Jaguars just seem too old to me.

The X-type was a flop in the US and no one can really argue differently. It just did not sell well. But the X-type could see new life if they go with a the newer styling which neatly skirts the old and new without tossing out distinctly Jaguar style, still the most tasteful European Luxury cars under $100K sold in America.

Jaguars… they look like old money and still have that reputation, thanks to only modest updates in styling. This is also an Achilles heel. They look old. Younger buyers will flock to Mercedes and BMW because it won’t make them look 15 years older than they are except the XKR but most younger buyers can not afford one unless they are quite successful early on. This is maybe the biggest fault for the X-type. Not big enough to appeal to older buyers and too old looking for younger buyers.

Mercedes… Boring and overly predictable but actually still sets the standard. Face it, they got the “flying brick” right before anyone else. They also tend to look brassy more than classy. It’s a weird dichotomy. The more they want for the car to more brassy it looks.

BMW… One word: WEIRD! What are they thinking? It’s not so bad now. Still I just feel ill looking at a BMW right now.. Except the 3-series. But that car looks actually normal… if a bit dull.

Mechanically, the X-type was on the right trail using the WRX as inspiration. The Mondeo roots is not a totally bad thing. The Mondeo today, as I understand it, is one of the best cars for the money sold in Europe. It is a far far cry from the Mondeo sold in the US as the Contour and Mystique. $10K too much and redundant next to the already successful Escort and later Focus.

FORD has been good to Jaguar lately. I’d expect this X-type to be dropped in favor of a totally new platform soon, especially if the rumors are true and FORD does sell off Jaguar. Ever so, a new X-type should not be based on an existing FORD platform unless something really good comes down the way (take a note from GM, FORD. Let Jaguar make a platform only for Jaguar).

Jaguar XJ-S,

Quite a few of them are stupid. The rest are likely just mentally lazy and just agree to seem like they know something or have their own opinions but are too lazy to articulate them or express them effectively. Hence, the swearing and course language.

Best advice, ignore them. It’s not like the Auto industry really pays any attention to sites like this one. Try going to a corporate Forum where they actually have their people going over the stuff there. Of course, you best mind your language. It’s not an open bar, like LLN.

But a Mazda pickup for work

Yes, it’s been unreliable. And yes, it’s been on the market for a long, long time with only a late-in-the-game facelift to bring to the table. But its reliability numbers have improved dramatically lately.

The thing I love about this Jag (and all of them, for that matter) is that it has more character in one of its quarter panels than a BMW, Benz, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura has over its entire body.

Did Jag need to do more? Yes. But the only other car in its class I’d even consider is the Saab 9-3 Aero.

lambo: The jag beats only the Camry

I like the G35, but would only buy it Nissan-branded

casual: you’re probably right.

Bran: “I wouldn’t buy this cat if it came with $40,000 mail-in-rebate.”

I would. Put that $40k into a CD I could tap for repairs.

It looks like they got the grille from an old Rover and tacked on X-type lights. A lazy, minor effort at a redesign.

The X-type has always stood for only one thing: X-ceedingly crappy build quality.
And that is all it stands for.

http://www.cwwcardesign.com/cars/jaguar_x_type.html

BMW 335i or Jaguar X-Type?

Brand new for ’08/’09 Audi A4 or Jaguar X-Type?

New Mercedes Benz C350 or Jaguar X-Type?

Infiniti G35S or Jaguar X-Type?

Lexus IS350 or Jaguar X-Type?

The fact that the Jag loses all of those comparos shows little this update effects this market. However those photos use some cool photography techniques, but that’s about it.