Hi All,

In view of all the discussions over every aspect of the new XE, and it's position in the market being the new 'baby Jag' I wonder if that means our X-Types are finally considered to be Jaguar Classics :-)

 

It's only a matter of time. Compare an X with almost anything from the same generation and the styling is standing up to the test of time way better than most I'd argue. Interesting because 10 years ago, and still to the present time, the car gets a bit of a bad rap as staid and fuddy duddy and an all around failure - who knows what people will say in 10 years but I think history will smile on the X. A classic in the making! Maybe.

Meanwhile - I love the XE from what I can see so far. It looks like a really tidy, good looking package that means business. nothing too extraordinary but I don't think this was the right time for Jaguar to do a "Bangle" and introduce a whole new design language - and whybwould they when the XF is such a nice car to take your styling cues from?

The shot I want to see is the XE from the rear view mirror of the car in front. That view tells you if the car has road presence. My guess is that it does - and that people will move over on a motorway/highway/freeway when they see it approaching from behind. for that reason alone, my X gets me down the highway quicker and with far less stress than the MX5 we have (which is a disaster for rear view mirror road presence - but great in most other ways!)

 

Steve, as far as I am concerned, it is classic. It was one of the last "this is what a jaguar looks like" cars. It has the looks that people think of when they think Jaguar. It makes it hard to give up the X-Type because nothing else looks like it on the road.

 

I'm pretty certain there are others here, like myself, who have thought about what they'd do with their X-Types once it comes time to look at the XEs. I keep flipping back and forth between "of course I'm selling it", and "I'm keeping it. I've spent a lot of time with this car. I love it, it's a classic." Or, something along those lines. It's also my first Jag, so the sentimental value is pretty high.

By the time the XE gets here, pretty sure my car won't be worth much anyway...guess I'll keep it.

 

Classic? I don't know about that. Guess it's all in how you define it. I doubt that it will ever be worth a whole lot even if it ever is considered a "classic". That said, I agree that the design has aged well. I still walk up to my car from a distance and really like the shape and the stance. I love my car and it has been very reliable through the years. But I am starting to really think about moving on if for no other reason that after six years (and 142K miles) I would like something different. Wish I could afford a new XE, but that wouldn't be in the cards until there are a bunch of used ones out there after several years.

 

I agree with this point. Idk if "classic" is exactly the word, "iconic" isn't accurate either. I'd say it is representative of the classic jaguar archetype. As others have said its styling has aged well. I get the same impression when looking at it as I do when looking at my Saab 9_3. Even the older 9_3 coupes and the viggen have a certain distinction about them that holds peoples attention and leaves a lasting impression. An air of sophistication, or elegance, if you will. The lack of this in any of the American cars I have owned or driven has caused me to lose all interest in domestic vehicles.

 

There's two sides to the coin for me - Jaguars have been the first cars I have really connected with (Vauxhalls, Fords, and one very leaky Yugo prior to Jaguars) and it pains me to see the hammering my X-Type has had since we got it with two children, school runs, and a short commute - all I can do is try to keep the bodywork as best I can which isn't as anywhere near as good as I want it.. but on the flip side it has survived the hammering far far better than I would have expected of a 12 year old luxury car.. on the road I don't get the degree of chivalry from other drivers that I did with the XJ, but in the car park I love the way it stands out from the crowd.. and in the past six months or so there has been a lot of X-Type owners migrating to newer cars so X-Types are now numerous enough to spot but not so much to be common. In the second hand market my car is now worth as much as it was 2 years ago as the Jaguar secondhand market is picking up. In my opinion for what it is worth the pre 2005 XJs are without a doubt exactly what I think a Jaguar car should be, and I think for me at least, the X-Type has proved itself worthy of that same accolade - it has the twin headlamps, the big clear deep red tail lights you recognise instantly, the bonnet curves, and rear end shaping that you recognise as Jaguar - whilst like most cars it's never going to have a huge value financially, I believe it can be a classic - and to me it is... OK.. there you have it :-)

 

I'm certain the X Type will stand the test of time. For me it already has, because not a day goes by driving this car where I don't get stopped by someone or someone comes near me after parking asking about the car and complimenting it (I kid you not).

My black X was even a hit at the world famous Monterey Car Week and received dozens of photos and people following me with cameras to record my exhaust and "spirited driving". Just the other day a group of guys were driving behind me with a camera and then at a stop light they shouted from two lanes over "that thing looks amazing!"and gave me a thumbs up. Once the light turned green the guy with the camera shouted "floor it!" and the cat raced off growling.

Each day gets funner and funner with the X Type and my goal is to inspire younger generations and show them that these Jags are timeless and can hold their own even amongst current modern cars.

 

I have the same experience with unexpected praise for the car, and I am simply amazed by the number of folks that think that the car is 'new'!


Not so much with the bimmer-like grill, but the addition of the mesh grille REALLY changes the outlook of the public in general on the car!


Now, as long as they don't look at the sills, we're golden!

 

Well. It definitely has the **real**Jaguar DNA:

 

 

 

And then you have this: (this is what we call a "hot tranny mess"--specially when compared against everything else above)




Based on the visuals I would have to say in the long run the X type does have a very good chance of becoming a classic. It is without a doubt a vehicle designed by the same company that William Lyons founded. Round lamps, beautiful fluted bonnets. Good curves. Given that the current management/designer has decided to abruptly end all connections with the past and ipso facto start what seems like a new motor company (except for the F type-the saving grace of that car is that they did have the E type as a mold), the chances are even higher.

 

If you can remove the Radiator Grille and still easily tell the make of vehicle, then the design demonstrates marque DNA.

That certainly applies to all those shown in the first 12 posts ..........

Graham

 

I am thinking a photoshop contest of what the new XE should look like would be interesting to do. Besides, I am sure if I can get peoples permission to use their photochops, I might know a person or two in the Jaguar design area that might find them interesting to look at. So, who else is interested. The trick will be using the lines of the new XE, but changing things as needed to make it look "new and exciting". Like I was told in the various meetings, the "traditional XJ look" wasn't selling any more. They had to shift to something new. So, the trick is to take some of the new and some of the old and meld it into the "perfect looking XE".

 

Super cool idea on the photo-shop bro. It would be nice to see what some real Jaguar DNA could do to this thing.


As far as the "traditional" look is concerned they are idiots. A vintage 68-09 XJ is one of the coolest, most dangerous and menacing cars ever build. Look at that low swung piece of art. I think it actually evokes fear in the hearts of men. The problem that Jaguar had is marketing. They marketed those cars to octogenarians with their tea and crumpets commercials, which in themselves where few and in-between. Actually they might still have the same problem now.

I know I posted this in another topic but why the hell is this new Maroon 5 single not playing in a Jaguar commercial instead of some sappy girl song?


Picture an sports package X type instead of that Kia in that ad. With no hamsters. Cool as… ......Jaguars problem has been and still may be one of vibe. The vibe is not cool at all. The cars used to be.

 

I get the idea of the gimmick - yes.. it is the music that sells one brand of car, and the onboard technology that sells another brand and so on on TV advertising - and it is not the petrol heads like us that they are trying to sell to - hence a sales gimmick is needed - but not too sure about hamsters :-) It ideally needs (in this case) to push the open road scenario to a degree but maybe push this more as a solid, technology loaded car that's built in Britain for the (whatever country its advertising in) family coping with school runs and shopping trips but with the Jaguar logo, and it hankering after the open road.. that way appealing mainly to its main longterm market as well as a degree of petrolhead and pushing that it is a Jaguar.. just my thought lol - it is in truth a variation of the sales patter for the X-Type but instead of the executive driver why not a car fun enough for the petrolhead and solidly branded as dependable Jaguar for the schoolruns etc.. ?

If I'm honest that is exactly what an X-Type is to me :-)

 

Interesting video on the making of a truly beautiful Jaguar compact saloon: