RE: Jaguar XE: Driven

[kambites]

True, I don't have the mentality to live in London (I've spent enough time there to know I despise the place and don't want to go back, even to visit) so it's something of a moot point. if I lived in London for some reason, I'd spend every second of my free time trying to get out of London as quickly as possible and in my experience that's generally quicker by means other than car.

From a car perspective, I don't know much about the very centre, but certainly looking at the moderately affluent middle class suburbs of London (which are mostly the places I know people) I've never seen so many SUVs with "premium" badges and new/private number plates on them. I live in a similarly affluent area of Southampton and my road seems to have more E-types and such like than modern BMWs or Mercs on it. I'm sure the phenomenon isn't unique to London, but I've certainly see it there more than anywhere else. I suppose there's a reason posh SUVs get called "Chelsea Tractors".

Edited by kambites on Monday 2nd February 08:24

[DonkeyApple]

kambites said:

True, I don't have the mentality to live in London (I've spent enough time there to know I despise the place and don't want to go back, even to visit) so it's something of a moot point. if I lived in London for some reason, I'd spend every second of my free time trying to get out of London as quickly as possible and in my experience that's generally quicker by means other than car.

From a car perspective, I don't know much about the very centre, but certainly looking at the moderately affluent middle class suburbs of London (which are mostly the places I know people) I've never seen so many SUVs with "premium" badges and new/private number plates on them. I live in a similarly affluent area of Southampton and my road seems to have more E-types and such like than modern BMWs or Mercs on it. I'm sure the phenomenon isn't unique to London, but I've certainly see it there more than anywhere else. I suppose there's a reason posh SUVs get called "Chelsea Tractors".

Edited by kambites on Monday 2nd February 08:24

A little bit of quick money always leads to a lot of quick debt. It's not unique to London it's a part of our DNA. You can see the same in places like Aberdeen etc and all over the world. But generally speaking, the bigger the displays of wealth, the lower the actual wealth is.

Bizarrely, I love London for the sheer speed at which you can get anywhere and that you can get most things to come to you anyway.

If I didn't like cars then I wouldn't bother with one as they aren't really needed.

[ORD]

DonkeyApple said:

A little bit of quick money always leads to a lot of quick debt. It's not unique to London it's a part of our DNA. You can see the same in places like Aberdeen etc and all over the world. But generally speaking, the bigger the displays of wealth, the lower the actual wealth is.

Bizarrely, I love London for the sheer speed at which you can get anywhere and that you can get most things to come to you anyway.

If I didn't like cars then I wouldn't bother with one as they aren't really needed.

Last point is wrong for a lot of people.

My commute in a car - pleasant 25 mins with the radio on in warm car.

My commute by public transport - 50 mins while getting sneezed on, coughed on and nose-polluted by stinky ill people.

[DonkeyApple]

ORD said:

DonkeyApple said:

A little bit of quick money always leads to a lot of quick debt. It's not unique to London it's a part of our DNA. You can see the same in places like Aberdeen etc and all over the world. But generally speaking, the bigger the displays of wealth, the lower the actual wealth is.

Bizarrely, I love London for the sheer speed at which you can get anywhere and that you can get most things to come to you anyway.

If I didn't like cars then I wouldn't bother with one as they aren't really needed.

Last point is wrong for a lot of people.

My commute in a car - pleasant 25 mins with the radio on in warm car.

My commute by public transport - 50 mins while getting sneezed on, coughed on and nose-polluted by stinky ill people.

I'm talking about central London. I simply don't need a car. I have them because I like them. My phone will bring a car and driver to my front door quicker than I can find my car keys almost any time of day and it's cheaper than owning a car. I also own a pair of shoes.

[TheFinners]

kambites said:

True, I don't have the mentality to live in London (I've spent enough time there to know I despise the place and don't want to go back, even to visit) so it's something of a moot point. if I lived in London for some reason, I'd spend every second of my free time trying to get out of London as quickly as possible and in my experience that's generally quicker by means other than car.

From a car perspective, I don't know much about the very centre, but certainly looking at the moderately affluent middle class suburbs of London (which are mostly the places I know people) I've never seen so many SUVs with "premium" badges and new/private number plates on them. I live in a similarly affluent area of Southampton and my road seems to have more E-types and such like than modern BMWs or Mercs on it. I'm sure the phenomenon isn't unique to London, but I've certainly see it there more than anywhere else. I suppose there's a reason posh SUVs get called "Chelsea Tractors".

Edited by kambites on Monday 2nd February 08:24

Interesting, because the part of Hedge End (Just outside Southampton) I live in (Grange Park area) probably best described as 'middle class' is full of SUV's of all varieties, from relatively humble Qashqai's and Kuga's to drug dealer spec Q7's and RRS's. While there is the odd exception I wish these people all owned E types etc instead, would be far more interesting!

[Dyl]

I'm just reading through Autocar's review of this and one sentence caught my attention in particular:

Autocar said:

Step up to Prestige and you get leather front seats...

Surely not?! Nigh on £30k for a standard SE diesel that doesn't have leather seats as standard, then an additional £1k up to Prestige and you still only get leather in the front?

The idea of the 5.0 V8 as an AMG, M, RS alternative sounds interesting though.

[darren f]

I'm no doubt being unfair here but I cannot help but feel Jaguar have gone off a bit 'half cocked' on the XE. Only 4-pot diesels, no 3-litre option (to challenge the 330d), no estate version and silly things like leather non standard (as above) on expensive models. I know that all of these things will eventually arrive but it does feel like the launch has been going on for months and still no news or indication as when the range is going to broaden. It's an undeniably good-looking thing though, I really hope it's a success (it no doubt will be in the C220 / 320d company hack sector... which no doubt explains where Jaguar are marketing launch models where they are).

[hornetrider]

When is it available on the UK roads?

[craste]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/jaguar/xe/firs...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/jaguar-xe-portfolio-d...

Jaguar XE production version reviews

Edited by craste on Thursday 23 April 18:30

[cerb4.5lee]

craste said:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/jaguar/xe/firs...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/jaguar-xe-portfolio-d...

Jaguar XE production version reviews

Edited by craste on Thursday 23 April 18:30

Five out of five so very well rated then.

[confused_buyer]

Pleased to see that the new engines still have a proper dipstick.

[Jedilai]

Seems like there is little wrong with the XE. When the evoque came out the reviews were the same (autocar really liked JLR) but over time it was clear it was not perfect. I hope the XE does well though.

[RobGT81]

As long as it sells like the Evoque! Hopefully even better.

[smashy]

darren f said:

I'm no doubt being unfair here but I cannot help but feel Jaguar have gone off a bit 'half cocked' on the XE. Only 4-pot diesels, no 3-litre option (to challenge the 330d), no estate version and silly things like leather non standard (as above) on expensive models. I know that all of these things will eventually arrive but it does feel like the launch has been going on for months and still no news or indication as when the range is going to broaden. It's an undeniably good-looking thing though, I really hope it's a success (it no doubt will be in the C220 / 320d company hack sector... which no doubt explains where Jaguar are marketing launch models where they are).

As an owner of one ,I remember seeing production figures and sorry I cant remember exactly but the 330d sales were really miniscule compared to the 320d so guess they see it as of no significance.

EDITED Found it this from Car magazine Of 27,676 Threes sold last year, 584 had the 30d engine, compared with 11,151 20ds.

[kambites]

I doubt there will be a six-pot diesel in the next generation of 3-series (or possibly even the post-LCI current one); there might not even be a 6-pot petrol except for the M3.

[ZesPak]

kambites said:

I doubt there will be a six-pot diesel in the next generation of 3-series (or possibly even the post-LCI current one); there might not even be a 6-pot petrol except for the M3.

Wow... is the current M3/M4 a 6 pot?

[KTF]

Dyl said:

Surely not?! Nigh on £30k for a standard SE diesel that doesn't have leather seats as standard, then an additional £1k up to Prestige and you still only get leather in the front?

The idea of the 5.0 V8 as an AMG, M, RS alternative sounds interesting though.

I imagine it will be leather in the front and fake leather in the back. I cant see them having leather front and cloth back seats tbh

[Fox-]

smashy said:

EDITED Found it this from Car magazine Of 27,676 Threes sold last year, 584 had the 30d engine, compared with 11,151 20ds.

Not true - 1500 330d M Sport Saloon's alone were registered in 2014, that doesn't include other trim levels or Tourings.

[hornetrider]

Fox- said:

Not true - 1500 330d M Sport Saloon's alone were registered in 2014, that doesn't include other trim levels or Tourings.

Quick look on AT shows 977 v 227 3 series tractors up to 1 year old, useful as a finger in the air on ratios out there. So about 4 to 1 or so.

[kambites]

ZesPak said:

kambites said:

I doubt there will be a six-pot diesel in the next generation of 3-series (or possibly even the post-LCI current one); there might not even be a 6-pot petrol except for the M3.

Wow... is the current M3/M4 a 6 pot?

Yes; and the 335i is the only other six-pot petrol, as far as I know. I think there's still two levels of tune of the six cylinder diesel (the 330 and 335)?

Edited by kambites on Friday 24th April 20:03