X300 with 91k miles or manual 3.0 X-type
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Texas
X300 with 91k miles or manual 3.0 X-type
Howdy folks,
Finally got the capital to buy me my first jag as a graduation present for my master's this december. I've managed to find two hen's teeth here. As the title says option one is a 02 X-type in the manual (nice) and sport package (evidence by spoiler and body color trim). I love the idea of the x-type, as it will be a daily driver, manual so theoretically more fuel efficient. The AWD system will be a life saver should we get snow again here in east texas (don't know if y'all heard about our snow storm this past winter, but that left a lesson in my bones). Price is only 2700 as well. There's a newer one (2005), but it's being sold at 7000, which is ludicrous for a third hand x-type.
Option 2 is the dream. 97 powder blue X300 VDP with only 91k miles on it for 3700. Southwest kept, so no rust. My only complaints would be the lack of manual transmission, and the lack of AWD, although RWD is my other desired drive type. I love the inline six engine, and the words "jaguar" and "inline-6" just sound right to me. These are known to be well reliable cars. Ideally I'd find a manual form of these, but that's harder to find than a self-broken horse.
I'd be using the car as a daily, so fuel economy would be important to me. Considering my other vehicle is the monstrous Ford v10 excursion, I'd like something above 13mpg. My requirements for my new car was 1)200hp; 2)AWD/RWD and 3)Manual. X-type meets all of these, X300 meets 2 out of 3 (which ain't too bad per Meatloaf)
Just want y'all's take on this now.
Finally got the capital to buy me my first jag as a graduation present for my master's this december. I've managed to find two hen's teeth here. As the title says option one is a 02 X-type in the manual (nice) and sport package (evidence by spoiler and body color trim). I love the idea of the x-type, as it will be a daily driver, manual so theoretically more fuel efficient. The AWD system will be a life saver should we get snow again here in east texas (don't know if y'all heard about our snow storm this past winter, but that left a lesson in my bones). Price is only 2700 as well. There's a newer one (2005), but it's being sold at 7000, which is ludicrous for a third hand x-type.
Option 2 is the dream. 97 powder blue X300 VDP with only 91k miles on it for 3700. Southwest kept, so no rust. My only complaints would be the lack of manual transmission, and the lack of AWD, although RWD is my other desired drive type. I love the inline six engine, and the words "jaguar" and "inline-6" just sound right to me. These are known to be well reliable cars. Ideally I'd find a manual form of these, but that's harder to find than a self-broken horse.
I'd be using the car as a daily, so fuel economy would be important to me. Considering my other vehicle is the monstrous Ford v10 excursion, I'd like something above 13mpg. My requirements for my new car was 1)200hp; 2)AWD/RWD and 3)Manual. X-type meets all of these, X300 meets 2 out of 3 (which ain't too bad per Meatloaf)
Just want y'all's take on this now.
Veteran Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 1,206
From: Joyner, Queensland, Australia
Go for the X300. its a far better car that retains its value. With only 91K miles it still has a lot of life in it.
In Australia the X type is worth very little and seems to have a bad reputation.
I recently did a 380k (220miles) city and country trip and returned 30 miles per imperial gallon or about 24 miles per US gallon in my 1996 X300 4 litre.( Note our highway limits 100ks or 60 miles per hour)
Around town driving I see 23 mpg/imp which equates to 19 mpg/US.
Ref wanting a manual you can play silly buggars with the J gate and select any gear that you want. I use the J gate to select lower gears for engine braking when descending steep mountain ranges. It keeps the brakes cool
Congratulations on your masters.
In Australia the X type is worth very little and seems to have a bad reputation.
I recently did a 380k (220miles) city and country trip and returned 30 miles per imperial gallon or about 24 miles per US gallon in my 1996 X300 4 litre.( Note our highway limits 100ks or 60 miles per hour)
Around town driving I see 23 mpg/imp which equates to 19 mpg/US.
Ref wanting a manual you can play silly buggars with the J gate and select any gear that you want. I use the J gate to select lower gears for engine braking when descending steep mountain ranges. It keeps the brakes cool
Congratulations on your masters.
Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 15
From: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
I've got two manual transmission X300s and currently drive a 2003 3.0 X-Type manual.
The X300s are definitely prettier but for an everyday driver it's the X-Type every time. The X300s are slower to accelerate and wallow hugely when attempting to take a sharp bend with 'enthusiasm'. The X-Type is light and nimble, around 6 - 7 seconds 0-60 mph, and surprises some other road users (BMW and Audi drivers usually...). The manual gearbox is sharp and easy to use, and the overall impression is of a 'drivers car' in a saloon. Fuel economy is good for a car of this type at around 35 mpg (UK gallons) but obviously drops in heavy city traffic. The best I ever got out of an X300 was 32 mpg on a 160 mile trip to London on the M1 - the fuel economy was only this good because of a speed restriction to 50mph most of the way. You can see the instantaneous mpg read out drop to 3mpg when you put your foot down uphill in one of these!
For character and looks the X300 wins - the cars look a classic Jag. For a little less characterful looks, but a lot more performance and fuel economy, not to mention its brilliant capabilities in snow and ice I think you would not regret going for the X-Type. You could also keep a look out for a manual transmission X300 whilst you are enjoying yourself.
My only real gripe with the cars is rust, but since you are in Texas I guess that's not much of an issue.
My current X-Type has 150,000 on it as did its predecessor before the rust got too bad. One of my X300s has almost 200,000 but the rear wings are now shot.
Don't worry about the perceived value of an X-Type the 3.0 litre cars with manual transmission are becoming quite collectable. Take advantage while the price is low. Or look for a manual transmission XJR - now that would be fun.
The X300s are definitely prettier but for an everyday driver it's the X-Type every time. The X300s are slower to accelerate and wallow hugely when attempting to take a sharp bend with 'enthusiasm'. The X-Type is light and nimble, around 6 - 7 seconds 0-60 mph, and surprises some other road users (BMW and Audi drivers usually...). The manual gearbox is sharp and easy to use, and the overall impression is of a 'drivers car' in a saloon. Fuel economy is good for a car of this type at around 35 mpg (UK gallons) but obviously drops in heavy city traffic. The best I ever got out of an X300 was 32 mpg on a 160 mile trip to London on the M1 - the fuel economy was only this good because of a speed restriction to 50mph most of the way. You can see the instantaneous mpg read out drop to 3mpg when you put your foot down uphill in one of these!
For character and looks the X300 wins - the cars look a classic Jag. For a little less characterful looks, but a lot more performance and fuel economy, not to mention its brilliant capabilities in snow and ice I think you would not regret going for the X-Type. You could also keep a look out for a manual transmission X300 whilst you are enjoying yourself.
My only real gripe with the cars is rust, but since you are in Texas I guess that's not much of an issue.
My current X-Type has 150,000 on it as did its predecessor before the rust got too bad. One of my X300s has almost 200,000 but the rear wings are now shot.
Don't worry about the perceived value of an X-Type the 3.0 litre cars with manual transmission are becoming quite collectable. Take advantage while the price is low. Or look for a manual transmission XJR - now that would be fun.
Veteran Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 565
From: Sydney
Go for the X300. its a far better car that retains its value. With only 91K miles it still has a lot of life in it.
In Australia the X type is worth very little and seems to have a bad reputation.
I recently did a 380k (220miles) city and country trip and returned 30 miles per imperial gallon or about 24 miles per US gallon in my 1996 X300 4 litre.( Note our highway limits 100ks or 60 miles per hour)
Around town driving I see 23 mpg/imp which equates to 19 mpg/US.
Ref wanting a manual you can play silly buggars with the J gate and select any gear that you want. I use the J gate to select lower gears for engine braking when descending steep mountain ranges. It keeps the brakes cool
Congratulations on your masters.
In Australia the X type is worth very little and seems to have a bad reputation.
I recently did a 380k (220miles) city and country trip and returned 30 miles per imperial gallon or about 24 miles per US gallon in my 1996 X300 4 litre.( Note our highway limits 100ks or 60 miles per hour)
Around town driving I see 23 mpg/imp which equates to 19 mpg/US.
Ref wanting a manual you can play silly buggars with the J gate and select any gear that you want. I use the J gate to select lower gears for engine braking when descending steep mountain ranges. It keeps the brakes cool
Congratulations on your masters.
something is not right on my kitty atm she is drinking around 17.5 L/100. not sure exactly what it is at this stage. obviously a few things to look at.
but in reply to OP i say out of these definitely the X300.
its not like the x type is drastically new in the scheme of things, and such a low mileage x300 would be very nice. mine has 360000 KM on it and its still pretty nice.
they are just such a nice beautiful and smooth car. and from all accounts far more reliable than the x type.
and i mean they look a 1000 times nicer.
No disrespect to X-Types or their drivers, not at all, but to me no matter how good an X-Type is, the X300 is one of Jaguar's great cars. More that that, it's one of the great cars, period. Why not drive one of the greats?
I drove a '95 Sovereign as a daily in Canada and found it to be a nice car to use in the winter because it had a heated windshield, heated seats, and held the road well on four winter tires (I see that AWD would be an advantage if winter comes seldomly in your area--one probably wouldn't have a set of winter tires).
That '95 XJ ruined other cars for me...so comfortable and solid, a great handler, and such a looker. Powder blue? Sign me up.
I drove a '95 Sovereign as a daily in Canada and found it to be a nice car to use in the winter because it had a heated windshield, heated seats, and held the road well on four winter tires (I see that AWD would be an advantage if winter comes seldomly in your area--one probably wouldn't have a set of winter tires).
That '95 XJ ruined other cars for me...so comfortable and solid, a great handler, and such a looker. Powder blue? Sign me up.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 332
Likes: 145
From: Boston, MA
I once had an X-Type for a day as a loaner car. It didn't feel special at all, more like a compact rental car, despite the Jag costume that it was wearing. My X300 though is an entirely different beast; even though you're considering a Vanden Plas rather than an XJR, the inline six is still a smooth torquey beast the way it should be. As a highway cruiser, which in Texas I expect will be a very important duty for a car, the X300 will serve you very well.
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