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Comments
At least the one I drove. I have a 330 and other than slightly more body roll this thing sticks. I purposely tried to swing the rear out and it was stuck. I see you were driving a non sport, that must be the diff. mine was the sport. I agree about the headroom. I had my seat all the way down too and I could feel my hair rubbing the headliner.
Steve
icdchess: well, you know, reviews are subjective; i probably just have different car goals than the guys on jagtalk. As is, i don't need to go there, because i think i won't be cionsidering it bacause of space issues. Get me that leather and nice wool, though! P.S. I've ordered things from ICD chess. I guess you guys are doing ok, huh?
dave
You've ordered chess stuff from us? Wow, we've been in business doing that for 23 years, but what are the odds that some fellow on an X-Type board that I respond to is actually a customer of ours? Impressive. You can come to the Jagtalk board anyway- a bunch of really nice people there. They have no agenda and aren't trying to sell anything. Almost 1900 members now.
Steve
http://www.ChessUSA.com
The reason people call it a gussied up contour is because it's on the new Mondeo platform. What they're probably too stupid to tell you is that the new Mondeo platform is a fantastic class-leading FWD platform, better than almost anything out there including the Passat. So by tacking on AWD capabilities and heavily modifying the Mondeo platform, they're getting the best of both worlds.
This seems to be true even thought the members have access to the data like statements from Simon Sproule, vice-president of public affairs for Jaguar Cars North America, that the S shares 40 percent of its parts with the Lincoln while less than 20 percent of the X-Type's parts come from the Mondeo. Apart from the platform, some suspension bits, the engine block and the gearbox, the X-Type's engineering is pure Jaguar. And that's not an expertise to be taken lightly.
A few members are even concerned that the poor Jaguar dealers might have to deal with customers wearing jeans and t-shirts. I think bottom line it is a cost/status thing and not based on any technical details. There seems to be a fear that the X-Type will somehow lower the status level of all Jaguar owners. I really don't think this is true for MB and BMW, and it won't be for Jaguar.
The sports package erases all chrome, inside and out, which in my opinion is a bad idea. The chrome adds a luxurious and elegant touch to the car. The a uni-color scheme, the sports model looks very bland. The sports seats are small.
Can you get a 5-speed on the 3.0? The J-gate auto doesn't truly allow manual shifting through all gears, unlike the tiptronic of Audi or Steptronic of BMW.
I may go back and test drive a 3.0 this week.
Bill
My guess is that is one quality which they retained in the new platform (thank goodness).
Some pics of the Nissan Skyline (which will be imported as the G35) can be found here:-
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/e/2001/0618/e88npr_kt0618_22.html
With a 3-litre engine, it produces 260hp in Japan, so with a 3.5-litre coming here, it should be a serious contender.
Edmunds supports this forum, but look at their data on the X-Type and you will find there are no options for the car -- seems like not enough interest in the X-Type to even load the data on the options. Over a week ago I wrote a review of the X-Type -- you know, "be the first to review this car" -- and nothing. I wondered why no one had reviewed the X-Type, now I suspect several have, but they have not been posted due to a lack of interest.
I found most of my technical data directly from Jaguar. Their "Jaguar X-TYPE Press Pack Text February 2001" was a very good document covering many technical question I had as well as a lot of details on the testing performed and locations.
Anyway, moving on....
I don't know how long the lower part of the hood trim is going to stay on, it is very flimsy. I was offered this car the day after the test drive for $1K off Msrp. Had X1, Sport, cd. I personally would not buy the Sport because it rode too rough and the sport seat is hard and narrow.
I balked at the offer (because I didn't want the Sport) so the next day I get a call that they have the same car without Sport for the same deal. I still balked because 1. I don't know if I am a "Jag guy" 2. Serious ? of buying 1st year of any new model esp. Jag. 3. I think the price will have to go down to compete in the "new" economy.
BTW my local dealer has 15 in stock, some were pre
sold and cancelled and the rest "float" cars. So what does everyone think? Is it just the economy, the car, the fact it is Jag, or the price for a well equipped car.
Let's face it when is the last time your local BMW dealer had new 530i for sale at $2500 off Mrsp and 540s in stock to buy at any price?
Most dealers are at MSRP or $1,000 off at best (That's about as good as the deals are at the moment..)
But I don't see over sticker.
Bill
First let me say that before I purchased the A4, I went to every premium dealership out there except for Jaguar. While some treated me better than others (even though I pulled up in a Pathfinder), most treated me with respect, even if I came in in jeans and a sweatshirt.
In the case of Jaguar, I pulled up in my A4, looking halfway respectable, and I never felt so uncomfortable in my life. In fact, the hard sell was extremely pressure packed, as if they were desperate to sell a car. They all looked at me as if I were an outcast.
I test drove the Jag, really liked it except for the fact that it did not have memory seats (why would they skip that on a $40,000 car?). The A4 2.8 doesn't have it now, but will have it come the new redesign.
Admittedly, after test driving the Volvo S60, I really liked the Jag. It had so many more important features in it, like a real armrest! Unfortunately, unless I really don't like the new A4 in person, I wouldn't consider the Jag because of the response I got from the dealer. It just confirms to me that one of the reasons I chose the A4 in the first place, barring the fact that I liked it the best out of all the cars I test drove, was that the stigma of being untouchable wasn't there.
I had a customer one time. He was wearing jeans and a T-Shirt with a denim jacket. The first thing he said was "I've always wanted to have a Jag." So I started thinking he was a dreamer. We get them quite often, people who can't afford the cars they just like to come and look. Wrong, turns out not only is he a doctor but he and his partner always drive the same kind of car. I ended up delivering two XJR's that night.
The biggest problem with selling the cars is getting them esp. 2.5's. If someone gave me an order today for a 2.5 it would be Oct. before I even got an allocation for their car, and another two months before they got the car.
What "color"???
Bill
What part? I know most of the dealers out there and could probably give a great reccomendation...
Bill
Thanks, Bill
wjodonnell1@home.com
Where I'm coming from: current drive is a '99 SVT Contour, similar platform as the Xtype. One of the best handlers I've ever driven for the price--slightly over 7 sec to 60 and over .9 Gs on the skidpad, Can attest to gripiness on Colorado mountain roads and its zippiness when pushed. Its a Ford so it does have its unsophicticated bits compared to BMW and Audis. But...if you can live with this--its a fun drive that surpisingly will also handle long distance trips with comfort--two drives in the US totalling in the last two years almost 12k mi keep me begging for more.
My dilema: paying almost double three years later for a slightlly more powerful, maybe better handler, with a more upscape marque. Will I get my moneys worth or should I just get a Boxter S or Audi TT and go for the gusto?
I'm thinking...it will be my decision..but I am waiting for the excitement to grab me by the lapels and say 'own me'
I am not ready to purchase a new car at this point, but probably will be within the next 6 months. They are located right near my house, so if I decided on the Jag, I would only purchase there for the convenience. I don't want to travel all over the state for maintenance and warranty work, and not get a loaner.
Thanks for your comments.
If you need a reccomendation, lemme know. I used to work at Montclair Jaguar. If you go there talk to Paul DeBlois who is a great guy.
If you go to Bergen, talk to Anthony Villani.
And as far as loaners and service go, Jaguar basically requires service loaners for their customers. We had people who had bought their cars at Main or Bergen or Manhattan..etc who used our service dept and they all got loaners.
Point is, if you are not treated with respect... go somewhere else.
Bill
reviews it has received. One major problem I had with the car was that I'd be paying $1200 for an upgrade 6 CD changer/sound system and still have to go to the trunk to change CDs. Jaguar definitely dropped the ball on that one.
In the end, I cancelled my order b/c I feel that car is overpriced at $42,750. For comparison, a friend of mine just purchased a BMW 530 I similarly equipped for $43,600 (but without upgrade stereo). With today's economy and the fact that many luxury dealers are selling their cars below MSRP, I believe the car I had ordered is drastically overpriced.
Although it would be nice to own a car that is not seen very often on the road (unlike BMW), the premium demanded along with traditional reliability concerns for 1st year models outweighs the benefits to me of driving a unique car.
I have decided to hold off my purchase until (if ever) the x-type pricing is more in line with compeititors. I'll wait til spring, and see where X-type is at and then compare to 530I and A6 2.7 T and may consider purchasing a 2.5
instead of the 3.0 if the car does not have any reliability concerns.
Although I love the X-type and was really looking forward to purchasing it, after doing price comparisons I feel it would not be a wise economic decision on my part to purchase the car I was looking at. Even though there are many more BMWs on the road, is there really much of choice between a 530i and similarly equipped x-type 3.0 when 530I is only selling for around $1000 more than 3.0 X-type??? Personally, I feel the car I was looking at should be priced at or under $40,000 to bring it in line with other cars out there.
Question: does anyone know if BMW plans to extend their all wheel drive system to the 5 series (to me this is the only advantage of x-type over 530 i currently)?
Our problem is that she is 5'5"; I'm 6'8". I handle the maintanance on our vehicles. So it is kind of important that I can drive the car in more than a straight line. Would those who have driven it say it is the size of the Lincoln LS? Please say no as I couldn't get my left leg into the car.
As a side observation, car manufacturers seem to be making their vehicles smaller while the population is getting taller. All are at fault. I wanted to replace my totalled Intrigue with an Aurora but couldn't fit into their full-sized car. Same is true for the Seville, DeVille, Continental, LS, anything Nissan/Infiniti or Honda/Acura, VW (haven't tried Audi), all BMWs (belive it or not) and the C-Class (wife wanted that until it was revealed I couldn't fit). Despite this, I test drove a CTS and, while tight, was able to get into the car and move it thru the test track.
Go figure.