A Jag? With my reputation?
As anyone familiar with the site will know by now, Jaguars are something of a recurrent theme in my life. So when a few months ago I was offered the extended use of a 2013 Jaguar XF, I tried to accept with jaded equanimity. However the unseemly haste with which I bit the owner’s arm off probably betrayed my true feelings.
So, what exactly are we dealing with here? The XF is a low mileage dealer-pre-registered model in 2.2 litre Premium Luxury specification, which was pretty much top-cat spec in 2013. It comes equipped with most of the convenience gadgets the average luxury car owner wants/needs/demands; leather, electrically adjustable heated seats, sat nav and bluetooth to name a few. In fact I’m struggling to think of anything off the specification sheet I’d delete, but then I’m easily pleased.
The XF replaces a 2006 E60 BMW 520d, a car so spectacularly unremarkable, I recall almost nothing about it. It proved a faultless companion, if a resolutely unmourned one. Over the past year, the Jag too has been a paragon of dependability and I can report candidly that the car’s regular keeper is delighted with it.
Since April, I have driven the XF a number of times a week, although until now have refrained from commenting upon it’s qualities until such time as I felt I had its measure. This will not be a conventional road test then – or indeed an unconventional Driven to Write version of same. My aim being to provide a series of impressions which will hopefully add up to a more nuanced insight into the car’s deeper recesses.
Having said that, while I may touch upon the XF’s available boot space, I will draw the line at spending time within its narrow confines. There’s only so much I’ll do for you.
Given my enthusiasm for Jaguar and all its works, I may risk accusations of bias, but rest assured good reader, I will faithfully endeavour to report all failings, failures or foibles I encounter in the coming weeks and months. Hopefully, a few positives along the way as well. Stay tuned…
Driven To Write 
Shoot from the hip, Eoin!
Ashtray? Interior plastic?
I shall look forward to reading more.
On a tenuously related topic (in other words because it’s come to mind and I can’t think of anywhere else to write it) driving through Hyde Park last week, I passed what seemed to be a camouflaged E Class coming in the other direction.
Now, I appreciate Mercedes diligence in assuming that the conditions in my home city are so unique that pre-production testing is required (I didn’t notice whether it was RHD) but is that the case? Or, like those artfully staged ‘scoop’ shots, do they just drive around the World letting themselves be seen in order to stir up interest?
Are you sure it was camouflaged? With current Mercedes design tendencies, you never know.
Maybe they had a map-reading problem.
Possibly a glitch in City Cruise Assist. Or Financial Center Circulation Mode. Or maybe the new Hide And Park feature.
Back in the day, I caught a camouflaged X150 prototype parked in central Hamburg, with some technicians buzzing about. I understand Autobahn testing is part of the engineering process of modern high performance cars, but the reasoning behind the trip to the city centre eluded me.
I would have an XF any day of the week. It was the first Jaguar in a while that actually felt half relevant. Sales figures alone might not suggest a stellar success, but solid sales throughout its lifespan and decent secondhand values suggests that Jaguar are getting a few things right.
The XF has done good service for Jaguar. That the new one and XE are cut from so similar a cloth suggests it might have done too well! Nice cars, although most owners of the 2.2 diesel that I know tend to moan about the wheezy engine. What’s your view?
The only compression ignition engine I ever found vaguely tolerable was the 3.6 litre V8 unit in a Range Rover of recent acquaintance. It’s amazing what we’ll get used to. A few years ago, the very idea of a four cylinder Diesel engine being an appropriate power unit for an upmarket motor car would have been laughable.
The big question for Eóin is, would you rather have this or an XJ40?
I think you already know the answer to that question, Mark…