Anyone drive a Jaguar?

Pondering getting rid of my Merc c220 CDi AMG (that's just a trim, not the full AMG motor!) and getting a '17 plate Jaguar XF. I've not had a Jag before and wondered if anyone has any recent experiences with them?

 

@Fat Controller you are a Jag man.!

 

Hi Andy

I am on my third Jaguar, and have driven, know of and have worked on a few others - my current steed is somewhat older than you are looking at though:



Reliability is actually fairly good, despite Jaguar's reputation of old - they are still somewhat misunderstood, which can lead to people pouring money at them unnecessarily which in turn puts them off.

The XF you are looking at is the facelifted version, so by then the vast bulk of any niggles had been ironed out and they are generally trustworthy, reliable beasts. Being a 2017 car, it is still under warranty too, so I would expect it to be perfect. Some of the engines in the range are a tad under-powered (the baby 2.0td for example is a wee bit gutless), whereas others are absolute barn-stormers.

They handle really well (one of those cars that shrink around you when you are pressing on a bit), and although they have lost some of the traditional wafty-ness in favour of grip and handling, they are still supremely comfortable.

What engine/trim level are you looking at?

I am a member over on the Jaguar forums, so am happy to ask around to see if anyone knows the car or can find any info on its history going by the reg or VIN if it helps.

Servicing isn't too bad, especially if you use an independent specialist - Jaguar dealers really know how to charge (like all main dealers) and their service is not any better than you will get from a good indy. To give you an idea, I did a full V8 service on mine at the start of this year for less than £150 of parts and oil.

I have an iCarSoft LR VII that is specific to Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, and can interrogate their computers - - you are not a million miles away from me, so if that was ever needed, I would be happy to help there too (saves on dealer diagnostic charges etc).

There are things you will want to check out, but some are dependent on trim and engine, so I won't muddy the waters until I can give you more useful information.

 

Oh wow thanks FC

In honesty all I know is it's an XF Portfolio 17 plate, haven't even seen it yet but think it's a 2.0 diesel and ULEZ

 

You're welcome

There are three 2.0 diesels, all are ULEZ compliant. The base engine only develops around 160bhp and that can make it feel a bit lack-lustre to some people. It will still get you to 60 in around 9 seconds mind you....

The other two are 180bhp and 240bhp respectively - from memory the larger one is badged 20d, but don't quote me on that.

Oil and filter services are utterly vital on these engines, and I would personally go in much heavier than their recommended schedule which is something in the order of 20,000 miles. Depending on the miles you do, I would do no more than 10,000 between oil changes, and preferably change it every 5,000 (but then, I am a bit of an overkill merchant in that respect).

The good news is that DIY maintenance is still quite possible on the XF, and there is a healthy accessories/modifications scene if that is your thing.

There is a wee strap that can break on the fuel filler cap - easily replaced, and doesn't really cause an issue other than you can drop the cap. Watch for a sticky mechanism on the fuel filler flap too (only needs a squirt of grease).

DPF's on these cars simply will not tolerate too much town running without a good run on a motorway or A-road; they also quite like a good Italian tune up once in a while.

Pay particular attention to the area under the bonnet, just below the windscreen wipers, and in particular make sure that the area is clear of debris such as leaves - these block the drains which you won't find out until it hammers it with rain or you go through a car wash. The best scenario is a wet carpet, the worst a fried ECU - but it can all be avoided just by keeping things clean.

The only other thing to be aware of is sticky dashboard vents - they are motorised fellows, and if the previous owner has not cleaned them sufficiently, they can stick. Unlikely on the age of car you are looking at.

I am a PM away if you need anything, and I am not averse to meeting you when you go to look at the car if you want it scanned for faults.

 

I see your point Mike - car components are made by many different manufacturers, and some do share engines and gearboxes etc, but I disagree that they are just a means of transport. I think that most folks would find quite a distinct difference between a Ford Fiesta 1.1 and my Jaguar XJ 4.2 V8, even from the passenger seat.

 

I don't have a Jag but have quite a few friends that have them and really like them.

I love driving my car whereas Mrs Shiney just looks upon her car as a means of transport.

 

The car you choose reflects on the driver imo, a bit like dogs and their owners. I like ones that look the part, have just a touch of aggression about their looks but not ostentatious. That said I don't need high performance and massive acceleration so this 2.0 diesel should be fine and certainly nothing like the jags of old!
I have no interest in the car parts origin and there is no such thing as a car 100% manufactured in the UK...
I spend a lot of time in the car so like a decent cockpit too, nothing too bland or basic.

 

Not at all, I certainly appreciate that there’s much less differentiation in cars these days. They are fundamentally different machines than what they used to be.
I just fancied a different make to that I’ve owned before and jaguar ticks the boxes. This one is the 180bhp version so absolutely fine for me I was just checking there weren’t horror stories of ownership!