[Dave_3]

As it was a nice spring day here, I was out for a wee spin. Passing the Jaguar Dealer I remembered I had been sent an invite to an XF launch party, and seeing the place buzzing I popped in.

While looking at their demo in the showroom, the owner's son remembered me from my previous Jaguars and came over to say hi. He asked if I would like a test drive and said they had a 2.7D or a 4.2R and offered me the keys.

It would have been rude to decline ... so I opted to try the D.

Naw ... I took the supercharged SV8

In the flesh these look very good. The interior is a different class/Ambience to the functional BMW. A very nice place to while away time. The B&W stereo sounded OK, but without fiddling with the settings didn't seem as good as the Logic 7 I have.

The ride on the big tyres was quiet and silky smooth - a revelation compared to my 335D with sports and RFTs. The smooth poise the XF SV8 has when settling into a corner was particularly impressive making for effortless and fluid progress through a set of bends. The brakes were smoth and linear (only highlighting the sometimes obvious brake assist on my BMW). The Jaguar's brakes are a bit more analogue than digital making light application easier to modulate.

The XF only had a few miles on the clock so I was driving only briskly. It is difficult to explain the performance of the SV8 using "seat of the pants" as it delivers its performance in such a svelte manner. I think it loses out a little to the immediacy of the 335D in the lower revs but then as the XF climbs the rev range it starts to really hunker down - and the muffled stoccato V8 pulses from the exhaust turn into a V8 howl making you smile

Jumping back into my 335D afterwards I was expecting to be disappointed but was pleasantly surprised to find that, apart from the perhaps too heavy weighting to the 335D's steering, I had a renewed appreciation of my own car. The 335D is definitely more "sporty" in the suspension front - road imperfections that the Jaguar would have whispered over jolt the 335D. The compromise for this directness in the BMW is the noticeable "bump-thump" that enters the cabin.

It was good to drive both back to back.

I think Jaguar have a winner there. Anybody looking for a svelte, elegant and poised luxury car wouldn't go wrong. Do a lot of city or suburban driving and it just makes a RFTed BMW feel jittery and tiring. Horses for courses.

Would I buy one. Mmmm ... no. It is a large car. But if they could work the same magic on something 3 (X-Type) sized and offer the same Torque/Economy of my 335D (they were working on V8 Diesel) I'd seriously consider it.

D.

[Serjames]

They look REALLY big in the flesh does that make sense ?

Followed one out of my estate who tried to leave me at the next lights...

*titter*

SJ

[Z4 Beemer]

Good write-up.

Are those not the 20" rims?

[squeezebm]

I did the same "pop" in thing to my local Jag stealership last w/end,had a look round outside at a lovely XK-R thing then went inside to have a look at the the new one,really nice,if iwas looking for another 5 series i would deffo be having a look more closely.......but i'm not


the problem with the new Jag for me was the twatting salesman when i asked if they had a V8 to have a quick drive of he literally looked me up and down said NO,and walked off to some old duffers that had walked/waddled in 10 mins after me

Now i have a skinhead(not by choice ) and to some, may look like a rum'en,and deffo not a usual Jag customer,but also work very hard and have loads of spare moolah to waste on daft cars but hey-ho i hope he got his sale i just got back in my V8 M3 and have decided not to grace there door again,not even in 20 years


Verdict - Jag may have eventually started to make decent cars ,but image and customer service are still way-out!!!,untill they sort out there shite they will never be in the game for me

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by squeezebm

I did the same "pop" in thing to my local Jag stealership last w/end,had a look round outside at a lovely XK-R thing then went inside to have a look at the the new one,really nice,if iwas looking for another 5 series i would deffo be having a look more closely.......but i'm not


the problem with the new Jag for me was the twatting salesman when i asked if they had a V8 to have a quick drive of he literally looked me up and down said NO,and walked off to some old duffers that had walked/waddled in 10 mins after me

Now i have a skinhead(not by choice ) and to some, may look like a rum'en,and deffo not a usual Jag customer,but also work very hard and have loads of spare moolah to waste on daft cars but hey-ho i hope he got his sale i just got back in my V8 M3 and have decided not to grace there door again,not even in 20 years


Verdict - Jag may have eventually started to make decent cars ,but image and customer service are still way-out!!!,untill they sort out there shite they will never be in the game for me

That is really rubbish there are some shocking dealers out there.

When the E92 Coupe came out in Sept 06 I went to a local dealer on Friday night before the launch on Saturday morning. I went in and explained I was busy on Saturday but could I have a look as I would be interested in ordering the car. The salesmanager looked me up and down and said not possible, BMW would not let them show to a customer and all that rubbish. Anyhow I walked back to the carpark and got back into my dads 997 C2s which I was driving that week.

I am not kidding the Salesmanager jumped in front off me when I was driving off and explained that if I had a coffee for 5 mins the cars were in the valeting bay and he would personally show me them. He was as good as his word I drank his coffee, gave him my details, looked at the cars and then carmly explained that I would never buy a car from him with his crappy double standards.

I am with you squeeze I will only buy from dealers who are reasonable and if thats what they are like in sales what on earth is the rest of the business like.

[CrimsonRedE93]

Is it just me or is the front of it horrid?, I like the rear and side but the front reminds me of a Hyundia

[dxb335d]

Dave, thanks for a great write up. (Sucking up here, not sure why?!) Anyhow you failed to mention whether the Jaguar was Manaul or Auto. Talking of transmissions, How was the gearbox?

For out and out straightline pace, which is the quicker car the 335d or the jag? assuming your 335d is standard?

thanks

Carlos

[Dave_3]

CrimsonRedE93 : They look much better in the flesh.

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Dave, thanks for a great write up. (Sucking up here, not sure why?!) Anyhow you failed to mention whether the Jaguar was Manaul or Auto. Talking of transmissions, How was the gearbox?

Only comes as an automatic. When you switch on the gear knob rises out the centre console, then you just rotate to D. Never even bothered with the paddles. Basically the same box as in the 335i/D - different programming.

Originally Posted by dxb335d

For out and out straightline pace, which is the quicker car the 335d or the jag? assuming your 335d is standard?

I don't know, the Jag was still squeaky new (and very tight). My 335D definitely felt brisker at lower revs/part throttle, but then the Jag will rev to over 7k. Normal cut and thrust in traffic and I'd prefer the 335D - on the motorway/drag strip ... not sure as it really was too quiet, new and tight to get an idea.

But I was driving it to get a feel of how it handles and rides - and it does that very, very well. Its dynamics are spot on.

D.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

CrimsonRedE93 : They look much better in the flesh.



Only comes as an automatic. When you switch on the gear knob rises out the centre console, then you just rotate to D. Never even bothered with the paddles. Basically the same box as in the 335i/D - different programming.



I don't know, the Jag was still squeaky new (and very tight). My 335D definitely felt brisker at lower revs/part throttle, but then the Jag will rev to over 7k. Normal cut and thrust in traffic and I'd prefer the 335D - on the motorway/drag strip ... not sure as it really was too quiet, new and tight to get an idea.

But I was driving it to get a feel of how it handles and rides - and it does that very, very well. Its dynamics are spot on.

D.

Thanks for your response David

But you dont think it would out-handle the 335d?

Its not really a car that interests me. But im young. Im sure it is a great car. Just Jaguar sounds sooooo old tho (the name, let alone the styling).

I was the same after testing the M3 CSL. I was expecting the 335d to be disappointing, which was far from what i actually felt getting back behind the wheel of the big D. The 335d is a remarkable car IMHO

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

But you dont think it would out-handle the 335d?

Well ... "out-handle" to you might mean it goes round a corner on two wheels faster than the other car ...

But to me it might mean I can have family members on board and keep up a brisk pace on an unfamiliar road in the rain, with confidence, and without upsetting my passengers.

I think out and out grip would probably be similar - but that is because of [reliance on] the modern tyres.

The Jag is physically a large car, but hides it very well. The 335D is also big and heavy. They both carry a lot of inertia.

You would prefer the 335D.

D.

[chrisbin]

good write up!

Amazing that there are still some dealers out there who will judge books by their covers.....

[NFS]

I can't quite decide if the appearance of the XF is a 'grower' or just wrong.

In the metal, when the sun is shining, they do have a quality look, but that side profile is just bland and the front end with the massive Daewoo grill just looks cheap to me.

Can't decide if it's a 'proper' jag or not.

[ChrisMWard]

How many times have we heard in the media that "this is the car that will brake or make the company".

I was a little dissapointed to see that the car is based on the "S" type floorpan and suspension as well as the current crop of engines. So really just a new set of clothes.

Regards

Chris

[kend]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I can't quite decide if the appearance of the XF is a 'grower' or just wrong.

In the metal, when the sun is shining, they do have a quality look, but that side profile is just bland and the front end with the massive Daewoo grill just looks cheap to me.

Can't decide if it's a 'proper' jag or not.

So not much changed from the 's' type then.
Dynamics goood to great. Looks a matter of choice
Ken

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by ChrisMWard

I was a little dissapointed to see that the car is based on the "S" type floorpan and suspension as well as the current crop of engines. So really just a new set of clothes.

No, it is based on the XK.

The XF’s class-leading torsional rigidity has significant benefits for refinement and provides the perfect platform for a suspension system that is a further development of the Jaguar XK sports car, and delivers a ride/handling balance and steering characteristics absolutely in line with the XF’s sporting looks. Unequal length wishbone front suspension with weight-saving aluminium components, and multi-link rear suspension are both subframe mounted for maximum control, including excellent straight-line stability and strong anti-dive characteristics under heavy braking, with minimum road noise and vibration.

D.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

No, it is based on the XK.

Same engine as the old S-Type R though (and the XKR)

Good job it's a nice engine !

[ChrisMWard]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

No, it is based on the XK.

D.

Oh really Dave! My bad.

It looks to be a bit bigger than the XK though.

The report I read said it used the same subframes, suspension and floor as the S type which sounds about right as they share the same wheelbase.

Regards

Chris