I bought my X-Type February last year. I live in the Seattle area. Last winter was mild but yesterday it was snowing hard and temperatures were in the 20 to 30 degrees area. Snow and ice everywhere going home yesterday. The Jag was magnificent, didn't slip or slide once. I saw vans and truck spinning their wheels, going nowhere or sideways up hills. A VW Jetta locked his brakes and slide at a angle into the curb.
This morning I was going to take my 4X4 truck (my street always has a lot of tree branches on it after a storm. Don't like to take the Jag over them) but the drivers door wouldn't shut right.
So I took the Jag again and it was great. Inside temperture gauge had it 19 degrees outside. Very windy. I came up a hill, turned left, and saw the street was closed. I backed up to the intersection and started up a steep hill from a stop. No problem, made it up and down with ease.
I didn't buy the Jag because of the all-wheel drive but I sure love that feature now.

 

I agree with that! I too live in the Seattle area and was driving home yesterday afternoon and the old girl didn't set a foot wrong. Although there are some seriously bad drivers in this area.

I've stayed at home today

 

Compared to an Audi Quattro or Subie the awd system downright sucks. It is a whole lot more fun though maintaining that rwd bias.

 

Hmm strange benebob?

I know that the Audi system and the Scooby systems are great,for sure, but, I've only ever heard positive comments about the AWD on the X type

 

I just put my proper snow tires on (Goodyear Ultragrips) and the X-Type is unstoppable now. Just have to mind the others on the road.

 

Agreed. I love my jag in the winter, especialy todays -32 degrees celcius, -50 here comes the jag again.

 

It isn't bad but is very much old technology compared to what Audi and Subaru were doing at the same time. I liken it more to the AWD system in my old Subaru XT. Definately rough around the edges, not nearly as sure footed, transfer of power isn't as smooth, etc. All of my vehicles minus a Triumph and Ford F-250 prior to buying the X type were Subarus so I definately know their system pretty good. As I said the Jag system is more fun but also a little more white knuckle driving then the sure footed transfer of the VWs with leather and Subies.

Of course I only have driven a 05 and have heard that Jaguar took away some of the capabilities by then to save the transfer case. Maybe the 02s and 03s are more closely matched. All in all considering it was an adaptation from a forced marriage fwd platform they did a wonderful job for a first awd system. Another gen or two I'm sure it would have caught up. I can only hope that they explore another small awd car in the future and it bombs on the market so I can get one real cheap.

 

We've got the Jag X-Type, a Ford F-350 4x4, and two Subaru Foresters. I only recently sold our Jeep Cherokee Sport.

Without ANY DOUBT the Jag (with 4 dedicated winter treads) performs the best of all of them in the snow and ice.

I've personally always chalked that up to it being much lower than the others. But for whatever reason, it's the vehicle everyone wants to use when the going is tough.

 

I would have to agree. We've got the X and a Jeep Liberty and my Durango, both 4x4's. The X handles best of the three on ice but I'd rather have some dummy cream the Durango than my Kitty. She's sleeping in the warm garage.