Motoring Discussion > Jaguar XF - What's the truth!
Thread Author: Phil F	Replies: 41

New Tue 31 Jan 17 11:04   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Phil F

Hi all, Need a bit of input please...In my never ending quest to update my brilliant Avensis,I test drove two completely different animals yesterday,an uplift Avensis/2012 1.8 auto and a Jaguar XF 3.0D S Premium Luxury....2009. Not impressed at all with the Avensis compared to my old 1.8 auto/2005 car unfortunately. But the Jag....OMG!....this is some car to drive isn't it. Could I ask anybody here that has experience of these cars please: At that age are they a good buy or quite easily a money pit?,the reviews I have found on line are very mixed it seems. Is there anything that drives as good as that,never mind the looks!,in that class??? Cheers again...Phil Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 11:32   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Dog

You've probably read these already Phil but: www.autoexpress.co.uk/Jaguar/XF/reliability www.parkers.co.uk/jaguar/xf/saloon-2008/owner-reviews/ www.honestjohn.co.uk/owner-reviews/jaguar/xf-2008/ Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 12:09   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Avant

Inevitably the XF will be far better to drive than the Avensis - on the other hand, buying a used Jaguar is much more of a gamble than buying Japanese. Toyotas in particularwithstand abuse and neglect better than most, Jaguars possibly less so, and parts when needed will be expensive. Maybe try a Mazda 6 (petrol - avoid Mazda diesels like the plague): these are a bit more interesting to drive than the Avensis. Last edited by: Avant on Tue 31 Jan 17 at 12:10 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 12:13   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Mapmaker

You might not have found this on HJ which seems to have become entirely impossible to navigate. www.honestjohn.co.uk/our-cars/jaguar-xf/its-goodbye-to-our-impressive-xf/ From 90 seconds of research, it seems there are few more-fun ways of blowing £7,000 on a car that's only 8 years old - but budget £1,200 per year for servicing. Plus goodness only knows what else... Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 17:44   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - The Melting Snowman

What's the truth, you ask? Some electrical gremlins on some early cars but ironed out in later ones. They are extremely fine cars, I drove a 2.7 for a while and would rate it as one of the best cars I've ever driven. The general view is that the 3.0 is even better. However, they are complicated and expensive cars. You need to always remember that even if you pay 'only' £7000 for one, you've still got the running costs of a £30000 car - or whatever this one cost new. They are best serviced at the main dealer or independent specialist. They have a fondness for brake discs and pads and these engines use cambelts so check the interval and factor that into the price if it's due. Get a decent warranty and make sure it covers the rising gearknob. These are not cars to run on a tight budget. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 18:34   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Manatee

>> Get a decent warranty and make sure it covers the rising gearknob. Sounds as if it needs covering. What the heck is that? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 19:27   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - The Melting Snowman

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d3XaiCM3Uc Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 19:43   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

And the rotating air vents. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 19:56   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Manatee

I've just gone off it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 20:06   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

youtu.be/-5aGEUeP68I Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 10:52   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Mapmaker

>>even if you pay 'only' £7000 for one, you've still got the running costs of a £30000 More like a £70,000 car I think. The Avensis is the £30,000 one... :o Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 16:17   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

You could buy the current Avensis from £18,835 brand new. It's not a £30k car. The XF range starts off at £32,300. It's not a £70k car unless you opt for the XF-S with nearly all the options selected. Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 1 Feb 17 at 16:19 Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Tue 7 Feb 17 11:00   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Dave_

>> Maybe try a Mazda 6 (petrol - avoid Mazda diesels like the plague) I had a 57 plate Mazda6 petrol auto for a few months. I hope the newer ones are better, mine was awful to drive. The VVC (VTEC-a-like) system meant that torque was almost non-existent at under 4000rpm. At a steady 70mph on the motorway, the minutely increased drag caused by the backdraft from an overtaking vehicle would see the Mazda kick down from 5th to 4th to 3rd to maintain speed, with the accompanying increase in noise and fuel consumption. It felt like the car itself was getting road rage at being overtaken. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 20:01   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - MD

Hi Phil. Was the 2012 Avensis a petrol jobby? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 21:57   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Phil F

Hi all,thanks for all your help. Yes,I understand that there will be ongoing costs with the Jag,also I think it's important to find one with a good service history,preferably Jag.This seems to be difficult to find outside of the dealerships. I have a couple of colleagues who have them,no problems except routine servicing,tyres expensive. MD....the Avensis was a low mileage 1.8 CVT auto TR spec.To me,although it is lively and fairly quiet it felt kind of flimsy with the general build quality nothing like my old T25...in my humble of course...:) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 22:54   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

I test drove a top spec Avensis in 2007. It felt really cheap and the layout inside in my opinion was poor. Buttons you might need to press outside of view etc. I didn't even go for a longer test drive. Ruled it out. I quite like the idea of the XF estate myself. But I am sure plenty could go wrong if buying privately. And a fairly new one is quite expensive second hand. And then a 3 series GT might be a bit left field as well. Last edited by: rtj70 on Tue 31 Jan 17 at 22:55 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 23:14   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - legacylad

The 3 GT is incredibly spacious inside... a vast load area. I looked at a couple a few years ago ( before I spent my money on galivanting all over the place) and decided the proportions just didn't look right. Confirmed when a friend bought one which I see every few days. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder... Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 23:30   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

It's not the best looking car is it. But better than a 5 series GT for sure. But the legroom in the back is impressive and a decent size boot area. And the seats are a little higher than a regular 3 series but lower than an SUV. I'm trying work out what car to get next that's easier for the FiL to get into. I think an SUV will be too high but I think more legroom to swing legs out over sill might help. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 23:49   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - legacylad

Macan Turbo. Sorted Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 31 Jan 17 23:51   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Avant

You have to climb up into some SUVs but not all. The Audi Q3, SEAT Ateca and BMW X1 for example are all cars that you just get straight into, with your waist at about the same level sitting in the car as you were standing outside it. (I have to confess to not having tried a Macan Turbo.) Last edited by: Avant on Tue 31 Jan 17 at 23:52 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 00:35   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

I did go and look at the VW Tiguan and even I felt you had to step up into it. So not for my FiL. So I thought the Ateca would be the same. I'll take a look. And maybe the Skoda Kodiaq too. The MINI X1 can't be ruled out I suppose. It all depends if I stay in a company car scheme or go for my own car next time. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 08:42   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - spamcan61

>> I test drove a top spec Avensis in 2007. It felt really cheap and the >> layout inside in my opinion was poor. Buttons you might need to press outside of >> view etc. I didn't even go for a longer test drive. Ruled it out. >> Having had my 07 plate Avensis T3-X (mid range spec) for nearly a year now there are many things that impress me about it, but I agree 100% about the control layout. It would appear they got a bucket of switches and threw them at the dash. The heating controls are way down near the gearstick, with a tiny little LCD to show which way you're directing the airflow, but then the HRW switch is up by the huge passenger seatbelt warning light. Random placement of 'snow mode' and traction control (on a 1.8 slushbox...) switches. Not a major beef but irritating. Does have a nice big car feel and the rear legroom is really impressive for the size of car, and a huge boot. Last edited by: spamcan61 on Wed 1 Feb 17 at 08:43 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 10:36   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Mike Hannon

As long as I've lived there has always been a choice between having an ordinary car or having an older Jaguar and taking the chance. When I was just a young shaver in the late 1950s my father's lorry driver friend had a Mk 7 when everyone else had things like old Fords and Morrises and it didn't do for him - in fact he had Jaguars right through his life. Several friends of mine - and myself eventually - had Mk 2s and didn't get badly burned. One did find his sills full of chicken wire and paper as I remember. If you budgeted for the odd shock it was ok. The saying always was that 'if you can't afford it to buy it when it's new you can't afford to run it when it's old' but you might be lucky... I quite fancy an XF even now but even the Accord is too big for me to be bothered with any more. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 11:44   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Phil F

Hi Mike, Spot on yes.....:) The Accord was another one on my check list,i suspect much better than the later Avensis? Do you like it? Have been completely ruined now by the XF....:( Cheers....Phil. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 16:31   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Mike Hannon

The Accord is a good motor, but they don't make 'em (in Japan too) quite as well as they used to. It's the only diesel car I've ever owned and I've got used to it - in France it makes sense. The auto box is the best I've ever had, of many in the past 35 years. The car was bought at two years old and I didn't realise at the time how big it was after my dear old Prelude (pretty much the same as a BMW 5 series). SWMBO thinks it's stylish. I decided I'd keep it for the duration of the two-year guarantee but have now had it for four years and dread the idea of changing because very little appeals and it'll probably be a Jazz. Bon chance... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 11:02   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - VxFan

>> Having had my 07 plate Avensis T3-X (mid range spec) for nearly a year now >> but I agree 100% about the control layout. It would appear they got a bucket of switches and threw them at the dash. I've only driven our pool car Avensis estate (2013) a couple of times. The same silly switch layout applies to this model too. Instead of putting the electronic handbrake switch in the centre console so it would be near to where a handbrake lever would be, Toyota have put it on the underside of the dash. If it hadn't been for a colleague telling me where it was, I would never have found it (no handbook in the glovebox). Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 1 Feb 17 at 11:03 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 13:12   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - TheManWithNoName

Watch out for the expensive pop up bonnet. A friend of a friend hit a cat (the moggie survived and ran off) but it triggered the pop-up bonnet which employs its own internal explosive bolts or airbags on the hinge and raises it slightly. Apparently it does it as part of a safety device to protect the heads of pedestrians who get run over. The car itself was completely undamaged but it was very, very costly to reset the triggers and everything else that went bang that day. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 14:41   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - spamcan61

>> >> I've only driven our pool car Avensis estate (2013) a couple of times. The same >> silly switch layout applies to this model too. Instead of putting the electronic handbrake >> switch >> in the centre console so it would be near to where a handbrake lever would >> be, Toyota have put it on the underside of the dash. My other 'favourite' switch position on mine is the fuel filler flap release, which is in the centre of the driver's armrest. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 15:15   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - commerdriver

>> My other 'favourite' switch position on mine is the fuel filler flap release, which is >> in the centre of the driver's armrest. >> And which in 2017, when virtually every new car has central locking, should by now only be a feature on older cars. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 15:34   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Manatee

I very much like the 3 series GT idea. Just been ogling 330d xDrive autos. I'm thinking I might sell the 6 year old Outlander while it is still worth something and flip into a 2 year old 330. I need to see one. The financial part of my brain of course says "run the Outlander for another 6 years and get your money's worth" but I could be dedded by then (says the other part). After seeing the rising knob and swivelling vents, the exploding bonnet has put the tin lid on the XF for me;) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 22:51   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

>> I very much like the 3 series GT idea. Just been ogling 330d xDrive autos. I've not really looked at this much but when looking at options car 2 year old cars I did wonder if the 3 GT being less popular might make it a better second hand buy. Plus it's got more rear legroom due to the longer wheelbase. I colleague has one so I might ask a bit about reliability etc. He's into cars and has an old 3 series for going round tracks including the Nurburgring. His is a company car but it would be an idea to see what it's like day to day. I like the XF but the swivelling air vents are a gimmick that's going to be expensive to fix if they go wrong. When in the car you want air vents. When it's stopped who cares that they look like air vents? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 15:50   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - spamcan61

>> And which in 2017, when virtually every new car has central locking, should by now >> only be a feature on older cars. >> Yeah, thinking about it even my 1990 Cavalier GL (and the 10 or so other Vauxhalls I've had since) had the flap worked off the central locking. Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 1 Feb 17 at 19:19 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 22:33   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Mr Moo

... or you could get a current generation Qashqai, where for reasons best known to Nissan, the fuel filler release is next to the bonnet release, just above the accelerator pedal. Most peculiar Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 1 Feb 17 22:54   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Kevin

Don't Quashquai's also have problems with wing mirrors falling off? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 2 Feb 17 10:42   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Focal Point

Wing mirrors? As in mirrors on wings? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 2 Feb 17 11:52   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Manatee

Perhaps the mirrors are the wings, figuratively. Like penguins' vestigial ones. Do the XF ones flap electrically when the automatic knob and the vents operate? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 2 Feb 17 12:14   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - rtj70

>> Do the XF ones flap electrically when the automatic knob and the vents operate? There's probably an option to have them fold in when the ignition is switched off. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 7 Feb 17 14:12   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Stuartli

My second best mate acquired a new Jaguar XJ Platinum saloon in 2009/10 after owning various Mercedes and other top luxury cars for many years - it had the 3.3 litre diesel engine. Both of us found it a superb car to drive and he went as far as to say it was the best car he'd ever owned. So much so that he looked at getting an XF as a replacement and liked that equally so. However, it was pointed out to him that the new model was far superior in almost every respect so, despite the tempting prices on offer, he went back to Mercedes. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 7 Feb 17 16:51   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Duncan

>> My second best mate >> I have never given grades to my mates. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Tue 7 Feb 17 17:05   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Crankcase

I was going to say something about friend grading too, but then I remembered I don't have any. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Tue 7 Feb 17 22:48   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - Stuartli

>>I have never given grades to my mates. >> Nothing personal in it or grading as such..:-) Rated on number of decades they have been friends (nearly six in case of best mate)!! Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Feb 17 08:27   Jaguar XF - What's the truth! - nice but dim

Pedant mode on, was there a factory spec 3.3 diesel? Reply to this message | Report message