X-type Jag's - a bit more pussy than cat?

[blockers]

Hi guys.

I'd like to know what you think to jaguars new X-type range, with diesels, and estates as well their saloon.

Im not buying one i would just like to know if you think this still holds jaguar in the same light as XJ's, or if you think it is just a ploy by ford to get jaguar into the mainstream market for average jo and thus increase their profit?

I myself would have said the latter, but just curious to see if that is a popular reason for the X-type coming to exsist.

This leads me briskly onto the next point. It seems car manufacturers are far more concerned with profit nowadays than they have been previously (well performance saloon cars i.e BMW's, mercedes, jaguar, and audi to some extent). Take for instance BMW, they have been up a well respected company for making good cars (as most german companies have) and now they are releasing the 1 series, which as far as i can see is for the sole purpose of collecting revenue. Competing directly with the better value for money Astra, Leon, and even the Golf. Im sure people who will buy the 1 series will either already have a BMW, or will go for either the brand name, and status rather than what they are actually getting for their money.

It irritates me that executive car produces are making cars that are for "lesser mortals" (if you understand me?!?) Sadly every company seems to be at it now. Mercedes-benz have the A-class, BMW the 1 series, and Jaguar the X-type. The only company i can see that has actually done a grand job at providing good cars at good prices, from their roots in executive saloons is Audi. The A3/A4 are excellent cars, however sadly the A2 is, for me, a step too far.

So after much ranting, are hexus readers of the inclination that supposedly executive car companies should stick to their title?

Will.

[Rave]

Well, the 1-series has one major advantage over the Golf, Astra etc.- it's rear wheel drive. The X-type has a couple of big advantages over the Mondeo on which it's supposedly based- it looks much better and it's not a Ford. I probably wouldn't buy an X-Type (couldn't afford one anyway), but I think it's a handsome car, much better than the S-Type at any rate.

As for the Mercedes A-Class, it apparently has as much space as an E class inside. Technically, it's an impressive car if you overlook its flipping tendencies.

Rich :¬)

[dkmech]

I'd rather they made 1-series and A-classes than go bankrupt and have us all drive corsas or daewoos or whatnot.

I quite like the way the x-type looks, and if i didnt have to pay for it i'd probably take it over a mondeo. BMW invested in Mini - and what a good car that turned out. Think if rover made the city-rover their "new Mini". How crap would that be?

[Butuz]

S-type = ugly, fat and expensive, for 60 year old retired directors that want to fit a en electric golf caddy in the boot next to his clubs.

BMW 1 series, well car companies have to make money in order to spend it on R&D and stuff, the more money they bring in the better for BMW as a whole. BMW as a marque holds no sway with me anyway, i don't see the badge as something to envyu or admire, unlike Audi.

Butuz

[Zak33]

Jag hold a weird place in my heart....I dont know why I still like to drive them, but I do.

The ultra low seating goes against all of the Merc/BMW style of interiors....

S series is not too bad....maybe the worst thing that ever happened is the Rover 75 looking so similar not really what Jag needed.

The idea od 4x4 cars made sense to me...they were AIMING at the younger market....ie ME: 30 to 40 years old, Manager of some kind, with a company car etc...
(but very clearly not a Vauxhall bloke )
it just didnt work, did it? Jag need the brand MOVING a lot to a different direction...and the old boys who did buy it did so cos they thought it looked younger etc...

However...the Jag range has brought us some good things....and I DONT mean the XK8 which is the ugliest abortion of a stunning DB7 ever to fall out of someones but!

I mean the XJR 4.0 Supercharged beast.



for those who are not aware of brutal power with 4 doors....this thing is just terrifying

[TiG]

But for looks wise does the X-type not look like this?, Sure its not got anywhere near the power, but how many people would rather buy a jag than a merc or a bmw?. I still see the new Jag's as Fords, which imo is not a good thing.

I'd prefer the build quality on the bmw or merc's or even my octavia than the stuff on a jag, never had one myself, but for me its like the old saying about rover's rust like anything, I still wouldn't touch a rover with a barge pole.

I dont think they have done a bad job with the X-type but look at the competition, you really need a car so superb to compete that its something that requires it to be a little more unique than everything else in the jag range

TiG

[Angus]

Large companies like Ford, GM etcetera are targeting markets by aquring manufacturers that do well in those areas. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no longer a Ford executive saloon - probably because it would interfere with Jag sales.

The broadening of the Jaguar range is really a sensible move - it allows them to target a broader range of people with essentially the same car; in my opinion it hasn't done anything to degrade the Jag badge.

The only dumb thing they did was to base it on the old mondeo chassis rather than the new one (which apparently handles better).

doh.

The BMW 1-series is in order that BMW can target the small car market - it's my guess that they brought Rover X years ago in order to do this but they got bored/couldn't be bothered and so designed their own when they sold rover off.

[Zak33]

I'm on a roll now

Subtle looks, old man styling, nice grill, and SO FAST...so QUICK..so much GRUNT.

This is one of the only cars to ever make Zakky look shocked. I drove one for about 20 miles to an auction.....and Oh I wanted it on my drive, like very few cars in the world.

You put your gran in the back, and you take her to lunch...she has to squeeze in a bit cos the doors are low and small....

BUT THEN SHE GETS PLASTERED TO THE BACK WINDOW ANYWAY, SO HEY HO

[MD]

My dad was an Alfa Lover all his life, company cars meant they were worth having, the 3.0 V6 164 was a real sweet car to drive. When he left the company he had to buy his own car, out of all of them he went for a Jaguar X-Type, why? Because overall it offered him the best package, it would shut my mom up about the fact he only ever drove italian breadvans and because he could at the time.

He still has it and I drive it when ever I am up there, a great car that proves that Jag have lost nothing, they have nothing to prove anymore. Although when buying the first thing one jaguar salesman said to him was 'you either want the brand or you don't' That cost the guy the sale. But my dad was not put off and went to a totally different dealer and bought an ex-demo X-Type, ex demo's are the ones to get, well looked after, had done 3,000 miles and dad saved £7,500 off list price.

Mind you his is the 3.0 V6 Sport AWD, 231BHP and a Manual box means a 0-60 time of 6.7. And it really can do that, the car is evil fast, I am just glad I don't have to pay the fuel bills lol.

m@