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Possibly looking at one as a replacement for my Passat.
Any views? Long term owners comments? Bike friendliness (load are looks big, but shallow). Any idea how they handle big miles (150k+)?
I know it's a Mondeo in a posh frock btw, and I know the STW default answer is "Skoda Octavia" but the old man has one of them already.
This might help http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=164
I think they look quite nice actually.
There's one for sale near me, 55 plate, 31k miles, £10k. It is tempting, but insurance/servicing etc etc might be annoying.
FWIW I think Skodas are really ugly inside, so I haven't looked at them 🙂
If you are looking for an interesting estate, the Subaru Legacy with full leather? Interesting diesel estate- Audi A6 is the closest?
Having spent a reasonable amount of time in both mondeo and x types i can't see why anyone who has buys the jag. It's more expensive and yet not as nice in everyway. They are less comfortable to sit in, noisier, handle badly etc.
Miles wise they should be ok as the engine is standard ford tdci, so issues with dual mass flywheels (as with all diesels of this age really) and some injector problems.
Have owned both the Mondeo Estate and the X-Type estate I had the 3.0l V6 Sport for 5-years. The two cars couldn't be more different, jag very refined and nicely put together. No reliability issues whatsoever at 95k miles. AWD was an asset also but would exchange for the mpg of the 2.2d...
...and they look great too...
are you looking new or used? As Hora, the Subaru Legacy diesel is brilliant.
Do not know if you read the link on horas post, but they do not reccommend putting a towbar on one which would be a dealbreaker for me
Can only really comment on the engine, which is the same as the Mondeo ST TDCI.
Very nice, good torque and power. Great for crusing and plenty of overtaking punch. No reliability issues so far in 55k miles.
Very different to PD VAG engines which have a bigger punch, but less rev range.
Might be worth looking at the ST TDCI? Cheaper and a little bigger I think.
Probably more sporty but not as refined/comfortable as the Jag. Depends where your priorities are.
Test drove an X-Type diesel and was not impressed by the engine. Nothing until the turbo decided to spin up then a 1000 rpm power band then nothing. Result was not a relaxing drive. Interior was plush though and its got the biggest boot in its class. BMW 3 series and Audi A4 are much better IMHO.
I think they are a good car. My advice is if you get one, avoid the sporty 18' alloys. My mate had one who is into mountaineering, mountain biking etc and he always moaned about the suspension feeling hard and wanting to change to a freelander. What did he expect the ride to feel like in some potholed carpark in the arse end of nowhere!
I would definitely take the Mondeo over the Jaguar... bigger, more comfy, better ride and handling, cheaper, the list goes on. I was involved with the X Type in a previous job (engineering) and I never found it a nice car to drive at all - just dull and cramped. Certainly inferior to its direct rivals (3 series, A4).
They do look good with big alloys though, but you will pay for that with the loss in ride quality.
X-type is an extemely poor car, not as goo as the Mondeo it is based on. Another passat would be a good bet. Dull avensis is great, but load area not too hot.
But if you want a good looking well built estate which is good for bikes, comfortable and capable of big miles then go for a c-class estate. C220 is best. 200 very gutless and 270 rather thirsty. Ignore the bs you will hear aboutbuild quality, I have put over 100k on am 05 with only tires and an intercooler hose.
Jon, drop an email to ButtyJim. He's no longer at Jaguar, but seeing as he part designed the X-type diesel when he worked there he might have some insider info.
If you've not got his email let me know and I'll send it onto you.
Cheers,
Rob
I doubt he'd tell you it was a bit shit then!
I doubt he'd tell you it was a bit shit then!
The electrics will be the best in the world (he did that stuff)! Might give away any other stuff though!
X-type is due to be discontinued in the UK this year due to Jag heading upmarket again (and probably because they dont have the ford parts bin to rummage through anymore)
Well I went and had a looksee/drive.
Beautiful car - very classy cabin (it was a top of the range sport premium) acres of black leather and carbon fibre. Big boot (actually wider than the Passat, but very shallow - parcel shelf (which is enormous) would have to come out every time I wanted to put 2 bikes in.
Ride on the 18" wheels was actually pretty OK - it was a bit crashy on the potholes, but very taught with it - simply "crash/crash" rather than the "thud/wobble/shake/thud/wobble" of the Passat. Engine *very* punchy when on boost, but no rev range to speak of - constant gear stick stirring needed to keep forward momentum going. Footwell VERY cramped - no where to put my left foot other than on the clutch pedal. That would drive me up the wall eventually.
Big downer was that it only had 1/2 the no of service stamps that it should have done - it had been serviced annually rather than at the 12.5k intervals it should have been done. (4 years old, 80k, so the maths) and the last one was 25k ago.... Run away! Run away!
Thanks for all the input!