Vs Revised Jaguar XF vs german rivals (A6, 5-series, E-class)
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klier
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Mr. Mercedes
Premium
Martin...one day the British press will realise these cars they harp on about aren't even British, and then start looking at them a bit more objectively. 
Martin...one day the British press will realise these cars they harp on about aren't even British, and then start looking at them a bit more objectively.
Hmmm, if you want to read a biased review then read a review in a magazine dependent on ad spend from giant german car manufacturers, like, er Auto Express. I've test driven all of these. Jag XF gave me the best feeling, and I'm a guy who has always thought Jags were for silvery cads and bank robbers. Audi is aesthetically boring, unrefined at high speed, FWD and just feels strangely unwieldy. The E class isn't even at the races - it has a strangely offset steering wheel, cheap feeling dash, looks boxy and doesn't handle. The Bimmer comes second - but its huge, the handling is unengaging and the cabin is awash with the kind of cheap plastics you'd expect to find in a Hyundai (I could hardly believe it when I sat in it, what are BM doing?). All the German cars have a certain unholy combination of being aggressive yet simultaneously average to behold - I think it's the angular lines and black everywhere in the interior that does it. I loved the Jag, the ride was amazing, it was refined at high speed, handled very well. I don't particularly care that a 7 footer might bump his head in the rear seat, and I don't care about the 4mpg extra a 520d gives me over an XF2.2 L - the XF 2.2d is faster and if I've got enough money to spend on one of these cars those kind of differences don't even touch the sides. No - the reason the Jaguar is the best is because they've understood why people buy these kind of cars and not a VW, a Prius or a Mondeo. The decision to purchase is not an exercise in ticking boxes, unless you're a fleet manager, and Jaguar have been quite clear they're not interested in that market anyway, even with their 4 pot diesel XF.
In short Jag have really hit the sweet spot with the XF. It won't be the doyen of executive fleets, that niche will remain with Audi and BM, but let them have it. Fleet sales don't make profit and they don't add to the desirability of your motor. Fleet sales have made Audis and BMs 2 a penny, and are the reason those marques have gone down market. Jaguar remains a luxury sports car manufacturer, the XF is already a classic and the reasons to buy one are as emotional as they are rational - just how it should be.........
Merc1
Premium
True, but isn't because they want it to be that way. Their down market attempts were dismal failures and please don't kid yourself, Jaguar wants in on every market they can. A smalled sedan and roadster are on the way. The only reason Jaguar doesn'thave a cheaper car is because they didn't have the money to produce one, not because they chose to remain above the fray, which is what the above statement seems to imply. Jaguars aren't part of the any fleets because they simply aren't physically built as good as a German car. Slam the door on an XJ and then a S-Class and you'll see what I mean. Why would a fleet buyer buy a car that is too small and unreliable? Jaguar isn't wanted in that fleet business which is the truth, not the spin that they aren't "chasing" it.
M
^I couldn't say slamming the door of my XF was any different from slamming the door on an A6/5/E-class so maybe the reason for the XJ feeling/sounding inferior is its alloy construction, we usually associate lightness with poor quality but in this case it's unfounded.
Also in the UK at least Jaguar consistently does very well indeed in jDPower, almost always out performing their German counterparts.
Also in the UK at least Jaguar consistently does very well indeed in jDPower, almost always out performing their German counterparts.
I had a BMW 545i
I liked the XF.
I liked it so much I traded my 545 and brought an XF.
I had it for a year.
I found it to be cheap (pretty everything on the car broke), uninspiring (drive), and I had it towed to the dealership 5 times.
After a year of ownership I took my loss and got rid of the XF.
I brought a BMW 650i.
I am happy again.
Moral of My Story: Don't By A Jaguar XF. Stick with BMW
I liked the XF.
I liked it so much I traded my 545 and brought an XF.
I had it for a year.
I found it to be cheap (pretty everything on the car broke), uninspiring (drive), and I had it towed to the dealership 5 times.
After a year of ownership I took my loss and got rid of the XF.
I brought a BMW 650i.
I am happy again.
Moral of My Story: Don't By A Jaguar XF. Stick with BMW
Merc1
Premium
I don't know about the XJ vs the E-Class, but there is difference between the XJ and the S. Has nothing to do with lightness. The door is flimsy compared to the S-Class. The door wobbles in its frame compared to the S-Class.
JDP results vary per country we all know. Jaguar has improved greatly over the last few years only to drop again. The previous perception and repution isn't gone at this point, won't be until they perform consistantly, that is my point.
M
Merc1
Premium
Oh yes to drive I loved the car. Interior and everything, just doesn't have the feel of the German iron. At highway speed it doesn't track or feel connected to the road like a Mercedes does. That and Jaguar's dodgy reputation turned me away from the XJ Supercharged. Beautiful car though.
The W220 S-Class had the same quivery structure when one or more of the doors were opened. No body rigidity at all. Hated the build on that car too. It was an embarrassment.
M
The W220 S-Class had the same quivery structure when one or more of the doors were opened. No body rigidity at all. Hated the build on that car too. It was an embarrassment.
M
I can't say that I ever noticed the XF not tracking well on the motorway though compared to an Audi quattro it wouldn't track quite as well but then few cars do regarding this discipline. I do agree the steering is light I always found it feelsome, the suspension cushioned you much much more than German brands, maybe this is the 'connection' feel you are referring to? I personally found it took a week to familiarize myself to the way the XF drove and this was coming from the M3, not a normal saloon but beyond this time frame I actually reckoned it's steering to be the sweeter of the two.
As for the build or reliability, I can only speak from my own experience of owning one and in this my XF never missed a beat, nothing rattled, nothing fell off, not once was it in the garage. I once when into limp mode but on stopping and turning off the engine this never returned so I didn't feel the need to follow this up. I think the best way to know if a brand or model gives trouble is to go on a forum dedicated to the brand, if it's all quiet reliability wise there then you should be sweet.
Personally the latest XJ is the cream of the crop in my opinion, looks good, feels very special inside and drives better than the competition.
klier
Premium
It's the aluminum light weight frame, maybe?
@Merc1,
Can't really mention on the older XJ but the new one feels even better than the XF does.
@Klier,
I don't believe than weight Is the reason because the XF is steel construction and actually weights more than the E-class and A6, maybe the 5 series too and it was also superior at this. Jaguar just seem to take a different approach to chassis tuning which seem to work great on their cars. If only the XF had a more up-to-date interior and tech I would be back into one. At the moment I'm waiting to see the new 3 series rival will be like, this car could be the class leader at first attempt.
Can't really mention on the older XJ but the new one feels even better than the XF does.
@Klier,
I don't believe than weight Is the reason because the XF is steel construction and actually weights more than the E-class and A6, maybe the 5 series too and it was also superior at this. Jaguar just seem to take a different approach to chassis tuning which seem to work great on their cars. If only the XF had a more up-to-date interior and tech I would be back into one. At the moment I'm waiting to see the new 3 series rival will be like, this car could be the class leader at first attempt.
klier
Premium
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