RE: ErnestM's Jaguar X-Type Sport 3.0

RE: ErnestM's Jaguar X-Type Sport 3.0

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Discussion

RichardR

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

270 months

Wednesday 12th March 2003
quotequote all
Hi Ernest,

It's interesting to see an American with a garage full of English (or at least English made) cars, and what a fine selection too!

I'm particularly interested to see that you have an X-Type. The car hasn't been as successful over here as Jaguar would've liked, although this is being attributed to the lack of a diesel model which is in the pipeline. How's the X-Type going down in the States? I can see that you're keen , but is it generally popular over there, or has it been a slow seller?

Cheers,

Richard

ErnestM

11,621 posts

269 months

Friday 14th March 2003
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Sorry Richard, didn't see this until today.

The X-type has been a really good seller for Jaguar. In fact my local Jaguar dealer has been turning over it's inventory at quite a clip.

That being said, I had to order mine special as they don't import a lot of 5 speed (especially with the 3.0 litre engine) into the States. The average customer for the X is the 32 - 40 year old "upwardly mobile" range. Jaguar is actually viewed as a prestige marque (no PAG pun intended) in the US as the "old man" brands are the land yachts created by Lincoln and Cadillac.

I actually got to drive the X in a monsoon level of rain recently, and let me say - the all wheel drive really works. No loss of traction at all and the "Nanny" limited slip features are not too intrusive.

I see quite a few of the regular X-types around, but so far I have seen only 1 or 2 Sports (with mine being the only BRG one). The X-types are stealing business from BMW 3 series cars as well as a host of domestic "sport sedan" type cars.

I think, overall, the X is a big winner for Jaguar. Also, I have noticed that the depreciation hit for the X isn't quite as bad as the S. With the S, I guess you either love it or hate it. Not too many people over here dislike the X.

To me the X is the perfect daily driver when it is impracticle to take the Esprit

ErnestM

RichardR

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

270 months

Friday 14th March 2003
quotequote all
Ernest,

It's good to hear that the X-Type's doing well over there. I've always been a big fan of Jags, ever since my Dad had an XJ6 4.2 back in '79. It was one of the first MkIII XJs and he had no end of problems with it which put him off Jags totally, but it didn't dampen my enthusiasm - I was only twelve then, so unreliability etc. didn't mean much to me at the time.

OK, Jag may be part of the Ford empire now, but that's a damn site better than being stuck in British Leyland! Anyhow, I still aspire to owning a Jag one day; maybe when I have to give up the TVR and get something sensible, I might go for a secondhand XJ - the excellent new model should have depressed prices nicely by then!

Glad to hear the good news for Jag stateside. Happy motoring.

Richard

ErnestM

11,621 posts

269 months

Saturday 15th March 2003
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Richard - excellent choice (the new aluminium XJ). I always thought that Jag should have done some "special editions" and just done them up in polished aluminium (like the show car). I bet they would have sold like crazy.

Try to get one with the Sat-Nav. They seem to function well.

Cheers

ErnestM