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1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Several months ago I placed an order on an X-type with the larger engine, creature comforts etc. From the pictures etc the car looked nice and the awd feature was a benefit here in PA. However I did have a fear that the car would have some poor quality choices similar to the S-Type (hello what is that piece of junk plastic under the steering wheel on the S-Type - - and don't even talk to me about the cheap buttons etc for the sun roof etc).
During the initial ordering time period I also visited a web site of U.S. Jaguar drivers. I was totally not impressed with many of the S-Type people - - gosh everything that non-U.S. residents say about people from the states who get some money was clearly exhibited on that site. So I guess if you are in sales and you make some money you have to show everyone that - - but then again most people were leasing so I guess many images are transparent - - but I digress. I chuckle when I see some of the new adds from Jaguar - -actually they clearly see their fit with people who need to flaunt their new monies to afford the lease. Basically they say let your car impress other people - - I guess Jaguar doesn't even have confidence that their buyers could do that on their own without the car. ;-)
Well - - let me get back to the X-Type. I got a call from my dealer this past Friday . . they were going to have an X-Type at their location on M/T/W. So I stopped by - - well - - - first I found it clearly to be a car where the 'visual' luxury was layered on to impress but I sense that the luxury and quality didn't make it all the way deep down into the guts of the car.
The X-Type looks like an S-Type mixed with a Mitsubishi Galant and a bit of Taurus thrown in. The result was not appealing to my senses. It did not have its own distintive look - - it has more of a morphed appearance. Its not an ugly car but it also doesn't have the same level of sophisticated styling like the largest Jaguars.
I am sure it will be a hit in the U.S. - - - it will be a hot car for people who . . . have to be showy, say they have a jag, can afford the lease rate and deep down hate it when their neighbors have something nicer than they do . . . but for me - - - I will pass.
By the way - - the back seat is cramped, the cover on the ash tray was flimsy and already broken, the piece of plastic under the steering wheel was flimsy and cheap sounding when you knocked on it just as in the S-type, the trunk was a nice size, the doors where thin and did not feel substantial, the front lights where much nicer in the pictures - - you can see in them clearly and they did not have a depth/quality look to them. The black trim on the back bumper that includes the rear back up sensors looked like it was screwed on as an afterthought, the seat leather in the inside had a nice feel. Insofar as the drive etc - - by the point of the test drive I already made the no buy decision so no use talking about that.
As a point of clarification - - I believe the platform was originally intended as front wheel drive platform but Jaguar knew they needed to add something on the RWD side so a decision was made to make it AWD.
Hey what do I know - - it seems I never like anything that everyone else likes. . . dam its tough not being average. ;-)
Dave Kovacs
, Thu, 7 Jun 2001 12:38:40
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