Jaguar X-Type

jean7of9

Having said the above, we should also blame Jaguar for assembling such a bad car and specially not inspecting the demo car before its delivery to Edmunds.com. These tests are scheduled well in advance which gives Jagu'a enough time to verify, inspect and "approve" the demo car by someone. I have seen a Volvo PR manager wiping a drop of water off a demo car with his handkerchief before delivering it to the reporter. Also what about the dropping muffler, any one else had this problem before, I am sure we have not heard the last of this one.
Jean

denk

I hate to say it, but it appears that the problems noted in the test car are more widespread than we want to believe. I test drove 4 different x-types and they all had many of the same problems noted in edmunds review except for the falling muffler. I cancelled my order and decided to wait and see if these quality issues are resolved.

riez

And doesn't that historically go double or triple for Jags??? Might make sense to let the other guy get his 2002 first, wait to see reliability and build quality reports from CR and others, and then maybe buy a 2003?

pellegjo

I picked up my Adradic Blue X-type Sport on December 14, 2001. The car was built the first week in October and arrived at port Newark, NJ on November 10th. I had to go to Darian Ct to get the car, which was about 60 miles away. No one local had the color i wanted. It is a 3.0 Automatic, Metalic paint, X1,X2,X3, Alpine radio with 6 changer in the trunk. the sticker was 44,500. Between my A-plan discount, and the 2100 in dealer cash i got about 7000 off of list.
i now have 1300 miles on the car.
The Fit and finish is perfect. I love driving the car. The car sticks to the road like glue. It handles 1000 times better than my Camaro Z28(i do miss the V8 though) The paint is like Glass. Everyone comments on the wonderfull paint job. The car has nice pickup, and the trans shifts like silk. I am in love with this car. I just love the heated seats!! The only problem i have is the leaking windshield washers. I am waiting to get the Check Valves spliced into the line. My only other complaint is i wish the 6 changer was right in the Dashboard Like my explorer has.

samuel70

Riez, those sales figures bear out what I was thinking when I visited the local jag dealer in Darien, CT. based on comments from this site...about the diff. between the 2.5 vs 3.0...the great folks from here suggested go with the 3.0....the dealer said...the 2.5 was just as good...
checked his inventory and there were many more 2.5's than 3.0's....it appears they maybe ready to deal more on the 2.5...but still like the 3.0...the dealer wanted to challenge me...told me he would take me for a test drive with both...not showing me which one I was driving and he bet me that I would not be able to tell the difference between the two engines....

im_brentwood

When I listed my 2.5 X-type for sale.. It was a 4K or so mile 2.5 BASE 5-speed.

I put it in the paper and the net for $26,500 and I had at least 20 calls on it.

The other one I had was a 3.0 Auto that's loaded up.. that sold quickly too, but it had NOWHERE near the same level of interest that the base car had..

Bill

merc1

Have any of the X-Type owners here experienced anything like Edmunds did on their X-Type roadtest? I'm having a hard time believing that their test car is represenative of the X-Type's general built quality.

M

tomcat630

According to reports from prnewswire, the X-Type is selling OK and Jaguar is setting records.

I would take Edmunds review with a grain of salt, since it was a beat up car and they seemed to have a bias against a "Ford based" Jag already.

tuckman

I have had my car for a week, and while I am sure I'm not stressing the car as much as they did (it is new, after all), I haven't found a single thing not working.

I do have some windshield washer dripping, which is very common on this car and is fixed at no charge (I'll do mine next week). Everything else is tight, no rattles, no wierd noises except the wonderful sounds from that great V6. It drives very nicely, with linear and accurate steering, and a taught but not punishing ride.

I find that the seats are very comfortable for at least up to the hour jaunt I have taken in the car, and the overall ergonomics are good.

I have noticed more tire and road noise at speed that I did in my LS. Probably just the tire choice, although they are very nice tires from a handling and traction standpoint.

The X is a very nice car, with great performance and, in my opinion, really nice looks.

Brent

im_brentwood

It IS a 4-step process... however...

It depends on how you define "Steps"

There's an anti-corrosion coat, a primer coat, a color coat, and a clear coat.

And more than one "Coat" of each... IIRC, its 8 or 10 coats on an X.

My guy is on Vacation.. still working on a final answer.

Bill

keyrow

I hope what you say is true because I would hate to think that Jaguar would sacrifice its name and reputation just to save a few bucks (pounds) on paint. It just does not make sense to do so.

laura528

Hi, I leased a new X-Type 3.0 today! Its a gorgeous car thats handles great. I love it!!

im_brentwood

Keyrow.. Jag really isnt big on cheapo cost-cutting.. theyre still pretty protective of what they call "Jaguar DNA"

Laura.. Kewl!

Bill

rwclifton

Came across a lease for a 2002 X-Type 3.0 (X1 & X3) with 15,000 miles a year and 36 months for $4700 (Total including taxes) + $408 a month -- What do you think?? I've never leased a car before, but it seemed to be a pretty good deal? I'm also very concerned of the overall quality of the vehicle, seems like everything on the talk board is negative--Also looking at the TL-S, I-35, S602.4T, A4, ES300, etc. If anyone out there did purchase an X-Type than I'd like to know why they did so over the other cars I listed? I'm trying to keep the purchase price to about $35,000 and under. Thanks for any input you may have.

mvargo1

Having finally gotten some snow around here I can happily report that as expected the X-type is an outstanding car to drive in the snow.

I would suggest snow tires for people who bought early sport models without all season tires.

john1127

I just picked up my x-type a week ago. I really like it, except sometimes it makes a loud "howling" noise. It sounds like a high pitched vibration. It's really loud, I can't hear the radio over it.

It only lasts a few seconds and usually happens 2 or 3 times in the first few miles I'm driving. Sounds like it's coming from a rear wheel. It happens at different speeds and goes away whether I slow down or not.

I took it to the dealer and he didn't know what it could be, he worked on the rotor and brakes. I didn't hear it for 2 days, now it's back.

Has anyone else heard of this problem?

Thanks,
John

akirby

blueovalnews.com has an article on the X-type stating it will be offered as a FWD with a smaller engine (2.0L 6 cyl) starting in March in the UK and potentially coming to the US. This is BON so take it with a grain of salt. I have no idea as to the accuracy of the article.

john1127

I just picked up my x-type a week ago. I really like it, except sometimes it makes a loud "howling" noise. It sounds like a high pitched vibration. It's really loud, I can't hear the radio over it.

It only lasts a few seconds and usually happens 2 or 3 times in the first few miles I'm driving. Sounds like it's coming from a rear wheel. It happens at different speeds and goes away whether I slow down or not.

I took it to the dealer and he didn't know what it could be, he worked on the rotor and brakes. I didn't hear it for 2 days, now it's back.

Has anyone else heard of this problem?

Thanks,
John

drgonzo_1998

Sorry to throw water on the fire but I have a hard time getting excited about this car. Yeah, it's advertised as having a sticker <$30K but by the time it gets tricked out the way most people would want it, the MSRP is well above $40K.

From the back I can't tell it apart from a Taurus. And I don't hear reports of leaky wipers or mufflers falling off on the lower end german or japanese lux models.

As mentioned in the BON article, the possible intro of a FWD version harks back to the Cimarron fiasco (anybody remember that? it was a gussied up Chevy Cavalier).

I know, I know...AWD....leather...leaper hood ornament. The point is, if I'm gonna blow $40K on a car, I don't want to have to do a double take in the parking lot because I parked next to a Taurus. If I wanted a Taurus, I'd buy it for $25K and pocket the change.

akirby

Actually the $50K+ S-type looks more like a Taurus from the rear. So what?

im_brentwood

I just saw an LS430 up in the air with a thrown rod.

So a mis-tightened bolt happened on a muffler.

Big deal.

Bill

rea98d

There's a big difference between AWD, and FWD. BMW's got AWD cars. So does Porsche. So do a lot of European cars. Does that mean we're going to see a FWD Porsche anytime soon? People have been badmouthing Jags for so long that they've convinced themselves they're bad cars. I tell people I want a Jag, it doesn't matter if I tell them I want a new XJ8 or a Series II XJ6 from the British Leyland years, they all tell me the same thing "Bad car. Poor reliability" Ford it seems has fixed the poor reliability part, but is having trouble convincing people they're good cars. It seems most people want Jaguar to fail, (from all the years of telling themselves "Bad Car, Poor reliability) and if they can no longer badmouth reliability, they spread rumors of rebadged Crown Vics being passed off as Jags (I beleive that one went around when Ford first bought the company) to the advent of a FWD Jaguar. And yet Jaguar seems to persevere through it all. They survived British Leyland, so Ford can't be that bad.

im_brentwood

1995 Vanden Plas.

133,000 beat-it-to-death miles.

Now we're up to $545 in nonwarranty repairs.

=O



Bill

martylaw

Does anyone know if the $2,100 dealer cash on the 3.0 with X1 package has been extended, or replaced by a new program. We leased a 3.0 in December at a very good rate, and a friend would like to do the same.

martylaw

Have been following the X-Type for about a year now and thought it would be nice to be able to get one in the $30,000 to $35,000 range. Was rather disappointed when they first arrived in this area in September/October to find that desirable options resulted in a price in excess of $40,000. Actually, some of the options were not that desireable, but had to be included to get others that were. Heated seats, for example, are not available unless you first get the X-1 package. Seems like poor marketing hurt this car. I checked some lease deals, but found they were rather pricey.

Checked again in December, and got a nice lease deal on a 3.0 with X-1 Package,Weather Package, and single CD radio. This was apparently because of the $2,100 dealer cash on the X-1 Package, and a better money rate on the 3.0. We also got an email from Jaguar offering a $500 Sharper Image certificate on a lease that month. Ordered the car in December (shipped on 12-10) and took delivery last week.

The car is very nice. No defects we have noticed. nice finish. Rides and handles well, really nice steering. Transmission feels fine and the car has lots of power. Really like the styling. Will keep you posted.

By the way, the central locking system seems odd. Has anyone noticed that once the doors have been locked, through the automatic locking system or by locking the driver's door, the passenger door cannot be unlocked and opened by the passenger. Is this the way other x-types work, or is something not right in ours? Can the system be programmed differently. It seems odd and unsafe!

Marty

ehaase

http://www.bonforums.com/jaguar/jag_typexeditorial.htm

mfpr

In response to the question on the operation of the central locking process on the X-Type, I can tell you how mine works. When driving off, the system will automatically lock the doors. When parked, the front passanger can pull the door handle and all the doors will unlock. The rear passanger cannot unlock either rear door. I'm not sure if I have the child safety lock activated for the rear doors, but I suspect I do.

leogenghis

What the BON article says is true. The January 2 issue of AUTOCAR (which is a very reputable British publication) says that the FWD version will be available in March with a 2.1 litre engine. Priced from £19,995. Should sprint from 0-60 in 8.9 sec. and top 130 mph.

Leo

riez

Shouldn't be a surprise. The X-type is derived from the Ford of Europe Mondeo, which is FWD. Just gets the platform that much closer to its basic roots. Makes is much less expensive and boosts fuel economy in a place where gasoline can cost $4.00 and up for a gallon of gas. Due to fuel mileage considerations, most major premium manufacturers sell highly decontented cars in Europe with smaller motors, manual transmissions, and lower weight. BMW does it. So does MB. Even Toyota and Nissan's premium car lines sold in Europe.

akirby

The only surprise is that Jag is now selling a FWD car with a very small engine. It's certainly understandable, especially in Europe. I'm just waiting for the Jaguar faithful to start complaining that this car isn't really a Jaguar - just like they did with the S-type at first.

teo

Yep a $40K Ford Taurus.

akirby

Oh, get over it and grow up. It's not a Taurus.

teo

The X-Type uses a modified version of the same old and tired Duratec powerplant found in the Ford Taurus.

After seeing the Ford Mondeo in Europe I tend to agree with the Car Mags in that the Mondeo is a much better car and value than the X-Type, the Cimarron of the 21st century. Too Bad Ford will not bring the competitive Mondeo overhere.

The Deville and Impala ride in two different platforms and use very different engines (Northstar V8 vs. 3800 Series II OHV V6). Two very different cars, BTW.

mfpr

The X-Type and S-Type 3.0 use the same engine. While it does use the aluminum engine block as the Duratec, the heads are of Jaguar design, which ads variable valve timing, etc. The Lincoln LS also uses the same engine, minus the Jaguar heads. While it is possible that the "Car Mags" think the Mondeo is a better value, I have not read one report that said it is a better car. Since the X-Type uses only 18% of the Mondeo's components (definitely NOT the old Contour), it is far from being the same car. But I do agree that is a shame Ford does not import the Mondeo to the U.S.

akirby

They use the same block castings. That's it. The heads and other internal parts are different and that's really what makes the engine. I haven't heard anything bad about the 2.5 or 3.0L duratech from any vehicle. It was the 3.8 that had the head gasket problems.

The 3.9L LS V8 is really a Jaguar 4.0L destroked by 1mm. But the heads are not Jaguar. That's why the Jag makes 280 hp and the LS only 252. Doesn't mean they're the same engine by any means.

rea98d

Why does it matter if the engine comes from Jaguar, Ford, or Hyundai?
An engine has certain things its supposed to do-
1. Put out a decent amount of horsepower.
2. Not use up a boatload of gasoline doing # 1.
3. Not being overly rough doing #'s 1 or 2.
4. Be reliable

If the engine gets the job done, and is suited toward the car, why does it matter wether its Ford or not? Are we going to start griping over non-Jaguar transmissions? Oh, Wait, Jag hasn't made their own transmission since they started strapping a leaping kitty to the nose of a brontosaurus! Nobody seems to complain about that. So long as the engine propels the car, and (other than forcing you into the drivers seat real hard) doesn't make its presence known, it really doesn't matter who made it.

tomcat630

"old and tired Duratec powerplant found in the Ford Taurus." Hardly, this engine is highly rated and has only been around since the mid 90's.

So, how is the X-Type a Taurus if they share an engine block? Then I think I will call the CTS a Saturn LS knock off since they share V6 blocks.

tuckman

I have owned a Taurus with a Duratec. I have also owned A Lincoln Ls V8 (same engine as the S-Type with different heads, the the S-Type must be a 50,000.00 Lincoln, right?), and now have an X-Type 3.0 5 speed.

You can say what you want about the X-Type, but you may be well suited to go drive one before passing judgement. The Taurus I had was a great family hauler, very reliable, and reasonably smooth for the class of car that it was. The Jag is smooth as glass, extremely responsive, and so fast you just can't help but grin about it.

Radically different implementation, phenomenal little car. Maybe it doesn't have all of the heritage that made the Jaguar name the best loved and hated marque in the auto industry. I consider that a good thing. This is a thoroughly modern, well engineered implementation of an entry level luxury car, and despite the people who just hate the fact that it is based on a Mondeo, it works very well.

So, call it what you want. It isn't a Taurus. It is much, much better.

im_brentwood

I have yet to see someone call this car a $40K Taurus or a Mondeo in drag.

Well, I have yet to see someone who's either driven the car or is reasonably informed say that.

Bill

bian

I have a X-Type 2.5 stick and it go's like hell! I have some buzzes in it (in the dash,door & by the rear air bag) do you?

tuckman

Mine is a 3.0 stick, only 800 miles so far but no bad sounds yet.

Brent

kiiwii

I had a chance to drive a Mondeo over the Xmas holiday. The ride seemed to be a bit softer than X-type 2.5. Also, I was surprised to notice that Mondeo has much more room for back passengers than X-type.

bian

Brent thanks for reading! One thing my jag has is 6000 miles on it. If you do get a buzz I want to know.

leogenghis

Might it be because the Mondeo doesn't have the rear differential and driveshaft? If so, then the FWD X-type (not sold in the US, unfortunately) could be more roomy in the back as well. Or maybe the front seats in the Mondeo, not being leather and without all the power motors, are "slimmer" than the X-type's and add more legroom in the back.

Leo

kiiwii

You know, I was surprised that the Modeo I drove had everything. Besides leather and all the power stuff, that Mondeo baby was equipped with some NICE stuffs that are only found in high-end cars. It got the parktronic, power-folded mirrors (why not in x-type?), one touch up/down windows for the back passengers....

Why is X-type not as roomy as Mondeo? My guess is because of X-type's styling. (I could be wrong) No need to say more, X-type is slick and super stylish. Mondeo... a very nice car, but it looks kindda like a big civic from the back end =P

jonty12

those buying the x-type in countries where they can by a mondeo DO get the folding mirrors. it's just us in north america who don't.

jrichar7

Marty, in your post you mention that you got a single CD. How is that possible? I didn't know one was available?!

jonty12

...is a $200 option in the US. can't get premium sound with it though.

jonty12

anyone looking for a true base x-type in the DFW area, manual/no options, there are two at overseas motors in dallas. a white one and a brg one.

http://www.overseasauto.com/newsite/search/new/index.asp

martylaw

We opted for the single cd, which replaces the standard radio with a cassette player. It is a new option and costs $200. They started shipping them that way in December and I suspect that they will probably do that instead of the radio with cassette. It really should be the standard radio.You can also have a six cd changer installed in the trunk, although Jaguar charges about $1,000 for that, so you may as well get the premium sound package. Has anyone checked into installing an aftermarket Alpine cd changer in the trunk - the car is pre-wired and it should be less expensive.