looked at an XJ X350 today

[Longblackcoat]

I had two Disco 3s and although they had other issues, the one problem they never had was with the engine. Both were mapped, one to 240bhp, the other to 220.

 

Electrics were a different story, but the only really big problem was the torque converter needing a rebuild at 160k miles for one of them. Also replaced a turbo on the high-miles/high-power one, but I'm not sure that's entirely unrelated to the upgrade.

 

Frankly, the engine's the least of your problems!

[Honey Badger]

Not a diesel but maybe worth consideration, big, a feeling of exceptional quality, loads of room in the back and certainly more reliable than anything made by JLR.

 

I wouldn't expect more than low 30s if you're pottering round town.

 

We have a RX300 and it's been a great car for the last 2 years, it's racking up 15k a year with no issues, they do like to chomp through front discs though. has a bit of a wallowy ride at first but once you get used to one you can hurry them along quite quickly, my wife scares the shit out of me when she's driving it.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-RX400H-SE-L-FSH-VGC-DVD-95k-miles-/162048295694?hash=item25bad4c30e:g:pgkAAOSwXj5XG-gB

 

 

GS450H have the same drivetrain as well, can't vouch for the size in the back though as I've never been in one.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS-450h-3-5-CVT-HYBRID-84-000-MILES-FULL-LEXUS-HISTORY-/131793653004?hash=item1eaf838d0c:g:MDMAAOSw2GlXH6aA

 

[rantingYoof]

The 3.0CDTi in the Signum is the same lump they used in the 9-5, and it's been very good.

 

It seems they only went splodey when put into the Saab - HGFs and auto boxes being derpy etc.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

 

[dieselnutjob]

Having had one for coming up 12 months/14K, I concur. The handling's good, but not as good as a Mk3 though.

 

Mine's a dizzler and seems strangely keen to "chug" at the slightest hint of it labouring in a high gear. The worst car I've ever had for this. Drop it a cog though, and it takes off like a scalded cat. At the expense of fuel economy, obviously. Oh, hang on, it's a dizzler, isn't it? Something wrong there ....

 

Basically you can't waft about in it. Drive it like you stole it though, and it runs fine. I suspect they were designed specifically for aggressive reps and minicab drivers.

 

If you're currently smoking around in a large Peugeot, and are eyeing up Jags enviously, I suspect a Mk 4 Mondy might not be for you.

What about the 2.2 diesel? Basically the same engine as my 607 but a lot more powerful.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The Peugeot/Mondeo 2.2 in our Gaylander goes surprisingly well considering it's only about 5kg lighter than a Discovery-,shit mpg though.

The Lexus GS 450h has almost no boot at all, I'd probably have had one by now otherwise .

[Formula Autos]

I had 2005 mk3 Mondy 2.2 dizzler - ironically I chopped in for the X350 Jag.

 

It was fast and economical, never had a moment's bother with it. Often wished I'd never "upgraded"

 

That engine is available in the x type with auto.

[Formula Autos]

I tried the X type dizzler auto, and bailed out after 18 months (I normally keep my daily drivers for at least four years).

 

Too many FTPs, rattles everywhere in the "premium" interior, and rusting like a Ka at five years old (JLR replaced the whole tailgate -it was an estate - as it was utterly fooked with rust, under the paintwork warranty). The inside of the boot floor had some primer wafted in the general direction of it, and had so much surface rust the space saver was rusted to it and had to be prised off with a crowbar.

 

Shame, as it was a genuinely lovely thing to look at and sit in (if you like olde-worlde styling). Cannot unreccommend enough.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Remember when people used to boast that the last year of Escort Vans built at Halewood were built to Jaguar standards, because they introduced a new paint shop or something?

Doesn't sound like a good thing to me.

[sierraman]

I had the 2.2 in a transit. Probably did 60-70k in it with only the EGR giving trouble. Not sure if it's same engine.

[Formula Autos]

I had the 2.2 in a transit. Probably did 60-70k in it with only the EGR giving trouble. Not sure if it's same engine.

It is. When some of the electrics connected to the fuel injection packed up on my X type dizzler they were replaced by Transit bits by the mechanic I use. He decided they were a better bet as they were cheaper, and looked to be better made and/or a bit longer (I.e. less stingy in terms of the amount of cable used, so less likely to have to be pulled tight and pull on the connectors, meaning a more secure connection). The Jag ones had juuuuust enough length to be able to be used, and were sent back for a refund, after comparison with the equivalent Transit bit.

 

He was not impressed with the Jag wiring part.

 

EGR also needed cleaning while I owned it. Once with 50K on the clock, and again at 65K. I avoided supermarket diesel as well, but it still got gummed up. Probably needed doing again when I got rid of the car with 78K on the clock, but I was past caring by then.

[dieselnutjob]

Can anyone tell me anything about these?

 

[andrew e]

Yes. No room in the back. Well in the saloon one I used to get a lift in, colleague was serial Accord purchaser and didn't really like his current one. But do try it out - the estate may be different.

[Ghosty]

The reason Superbs are so spacious is because they're built on a LWB Passat platform.

Skoda don't actually do a car on the regular Passat platform - despite appearances, Octavias are Golf based...

[cort16]

Those Hondas have tiny gear knobs

[Bren]

Remember when people used to boast that the last year of Escort Vans built at Halewood were built to Jaguar standards, because they introduced a new paint shop or something?

Doesn't sound like a good thing to me.

 

Jaguars built to escort standards.

 

Has one not considered an aldi A6?

[dieselnutjob]

I did.  I think that the first time I heard a V6 diesel it was an A6, and I still remember it now.

 

There are a lot of good points to a V6 TDI A6 avant auto, but they are almost as expensive as an XJ.....

[cort16]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-9-5-2-0TiD-VECTOR-SE-DIESEL-AUTOMATIC-2010-60-REG-/291725337003?hash=item43ec2f61ab:g:RQAAAOSwA4dWKkk1

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I did.  I think that the first time I heard a V6 diesel it was an A6, and I still remember it now.

 

There are a lot of good points to a V6 TDI A6 avant auto, but they are almost as expensive as an XJ.....

There's a major bad point too- the gearbox. Unless it's a Quattro it'll be Variomatic or whatever Audi call theirs.

Fatha N has got an A4 2.5 V6 Tdi and whilst the engine is great, it drives like a bag of shit, the delay before something happens when you floor it at a junction makes a TD6 Range Rover look like a Tesla.

The lack of creep in traffic is just plain weird and the fake gear changes annoying. His was upgraded from 6 to 7 speed* on a service once.

Amazingly given their reputation, his hasn't broken, but then it's a 2 owner car and always been serviced by Audi for its 12 years and 50,000 miles.

[dieselnutjob]

what about the quattro?

[dieselnutjob]

I never did much of an update on this, which is unforgivable.

 

After this massive thread http://autoshite.com/topic/24727-typical-dealer-markup-solved/

 

where I showed my true colours as a tightarse

 

I bought this

 

 

then I bought these

 

 

then I did this

 

[dieselnutjob]

Then I hit a pothole, destroyed a tyre and got fed up with the hard ride and did this

[dieselnutjob]

and today it failed its MOT........

[purplebargeken]

That interior is lush!!!!

 

Was it a really horrible failure list or do'able.

 

Very much hope it's do'able fella.

[dieselnutjob]

Not too bad.

 

The "bushes" in one rear trailing arm/lower wishbone have gone.

 

These aren't rubber bushes but some kind of metal swivel thing.

 

Originally these were not available separately necessitating purchase of a whole new arm from Jaguar, which is a wallet emptying experience.

 

Fortunately a company called Racing Green has reproduced them for £60 a pair

 

 

I already ordered a set, along with a new gearbox sump/filter and some new ATF

[MarvinsMom]

ah that doesn't sound too bad. all told.

 

the jaguar will be a 2 ton car (if not a bit more....), so suspension components will take a battering.

[dieselnutjob]

kerb weight is 1659kg I think

 

with 204bhp it's a bit of a flying machine if you press "sport" and mash the pedal

[MarvinsMom]

didn't know that, the X300 i had had a kerb weight of 1850kg, which was the same a the Rover 820 coupe that it replaced.

 

going aluminium certainly did loose weight out of the car!

 

the XJ6 i had was a wonderful machine, if needy....

 

ok now it was a 20 year old jaguar, so some issues are to be expected, but towards the end of my ownership there was always something wrong with it, and each time it went to the garage, the bill would be 4 figures and it would be ok for a bot,, before going all squiffy again.

 

in the end it had to go before either it bankrupted me, or i burned it cos i was pig sick of spending on it.

 

a shame really, as i would like another.

 

at one point i did look at what X350's were for sale, they were either many pounds cash monies more than i wanted to spend (been a tightwad...) or cheap with god knows what wrong with them, and that was before hearing the horror stories of electrolytic rust, rusted out earths, gearbox woes and electronic wonky-ness etc....

 

hat is a beautiful looking car though, well bought sir!

[purplebargeken]

That really isn't horrendous. I imagine you will feel no real difference on the road. 

[dieselnutjob]

I have had it something like 2 months and done I think 4 or 5 thousand miles in it

This is what I think about it

 

Good

 

The air suspension is nice and soft, but only on 18" wheels.  The 20" wheels were bad on "sharp" bumps.  Big undulations were still great.

Also X350s are available with both "sport" and "comfort" suspension.  If you buy a Sovereign like mine you get comfort suspension.  If you buy a lesser model you might not...

 

The V6 diesel noise is lovely.  Okay it's no petrol V8 or V12 but compared with most other diesels....

 

With a six speed gearbox it is doing only 2000rpm at 80mph or something

 

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, loves this thing.  Men and women tell you what a lovely looking car it is. People let you out of side turnings.  Transit drivers don't play chicken with you.  Audi drivers don't object to being behind you in the fast lane.

 

Wood and leather.

 

Same economy as the 607.

 

Hugely enthusiastic and knowledgeable owners forum.

 

Bad

 

No ipod or aux input.  Â£400 from Dension/Jag just for the part (though I snaffled one on ebay for £220)

 

The drivers seat is not as comfortable as the 607

 

Also the seat doesn't quite go high enough for me

 

The rear leg room is less too, mostly because the rear passenger can't get their feet under the front seat, it's too close to the floor. Stupid design.

 

Boot smaller than the 607

 

It's a wide beast in the suburbian back roads.  There is a special parking space at work where the 607 went, and the Jag won't.

 

It's also stupidly long.  You need an entire London parking meter bay, and a bit of the neighhours to actually get in and out as well.

[purplebargeken]

Yeah but just look at the interior! Mmmmmmmmmm.