Hi,

I am looking to buy a first car for my 16-year old son and found a 2004 x-type 3.0 with 106,000 miles for about $3,700. We have snow in the winter, so the fact that it's AWD and has electronic stability control are big pluses. but I wonder if the car is reliable. I saw comments online that it's very unreliable. Should I just go for a Honda or a Camry that don't have the fun factor or go for this Jag? I would appreciate your opinions. Thanks!

 

It's like any other car - if previous owner(s) maintained it then it'll be reliable. I'd want to see seller's service and repair records. Since you're in winter salt country, a PPI is a must in my opinion, along with driveline (transmission, transfer case, differential) fluid changes if you buy it. You and your son interested in DIY work? There's plenty of help here and on elsewhere on the net for the routine stuff. The X-Type is an excellent driver; peppy, easy to handle, good visibility. Parts are still readily available at reasonable cost if you shop around. If interior and exterior have been cared for it's still a sharp looking car. If your son's interested only in basic transportation with minimal out of pocket cost then go Japanese or Korean.

 

elligur; As much as I love my x-Type having had it for over 10 years with very few problems I would go with the Camry. I'd bet at 16 he will ruin the transfer case within 6 months.
Ken

 

elligur, like what khsmith55 said, the X-Type is a very reliable car (I owned one for 7 years and put over 100K miles on it with minimal maintenance). But, keep in mind that the weak link in the car is the transfer case. If you son drives light to light and sees what power the car has, yes, it will be an expensive car to maintain/drive. But, if he drives it sensibly, the car will get him through college easily.

You can also look at it this way, tell him that you will buy the car, but he is responsible for the maintenance of the car. If he drives it and breaks it, he is without a car till he pays to have it repaired. Then you also explain that this car will last a long time as long as he drives it sensibly. He abuses the car, it is going to abuse his wallet. That may keep him a little more sensible behind the wheel in his teenage years.