SD1 Foolery - ROVER 2600 SE - now with FIXED head gasket

[Guest Breadvan72]

EDIT:  Rovedr SD! 2600 SE FOR SALE - see end of thread for details.

 

 

 

My modern daily Shite is beginning to feel its age (14 year old Alfa 156 Sportwagon V6) and I am wondering about getting a mid noughties Jag X Type Estate for schlepping about in, especially in the winter.  The 2.5 versions have 4WD.  A bit grandad, but whatevs.  You can get them from dealers for a few grand.  Anyone tried one?  

 

EDIT:  Page 6 below shows what happens when you listen to the nutjobs on here.

[Guest Breadvan72]

PS: obvious choice would be an Alfa 159 Sportwagon, but these are still quite spenner and there are fuck NONE with petrol engines bigger than two litres on the market.  All I see are diesels (spawn of Beelzebub) and sub two litre petrols. 

[sierraman]

Jaguar,being worried about it being branded a rebadged Mondeo, decided to build some traditional Jaguarness into them. So they fitted these cover sill jobs that hides holes you can usually fit a fist through.

 

No they are a nice motor though. On the 4wd the tyres it's on will tell a lot of the story, a mismatched set of Chinese rubber will tell you all you need to know.

[Tamworthbay]

Bought new by people who thought they were too good to own a ford, bought second hand by people who couldn't afford a Ford. One of the most abused cars on the second hand market. My father in law took a fancy for one last year but every one we looked at had issues/ neglect. He went for an S80 in the end. Some of the parts from mondeos are identical but cheaper if bought with a ford box rather than a jag one.

[Guest Breadvan72]

a mismatched set of Chinese rubber will tell you all you need to know.

 

This be true of pretty much every car, I reckon.  When I bought my Dolly the other day, the presence of five good Michelins was a persuasive factor, confirming other good vibes about the car and the seller.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Bought new by people who thought they were too good to own a ford, bought second hand by people who couldn't afford a Ford. One of the most abused cars on the second hand market. My father in law took a fancy for one last year but every one we looked at had issues/ neglect. He went for an S80 in the end. Some of the parts from mondeos are identical but cheaper if bought with a ford box rather than a jag one.

 

Sad to hear.  Might have to avoid.  

[alf892]

I had a new saloon version as a company car in 2007 and really liked it........just a case of finding a nicely looked after one. So no different to any other second hand car really........they all get their problems.

[phil_lihp]

I have a friend who runs a diesel X-Type estate as his daily.  His business partner runs a Rover 75 with a KV6.  It's a subject of much mockery that he often ends up borrowing the Rover because the X-Type spends so much time off the road being repaired; the 75 in comparison is a paragon of reliability.  I have no idea what the issues he has with it are, he still seems to like it though and takes it as part and parcel of being a dedicated Jag owner.  

[NorfolkNWeigh]

A 3.0 manual AWD should be quite a weapon,I'd have thought.

A bit like an Impreza for people who don't own a baseball cap, Staffie or a Juicy Couture clad missus that's covered in Argos gold and looks as if she would definitely take it up the wrong 'un , but somehow slamming it in the door is more appealing. ( and ultimately less painful )

[320touring]

There will likely be more integrity in a gaggle of lawyers than in the sills of an X type;)

 

much better cars (especially at being " special" like a Jag should be) are definitely available

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

They drive well - good handling together with a decent ride. I found the X-Type to be a comfortable car. The V6 engine is smooth too. I have never been in a diesel, but I imagine they are a bit grim.  The 3 litre is really quite quick - the 2.5 less so, but I believe is similarly thirsty. The do use a bit of petrol and are only slightly more economical than the XJ Jaguars.

 

Rust seems to be a problem and I believe there are issues with the transfer box on the 4 wheel drive cars. There is quite a bit written about it online, anyway.

 

I like the X-type. A decent example is a nice car. The problem they have is that they are nothing like as nice as the XJ Jaguars, but then when new they were a much cheaper car. Time is a great leveller of car prices. As a saloon, I would always recommend an XJ over an X-Type - they're better in just about every way. The mini-Jag makes more sense as an estate.

 

 

[twosmoke300]

V6 is a nice enough motor and at least it doesn't have the rattly tractor/ transit motor shoehorned in there . I reckon a 75 is a better drive tho

[Guest Breadvan72]

Post 1980s Rovers too Giffer even for me, I'm afraid.

[Guest Breadvan72]

How about a Volvo XC70, 2.5 petrol?

[skattrd]

How about a Volvo XC70, 2.5 petrol?

 

I think sixcylinder has one, apart from that how about doing it properly and going for an 850 T5R ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191608217933?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[skattrd]

If you're looking for big fast 4wd estates I'd also be looking at the Mitsubishi Legnum, or may be a Datsun Stagea

[Guest Breadvan72]

Just because my wife is Scottish, that doesn't make me a total loony, you know!

 

The more I ponder this the more I think that I might just fix the broken bits on my 156 and keep it going.  It is one of the last Busso engined Alfas, and may even become vaguely classique one of these days.  

[privatewire]

I've had a diesel estate for 18 months now, I needed a car quickly, and this was available at no more than an equivalent Ford or Vauxhall and my missus talked me into it. It's been 100% reliable, but I don't find it particularly involving to drive and I've never really bonded with it to be honest.

[Guest Breadvan72]

So, I goes all sensible and start looking at 2006 to 2008 Saab 9-5 Estates , which you can get fully loaded for a few bags. Then.... oh, bollocks.

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C631988#

[Noel Tidybeard]

well seing as you just bought swmbo a dollop-o-shite this could be your reward

[cort1977]

Of all the cars mentioned in this thread, the SD1 is the best by a country mile.   I think you know what is the right thing to do here.

[oldcars]

My modern daily Shite is beginning to feel its age (14 year old Alfa 156 Sportwagon V6) and I am wondering about getting a mid noughties Jag X Type Estate for schlepping about in, especially in the winter.  The 2.5 versions have 4WD.  A bit grandad, but whatevs.  You can get them from dealers for a few grand.  Anyone tried one?  

The ones i looked at were all rotten. The worst was a 04 Estate, rotten sills, patched on the other side, rear arches starting, front wing bottoms gone. Shame as they have a great interior. Got a 75 instead.

[Taff]

 a Juicy Couture clad missus that's covered in Argos gold and looks as if she would definitely take it up the wrong 'un ,

 

my perfect Tinder match...

 

Post 1980s Rovers too Giffer even for me, I'm afraid.

 

same here, I'm afraid.

 

I have a hankering for an X-type, it's the 2L diesel one that is floating my boat. Perversely, and despite every sane person on here telling me not too, I still want one as my daily. I quite fancy the idea of wafting into work in a £500 Jagwah, even if it does have a transit motor fuelled by Satan up front.

[Asimo]

KV6 Freeloader?

 

 

 

[Formula Autos]

I've just got rid of my last daily driver, which was an '09 plate 2.2 diesel FWD X-type (I think all the diesels were FWD). I normally keep my daily driver 4 or 5 years. This one lasted 18 months before I cried "enough!".

 

First, it rusted. Less than 5 years old when I bought it, and supposedly a premium product, I should have found this aspect of the vehicle surprising. I had the rusty tailgate and crusty sills repaired by the nearest Jag dealer under warranty (6 years paint warranty on these things), but when I found that the spare wheel well was covered in surface rust I just tackled it myself - coating it in Zinc 182 once I'd cleaned it back to bare metal, and rattle canning it in satin black. It looked OK and never rusted again. I suspect this was never painted by the factory, given the state of what I uncovered. At best, it had a thin coat of primer here and there when new.

 

Secondly, the mechanicals. The second day I owned it the turbo went. Fixed by the dealer I bought it from under warranty, so free to me. Inconvenient, all the same and, again, a sign of things to come. It's also had various sensors go, as well as injectors and associated pipework and electrical fittings. Suspension bushes aren't great, so I polybushed the back end. It also eats tyres and wanders a bit in the wet, no matter if the suspension/tracking's right. Loads of Ford bits, but enough Jag only bits to make it expensive to run.

 

Thirdly, it developed a load of annoying interior rattles that had started driving me mental. By the time I got rid it sounded like you were driving through Chernobyl with a load of Geiger counters switched on and hidden around the car.

 

The bastard things also seem to cling onto their value well, so it didn't even have the compensation of being cheap for what it was. They're also appreciably less roomy than the Mondeo upon which they are based.

 

Verdict: Nice looking crap. And that's only if you like the look of old Jags.

 

Avoid.

 

That said, a 4WD petrol might be ace. If it was nailed together in the same factory though, I doubt it.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

There's something Hyacinth Bucket about these things. The styling doesn't fit the size of it and they look all wrong. Plus the interior is grim in the same way the S Type interior looks like Jaguar by Mitsubishi.

 

Horrid.

 

Surely a Mondano would be better?

[Pete-M]

V6 awd X types handle really nicely and the steering is lovely.

 

Diesel ones unfortunately are nowhere near as nice to drive, but they cost about half as much to fuel.

 

I'd have a 3.0 estate.

[RoadworkUK]

Weren't these lovingly crafted by the same Halewood artisans who meticulously assembled late Escorts?

 

Don't mind X-types. Roughly 0% Jaguar sensation, but still interesting. Unless it's a diesel. Bleuurgh.

 

The touchscreen nav system is horrible IMO. I hate looking at congealed fingerprints.

[Bren]

Car mechanics have an 04 project car at present.

 

Not rotten, but the cost of repairs are stacking up.

 

More interesting motors for your £££.

[EssDeeWon]

Post 1980s Rovers too Giffer even for me, I'm afraid.

 

Nevermind all that, have you driven a R75 2.5 V6? Im 32 and bloomin love taking my Connoisseur V6 out at the weekend.

 

BTW that Moonraker blue SD1 looks the nuts, very top end money for a series 2 6 pot. It needs to be minty for that type of dollar.