I love my 97x300 but was wondering what changes I might make to improve it. This of course would exclude the usual common issues, as in, poor radio reliability, failing dash lights/clock etc. and the dodgy cup holders etc. This is a purely personal thing and wondered if anyone shared my feelings, or indeed had any of their own to add, sort of a "dream team" thing, but in relation to your car.

For starters, I would like better visibility on the exterior rear view mirrors. I find the visibility limited and find myself moving about in the seat to take in as much as possible, no matter how often or how much I've adjusted them. I have fitted a pair of blind spot mirrors to the originals, which help to eliminate that feeling of uncertainty.

I would also like a better designed, more integral switch panel behind the steering wheel, as opposed to the oblong plastic box, which looks like a bit of an afterthought. Something a little better streamlined/moulded, perhaps finished in matching walnut? (Thinking cap goes on)

Thats all I'm looking for, not bad.............

 

I would change nearly all of the buttons and switchgear.

As you mentioned, the switch panel behind the steering wheel isn't very good. Worse, though, is the array of horizontally arranged buttons in the center console. IMHO, there's simply too many identical push-control buttons confined to a too-small area. I have to look at the rows of buttons and "take aim" to press the right one.

At minimum I would prefer rotary knobs for the climate control and a larger (or well segregated) button for the electric door locks.

On my older Jags I could work virtually all the controls without taking my eyes off the road because the switchgear was spread out in a logical manner and the controls were simpler and more intuitive: hazard flasher button on the steering column, only two rotary controls for all climate control functions, seat heater switches on side of console, etc.

I would dump the J-gate gearshift. Well, actually, it's not a big deal and it works fine, but IMHO it's really just a gimmick. If I wanted gimmicks I'd buy a Japenese car :-)

I'd prefer more "feel" and response from the variable assist steering. It just sorta feels mushy and disconnected, IMHO. My older Jags had a very direct feel to the steering.

That's really all I can think of at the moment. Pretty short list, actually.

Cheers
DD

 

Bigger Fuel tank
Deeper boot
Auto Headlights

THen it would be perfect.

 

Bigger tank or second tanks
X308 Headlights

I intend to install reversing sensors like those on the LWB cars.

 

I'd like slightly differently designed rear bumper, that swoop of the X308 would be nice, but still keeping the X300 full chrome.

Better climate control for the rear

X350 designed cupholders/center console, and cupholders for the rear. I don't want drinks in my car, but it would be kinda nice.

Some basic controls on the steering wheel would be nice, cruise control.

Auto windows (up and down) on at least passengers in addition to driver's.

Slightly bigger glove box and center console.

Add more gear selections to the J-Gate. I like the design, but I can only select 2 of 4 gears.

A glass moonroof with the sliding bit for when you don't want the sun to shine through.

Honestly though, none of these things bother me enough for me to sell the car or change anything. I still love it, and currently wouldn't drive anything else.

 

Yup, I agree with the all abouve and my a cup of tea :
Power trunk release (fully open )
Heads Up Display
auto wipers
chrome accent around the buttons

 

Next time I'll get a LWB car. The back seat in my car is really a (bad) joke.

Having such a large car with a back seat a lot smaller than in my Merc E-class is strange.

Do I use the back seats? Well, not for myself, but the space for my kids is limited, esp. for the smallest one in child-seat.

I'm not sure why, but the paint on my car is not good. Maybe this is because of lack of maintenance/polish etc. I will have a complete re-paint on it (if I can find someone in Poland able to do a good job and in the original colour).

The switches/knobs/buttons all look a little "cheap", but better having these working, than some fancy ones that will give in after a few years.

 

- A Panoramic Moonroof
- Power Trunk release
- Auto Wipers and lights
- Doors that close and open themselves.. like a Rolls Royce
- More sturdy cupholders

 

Definitely, cruise control on the steering wheel. I used to own a Honda Legend and loved it I must say. It had controls on the wheel (although an older car than my X300!) and the placement of the CC on the X300 is awful in comparison.
Wish there was a simple and inexpensive upgrade to move it to the wheel, but I don't think it's possible without major work, if even possible at all.

 

Many thanks for all the input so far. I didn't realise or imagine there would be so many "issues" but interesting to see the same ones surfacing repeatedly. Ditto to the switch gear, which I hadn't realised is in fact a little fiddly. Even a separation of sorts between the switches makes them more user friendly, as opposed to being lined up in rows, right next to each other and yes, the hazard control switch should definitely be mounted on the top of the steering column, easily visible when flashing, avoiding the likelihood of driving around with hazards on. The back seat space is tight, yes, but as I live in the front and there are no little ones to consider, thats fine by me, plus I like to have my seat moved back quite a bit. I do have a sunroof, with the inner sliding cover thingy, so no concerns there. And I forgot, a deeper boot would be nice. One other minor ****le is the fact that you have to remove the bumpers to remove the (often damaged) chrome strip. A job that can quickly develop into something very troublesome, thanks to the rotting bumper mounts, which could also be improved upon. At €1.44 a litre, the fuel tank is plenty big for me, so, back to the drawing board.

 

Maybe I'm a contrarian....I thank God every day I slide behind the wheel and am reminded there is nothing on it but a horn button...as it d@3^well should be!!!

Also, the cruise control is fantastic. Maybe you have to live with Ford's interpretation of it awhile to truly appreciate it. The key is in the cancel feature. The S-types have it, yeah, wheel mounted and it is fine...haven't yet had occasion to use CC whilst turning so the fact it's somewhere else when I don't need it is ok. With the Ford wheel-mounted version, if you need to cancel momentarily (say an idiot invades the left lane for an interminably slow pass, for instance) a brake tap is your only option if you want to resume same speed when it's clear. Hitting the "Off" switch erases the "resume" memory! Aarrggh!

 

Oh, oh...a couple more...

Drive-away-locking feature should be something you could cancel or activate with a series of button-presses....not a visit to the dealer and hook-up to WDS.

Probably regulatory, my Truck is likewise configured....but if I so choose to run my fog lights at the same time as my high-beams...it ought to do so. Never mind it may not make sense....if I want all the lights on at once....it should respond.

 

Oh, one more snivel....

The overhead interior light/map light/sunglasses holder seems on the chintzy side to be in a Jaguar cabin.

I agree the a boot lid that actually pops open, rather than merely unlocking, would be nice.

Here's twist: has anyone read their owner's manual and counted how many operational features they don't use or didn't even know about? :-)

Cheers
DD

 

I just love the interior and exterior design of the X300... I'd only change a few ****ly items.

1- Replace the lift up door handles with some nice, solid chromed pull-type items, or even push-button ones like on the Series I & II XJ.

2- Add a couple more 12v sockets in the centre console box or under the passenger seat.

3- Add a ski port behind the centre rear armrest

4- Ditch the electric antenna on the rear quarter panel for one integrated into the rear window.

5- A single DIN sized head unit for the stereo.

6- make a stripped out, semi-track version of the XJR with manual transmission and LSD that weighs about 1400kgs and does without electic seats, leather, sound deadening, carpets, timber veneer trims, power windows, sunroof, aircon, airbags, etc.etc.etc.

7- Jaguar XJ Sport 6.0 V12 SWB...

 

Hmm I don't have one yet, still with XJ40 but.

1, have the option to lock it into 1st gear rather than 1 and 2.

2, possibility to turn off the ABS in heavy snow so I can deliberately lock up the wheels and bulldoze my way to stop the car with a snow build up in front of the tyres, rather than them keep turning no matter what.

(we have some hairy hills and the cars have a tendency to run away, not a nice feeling, when you are standing on the brakes, with the hand brake popping the muscles in your arm and still the car accelerates over the top of the snow with the wheels turning)!!

+1 on switches in the center console. Far too much groping around required.

 

I don't seem to have the issues with the center console buttons, but I really would like to have a knob to change the temperature settings faster. It's quite a pain hearing a little beep every time I want to change temp.

I only wish I had a driver's manual so I could read it and see how many features I don't know about, and don't read.

 

Hey THC, we put a copy of the Driver's Manual in the FAQ above. (scans from Oubadah 25mb download) great to have.

 

Yeah, for some reason I still haven't gotten around to it. Since I've got 5 minutes, I should and will do it now.

 

This one is easily rememded with a kit off ebay for £29.99 then pick up a head unit, got the parts hope to fit it over the next couple of weeks

 

Actually, just a manumatic gearbox would be nice. The X308 has this, no?

Might be wise to point that FAQ link to the handbook thread now that there is more than one handbook available.