Car advice

Message

blinkey501 · #16 Post by **blinkey501** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:56 am

I have noticed you have altered your status under your name pete has well has others

The gimp is sleepy

TC · #17 Post by TC » Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:34 pm

blinkey501 wrote:
The later diesel i think was the twin turbo version that jeremy clarlson did a ten minute lap round the neurbergring... Not sure you would get one for five grand though... Clarkson loved the car and performance

I know I am biased, but I would concur with the X-Type, absolutely brilliant bit if kit

I have had mine from new (09) 2.0 Diesel, now got comimg up 45,000 miles and it has never missed a beat (apart from when I miss fuelled it 12 months ago

) and the kit you get as standard knocks the Mondeo into a cocked hat.

Before the Jag, I had an 08 (cuurent model) Mondeo, and it was probably thr most uncomfortable car I have ever had (It was a company car), and if you opened the tailgate after it had been raining you got soaked, and within 6 months bits were falling off.

I do a lot of mileage, and in the Mondeo I used to have to stop after about an hour because my back was in agony regarldless of how much I adjusted the seating position. In the Jag, I have done Reading to North wales and back again, return trips to Yorkshire and Humberside in one hit with no requirement to stop other than for a toilet break, which for me says a lot about the comfort of thecar.

My average MPG is mid 50's cruising in the mid 80's and around town it drops to high 40's MPG which I think is still pretty good.

The X-Type chassis is based on the previous model Mondeo though in the same way as the Saab/Vauxhall and a few others share the same chassis, as by Jaguars own admission it reduced development costs substantially, and the Mondeo chassis was/is very good.

A few of the switches are clearly Ford, but then it is proven electrical switchgear, so why spend millions developing something that is already proven and works very well, but that apart, there is nothing that denotes that it has any connection with Ford.

Tata apparently now developing the next generation X-Type and I will certainly be giving it some consideration.

By the way, there are two diesel engined options, the 2.0 which I have and comes with the 5 speed box, or the 2.2 which offers slightly better MPG as it comes with the 6 speed gearbox, and is usually fitted to the higher spec cars.

A £5,000 budget will buy you a very clean example X-Type

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used ... earch/true

As a by the by, my wife has my old company 2.0 diesel Ghia C-Max which she loves and is also a very competent car, but it is as she says a utility vehicle despite the toys, whereas she prefers when we go out taking the Jag even though she does not drive it.

The other thing from a snob point of view, when people used to ask what car I have, if I said a Ford, they would want to know model, engine size and trim level.

Now when I say a Jag, they just give me a nod and a wink and don't even ask what model. Is that because Jaguar is simply regarded as a quality brand? Who knows, but suffice to say I am still delighted with mine 3 years on.

Willopotomas · #18 Post by **Willopotomas** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:58 pm

VW Passat. 1.9TDI 130P. Awesome cars. Comfy, well made, brilliant PD diesel engines. You can find quite tidy example for not much dosh. Also, don't discount Scoda. They're essentially a VW in disguise. Don't be put off by the cost of spares, it's all relative. VW parts tend to last longer (Same as Honda for instance), hence why they cost a little more.. And with the likes of eBay and trade contacts, it's not really worth worrying about.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-VW-Passa ... 523wt_1313

^^^^^^ that, is a fookin bargain! ^^^^^^

fatboy · #19 Post by **fatboy** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:46 pm

As all post 2000 cars are (controlled by) common rail management system,all similar groups will have similar performance/economy values.
Mondeo & Focus have v good track records, as do VWs ( but these hold thier s/hand value)
If your commute is that big, maybe look at comfort (and safety ), have a look at Merc and BMW, you may be surprised at how much car you get for your money. Beemer 3 series are more expensive than 5 or 7 series
Its been proven beyond doubt that car fuel economy has a direct link to pilot attitude. A mid size can cruise along at low low rpm enjoying its own kinetic energy needing less foot action than a lightwieght !
PS I have found Merc, VW, Audi & french parts to be cheaper than Ford or Partco, from GSF ( German Swedish Foriegn )

Willopotomas · #20 Post by **Willopotomas** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:12 pm

Unless it's the VW PD diesel engine which isn't a common rail injection system of course.

randomsquid · #21 Post by **randomsquid** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:55 pm

You're coming at this from the wrong direction. What you need is a microlight.

Aladinsaneuk · #22 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:03 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-04-FORD- ... 413wt_1104

ticks all the boxes i think

and jay, i did not change my title... one of the other admins must have decided i was no longer justin beiber's fan....

blinkey501 · #23 Post by **blinkey501** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:09 pm

Nice mondeo and top spec

TC · #24 Post by TC » Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:34 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-04-FORD- ... 413wt_1104

ticks all the boxes i think

Same dealer, better pedigree

also ticks all the boxes, £500 cheaper

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-05-JAGUA ... mobiles_UK

Aladinsaneuk · #25 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:45 pm

Is not an auto....

D-Rider · #26 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:35 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:Is not an auto....

Which is a big plus - unless you spend 99% of your time in cities that have traffic jams.

hornetrider · #27 Post by **hornetrider** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:56 am

What is a massive commute? A really important often overlooked factor on a long commute is comfort and refinement. I work from home mostly but need to be in the office 1 or 2 days a week. The office is 110 miles away.

So... I bought an E38 7 series. It is magnificent. It is whisper quiet and is supremely comfortable. On the motorway it averages 34mpg but it only cost me £900 (yes really) to buy because I shopped wisely. 105k miles with FSH and all old MOTs. The saving buys an awful lot of diesel!

If you are keen to spend 5k on a diesel auto then my money would be buying an E39 530D.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 9418540736

Aladinsaneuk · #28 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:54 am

to quantify - and to apologise for my brevity

Yep TC - it is a nice car - and it was the jag that I went to look at first....

it is a stunning blue colour, and tidy through out. Not just because it is a manual, but something just did not feel right - that make sense?

It was only by chance i then said, what else have you got - and the mondeo appeared...

***
I used to have a 535 beemer and yes, I do agree with regard to the comfort.... I did consider and look at a few mercedes and beemers etc - even a a few high spec volvos etc.... Tempting though one of the high specs was, I took a decision based on how it would present to folk.....

hornetrider · #29 Post by **hornetrider** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:22 am

So, given us Falcistas like our methods of transport a little off the beaten track, I'll tell you what are uber bargains right now - Saab 9-5 Aero HOT.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 6447565032

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 5446385046

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 2438601930

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 5445841024

So much car for so little cash.

D-Rider · #30 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:12 pm

hornetrider wrote:So, given us Falcistas like our methods of transport a little off the beaten track, I'll tell you what are uber bargains right now - Saab 9-5 Aero HOT.

Though with Saab closing I'm not sure I'd be completely confident of spares backup .................