Shed of the Week: Jaguar X-Type V6
Why your jokes really aren't appropriate for the old junior Jag
Now imagine Jaguar building a 3 Series sized car. Luckily you don't have to imagine it because they have been doing just that, or the equivalent thereof, since the first Mk I rolled through the Browns Lane gates over 60 years ago.
Classic colour combo still looks good
A few years back, Shed took in a used X-Type 3.0-litre SE AWD as a part-ex for a sit-upon gang mower that had been quietly rusting in his yard. The X-Type owner had to add cash to the deal because, as just about no-one will tire of telling you, the Jag was basically a Mondeo and therefore worth Nothing. This is an interesting one as a few small bits of the X-Type like the engine, body, suspension, cabin, drivetrain had very little connection with Ford.
Anyway, Shed gave the Jag to his missus. She proudly ran it for four years with minimal hassle until the Irish navvy she was seeing on the side accidentally put an indelible bootprint on the nearside rear door card. It had to go after that.
Have a look at this week's rather lovely 2.5-litre X and see if you still think that this much-maligned mini-Jag is a worthless Ford.
As always, check that dash for warning lights
Many long term X-Type owners swear they are not only a better drive than the Mondeo (more planted, and yet also lighter on its feet) but also than the equivalent 3 Series, offering more space than the German car and naturally none of its rear-wheel drive issues in snow and ice.
Our Shed comes in a fantastic colour, with apparently lovely leather, very handsome 18in Aruba wheels and a low mileage. There's a bleb on the bonnet that looks eminently fixable or forgettable. Otherwise, what's there to be afraid of?
Early AWD cars suffered from weak bearing in the transfer box but they'll have all been sorted by now. The box itself needs careful checking of its fluids as it doesn't hold a lot and leaks can quickly develop into a serious problem. ABS rings were known for popping off the rear driveshafts. Ultimately not a difficult one to fix, but something that would often trigger a Blackpool Prom's worth of warning lights, causing much angst.
Bad pics, but it sounds like a very good car!
As we go to press, Dan is driving an F-Type SVR. Chances are that it's going to be quite a machine. Our humble X-Type may not quite compete with that but the heritage is the same and there really is nothing like a Jag. Even if it is only a lickle one.
Amazingly, there hasn't been an X-Type in SOTW in getting on for four years, and possibly even longer than that: Shed's pre-October 2012 records were unfortunately destroyed in a mysterious but quite profitable fire. So, it's a long overdue appearance for the X-Type here, and maybe on your driveway. If you don't have a driveway, get one. It's all part of being a Jaguar owner.
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These suffer horrendous rust under the plastic sill covers (as do S-Types) so that's an area to check thoroughly.
(see https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ ). Rusty brake pipes too by the looks of things.Also, beware the 18" Aruba wheels. They're made of cheese, and one large pothole can put them well off-round.
I ran a 3.0 estate for about 4 years: Black leather with piano black dash gives a very different 'ambiance' compared to this one.
I wouldn't worry - looks like it comes with a set of wheels for each day of the week.
I think a combination of AWD, reasonably good tyres and ABS with probably instinct saved me from a head-on. They just drove off seemingly oblivious
The problems I had with the X Type were fuel consumption (it's a 3.0V6 though), slightly short driving position (my shins would catch/knock the plastic under the steering wheel) and there wasnt a massive amount of rear legroom. BOOT OPEN used to flash up every so often, until I undid all the tape on the wiring loom in the bonnet hinge and re-soldered the wire back together that was causing the problem. The way the boot hinges, it stretches the wires (same in the S Type) but it's simple enough to fix.
On the upside, the engine had a lot of torque (3.0 in mine) so you could pottle around in 3rd most of the time at low to medium revs. It was quiet on the road, little noise other than tyres at motorway speeds, enough that you could have a normal conversation with a passenger, and it was comfy to sit in for hours, as long as you could afford to refuel it.
Engine wise, there's very little room to do much. They tend not to need that much doing though.
Despite having no CD, it does have the mega-expensive (at the time) satnav option.
t. The downside is the auto gearbox is poor, even by standards 10-15 years ago as it is never really sure what gear it wants and then takes an age to sludge into action if you ask it to kick down. The auto box combined with the weight of the 4x4 it means the car doesn't feel that fast and really like a drink, think MPG of high teens around town and low to mid 20s on a run. They do drive/handle well IMO, though I swapped off the 18" alloys as they make the ride a bit harsh and are known to crack easily.
There are loads and loads available for around this kind of money now (or perhaps stretching the budget slightly). I would always hang on for the 3.0 because the 2.1 and 2.5 are just as juicy but lack the performance that justifies it.
The interior for something so beige is quite nice too.
I've always wondered whether one of these would make a good cheap track day car where you just bunged it around until it popped, blaming the lack of pace on the car not the driver. But then you start looking at cheap X series with 6 cyls and then progress to S series with 8 for same principle, this ones sold but 400bhp for less than £4k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
I never buy one of course. Just keep dreaming the dream on a Friday whilst munching on some crisps and drinking cheap ale.
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