Shed of the Week: Jaguar X-Type

Jaguar's early-2000s output made for some pretty disturbing viewing, but does our Shed deserve the same X-rated status?

When Jaguar launched the X-Type in 2001, it was meant to be the British answer to BMW 3 Series. As we know, that promise didn't come good. The 3 Series sails on in the top echelon of compact execs, with today's X-Type - the XE - giving it a much better run for its money.

Many blamed the X's failure on its darkly-muttered-about Ford Mondeo links, although if you looked at it in a less jaundiced fashion, those turned out to be more of an urban myth than actual reality. Besides, the contemporary Mondeo was a very good car, so it wouldn't have mattered even if the X-Type did have all those links it was supposed to have. Which it didn't.

Not letting facts get in the way of a good story is a basic premise of the Shed column, so let's move on from there and get onto the matter at hand, which is this rather fetching 3.0 V6 Schport Manual Blue from the Caps School of Car Sales. Only an errant comma prevents it from having a full leather history, which is a shame as that would have been an interesting if tough read, but the important metal bits add up to a strongly appealing proposition at under £1,500.

The first X-Types had Ford's - sorry, Jaguar's - refined but fairly toothless 195hp Duratec 2.5 V6. Our 3.0 is the somewhat toothier 231hp V6, and that means real performance: 0-60 in six and a bit seconds and not much worse fuel consumption than the 2.5 either, 27.5 combined versus 29.5. Reminiscent of the perennial 'BMW 325 versus 328' discussion about always getting the big 'un.

Dynamic Stability Control was a near-£500 cost option on the X-Type, but we can't see it mentioned anywhere in the blizzard of caps. Normally you'd want that on a powerful rear-driver, but the V6 X-Types are of course four-wheel drive so it shouldn't be an issue. Launching it hard sounds like it would be quite an experience. Let's have a look on YouTube to see if it is.

Hmm, well we can't actually find any footage of that, but we have found one of this chap giving his 3.0 laldy on what he assures us is a stock exhaust.

Impressive, no? And here's another film by some tall bloke showing how adept the 4WD system is, albeit on a 2.5 estate.

Without wishing to generalise, many believe these early X-Types to be superior to the later ones, as some of those were built by a disgruntled workforce and left to stew in flood plains dressed up as storage compounds. The manual 'box is a good choice too as the ZF autos had a dodgy reputation arising from their marvellous 'sealed for life' status that was anything but.

So, what's to hate? There must be something.

Well, X-Types are known for having rocking driver's seats. To old man Shed, that sounds more like a brilliant feature than a problem, but apparently his view on this isn't normal. Most owners choose to have a mod fitted. Door seals and boot locks gave up too easily and the ABS rings could be cracked by expanding corrosion.

A few owners suffered transfer box failures, but at their age maybe they shouldn't have tried that ambitious position with their other halves. In the real world, it's an oil thing. There isn't that much of it in the box, so an unchecked leak will quickly evolve into a disaster.

As regards this specific car, the MOT history gives no cause for immediate concern. There's a bit of brown stuff underneath (unacceptable Mrs Shed joke deleted) but apart from some slightly corroded brake pipework, it's all good. Well, as good as any 17-year-old 231hp £1,495 Jag with a full service history can be, anyway.

The only disadvantage for some potential buyers might be this car's location in Edinburgh. This is a fabulous place in many ways. Shed lived there for a few years and came to love its wonderful Georgian architecture, bohemian atmos, and sense of warmth towards the English. Well, maybe not so much that last part. It was damn cold though. Probably still is. And a long way away. Which it definitely still is.

The vendor will arrange delivery, though at a likely price of £1 a mile that's not going to be especially cheap for the average Englander. Luckily, there is always the train. You can get an off-peak advance single from London for the low price of £49 if you don't mind going slowly on the Euston rattler. That takes 5hr 40min. Or you could spend £4 more, go from Kings Cross and get there nearly an hour earlier. Ah, the wonder of the rails.

That's the ad for National Rail sorted. Now, here's the ad for the car.

? JAGUAR X TYPE ? 2001 REGISTERED ? ONLY 86,000 MILES! ? FULL SERVICE HISTORY (With 8 service stamps most main dealer) ? MOT -OCTOBER 2018 ? DELIVERY AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN UK ? COMES WITH A FULL SERVICE AND HEALTH CHECK ? RESERVE THIS VEHICLE TODAY WITH A DEPOSIT OF GBP 250 ? EXCELLENT FINANCE RATES OFFERED EXCELLENT CONDITION JAG WITH FULL LEATHER, HISTORY . Climate Control, Cruise Control, In Car Entertainment (Radio/CD), Metallic Paint, Paint Metallic, Excellent bodywork, Beige Full leather interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Excellent, Blue, Alarm, Upholstery Leather, Electric Windows (Front), Computer (Driver Information System), Alloy Wheels, HPI CLEAR **MOT, SERVICE HISTORY, ALL OWNERS HANDBOOKS AND KEYS PRESENT **ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED** **ALL VEHICLES HPI CLEAR** VIEWING POSSIBLE ANYTIME BY ARRANGEMENT **FINANCE AVAILABLE ON ALL CARS** **CANT GET CREDIT *WE CAN HELP** * GENUINE INTEREST ONLY PLEASE * PART EXCHANGE WELCOME! *PLEASE NOTE THIS CAR IS IN (EDINBURGH) SCOTLAND DELIVERY CAN BE ARRANGED ANYWERE IN UK

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