My car ADHD has caught up with me and moving along. The XE treated me well for the two years we had together, but decided it was time for something with a more interactive driving experience (and an infotainment system that wasn't from the 1990s). Criteria were rear wheel drive, amount of power that could be used on the street with some fun (slow car to drive fast) and manual transmission. So while the 35t hit some of these, no flappy paddles were going to satisfy the desire to row my own gears again.

If you care, I ended up with a BMW 230i with M Sport, Track Handling Package and the Premium Package with the LED lights and a few other options I wouldn't have picked. Had been on the dealer lot for awhile so got it for a great deal. Considered an M240i but like the easy spinning 4 cylinder and the 250hp / 268lb is the playful engine I was looking for. Plus cheaper and a bit lighter on the front axle for better turn in. Extremely well sorted car based on my couple of hundred miles I've put down so far. 2020 was the year to get (and i did) as it was the last year of the THP with the adaptive suspension. For 2021 can only get it on the M240.

Going to miss the growl of the V6 when you really get on it. I think if Jag had put the F Type exhaust the use for the same engine on the XE I would have kept it. Oh well, lots of cars out there to experience and happy got to try the Jag life for awhile.

Thanks for the help over the past couple of years.

PS - anyone around Austin that wants a WeatherTech sunscreen made for the XE, let me know.

 

I can fully understand the desire for a manual, it isnt just the rowing of the gears for me (though second to third and back again is my favorite change) but also controlling the engage as the clutch comes off, something that you dont get in an auto.

The BM is a very good choice. A friend has the 330 which is very nice, sounds decent under load and as quick as our p300 XE even though the power output is less. Maybe if I can offer a tip, the paint doesnt seem as good as the paint on the Jags, I gave him a hand giving it a bit of a detail using a polyshave, then polish angel carnaubaflockencreme then a few goes over with polish angel rapidwaxx and it came up better than new, we are going to hit his missus' X2 this weekend with the same treatment. Enjoy!