Jaguar XE S: Spotted
Sad about the V6 XE's demise? Here's one with 4,000 miles on it and £20k off...
While the new Jaguar XE has improved on the vehicle that preceded it across the board, there remains some sadness - certainly around here, at least - about the demise of the V6 car. Though the four-cylinder P300 replacement is fine, and feels the benefit of less weight over the nose, it's neither remarkable by four-cylinder standards nor as charismatic as the old engine. Oh sure, nobody bought the V6, and it was hardly in the first flushes of youth, but we would defy anyone to drive an XE with that motor in and not enjoy the experience immensely. It just worked; really, really nicely.
All that said, the downsizing move is more than understandable. Beyond the poor sales, the 3.0-litre supercharged engine wasn't all that efficient, both in isolation and against key rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. When the same performance can be delivered while consuming less fuel and emitting less CO2, the decision is impossible to avoid. Trouble is that the joy derived from a car can't be quantified by a number, and that's where the old XE S excelled - it wasn't revolutionary or ground breaking in any way, but it was a damn nice car to drive, and the engine's contribution to that was considerable. When Autocar first compared an XE just like this one with a BMW 340i, the conclusion was emphatic: The Jaguar hasn't just shaded this test; as a driver's car, the XE S has put clear air between itself and a car that many - me included - imagined would present an insurmountable challenge." So there.
When new, however, the XE was £45,000 before a single option was added, fully £5,000 more than that 3 Series. Being a large-engined, series production Jaguar, it has of course depreciated, but the case of this particular Italian Racing Red car is remarkable: one of the earliest XEs made on a 15 plate, it has somehow covered just 4,000 miles in those four years. Furthermore, while its £26k asking price isn't the lowest out there - the highest-mileage cars are £20k, and later 380s are available privately for £25k - it does represent an enormous saving off that list price. For a car which, let's be honest here, has barely even left the forecourt in the grand scheme of things.
Why? The slightly odd slabs of dark blue leather inside could contribute. And it shouldn't be forgotten that the quite profligate, most expensive version in the XE range must be quite a tough sell to those not that invested. The more prosaic diesels and petrols will have broader appeal.
If you are invested, though, what an opportunity this is. While it's a V6 rather than a straight-six, as powered so many famous Jags, there's considerable nostalgic appeal in having half a dozen cylinders under the bonnet of a rear-drive Jaguar saloon - especially so now that it won't happen again. That the car was more than competitive in a contemporary context only increases the temptation further.
As for those rivals, the BMW 340i is considerably more common yet no cheaper (despite that lower asking price), this 2016 car with 8,000 miles is for sale at £26,880. As for the Audi S4, paying the same amount of money only gets you a saloon with more than 30,000 miles. And although a Mercedes C350e is available for less money, that's a four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, and so rather loses its validity in this 'six appeal' argument, nice car though it surely is.
The Jaguar XE S isn't the first car to be shown greater appreciation in light of its replacement, though there won't be that many more to follow suit, surely, with the downsizing revolution well underway. So while a large engine will be more difficult than ever to make an objective case for, the subjective appeal is probably greater than it's ever been - here's the ideal chance to experience it.
SPECIFICATION - JAGUAR XE S
Engine: 2,995cc, supercharged V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@4,500rpm
MPG: 34.9
CO2: 194g/km
First registered: 2015
Recorded mileage: 4,366
Price new: £44,865
Yours for: £26,577
As for the car, for me, the dodgy trim choice seems to let quite a few down. That blue obviously doesn't go with the red exterior, but the red interior is also nasty. Black is a bit boring, and anything else is rare. Also those wheels are nasty, but common, options. The standard silver wheels are an inch smaller and a whole lot nicer.
So now it's a case of finding a rare car, in a pleasing hue, with a classy interior and standard wheels. I might well need a couple of years...
Just wait until the drive by clip.........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Nb7MGJOzc
There was one in blue parked outside my gaff over the weekend, handsome thing.
Real 'Jekyll and Hyde' character. Quiet and serene around town; when your foot down it sounds like there is someone in the boot shouting to be let out.
But seriously blue with a red exterior - surely has to be a miss-build?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
It was £600 less than the link. They had created a new ad at a lower price but only deleted the lower price one. The wheels look better in real life.
It's like 2 cars in 1, luxurious and smooth on 1 side, but manic in dynamic mode.
Noise of the v6 burble and supercharger whine from up front is just great!
It's also well specced as standard compared to ze germans.i have electric seats, self parking (not used yet!), rear camera, adaptive suspension, meridian stereo, blind spot monitoring, self dipping full beam, folding mirrors, etc etc
I'm not sure how poster above can say it's worse than c class and 3 series in every way. Almost all the reviews I watched said it's better handling than both. I haven't driven the 340i but have driven the 330e (and m135i) and the xe is better than 3 series in my opinion.
I am a BMW fan, but the interior of the xe feels more special than the fairly bland 3 series, even if some of the materials lower down in the cabin are worse.
Just wait until the drive by clip.........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Nb7MGJOzc
The picture taken of the boot with the seats folded down; has some trim fallen off? I can't believe they left the factory with that amount of metal bracing and wiring on show.
Totally agree with the review though, I love mine for it's duality of character. Whilst it will do single figure MPG's if exploited for that glorious (stock!) exhaust note , my long term average in general use is 27/28, so good enough in my mind.
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