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I worked as an Engineer on Jags D7a platform (XE, XF, F pace and RR Velar) on the exhaust system. We were always confused why no R version appeared for the XE and the XF. Especially as you mentioned the old X250 had the 4.2 v8 and then the 5.0 Aj133. When they announced the new 3.0 straight six engines I was like yes finally an engine that will make the XF what it should be and hark back to the old straight sixes of the old XJ's, XJS end even the E-Type. When we were told oh no were retiring the v6 AJ126 and just using the 4 pot 2 litre Ingenium engine we were like 'what the F%&*'. Why would you do that. It was utter madness when we have made such great looking and fine handling cars. This was my second stint working for jag (my first was the early days of the SType and all alloy X350 XJ) and I was so excited for the future of the company but it was disappointing to say the least that the only halo saloon was to be the project 8 XE. The old X250 had an R saloon and estate that I still want now after so many years. Its a shame but now they are going to just make electric cars I think they have lost what made them great.
@@jdtseventyfour I had an XE after my faultless XF. The XE was in the dealer every month for a year for build quality issues, broken sunroof, poor build quality, electrical issues etc. Got rid after 12 months. Horrible ownership experience.
I was at Jaguar Powerrain over a similar period. I remember Bob Joyce giving us a Town Hall feedback saying they had been wondering whether to go with a new V6 or a nw straight 6. The straight-6 was cheaper to build, as it was only one head, set of cams etc. but it would reuire a number of the vehicles to eb re engineered for crash to accoodate the longer engine, but the straight 6 cost cost save justified that. I too was looking forward to a petrol straight-6 XE and XF but I guess the fund never came available to engineer that longer negine into those cars.
I daily drive a 2014 XF S V6 twin turbo diesel sportbrake and it’s superb, reliability is always a concern and repair bills aren’t great but the way it looks, drives, economy and equipment can’t be beaten for the price!
@@petesmith1924 mines a portfolio too, only options it doesn’t have is the radar cruise, sunroof and heated wheel, however its a factory ordered amethyst black (dark purple F-Type launch colour), black beltline trim, black dash/ivory interior and the performance pack, my dream spec XF
Got a 2017 3.0D, and it is the perfect mile-eater. 130km/ at 1500rpm, 180km/h at 2000rpm. If you want to cover long distances at ease, listening to music, on the phone, and your spouse reading a book still thinking you're doing 120km/h, this is it. And how elastic it is, like 50-100 with 2/3 throttle: effortless, that's the word.
Those speeds in Australia would mean loss of licence and a nice little meeting with a magistrate. Where I live the speed limits were lowered to 80 from 100 across a wide area.
@PalladioAdvisers I really enjoyed mine. Superb driving qualities and comfort. Shame that cheap looking dashboard. This was tho only reason why I have replaced it. I would have loved to get a facelift XF with fhe 3.0v6 diesel. I would have bought it in a heart bit.
I work for JLR and drive an M340i Touring. If we'd done an XF Sportbrake with a petrol 6 cylinder and all-wheel drive, I'd of had one instead without a second's thought.
Bought a 2015 XF summer of ‘23, 62k miles, 3.0 SC AWD. Had been looking for an XK but ran out of patience. Cheaper than my Mazda6 was new. Yes, it’s been in the shop a bunch, but that was expected. It has also been on numerous extended trips, some including 700+ miles a day. It is quiet, comfortable, and fast. It still gets the occasional compliment from strangers. Even though I have now acquired that XK, the XF is slightly better for those extra long trips. I won’t be in the market for any of the new Jaguar products.
My wife and I enjoy the drive so much we make the 800 miles to and from our families vacation home a part of our yearly vacation, or as it's called on your side of the pond, "holiday"... and I hold a private pilots liscence. To us, the journey with the roadside stops along the way are as much a part of the experience as the destination.
I had both generations of the XF as V6. The second generation drove significantly better and also had better long-term quality. But the first one seemed more lovingly made, especially in the interior. I think the second generation only became really good with the facelift. But at the same time Jaguar took out the good engines and only left the terrible Ingenium diesel in. Jaguar fed this cat and quietly poisoned it at the same time.
You're right about the interiors; those in past Jaguars were always spectacularly luxurious, if perhaps a little unsound ergonomically. The first XF continued that trend with a nice design that cleverly combined traditional vibes with modern materials and design. The last XJ was pretty good too. However, the XE, the second XF and the F-Pace had dreadfully drab interiors which were improved by the facelift you mentioned, through introducing nicer materials, but the design was still depressingly uninteresting. I'm sure they were at least partly responsible for the subsequent lack of sales.
Well said. I too had an X250 V6 (diesel twin turbo) and now have an X260 V6 (petrol supercharged). Your comments are spot on. Newer car drives better but older car had a better interior. Jaguar fixed the interior in 2021 but by then only offered the 2 litre Ingenium. No more v6. 😢
Here in the USA the XF was only supplied with the V6 supercharged engine in 2018. I am Brit over here and I am the happy owner of one of the 250 Sportbrakes sold in the USA. It's a fine looking car with AWD. I absolutely love it. It does 0-60 in 5.0 seconds which is faster than the Lancia Integrale I owned back in 1996 and is a beautiful looking car.
Owned a XFR saloon for 9 years . 2011 model , just driven from Uk to southern Spain done 1650miles at a Mpg of 26.6 running on premium petrol . Proper GT motor 😊
I have the same sort of car, and I am in love with it. I have never had any trouble with it, it glides along the roads, it sticks to the road beautifully, it is economical and it looks beautiful. I could keep going on about all its great points, but I will stop there. I loved you calling it a halo model. I had a 540i before the Jag, and I would give the 540i 4.2 stars and the Jag 4.8 stars. Keep up the good work. I love your videos. Sometimes, I disagree with you, but hey, we all have our opinions. Cheers.
Nice looking saloon. I once owned a ‘93 XJ6 Sovereign. Kings Blue on the outside, Doeskin colored leather. Drove that beauty cross country on the I-10 from Phoenix to Jacksonville in a day and a half. Wasn’t tired afterwards since the vehicle was so ….Good. Really handled the twisting mountain/canyon roads all around Arizona. Also handled unimproved forest roads.
11:45 "I think they looked at what people NEEDED, and forgot what they WANTED." That reminds me of a Top Gear quote, something to the effect of there being no such thing as ENOUGH Jag. Whenever I browse the Jag classifieds (in case something happens to my XJ-S), I do ignore the diesel and 4cyl cars.
YES! I remember Hammond talking about the X Type... calling it "annoyingly social climber" or something. Basically, not enough Jag. A proper Jag should be richly endowed with style, luxury and effortless speed.
I had an X250 saloon S (diesel) and loved it for four years. I traded it in for a more practical X260 (facelift) S Sportbrake (diesel) and have owned this one for five years. For me, this X260 is pretty much all the car I need. It has almost all of the available options ticked, more than enough performance for country road conditions and can even return 40+ MPG with spirited driving. It's pretty much the best car I have ever owned.
The first thing to do with any Jaguar is ditch the Pirellis for Contis or Michelins. I’ve owned several of the supercharged V8s now and the P Zeros have never failed to disappoint.
I took the plunge and purchased a 2018 xf 25T portfolio with the optional 20 inch wheels. I have been very impressed. For such a large vehicle it drives great (not as well as my wife’s gt86) but far better than is should. It certainly hides its size and mass. As for reliability, I purchased the full dealership extended warranty. A small price to pay for piece of mind. Also get on average 35 to the gallon which I think is great for a petrol turbo. Had it now for over a year and done 14000 mile. Is certainly up there with one of the best cars I have owned. 👍
@@AndyK.1drool! If I was going to buy a more modern XF, that's the one I'd be looking for. Although I venture to suggest my present V6 Supercharged 66 reg XF S is quicker. Still, the AWD sounds good for slippery conditions.
I have the V6 3.0 S diesel with the same 8 speed box. It's awesome. The guys at the Jaguar specialist said it was the best XF Mk2 to buy. 5.1sec to 60, and lovely to drive. I have the Mk1 version for 8 years before that, this one will likely see similar if not longer. I have the 20in wheels - a bit thumpy but grip is superb.
Got a 2014 XFS 3.0 Diesel and I still love it. It has 330bhp/720 torque and it kicks like a mule and still it accelerates soft. A soft and comfortable power ride and it looks amazing. I love the sharkfin vents on the front fenders and the headlights ”in for the kill” aggressive looks. Been taking care of it and it has been taking care of me. A wonderful place to be. It is me. Wood and leather interior. BMW has to much plastic wich I am no fan of. I have owned my Jag for 4 years and I haven’t had any serious issues at all. Changed generator, conveyor belt and brakes. Don’t know why they have been marked for bad quality. I know they had issues in the 60’s and 70’s. Maybe that is still haunting them? Totally underrated brand.
Hi James, now I'm the first to admit I'm a bit of a grouchy scrooge'esque being this time of year, but praise be to the blessed algorithm for it delivered unto me your Countach 5000qv from a couple of years back, and you now can not remove the "10yr old me's" grin from my face, so thank you for all you create/present & making a miserable old git smile for once, (my nephews, nieces & aged old dear thank you by proxy too), keep up the great work.
I have one of these (I too am 27) and I absolutely love it. I do agree with a lot of what you say but also disagree with some things. People didn't buy the XF because everyone these days wants a soulless German car, they have no character in my opinion until you're spending 75-80k+. The Jag has bags of character even when just pootling around. There's the supercharger whine mixed in with the great handling dynamics and it's all around just a nice place to be. Mine has the Pro version of the infotainment paired with the (minimally customisable) digital dash and it's a much better system than the basic version especially once updated to the latest version with android auto/carplay. There are downsides in my opinion and I am slowly addressing them, there isn't enough power at the top end on the factory map, therefore I've fitted a smaller top pulley on the supercharger and had the car remapped by Viezu, it now pulls all the way to the redline and is pretty relentless, it feels faster than it's 425bhp. There isn't enough supercharger whine to my taste which will be sorted when the right open come intake becomes available. Also, as you say, the exhaust is a bit muted so I would like to get the Quicksilver rear section when I can afford it. I will be doing the crank pulley upgrade too at some point because you can never have enough power, right? I think some lowering springs will address the minimal difference in the normal and dynamic settings on the dampers but I'm yet to explore that option. And I've fitted the LSD from the F-Type V6 S which has really sharpened things up and made the car more enjoyable to drive quickly. Overall I'm very pleased with it and I think anyone would be who tries one over a German saloon. If you do go and buy one, do make sure you go for one with the Pro infotainment and the 20's.
Actually, I do have the same car. 66 reg XF S Supercharged petrol. Superb car. I will admit the diesel is better for cruising with effortless torque and astonishingly good mpg when driven gently for long distances. But I find petrol supercharged is more fun, more quickly responsive and is my preference for my travel profile of lots of short journeys around town, with the occasional blast along curvey B-Roads just for giggles.
Great review. I didn't realize that the wagon (estate) version with the 3 liter gas (petrol) engine wasn't available in the UK. Makes mine even more of a unicorn I guess. The wagon looks a lot more extroverted than the sedan, and I only ended up with an XF because the wagon was so appealing. I totally agree with you on the lack of a V8 option being a real killer for the x260 XF. Aspirational brands need halo cars in each segment to get people in the door. I personally seriously considered a Lexus IS350 when I test drove an IS500 and decided it was a bit much both on price and on speed. Oh, tell the owner that Jaguar makes an aluminum shift paddle upgrade that you can swap in with just a screwdriver in 5 minutes. Best upgrade I've made on my XF.
I was lucky enough to have the previous generation SV8 for a while, back in 2011. Previous car was an Aston N400; subsequent was an E92 M3. Real world, point-to-point, the SV8 remains the fastest car I've ever driven.
@RichardHarrold1991Potentially on the JDHT website, but not seen it recently! The problem is that it didn’t look particularly special unless you opened the bonnet, it did have F Type sports seats in it and that was about the only distinguishing feature
@@Bonno95 I thought I'd seen something about this on the JDHT Instagram about 6 months ago but when I enquired because I'd like to see it they appeared to have no knowledge of it like it didn't exist 🤔 I then proceeded to think I'd dreamt it but now with your comment I'm starting to think I didn't.
Jay is probably one of the best car journalist out there. I just enjoy listening to him to much. Terrible thing is, he has talked too many cars in to my want to buy want to drive list. 😂
Hello James. I end the year as I started it: in full agreement with you! Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. Thanks for all the entertainment & the sharing of your expert knowledge.
Currently driving my 2017 XFS supercharged while listening and agree with everything in this video. I’m in my mid 30s and this had everything I wanted in a car - especially it not being a BMW or Merc. In Australia, these were too expensive new, and adding options put them into Porsche territory. Still turns a lot of heads today.
Jay, not sure why you said the 2nd gen XF is closer in size to the 7-series than the 5-series on the outside, because it's absolutely not. This XF and the G30 5-series are within an inch or so in length of each other, and within a half inch in width of each other. The G11 7-series is anywhere from 5"-12" longer than the 2nd gen XF, depending on if it's the short or long wheelbase 7-series. And even if you were to go back to the F10 5-series, the 2nd gen XF was just 2" longer and 1" wider.
I drive a 2020 Maserati grancabrio sport and a 2022 jaguar xf p250 rwd. It says a lot when I tell my wife that aside from outright acceleration and a boring exhaust note, the jag doesn’t pale much in comparison to the Maserati. The level of grip is astonishing (I did fit original 20 inch Bond villain wheels with Michelin ps4s tires). When pushed, it leans in the corners but handles well. Rides comfortably when I drive sensibly. Steering is accurate if not the last word on feel. Wish it had the 380ps v6 though! I’m keeping this one for as long as I can. Wife prefers it to the noisy Maserati, which she claims scares the baby 😅
James, I used to have a V6 diesel standard model and that was both softly sprung and dynamic, the way that a Jaguar should be. The engine was punchy and economical too. I agree with you about the S model that you just drove.
The biggest mistake Jaaaag did was not put the straight-six ingenium engines in the XF, both Petrol and Diesel. Now I hear that the 4cyl version is not as good as intended (maybe I am wrong), but having fitted the 6cyl with 300-400BHP and 4WD, especially in the Sportbrake makes me purr.......A missed opportunity I think.
But the Cam chain will still fail after about 35,000 miles on the Straight six, just as it does on the 4 pot. that engine range is known as the 'ingeniumboom' locally
@@IanThornhill-u3y35k sounds a bit low. Also that problem was mainly on pre 2019 2 litre diesels and even then overservicing helps mitigate the risk. From late 2019 the new timing chain and guides fixed that problem. The petrol cars also suffered less than the diesel.
For a brief moment I considered buying the smaller Jaguar XE as my comfortable commuter to drive to work. Mercedes, BMW and Audi were never on my radar so the Jaguar seemed one of the not-so-obvious alternatives. But I the end I chose another "underdog" and went with another Toyota product and now drive a 2019 Lexus ES300h luxury. One of about 1000 ES of that generation in all of Germany. There's just a case for reliability in the daily driver and fun for your second or third car.
What is a shame is Jaguar no longer produces a car like this. I have 2010 XF S 3.0d v6 Portfolio and I'm very happy with it. I'm thinking of taking it up to 330hp from 275, tuning the gearbox and replacing the pads and discs with EBC for occasional track use. I think the XF is a beautiful car to look at. It's sportier than the XJ but still comfortable on a cruise returning 40mpg. Press a couple of buttons and away you go. Tuning one will be very interesting indeed. Must admit though, having the same car with a creamy v6 petrol or fire breathing v8 would be a very tempting prospect.
Mine's a 2017 3.0d Portfolio spec, with 20" wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 5s on. It came with Continentals on but the Michelins are much, much better. Not sure if the 3.0d you drove before was in some way afflicted, but it should pull cleanly to 4100 and not run out of puff over 3000 like that one did. Available for a comparison drive if you're passing through the North East en route to Scotland!
I've been looking at the XF S back in 2016 but ended up with my first ever Alfa Romeo instead - the Giulia QV. For exactly the those reasons you mentioned in the video.
@@dylanwakley2553 The Giulia is an absolute dream to drive. It's really engaging and yet comfortable. I really do miss it sometimes (I traded it later for the F430). Even the "small" petrol one or the Veloce are really good to drive. The Diesels are a bit noisy to my taste and suffer from quite some turbo lag. I had some of these as rentals while the QV was serviced.
@ haha no way, you’re a man after my own heart, the F430 is my absolute childhood dream car. I’ve promised myself I have to have a TDF blue over cream coupe with challenge wheels by the time I’m 50 🤣
I hired a V6S AWD in Canada a few years a go: was very pleasantly surprised, compared to a mates XFR it wasn't that far behind. I like the XF, I can see one (or maybe an XJ) appearing on the drive one day.
Daily drivers…….am I the only one that has to consider…. Price… Insurance, Tax Economy. But, I still want it to……look good……have some decent pace……comfort….Be fairly robust/reliable…..economy…. Room for the dog! I drive 12 reg, moonlight blue Audi A5 3.0 tdi Sportback. I have had it 3 years and it still does the job.👍
I went down from an S-Type to an XE in 2016. £30/year VED, I've had 70mpg on a run, usually get 50mpg across multiple journeys, 0-60 in 6.2, corners well, tyres last 30k, and the only mechanical problem was the exhaust which was fixed under warranty. Not loads of space though. The self-parking is as reliable as a drunk blind monkey though, but that's not a problem.
Ha! I *knew* you would like that car. A couple of years ago I mentioned my 66 reg XF S V6 Supercharged and recommended you give one a go. I find it a brilliant drive, although my car has the 20 inch wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Turn in is great, especially in Dynamic mode. BRG with black pack exterior and internal red/black upholstery helps the looks as well. Inside, I am doing a happy dance at your reaction to driving the XF S Supercharged! I get the disappointment that the V8 Supercharged 5 litre was never fitted. Yes, Jaguar did put that engine in an XE (the utterly amazing Project 8) but all sorts of heavy engineering was needed to make that happen. Probably not economic for the XF. Also, Jaguar was facing a push on emissions targets so needed a more economic lower CO2 engine in the XF. The lighter aluminium body does help those 380 horses perform well: 0-60 in 5.1 seconds is not too bad. I even know a guy with a stock XF S who has managed 4.9 seconds. Sadly, Jaguar only sold very few of the cars, which is probably the main reason why it was quietly dropped from the UK range in 2018. Really enjoyed the review and seeing your smile as you drove the car along those twisty roads encourages me to go out and have some fun in mine. 😊
You suggested putting 20",rims on the car would help. I found the 20" rims on my 640 meant i was constantly suffering from bust tyre walls. 6 in a year due to potholes in the road. While i loved the car, i traded it tonredcue costs
Jags have always ran healthy power figures against rivals of their day. I thought my colleague was talking crap when he said his XF was 375hp until I checked 😅
Here in the US we got the supercharged V6 petrol and still nobody bought it. They also offered it in the estate body and only sold around 200 of them over a couple of years.
The sad state of affairs is that they aren't making any cars and only have a pointless concept car. Don't be distracted by the bad advertising, they don't know where they're going other than hoping that UA-cam influencers have money to burn.
I remember Jaguar talking about going for the mass market in the 90s, particularly aiming at the 3 series. I guess that's what the XE was meant to be (about 20 years late). It's like Jaguar keep playing last week's lottery numbers expecting that they'll hit the jackpot.
Yes it seems Jaguar have tried to copy other marketing strategies and to take business from the germans, rather than carve their own market like they used to
It’s not just that; they always run out of cash at precisely the moment they need to make a small investment. Looking at this car; the switchgear is quite cheap looking and the wagon was delayed 2 years despite having a cutting-edge platform. These are budgeting decisions made at the last minute because Jaguar never had a pot to piss in for most of their history. It sucks.
I have to say the 1st point you made IE a nice luxury car over a SUV is the road I went down, forgive the pun,ended up with a BMW 640d gran coupe yes the devils fuel, but it's a very nice thing for a long run.
6:38 i totally agree with this sentiment! I just purchased my first meaty engined car in the 1998 4.0 litre Jaguar XK8 Naturally aspirated V8 which pulls like a japanese bullet train!! For me, its double the displacement, double the cylinders and double the power of the biggest engine ive ever purchased. I got it at an absolute bargain as well, the cheapest running with MOT sold south of Birmingham in the last 6 months i believe at £1850! You can have a lot of fun on a budget 😅👌🏻
I bought a 4 cylinder 300ps XF two weeks ago in R Sport spec. It might not have 6 or 8 cylinders but it's smooth, powerful, has no lag and still sounds surprisingly decent - and my research suggests they're less likely to go wrong than the larger lumps. BMW sold the 328 / 330i with a smaller 4 cylinder lump as well - better to have 4 cylinders and a nice big turbo than some god awful electric car.
The old man keeps his current xj and the young man wants an xfr. Oh, and btw, the dealer situation is a widespread problem. It's also a mess in mainland Europe. Jaguar thinking with their future remake that people will spend Bentley amounts of money for this kind of service beyond me.
Jay, you have taken the words right out of my mouth. they can spend all the marketing money in the world, without the "halo" model they wont sell nearly enough of the more practical models. I have been preaching this for several years now.
I had two V6 S Diesels (Neither broke I am pleased to say) a saloon and an estate(post facelift) and I loved them. Neither in the camp of an old man's car especially given especially given it was as quick as a gold GTI to 60 and much faster in gear. Not to mention a surprisingly sharp front end for a big old bus.
I think you're spot on in your criticism of Jag over the evolution of the XF! The 4-cyl Ingenium turbo was definitely DOA in the USA, where almost no one in the market for a luxury performance sedan will accept a 4 banger! In addition, although the styling changes to the aluminum version were subtle, they made the XF look less distinctive, almost like a Lexus. The mismanagement at Jaguar was off the charts, and now they have Gerry McGovern (the so-called "professor") with his LR marketing team in charge, effectively sabotaging Jag intentionally, from within.
You could say that there was no big V8’s in the saloon. But Maserati does have a V8 in their Ghibli and it sort of isn’t heard of. I completely agree with your video about their target market, people who know the Jaguar brand as James Bond style saloon cars are going to be annoyed by jaguars new change, but I think it’s either that Jaguar does something crazy like it has done, or it would struggle to survive in the next coming years. It’s has been costing Landrover a loss for the past few years aswell, so facelifting or coming out with models would just add to this bigger loss. Great video! Would love an XF portfolio with the grey/light interior. Or the XJ50, one of the last ones, both great proper jags
I really, really like a big V6 diesel. Not everyones taste I know, but it's mine. That's why I have a year 2006 XJ 2.7 diesel. I've had it eight years, driven it to Southern Spain and back several times, and absolutely love it. But, I live in London, it's not ULEZ compliant, and at has very nearly 200,000 miles. Therefore I'm sort of tempted by a Euro6 XF 3.0 diesel. The thing is that for that kind of money I could fix up my XJ and buy a lot of £12.50 Sadiq Khan TFL charges.
The one drawback of normal height saloon cars like this is that in a world of SUVs, trying to pull out of junctions, parking spaces and even seeing what's ahead in traffic is becoming increasingly difficult when you can't even see over their bonnet. I'll be first in the queue for a telescoping camera system that allows me to see over the monstrosities that now populate our roads.
Have a 2017 X260 Sportbrake in Ceasium Blue. 25d 2.0 turbo with AWD. Has everything and does everything brilliantly. Bought from Jaguar (only used on plant) at under a year old. Now has 44k and (touch wood) has been brilliant. The headlights are full LED so look and perform better and has the blade indicators. Also has the brake upgrade which has already proved itself. Agree on the Pirelli comment.... Found mine very unpredictable. Now run Goodyear F1 assimetric 6...... Miles better.
Thanks James. Really enjoyed this and congrats to the Jaaaag's 27 year old keeper. This video was almost enough to make me forget about the woke nightmare JaGuar has now become.
If only you culture warriors had bought more Jaguars in the last 10 years instead of only remembering they existed once they did their last marketing stunt...
I had the xe v6 many years ago now as a 30 year old and disagreed with your view on the xe video of that time. Interesting to see the engine made the difference. Weirdly I was looking at xf a few days ago and wondered why I could not find a v6 estate. now I know why ! I think I will go for a saloon then this year.
Had 2 first model 3.0 litre Diesel Portfolio S's - both brilliant all round, reliable, phenomenal torque, and up 60 mpg (yes really on a long light run). Great as Portfolio's S's had all the luxury kit, plus the sporty stuff. Then got a 2016 'S' - there was no Portfolio model, which was disappointing as the trim was based on merely an R Sport. I searched for a high option car - sunroof, 10" screen, 20" wheels, piano black, tow-tone trim, which partly offset it, although the lovely windsor leather and cooled seats were still missing. Later, after customer feedback, Jag did the V6 engines with a Portfolio spec, but then they missed off the sporty stuff! The 2016 V6 diesel with 700 Nm of torque was fabulous to drive and no probs over 50k. Always found Jag dealers really good and a particularly warm and friendly bunch
Main problem owning the beautiful petrol engines is - running costs, no one was buying them. Yes they made the best options but the increases to tax, and petrol costs the big engines didn't sell either. So I agree it's a shame but I don't think they were big enough in the market to afford having a big engine and not sell that many of them. A rock and hard place.
Yeah, you are absolutely right, James. It's the 'Halo' models that sell the brand (and keep their value). Look at all the limited edition Ferraris, Astons, etc. Everyone seems to be at it.
I have heard, that according to their recent advertising campaign, Jaguar have abandoned their customer base, and alienated future new buyers as well? So, one way or another, it is business as usual then.
On the 8 in California you can hear all the traditional Mexican music channels. In LA there's rap, San Diego has a classic American Rock channel. I love listening to local channels on long trips as well.
These cars have been out for years and I’m just realizing how different it is from the earlier XF. The rear door and c pillar are totally different. I’ve rarely ever seen one on the road
From an American perspective, there's times I forget that Jaguar still exists. Dealers stateside mostly merged into their LR counterparts best part of a decade ago. I can't remember when I've seen an advert for ANY Jag after the famous campaign with Tom Hiddleston. Seemed like a brand that should've quietly gone out of business 8 years ago.
If jag were raiding the ford bins for engines during this time it should have attempted a turbo barra. These bonnets are pretty big,. I'm sure it could fit.
There was an XFR at the end of my street for years, honestly I didn't realise it was a 500hp car, it just blended in. That's either good or bad depending on taste
I had a first gen XKR which is still one of the cheapest ways to get into a meaty V8. Jag did do some awesome halo cars... the problem was that they were in the form of the unobtanium (and hugely expensive) Project 7 & 8. The simple fact is that you must sell a certain number of cars to make a profit and Jag never seem to be able to achieve that. Hopefully they can carve out a niche as a sub brand of a huge parent company.
The logo where it's looking at you all angry and stuff... Jaguar calls that "the growler". The one on the steering wheel is "the leaper". Both are trademarked!
Here in the U.S. 4 door sedan sales are almost dead. Almost everyone is buying crossovers or SUVs. Ford stopped making sedans entirely a few years ago.
I love the Jags, however, their reliability has had an effect on their reputation in Australia, whether that is because of the dealer network, or specific geographical issues, I am unsure. The old V12's were a hopeless cause with the persistent overheating issues, which are by now legendary in magnitude. If only I could feel a greater sense of confidence in them, I would be well pleased.
The halo model effect is real and strong. I guess the brand still contained halo vehicles (F-Type, for example), but the XF perhaps lacked 'cool' or 'aspiration' without one. Good call, JayEmm.
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I worked as an Engineer on Jags D7a platform (XE, XF, F pace and RR Velar) on the exhaust system. We were always confused why no R version appeared for the XE and the XF. Especially as you mentioned the old X250 had the 4.2 v8 and then the 5.0 Aj133. When they announced the new 3.0 straight six engines I was like yes finally an engine that will make the XF what it should be and hark back to the old straight sixes of the old XJ's, XJS end even the E-Type. When we were told oh no were retiring the v6 AJ126 and just using the 4 pot 2 litre Ingenium engine we were like 'what the F%&*'. Why would you do that. It was utter madness when we have made such great looking and fine handling cars. This was my second stint working for jag (my first was the early days of the SType and all alloy X350 XJ) and I was so excited for the future of the company but it was disappointing to say the least that the only halo saloon was to be the project 8 XE. The old X250 had an R saloon and estate that I still want now after so many years. Its a shame but now they are going to just make electric cars I think they have lost what made them great.
Have you evolved from being a Jaguar engineer to a jaGuar engineer? 🤔
@@jdtseventyfour I had an XE after my faultless XF.
The XE was in the dealer every month for a year for build quality issues, broken sunroof, poor build quality, electrical issues etc.
Got rid after 12 months. Horrible ownership experience.
I was at Jaguar Powerrain over a similar period.
I remember Bob Joyce giving us a Town Hall feedback saying they had been wondering whether to go with a new V6 or a nw straight 6.
The straight-6 was cheaper to build, as it was only one head, set of cams etc. but it would reuire a number of the vehicles to eb re engineered for crash to accoodate the longer engine, but the straight 6 cost cost save justified that.
I too was looking forward to a petrol straight-6 XE and XF but I guess the fund never came available to engineer that longer negine into those cars.
Green Deal killed it. CO2 quota.
Maybe EU takes some responsibility over the emissions regulations
That XF looks beautiful to this day.
sure is!
Prefer the face-lift version myself. The 2015 looks like an Audi.
Was seriously considering a xf sport break, unfortunately I'm not prepared to get shafted on insurance and tax😢
@@MrB1967 I think you need to visit Specsavers
@@peterconnor4193 My wife has one and she(we) aren’t shafted for either of those. 3.0ltr XFS Sportbrake. Stunning luxury estate car.
I daily drive a 2014 XF S V6 twin turbo diesel sportbrake and it’s superb, reliability is always a concern and repair bills aren’t great but the way it looks, drives, economy and equipment can’t be beaten for the price!
I have the saloon version and completely agree
You own a very beautiful looking car!
Wife has exactly the same, Portfolio spec. Stunning car.
@@petesmith1924 mines a portfolio too, only options it doesn’t have is the radar cruise, sunroof and heated wheel, however its a factory ordered amethyst black (dark purple F-Type launch colour), black beltline trim, black dash/ivory interior and the performance pack, my dream spec XF
@@davidvivian596 thanks! I’ve done few subtle mods including staggered quad exhausts with F-Type tips
Got a 2017 3.0D, and it is the perfect mile-eater. 130km/ at 1500rpm, 180km/h at 2000rpm. If you want to cover long distances at ease, listening to music, on the phone, and your spouse reading a book still thinking you're doing 120km/h, this is it. And how elastic it is, like 50-100 with 2/3 throttle: effortless, that's the word.
On top of that, is easy to service at home and there are great owners forums on line to help keep these old Jags running without paying dealer money.
@@MrB1967Ahahahhahahah service at home Ahahhahahah😂😂😂
Those speeds in Australia would mean loss of licence and a nice little meeting with a magistrate. Where I live the speed limits were lowered to 80 from 100 across a wide area.
@PalladioAdvisers I really enjoyed mine. Superb driving qualities and comfort. Shame that cheap looking dashboard. This was tho only reason why I have replaced it. I would have loved to get a facelift XF with fhe 3.0v6 diesel. I would have bought it in a heart bit.
@@Ze_Hans what's wrong with that?
I work for JLR and drive an M340i Touring. If we'd done an XF Sportbrake with a petrol 6 cylinder and all-wheel drive, I'd of had one instead without a second's thought.
You can buy these in the USA
@@martinpither5129you are quite right and that makes it all the more annoying that we can't get those here in the UK.
@@Formulozza1 I get the estate bit because saloons aren't practical for everyone but why do you need AWD?
they did?
@@bigdaveladtowing caravans
Is James trying to remind us that Jaguar used to be a car company? 😅
I loved my XF-S. It was a fantastic car, and the way the start button used to pulse like a heartbeat was pure Jaguar.
In the real pace of jaguar's heartbeat, when resting - to be exact...
😉
Bought a 2015 XF summer of ‘23, 62k miles, 3.0 SC AWD. Had been looking for an XK but ran out of patience. Cheaper than my Mazda6 was new. Yes, it’s been in the shop a bunch, but that was expected. It has also been on numerous extended trips, some including 700+ miles a day.
It is quiet, comfortable, and fast. It still gets the occasional compliment from strangers.
Even though I have now acquired that XK, the XF is slightly better for those extra long trips.
I won’t be in the market for any of the new Jaguar products.
My wife and I enjoy the drive so much we make the 800 miles to and from our families vacation home a part of our yearly vacation, or as it's called on your side of the pond, "holiday"... and I hold a private pilots liscence. To us, the journey with the roadside stops along the way are as much a part of the experience as the destination.
@@veritas6466 which is cheaper to run? The plane or the Jag?
Not sure as I don't own a Jag, though I am currently in the market for a 2010 or newer XK. I'll get back to you in August.
I wasn't expecting much from that radio joke, but, boy did it deliver!
You nearly died laughing?
I thought that accent was impressive enough for matching exactly tayside folks.
I had both generations of the XF as V6. The second generation drove significantly better and also had better long-term quality. But the first one seemed more lovingly made, especially in the interior. I think the second generation only became really good with the facelift. But at the same time Jaguar took out the good engines and only left the terrible Ingenium diesel in. Jaguar fed this cat and quietly poisoned it at the same time.
You're right about the interiors; those in past Jaguars were always spectacularly luxurious, if perhaps a little unsound ergonomically. The first XF continued that trend with a nice design that cleverly combined traditional vibes with modern materials and design. The last XJ was pretty good too. However, the XE, the second XF and the F-Pace had dreadfully drab interiors which were improved by the facelift you mentioned, through introducing nicer materials, but the design was still depressingly uninteresting. I'm sure they were at least partly responsible for the subsequent lack of sales.
Well said.
I too had an X250 V6 (diesel twin turbo) and now have an X260 V6 (petrol supercharged). Your comments are spot on.
Newer car drives better but older car had a better interior. Jaguar fixed the interior in 2021 but by then only offered the 2 litre Ingenium. No more v6. 😢
Here in the USA the XF was only supplied with the V6 supercharged engine in 2018. I am Brit over here and I am the happy owner of one of the 250 Sportbrakes sold in the USA. It's a fine looking car with AWD. I absolutely love it. It does 0-60 in 5.0 seconds which is faster than the Lancia Integrale I owned back in 1996 and is a beautiful looking car.
Owned a XFR saloon for 9 years . 2011 model , just driven from Uk to southern Spain done 1650miles at a Mpg of 26.6 running on premium petrol . Proper GT motor 😊
Still got mine. Tax is a bugger but smiles per mile are still worth it.
Had mine for 9 months, driven it to Germany, driven the Nurburgring in it, had it up to 165 on the autobahn, absolutely love it.
I have kept an 2013 XF 4x4 3.0 V6 S/C for 10 years, it was nice to munch Km down to Italy.
It's a shame we never got a successor to the 1st gen XFR / XFR-S.
I have the same sort of car, and I am in love with it. I have never had any trouble with it, it glides along the roads, it sticks to the road beautifully, it is economical and it looks beautiful. I could keep going on about all its great points, but I will stop there. I loved you calling it a halo model. I had a 540i before the Jag, and I would give the 540i 4.2 stars and the Jag 4.8 stars. Keep up the good work. I love your videos. Sometimes, I disagree with you, but hey, we all have our opinions. Cheers.
Nice looking saloon.
I once owned a ‘93 XJ6 Sovereign. Kings Blue on the outside, Doeskin colored leather. Drove that beauty cross country on the I-10 from Phoenix to Jacksonville in a day and a half. Wasn’t tired afterwards since the vehicle was so ….Good.
Really handled the twisting mountain/canyon roads all around Arizona. Also handled unimproved forest roads.
11:45 "I think they looked at what people NEEDED, and forgot what they WANTED."
That reminds me of a Top Gear quote, something to the effect of there being no such thing as ENOUGH Jag. Whenever I browse the Jag classifieds (in case something happens to my XJ-S), I do ignore the diesel and 4cyl cars.
YES! I remember Hammond talking about the X Type... calling it "annoyingly social climber" or something. Basically, not enough Jag.
A proper Jag should be richly endowed with style, luxury and effortless speed.
I would call Jeremy an annoying social climber from a minor public school
I had an X250 saloon S (diesel) and loved it for four years. I traded it in for a more practical X260 (facelift) S Sportbrake (diesel) and have owned this one for five years. For me, this X260 is pretty much all the car I need. It has almost all of the available options ticked, more than enough performance for country road conditions and can even return 40+ MPG with spirited driving. It's pretty much the best car I have ever owned.
The first thing to do with any Jaguar is ditch the Pirellis for Contis or Michelins. I’ve owned several of the supercharged V8s now and the P Zeros have never failed to disappoint.
Or Bridgestones?🤔
Michelin PS4 or 5S, agreed Pirellis are crap
I took the plunge and purchased a 2018 xf 25T portfolio with the optional 20 inch wheels.
I have been very impressed. For such a large vehicle it drives great (not as well as my wife’s gt86) but far better than is should. It certainly hides its size and mass.
As for reliability, I purchased the full dealership extended warranty. A small price to pay for piece of mind.
Also get on average 35 to the gallon which I think is great for a petrol turbo.
Had it now for over a year and done 14000 mile. Is certainly up there with one of the best cars I have owned. 👍
Yeah they are great. I got one of the rare 30T Portf. P300bhp AWD.
@@AndyK.1drool! If I was going to buy a more modern XF, that's the one I'd be looking for.
Although I venture to suggest my present V6 Supercharged 66 reg XF S is quicker.
Still, the AWD sounds good for slippery conditions.
XF is a great car, drives really well and is very comfortable. And still handsome.
We rented one around 2017 in the UK and drove Scotland to Wales and back up to Scotland. Its was fabulous in every way.
I have the V6 3.0 S diesel with the same 8 speed box. It's awesome. The guys at the Jaguar specialist said it was the best XF Mk2 to buy. 5.1sec to 60, and lovely to drive. I have the Mk1 version for 8 years before that, this one will likely see similar if not longer. I have the 20in wheels - a bit thumpy but grip is superb.
Got a 2014 XFS 3.0 Diesel and I still love it. It has 330bhp/720 torque and it kicks like a mule and still it accelerates soft. A soft and comfortable power ride and it looks amazing. I love the sharkfin vents on the front fenders and the headlights ”in for the kill” aggressive looks. Been taking care of it and it has been taking care of me. A wonderful place to be. It is me. Wood and leather interior. BMW has to much plastic wich I am no fan of. I have owned my Jag for 4 years and I haven’t had any serious issues at all. Changed generator, conveyor belt and brakes. Don’t know why they have been marked for bad quality. I know they had issues in the 60’s and 70’s. Maybe that is still haunting them?
Totally underrated brand.
Had the pleasure of putting a couple hundred miles into one of these a couple years ago. 3.0d V6S and it was a lovely car
Hi James, now I'm the first to admit I'm a bit of a grouchy scrooge'esque being this time of year, but praise be to the blessed algorithm for it delivered unto me your Countach 5000qv from a couple of years back, and you now can not remove the "10yr old me's" grin from my face, so thank you for all you create/present & making a miserable old git smile for once, (my nephews, nieces & aged old dear thank you by proxy too), keep up the great work.
Humbug!
I have one of these (I too am 27) and I absolutely love it. I do agree with a lot of what you say but also disagree with some things. People didn't buy the XF because everyone these days wants a soulless German car, they have no character in my opinion until you're spending 75-80k+. The Jag has bags of character even when just pootling around. There's the supercharger whine mixed in with the great handling dynamics and it's all around just a nice place to be. Mine has the Pro version of the infotainment paired with the (minimally customisable) digital dash and it's a much better system than the basic version especially once updated to the latest version with android auto/carplay. There are downsides in my opinion and I am slowly addressing them, there isn't enough power at the top end on the factory map, therefore I've fitted a smaller top pulley on the supercharger and had the car remapped by Viezu, it now pulls all the way to the redline and is pretty relentless, it feels faster than it's 425bhp. There isn't enough supercharger whine to my taste which will be sorted when the right open come intake becomes available. Also, as you say, the exhaust is a bit muted so I would like to get the Quicksilver rear section when I can afford it. I will be doing the crank pulley upgrade too at some point because you can never have enough power, right? I think some lowering springs will address the minimal difference in the normal and dynamic settings on the dampers but I'm yet to explore that option. And I've fitted the LSD from the F-Type V6 S which has really sharpened things up and made the car more enjoyable to drive quickly. Overall I'm very pleased with it and I think anyone would be who tries one over a German saloon. If you do go and buy one, do make sure you go for one with the Pro infotainment and the 20's.
Excellent advice and your modded XF S sounds like it is awesome. I have a factory XF S Supercharged and it's already super quick!
This is a PETROL V6... Not a diesel...
To all those saying " I have the same car", you don't...
Petrol is petrol... Diesel is diesel... Period...
You should've used more ellipses in your comment.
@@toby2581 let me have a look and I'll get back to you...😂
Actually, I do have the same car. 66 reg XF S Supercharged petrol. Superb car.
I will admit the diesel is better for cruising with effortless torque and astonishingly good mpg when driven gently for long distances. But I find petrol supercharged is more fun, more quickly responsive and is my preference for my travel profile of lots of short journeys around town, with the occasional blast along curvey B-Roads just for giggles.
Gorgeous, so was my XType AWD which I had to let go😮💨
Great review. I didn't realize that the wagon (estate) version with the 3 liter gas (petrol) engine wasn't available in the UK. Makes mine even more of a unicorn I guess. The wagon looks a lot more extroverted than the sedan, and I only ended up with an XF because the wagon was so appealing.
I totally agree with you on the lack of a V8 option being a real killer for the x260 XF. Aspirational brands need halo cars in each segment to get people in the door. I personally seriously considered a Lexus IS350 when I test drove an IS500 and decided it was a bit much both on price and on speed.
Oh, tell the owner that Jaguar makes an aluminum shift paddle upgrade that you can swap in with just a screwdriver in 5 minutes. Best upgrade I've made on my XF.
I was lucky enough to have the previous generation SV8 for a while, back in 2011. Previous car was an Aston N400; subsequent was an E92 M3. Real world, point-to-point, the SV8 remains the fastest car I've ever driven.
They made one V8 X260, it’s now in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage museum. Would’ve been crushed if the team behind *that* new Jag hadn’t put it there!
Interesting, anything online about it?
@RichardHarrold1991Potentially on the JDHT website, but not seen it recently!
The problem is that it didn’t look particularly special unless you opened the bonnet, it did have F Type sports seats in it and that was about the only distinguishing feature
Wow, I didn't know that. Where did you get that information?
@@Bonno95 I thought I'd seen something about this on the JDHT Instagram about 6 months ago but when I enquired because I'd like to see it they appeared to have no knowledge of it like it didn't exist 🤔 I then proceeded to think I'd dreamt it but now with your comment I'm starting to think I didn't.
we need more information on this
Jay is probably one of the best car journalist out there. I just enjoy listening to him to much.
Terrible thing is, he has talked too many cars in to my want to buy want to drive list. 😂
Hello James. I end the year as I started it: in full agreement with you!
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. Thanks for all the entertainment & the sharing of your expert knowledge.
I always enjoyed driving XFs and XJs.Great British cars!
Currently driving my 2017 XFS supercharged while listening and agree with everything in this video. I’m in my mid 30s and this had everything I wanted in a car - especially it not being a BMW or Merc.
In Australia, these were too expensive new, and adding options put them into Porsche territory. Still turns a lot of heads today.
@@jasonsemanic6338 as a fellow millennial, I agree. I love mine 3.0 sc with 389 hp.
Your theory is spot on. Never thought if it like that before. But it makes perfect sense. Typed from the comfort of my x350 XJR
When I bought my 2016 Jag XE s. I quickly realised the Pirellis were not good enough. Switched to Bridgestone and it was instantly better.
have contis on mine and its amazing
I think you are absolutely spot on in your reasoning about needs and wants.
I got a v6 XF back in 2013 , wonderful car for long distance trips , loved it :)
Scottish radio; where the songs are played back on Scotch tape
Scotch XSII-S 90 is a decent type II 😂
So unfunny.
Jay, not sure why you said the 2nd gen XF is closer in size to the 7-series than the 5-series on the outside, because it's absolutely not. This XF and the G30 5-series are within an inch or so in length of each other, and within a half inch in width of each other. The G11 7-series is anywhere from 5"-12" longer than the 2nd gen XF, depending on if it's the short or long wheelbase 7-series. And even if you were to go back to the F10 5-series, the 2nd gen XF was just 2" longer and 1" wider.
I drive a 2020 Maserati grancabrio sport and a 2022 jaguar xf p250 rwd. It says a lot when I tell my wife that aside from outright acceleration and a boring exhaust note, the jag doesn’t pale much in comparison to the Maserati. The level of grip is astonishing (I did fit original 20 inch Bond villain wheels with Michelin ps4s tires). When pushed, it leans in the corners but handles well. Rides comfortably when I drive sensibly. Steering is accurate if not the last word on feel. Wish it had the 380ps v6 though!
I’m keeping this one for as long as I can. Wife prefers it to the noisy Maserati, which she claims scares the baby 😅
James, I used to have a V6 diesel standard model and that was both softly sprung and dynamic, the way that a Jaguar should be. The engine was punchy and economical too. I agree with you about the S model that you just drove.
The biggest mistake Jaaaag did was not put the straight-six ingenium engines in the XF, both Petrol and Diesel. Now I hear that the 4cyl version is not as good as intended (maybe I am wrong), but having fitted the 6cyl with 300-400BHP and 4WD, especially in the Sportbrake makes me purr.......A missed opportunity I think.
But the Cam chain will still fail after about 35,000 miles on the Straight six, just as it does on the 4 pot. that engine range is known as the 'ingeniumboom' locally
@@IanThornhill-u3y35k sounds a bit low. Also that problem was mainly on pre 2019 2 litre diesels and even then overservicing helps mitigate the risk. From late 2019 the new timing chain and guides fixed that problem. The petrol cars also suffered less than the diesel.
For a brief moment I considered buying the smaller Jaguar XE as my comfortable commuter to drive to work. Mercedes, BMW and Audi were never on my radar so the Jaguar seemed one of the not-so-obvious alternatives. But I the end I chose another "underdog" and went with another Toyota product and now drive a 2019 Lexus ES300h luxury. One of about 1000 ES of that generation in all of Germany. There's just a case for reliability in the daily driver and fun for your second or third car.
The left, rear three quarter view of the car, is sublime.
What is a shame is Jaguar no longer produces a car like this. I have 2010 XF S 3.0d v6 Portfolio and I'm very happy with it.
I'm thinking of taking it up to 330hp from 275, tuning the gearbox and replacing the pads and discs with EBC for occasional track use.
I think the XF is a beautiful car to look at. It's sportier than the XJ but still comfortable on a cruise returning 40mpg.
Press a couple of buttons and away you go. Tuning one will be very interesting indeed.
Must admit though, having the same car with a creamy v6 petrol or fire breathing v8 would be a very tempting prospect.
Mine's a 2017 3.0d Portfolio spec, with 20" wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 5s on. It came with Continentals on but the Michelins are much, much better.
Not sure if the 3.0d you drove before was in some way afflicted, but it should pull cleanly to 4100 and not run out of puff over 3000 like that one did.
Available for a comparison drive if you're passing through the North East en route to Scotland!
I've been looking at the XF S back in 2016 but ended up with my first ever Alfa Romeo instead - the Giulia QV. For exactly the those reasons you mentioned in the video.
How did you find the giulia? Looking at XE-S’s to replace my giulietta but the giulia qv is the dream
@@dylanwakley2553 The Giulia is an absolute dream to drive. It's really engaging and yet comfortable. I really do miss it sometimes (I traded it later for the F430). Even the "small" petrol one or the Veloce are really good to drive. The Diesels are a bit noisy to my taste and suffer from quite some turbo lag. I had some of these as rentals while the QV was serviced.
@ haha no way, you’re a man after my own heart, the F430 is my absolute childhood dream car. I’ve promised myself I have to have a TDF blue over cream coupe with challenge wheels by the time I’m 50 🤣
I hired a V6S AWD in Canada a few years a go: was very pleasantly surprised, compared to a mates XFR it wasn't that far behind. I like the XF, I can see one (or maybe an XJ) appearing on the drive one day.
Daily drivers…….am I the only one that has to consider….
Price…
Insurance,
Tax
Economy.
But, I still want it to……look good……have some decent pace……comfort….Be fairly robust/reliable…..economy…. Room for the dog!
I drive 12 reg, moonlight blue Audi A5 3.0 tdi Sportback. I have had it 3 years and it still does the job.👍
The sportback is a great looking car.
I went down from an S-Type to an XE in 2016. £30/year VED, I've had 70mpg on a run, usually get 50mpg across multiple journeys, 0-60 in 6.2, corners well, tyres last 30k, and the only mechanical problem was the exhaust which was fixed under warranty. Not loads of space though. The self-parking is as reliable as a drunk blind monkey though, but that's not a problem.
Ha! I *knew* you would like that car. A couple of years ago I mentioned my 66 reg XF S V6 Supercharged and recommended you give one a go. I find it a brilliant drive, although my car has the 20 inch wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Turn in is great, especially in Dynamic mode. BRG with black pack exterior and internal red/black upholstery helps the looks as well.
Inside, I am doing a happy dance at your reaction to driving the XF S Supercharged!
I get the disappointment that the V8 Supercharged 5 litre was never fitted. Yes, Jaguar did put that engine in an XE (the utterly amazing Project 8) but all sorts of heavy engineering was needed to make that happen. Probably not economic for the XF.
Also, Jaguar was facing a push on emissions targets so needed a more economic lower CO2 engine in the XF. The lighter aluminium body does help those 380 horses perform well: 0-60 in 5.1 seconds is not too bad. I even know a guy with a stock XF S who has managed 4.9 seconds.
Sadly, Jaguar only sold very few of the cars, which is probably the main reason why it was quietly dropped from the UK range in 2018.
Really enjoyed the review and seeing your smile as you drove the car along those twisty roads encourages me to go out and have some fun in mine. 😊
You suggested putting 20",rims on the car would help. I found the 20" rims on my 640 meant i was constantly suffering from bust tyre walls. 6 in a year due to potholes in the road. While i loved the car, i traded it tonredcue costs
Jags have always ran healthy power figures against rivals of their day. I thought my colleague was talking crap when he said his XF was 375hp until I checked 😅
Here in the US we got the supercharged V6 petrol and still nobody bought it. They also offered it in the estate body and only sold around 200 of them over a couple of years.
Jaguar made such elegant machines, sad state of affairs now
The sad state of affairs is that they aren't making any cars and only have a pointless concept car. Don't be distracted by the bad advertising, they don't know where they're going other than hoping that UA-cam influencers have money to burn.
I remember Jaguar talking about going for the mass market in the 90s, particularly aiming at the 3 series. I guess that's what the XE was meant to be (about 20 years late). It's like Jaguar keep playing last week's lottery numbers expecting that they'll hit the jackpot.
Yes it seems Jaguar have tried to copy other marketing strategies and to take business from the germans, rather than carve their own market like they used to
Before XE there was the X-Type...
Did you forget the X-Type?
It’s not just that; they always run out of cash at precisely the moment they need to make a small investment. Looking at this car; the switchgear is quite cheap looking and the wagon was delayed 2 years despite having a cutting-edge platform. These are budgeting decisions made at the last minute because Jaguar never had a pot to piss in for most of their history. It sucks.
I have to say the 1st point you made IE a nice luxury car over a SUV is the road I went down, forgive the pun,ended up with a BMW 640d gran coupe yes the devils fuel, but it's a very nice thing for a long run.
6:38 i totally agree with this sentiment! I just purchased my first meaty engined car in the 1998 4.0 litre Jaguar XK8 Naturally aspirated V8 which pulls like a japanese bullet train!! For me, its double the displacement, double the cylinders and double the power of the biggest engine ive ever purchased. I got it at an absolute bargain as well, the cheapest running with MOT sold south of Birmingham in the last 6 months i believe at £1850! You can have a lot of fun on a budget 😅👌🏻
I bought a 4 cylinder 300ps XF two weeks ago in R Sport spec. It might not have 6 or 8 cylinders but it's smooth, powerful, has no lag and still sounds surprisingly decent - and my research suggests they're less likely to go wrong than the larger lumps. BMW sold the 328 / 330i with a smaller 4 cylinder lump as well - better to have 4 cylinders and a nice big turbo than some god awful electric car.
The old man keeps his current xj and the young man wants an xfr.
Oh, and btw, the dealer situation is a widespread problem. It's also a mess in mainland Europe. Jaguar thinking with their future remake that people will spend Bentley amounts of money for this kind of service beyond me.
Such a good car. The XFRS is absolutely bonkers
Jay, you have taken the words right out of my mouth.
they can spend all the marketing money in the world, without the "halo" model they wont sell nearly enough of the more practical models.
I have been preaching this for several years now.
I had two V6 S Diesels (Neither broke I am pleased to say) a saloon and an estate(post facelift) and I loved them. Neither in the camp of an old man's car especially given especially given it was as quick as a gold GTI to 60 and much faster in gear. Not to mention a surprisingly sharp front end for a big old bus.
I think you're spot on in your criticism of Jag over the evolution of the XF! The 4-cyl Ingenium turbo was definitely DOA in the USA, where almost no one in the market for a luxury performance sedan will accept a 4 banger! In addition, although the styling changes to the aluminum version were subtle, they made the XF look less distinctive, almost like a Lexus. The mismanagement at Jaguar was off the charts, and now they have Gerry McGovern (the so-called "professor") with his LR marketing team in charge, effectively sabotaging Jag intentionally, from within.
You could say that there was no big V8’s in the saloon. But Maserati does have a V8 in their Ghibli and it sort of isn’t heard of. I completely agree with your video about their target market, people who know the Jaguar brand as James Bond style saloon cars are going to be annoyed by jaguars new change, but I think it’s either that Jaguar does something crazy like it has done, or it would struggle to survive in the next coming years. It’s has been costing Landrover a loss for the past few years aswell, so facelifting or coming out with models would just add to this bigger loss. Great video! Would love an XF portfolio with the grey/light interior. Or the XJ50, one of the last ones, both great proper jags
Harvey’s car is gorgeous. It makes me miss my XF’s.
I really, really like a big V6 diesel. Not everyones taste I know, but it's mine. That's why I have a year 2006 XJ 2.7 diesel. I've had it eight years, driven it to Southern Spain and back several times, and absolutely love it. But, I live in London, it's not ULEZ compliant, and at has very nearly 200,000 miles. Therefore I'm sort of tempted by a Euro6 XF 3.0 diesel. The thing is that for that kind of money I could fix up my XJ and buy a lot of £12.50 Sadiq Khan TFL charges.
The one drawback of normal height saloon cars like this is that in a world of SUVs, trying to pull out of junctions, parking spaces and even seeing what's ahead in traffic is becoming increasingly difficult when you can't even see over their bonnet.
I'll be first in the queue for a telescoping camera system that allows me to see over the monstrosities that now populate our roads.
I think you are spot on. The reason that BMW have sold so many of their 320D over the years was because of the M3.
Have a 2017 X260 Sportbrake in Ceasium Blue. 25d 2.0 turbo with AWD. Has everything and does everything brilliantly. Bought from Jaguar (only used on plant) at under a year old. Now has 44k and (touch wood) has been brilliant. The headlights are full LED so look and perform better and has the blade indicators. Also has the brake upgrade which has already proved itself. Agree on the Pirelli comment.... Found mine very unpredictable. Now run Goodyear F1 assimetric 6...... Miles better.
Thanks James. Really enjoyed this and congrats to the Jaaaag's 27 year old keeper. This video was almost enough to make me forget about the woke nightmare JaGuar has now become.
The Woke mind virus tearing down things as though people would buy Jags if only they weren't so s££t
Sorry but what exactly was woke about that advert? It was misguided, pretentious, ridiculous, didn't even feature a car, but why was it woke?
If only you culture warriors had bought more Jaguars in the last 10 years instead of only remembering they existed once they did their last marketing stunt...
I had the xe v6 many years ago now as a 30 year old and disagreed with your view on the xe video of that time. Interesting to see the engine made the difference.
Weirdly I was looking at xf a few days ago and wondered why I could not find a v6 estate. now I know why ! I think I will go for a saloon then this year.
Had 2 first model 3.0 litre Diesel Portfolio S's - both brilliant all round, reliable, phenomenal torque, and up 60 mpg (yes really on a long light run). Great as Portfolio's S's had all the luxury kit, plus the sporty stuff. Then got a 2016 'S' - there was no Portfolio model, which was disappointing as the trim was based on merely an R Sport. I searched for a high option car - sunroof, 10" screen, 20" wheels, piano black, tow-tone trim, which partly offset it, although the lovely windsor leather and cooled seats were still missing. Later, after customer feedback, Jag did the V6 engines with a Portfolio spec, but then they missed off the sporty stuff! The 2016 V6 diesel with 700 Nm of torque was fabulous to drive and no probs over 50k. Always found Jag dealers really good and a particularly warm and friendly bunch
The X260 was most beautiful saloon ever, I’m currently own the 3.0SC R-Sport
Main problem owning the beautiful petrol engines is - running costs, no one was buying them. Yes they made the best options but the increases to tax, and petrol costs the big engines didn't sell either.
So I agree it's a shame but I don't think they were big enough in the market to afford having a big engine and not sell that many of them.
A rock and hard place.
I have a 2015 XF 2.0T. It is an excellent everyday car. Nothing spectacular but it’s reliable and nice enough and it drives really comfortable
I really would like an XF but I am only interested in petrols and the only ones that appeal are the XFR and XFR-S. Wish they put the 5ltr in the x260.
Get a facelift XFR! Mega car
Yeah, you are absolutely right, James. It's the 'Halo' models that sell the brand (and keep their value). Look at all the limited edition Ferraris, Astons, etc. Everyone seems to be at it.
I had a v6 s D, the huge torque was great. I would have another . V6 S d sportbrake.
A great opening to the show! Very funny!
I have heard, that according to their recent advertising campaign, Jaguar have abandoned their customer base, and alienated future new buyers as well? So, one way or another, it is business as usual then.
On the 8 in California you can hear all the traditional Mexican music channels. In LA there's rap, San Diego has a classic American Rock channel. I love listening to local channels on long trips as well.
These cars have been out for years and I’m just realizing how different it is from the earlier XF. The rear door and c pillar are totally different. I’ve rarely ever seen one on the road
From an American perspective, there's times I forget that Jaguar still exists. Dealers stateside mostly merged into their LR counterparts best part of a decade ago. I can't remember when I've seen an advert for ANY Jag after the famous campaign with Tom Hiddleston. Seemed like a brand that should've quietly gone out of business 8 years ago.
It's happening! It's like someone has sent the cat to a swiss clinic
If jag were raiding the ford bins for engines during this time it should have attempted a turbo barra. These bonnets are pretty big,. I'm sure it could fit.
There was an XFR at the end of my street for years, honestly I didn't realise it was a 500hp car, it just blended in. That's either good or bad depending on taste
I had a first gen XKR which is still one of the cheapest ways to get into a meaty V8. Jag did do some awesome halo cars... the problem was that they were in the form of the unobtanium (and hugely expensive) Project 7 & 8. The simple fact is that you must sell a certain number of cars to make a profit and Jag never seem to be able to achieve that. Hopefully they can carve out a niche as a sub brand of a huge parent company.
I didn’t expect you to enjoy radio in this era of streaming :)
“Oh gosh I’ve got a bit of an issue with my wallet you know”
The logo where it's looking at you all angry and stuff... Jaguar calls that "the growler". The one on the steering wheel is "the leaper". Both are trademarked!
Here in the U.S. 4 door sedan sales are almost dead. Almost everyone is buying crossovers or SUVs. Ford stopped making sedans entirely a few years ago.
Fellow American here, and yeah.... every year I see more giant SUVs, luxo Trucks, and crossovers.
you can still buy a cadillac with a 662hp v8+3 pedals. i suggest buying one before its too late
I love the Jags, however, their reliability has had an effect on their reputation in Australia, whether that is because of the dealer network, or specific geographical issues, I am unsure. The old V12's were a hopeless cause with the persistent overheating issues, which are by now legendary in magnitude. If only I could feel a greater sense of confidence in them, I would be well pleased.
Merry Christmas James 🎅🏻🎄🙂
The halo model effect is real and strong. I guess the brand still contained halo vehicles (F-Type, for example), but the XF perhaps lacked 'cool' or 'aspiration' without one. Good call, JayEmm.
Maybe an opportunity for some aftermarket added spice?
That "all new" aluminium architecture was basically the S-Type platform made in alloy.
Your comment is basically BULL*HIT
That's what the X350 was lad
@JayEmmOnCars , what happened to the cool flashy shirts?😮