wise, the body work has seen better days though :'( now has the 159 as mentioned in signature, and really likes it, even if it does share a lot of its electrics with a Stilo. figured it was better to have a car addiction than a drug addiction... think i may have got the jag grin you mention when wife and kids aren't in the car... more the sound of the V6 than anything else though.

Afternoon you lot. I've said my hellos in the n00b section, time to get down to business. ive got a couple of questions regarding the upkeep of the ol' girl. 54 plate V6 AWD. this is my first jag so im completely unfamiliar of their quirks and common issues. Rear Passenger Speaker doesnt work, is there a common fault with these or will i be looking to replace? At motorway speeds there's a pulsating drone, from what sounds like drivers rear, i'm suspecting its the start of a bad wheel bearing but would be nice to know of antything else i should be looking for? It's 'worse' under acceleration but 'noticeable' when on cruise control. Wing Mirror glasses. there seems to be whole myriad of different types available convex, flat, electrochromatic, ones with 'warnings' in ones without. my drivers side heater doesnt work so would be looking to replace, neither appear to be electrochromatic (even though center rearview mirror is) but don't really know what I'm looking to replace with. Would like convex, electrochromatic but without taking everything to bits, I'm a little unsure of how to check, short of emailing the dealer... is it possible to say everything fitted with <x> would have <x> mirror glass?? Is there any decent aftermarket 'dealer level' diagnostics software available for Jags. (Fiat/Alfa have a program called MultiECUScan, which is phenominal, VAG have VAGCOM, wondering if there's anything for these) Where can i find Service intervals and fluid specs of all the various drivetrain equipment, engine, g/box, transfer box etc etc, will look on Autodata a little later on but seem to remember i only have access upto 2004. think thats it for now, other than these minor niggles i cant say as its a particularly bad motor, would like to get her back upto how nice she should be with a little time and effort.

Afternoon all, A co-workers Jag came up for sale back in September and I took it off his hands for a reasonable sum. I've been eyeing up a new shape XJ for a while but cant quite stretch to one just yet, and whilst i did toy with grabbing a V8 S-Type i ended up with a tidy little V6 X-Type. I've spent 11 years in Fiats and Alfas, i still have an Alfa on the drive (although strictly speaking it's the wifes, I'm still its resident mechanic ). Father inlaw used to be on Jags payroll so maybe that's where the fascination started, i don't know, maybe its just because i don't like German marques, maybe its because Fiat group no longer do anything that interests me... whichever it is... unfortunately you guys will have to put up with me for the foreseeable. Here's some obligatory pics of the ol' girl... https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiUV9cJhtVYom9br2