Hello from Germany!

I am in the market for a XE.

I owned serveral BMWs over the last 10 years (mainly small-ish Diesel 3 series). Since Germany is heading into a very anti-car direction in society and government regulations, I´d like to drive a fast gas powered car for a few years.
My first thought was M140i (pretty much a M240i hatch), but it didn´t click. From the inside the same car as my 3 series, "just" a lot quicker.

I somehow stumbled across the Jaguar XE and it is the same price as a M140i, insurance a little more, initial price a little lower.
There arn´t a lot of Jags in Germany, so I hope you can help me.

The main question is P300 or XE S, I am torn apart between the more emotional choice and the rational choice.

XE S
- A lot more emotion, 380/340 HP and a V6 compressor - this is probably the only time in my life I´ll be able (and allowed...) to drive such an engine.
- Quite old already (MY2016-18) (emissions class 6)
- Engine based on the V8 from Jag, the V8 being based on the Mustangs V8, I recon every shop should be able to work on it.
- RWD

XE P300
- Newer (MY 2020), so better emissions class (emissions class 6d-temp, sadly important, right now; class 5 is going to be banned from entering the city I work in starting fall this year)
- A little cheaper to insure.
- AWD I don´t need it
- Ingenium engine nobody really knows anything about.
- Touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel; Are they actually good?
- Still two or three years warranty on it

Other questions:
- There are two navigation options, let´s call them with and without buttons - as far as I get it there is not really a big difference. I am mainly interested in android auto: Is navigation and Music via YouTube Music possible? Is there any major difference between the navigation systems?
- What about rust? The cars are generally not that old, so rust should not be a big problem, if anyone has hints on rust susceptible spots I should check?
- Some XE S have a digital gauge cluster, from the information I found it is not that great and normal gauges are just fine.

Best Regards
Sebastian

 

True, the V6 is sort of derived from the V8, but the V8 isn’t really related to the Ford V8. Jag designed it and built it in a Ford plant with some Ford parts.

One advantage of the AJ126 is that it can be easily tuned to ~420HP, and a supercharger crank pulley swap gives 450HP. I have this engine in my F-type, and combined with the ZF8, it’s a great power train. Another minor advantage is that the V6 is set up so that for oil changes, the oil can be extracted from the oil fill tube at the top with a vacuum extractor, for easy changes. The I-4 isn’t. Nice, if you change your own oil.

The I-4 Ingenium is more modern, and I haven’t heard of issues. I have the 250HP version in my XE, and am quite happy with it. Mine’s AWD as it’s my winter car and it snows where I live. The only common issue I know of is the variable-valve timing solenoid. Doesn’t affect driveability but mine threw a code and was replaced under warranty.

The AWD system is RWD-biased, so it drives like a RWD car, adding torque to the front wheels as needed.

 

Gawd I wish the myth that the JLR AJ133 V8 is essentially a Ford engine would die a horrible painful death!
It is much more entrenched than I ever thought and I seem to spend half my time here (only a slight exaggeration, many posts anyway!) explaining that it just ain't so.

 

@OzXFR
When I read about the V6 being a Mustang V8 my first thought was:The Mustang has a V8 with 5 liters, how do they end up with a 3 liter engine by blocking two cylinders, that doesn´t add up!
So I was at least wondering Thanks for clarification!

@DJS
The ZF is a very good transmission, I have in my 3 series as well and it´s just gorgeous!
Winter with RWD isn´t a problem at all in Germany - at least in my opinion. There isn´t any heavy snow where I live, if there is any snow - there is going to be salt, I don´t have to be *somewhere*, so I can choose not to drive and winter tires are required by law.
I don´t plan on tuning the car, 340/380 is enough - even 200 would be just fine I guess.

 

There isn't a rust issue, because the car bodyshell is made of aluminium, riveted and glued together like an aircraft fuselage. However, the doors are steel. There are, of course, the front and rear subframes that are steel, and which could rust if a lot of winter driving on salt-laden roads is undertaken.

As a 2020 car, the engine has the later timing chain and tensioners, so won't suffer from faults in this area. This is about the only issue with the Ingenium engine I've read about, but use pattern and actual use (or maybe abuse), may contribute to it. Of course you have to be prepared for things like turbochargers wearing out and suchlike. Gearbox is a ZF.

BTW if you think Germany is going anti-car just look at what our town councils are doing !

 

The V6 is a great engine and VAP now has E85 tune for it! I have had the XE S since 2019 and have had no issues. VAP does great work and really brings the car to life.