Which XF?
Author
Discussion

gherkins

Original Poster:

483 posts

257 months

Wednesday 27th October 2010
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I am looking to buy an XF in the near future - but am trying to decide which model. I do barely 6000 miles a year (new baby and no commuting).

The 3.0 petrol is much cheaper now (ca. 10000 euros less) and much more in my price range, but everywhere I read, the reviews say to go for the diesels and it's not so rapid.

The 3.0 diesel gets good reviews, but the diesel S is only a bit more. However, both are a stretch monetarily.

Diesel is cheaper here (in Germany) by 20 cents a litre, but I'd pay much more road tax.

So, if I get the 3.0 petrol, will I always regret it - should I sell the baby and get the diesel S? I do love the Diesel S interior. cloud9

And - it has to be new, before anyone says buy used!

Thanks in advance for your opinions....

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th October 2010
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The petrol engine is very nice to use - they were phasing it out and I think it has been brought back in by reason of demand. It is not slow, but I don't think that it is massively economical - maybe 23-28 mpg in the real world. The diesel S will be faster and more economical, so there is no doubt it is the better car - but the 3.0 petrol isn't a bad one.

Mortgage your soul to get the S. Are there no deals available?

Triple7

4,015 posts

263 months

Wednesday 27th October 2010
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By an SV8, supercharged 4.2ltr all the toys, quite cheap now.

jagseven

203 posts

252 months

Wednesday 27th October 2010
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You really need to do some test drives - I've driven them all except for the petrol 3.0
My guess is the petrol is not nearly as bad as some people make out (I did have a 3.0 petrol S-type a while back and it was fine, not briliant, but certainly pleasant enough)
A petrol engine will not give you any DPF issues which the diesel engine might if you do lots of short journeys
I suppose a new V8 is out of the question?

MDT

729 posts

198 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
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How long you thinking of keeping it for? As I would guess the diesel would retain more of its value?

gherkins

Original Poster:

483 posts

257 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the answers.

The V8 is probably out of reach. I expect that our mileage will go up a bit, once the baby's a bit older. I considered getting the 3.0 petrol and selling in a few years to upgrade to the Diesel S - but perhaps we can tighten the strings and get it straight away.

Test drives of all would be nice, but finding all models in a dealer here in Germany would be very difficult. Also, German salespeople are not the most helpful.

I'll let you know the outcome. Also have to check it comfortably fits in our stupid 5m-long rotating-cage garage.

Oh - Botanical Green or Indigo Blue? 99% of cars here are black or grey, so they are NOT options!!!


MDT

729 posts

198 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
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Indigo Blue, and get 2 ecurie ecosse stikers wink

Or the do look nice in white?

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Much as I like the 3.0 petrol, there is no doubt that the 3.0 diesel is better, and the 3.0 diesel S is just extraordinary - it has 600nm of torque at its disposal and it feels like it. If you have a test drive, remember to put it in 'Sport' mode AND press the chequered flag button. Then leave it in auto and depress the accelerator. You will soon get the idea, and the brilliant gearbox keeps it on the torque curve.

The best colour imho used to be Azure Blue - Frost Blue is also nice. Claret is a million miles better than the old Radiance (which just radiated sadness). Charcoal or Caramel leather are good, but I recommend charcoal if you are going to use the car heavily. Botanical Green and Caramel, lovely. I know this pushes the cost up yet again, but it is worth getting the XFR seats - they are quite superb, and worth every penny.

Look, the Euro is rising against the Pound Sterling, why don't you try a personal import, particularly if you find German dealers a bit anal. I used to do this the other way about with BMW's and a Porsche Boxster, and it gave me access to vehicles I couldn't otherwise afford. I have relationships with one or two UK dealers, and I will make some enquiries if you like.

Pickled Piper

6,451 posts

261 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Hi Gherkins,

I 've been going through the same type of deliberations myself.

A couple of points that may or may not help you;

The residuals on a petrol model are not as strong as the diesel.

My local dealer in the UK did not have a petrol demonstrator. They are just not very common.

I found the base (Luxury) model to have very poor seats. Poor lumbar support and no adjustment. Even more reason to go further up the range.

IMO, only prewar Jaguars should be green. My favourite colours are black, silver or blue.

pp

V88Dicky

7,363 posts

209 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
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I think at less than 6000 miles per year, a diesel is going to be a false economy.
So relax and enjoy a petrol Jaguar. Diesel is for tractors and trains biggrin

CambsBill

2,427 posts

204 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Nothing at all wrong with the 3.0 petrol - I had one in the previous XJ and it was more than able to cope with the size of car and returned mid-high 20's to the gallon.

Having said that, the S diesel is a step up in performance and (again in an XJ) is averaging just short of 40mpg. Still get a touch of clatter on startup but otherwise I can't fault it.

Colourwise, I have the botannical green which is very dark unless the sun's on it (when it's gorgeous). If you want to get more of the colour more of the time then the dark blue is possibly the better bet, or the red (sorry, can't remember the proper names). I'd fully support avoiding the shades of grey/black - there're enough Audi/BM/MB's out there with these obligatory tones of dullness.

NormanD

3,208 posts

254 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
cardigankid said:
The petrol engine is very nice to use - they were phasing it out and I think it has been brought back in by reason of demand.
Any further news on this

Someone I know was looking at getting a XF shortly and they were told that there wouldn't be anymore petrol engines

NormanD

3,208 posts

254 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
NormanD said:
cardigankid said:
The petrol engine is very nice to use - they were phasing it out and I think it has been brought back in by reason of demand.
Any further news on this

Someone I know was looking at getting a XF shortly and they were told that there wouldn't be anymore petrol engines
It's OK got the info I need, it's the 3Lt petrol they are dropping (C02 and all that) the larger engine is still OK

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:
Hi Gherkins,

I 've been going through the same type of deliberations myself.

A couple of points that may or may not help you;

The residuals on a petrol model are not as strong as the diesel.

My local dealer in the UK did not have a petrol demonstrator. They are just not very common.

I found the base (Luxury) model to have very poor seats. Poor lumbar support and no adjustment. Even more reason to go further up the range.

IMO, only prewar Jaguars should be green. My favourite colours are black, silver or blue.

pp
Loads of Mk.II's and S-Types ( the original S-Type) were Racing Green and looked great. Did Jaguars race before WW2? I don't think so. What colour were the C and D Types? Ah yes, British Racing Green.

The standard seats on the XF are not great, whatever model you go for, premium Luxury or Portfolio. I would say don't go upmarket for this - it won't help - go Luxury and pay for the XFR seat option. Problem solved. But get the S.

zx10ben

1,074 posts

194 months

Thursday 28th October 2010
quotequote all
Go for the S for the power alone, then get it re-mapped upto 305bhp! Then get the Spires Quad exhaust and the Spires 20" wheels in Anthracite, oh and for colour.....Go for White.
Not that I'm biased!







Simpo Two

92,015 posts

291 months

Friday 29th October 2010
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cardigankid said:
Loads of Mk.II's and S-Types ( the original S-Type) were Racing Green and looked great.
It's a personal thing but I think Jaguar Racing Green works well on a later S-Type as well smile



As yu can see I swept the drive hehe

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
That looks quite superb.

Green is a great and underappreciated colour, but which people are scared to specify because it isn't silver, grey or black. Looks good on Jags. looks even better on Bentleys, particularly the darker tones - there is something about it, must be the history, that just makes the hairs stand up on your neck!

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 29th October 17:52

Simpo Two

92,015 posts

291 months

Friday 29th October 2010
quotequote all
Cheers CK. That said, different colours suit different shapes, and I don't think green would work so well on an XF. Of those I've seen, there's a bronzy colour which is quite interesting.

CambsBill

2,427 posts

204 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
cardigankid said:
Loads of Mk.II's and S-Types ( the original S-Type) were Racing Green and looked great.
It's a personal thing but I think Jaguar Racing Green works well on a later S-Type as well smile



As yu can see I swept the drive hehe
Me likey - about the best S Type I've set eyes on was a spotless example in this colour sitting on wire wheels. Don't know why but it just looked right.

CambsBill

2,427 posts

204 months

Saturday 30th October 2010
quotequote all
zx10ben said:
then get it re-mapped upto 305bhp!
Out of interest where did you get it done, could be nice to do on the XJ