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Jaguar X-Type

2594 messages,  Last post on May 04, 2013 at 1:02 PM

You are in the Jaguar X-Type Forum.

What is this discussion about? Jaguar X-Type, Sedan

Messages Page 106 of 261

#1043 of 2594 Dumped my X-type by neuroguy

May 19, 2002 (4:25 am)

Just wanted you all to know that my Jag had developed two new problems in the past couple weeks. I had the trunk not closing problem, and I had a loud snapping-clicking sound coming from the shift lever area when I use the brake. The latter is some sort of shift-interlock mechanism that is acting up. I still had the vibration at 50+ mph, too, which they (the factory tech, the dealer GM, and the service manager)have said is just "normal road feedback".
  
My problems have included:
-- Leaking windshield nozzles (fixed)
-- Rocking seat (not fixed)
-- The "slipping belt noise" (went away by itself after the second drive shaft was in place for awhile)
-- The "wine glass" noise (fixed by second drive shaft)
-- Stuck passenger seat belt (not fixed - and not even offered to be fixed even after it being noticed by the service manager and general manager of the dealership on 2 test drives)
-- Trunk closing difficulties (*maybe* fixed by me snapping off the glow tag when I pulled on it)
-- Snapping sound from the gear shift lever - brake interlock mechanism (?)
-- Vibration at +50 mph (fixed with the first drive shaft replacement, reappeared with the second)
-- Rattle from the right rear passenger seat area (maybe from the speaker in the door).
 
Well, that was enough for me. I dumped the Jag and got a 2002 Lexus ES300 this past Friday. The Lexus dealer was even nice enough to give me a RX300 to drive for a couple days while the car I wanted was found to be already enroute to the dealership. The car is rock solid and silky smooth at any speed, no rattles, has a 6 CD in-dash player, a more powerful engine, better quality interior controls and materials, etc. and was stickered $2K less than my X. And from talking to all the doctors where I work, I won't have any trouble from the local dealer, either (Hendrick Lexus here in Charlotte). EVERY Lexus owner I've spoken to has raved about their cars and the dealership here.
 
Oh, I don't want you all to be surprised when you go to trade your X-type in. The best price I could get anywhere for my X was 30% off what I paid! And that's with less than 2K miles on it! Guess the word has gotten around on the X!
  
So, after ordering my X-type in late September and waiting until Dec. 28th for delivery (11/01 build if anyone's interested), SIX visits to the dealer for repairs totaling about 28 days, and once having to drive a Chevy S-10 pickup truck for two weeks as their loaner, I say farewell to Scott Jaguar here in Charlotte! The X was an expensive mistake! Reminded me of the 1987 Plymouth Sundance turbo I had. Had to take that puppy back to the dealer 12 times in the 13 months I owned it - and only got back 50% when I traded that piece of scrap in. Traded it for a '88 Toyota Celica. Then got a '92 Celica. Only had 1 warranty repair on either car the whole ten years I owned them. Should have stayed in the Toyota family, I guess.
 
Oh, and something else that is more unbelievable than anything....(!!) My Lexus salesman called me a day before delivery. He told me he had called my insurance company and they have no record of my Jag! They still have me driving my previous car! So, I've been riding around without any insurance for the past 5 1/2 months! The Jag dealer didn't notify my insurance company like they should have. I called the Jag dealership and spoke with the GM (the owner's son, I think) and read him the riot act on that one! He said the business manager with whom I dealt was no longer working there, and he blamed my salesman. I also told him of my new problems. As for the snapping/clicking sound out of the gearshift, he told me the old, tired line "They all do that"! Can you believe those clowns??!!
 
I know that some of you will wonder why I didn't go the lemon law route. I just didn't want the hassle, having to deal with the dealership even one more time, or with Jag corporate. After 5 1/2 months of driving that car, it was worth the money hit I took just to walk away from it.

#1044 of 2594 Dumped -neuroguy by desertguy

May 19, 2002 (6:26 am)

Just to give a little balance to the board after your description, my experience has been just the opposite. Bought my X Type 3.0 about the same time as you but I have 5,000 miles vs your 2K and have had NO problems except the weeping washer which was fixed. I love this car. The selling dealer was great. When I took it in for a free oil change and check at 2K the owner even came to the service waiting room and thanked those waiting for their cars for buying from him and said that his door was always open and if we had any problems we could come to him.
Unbelievable! Most owners hide from the public and let the GM take the flack.
 
Let me add two things. A Lexus ES300 is not comparable to the Jag in any meaningful way in MNSHO. And I have NEVER left notification of my insurance company up to the dealer. It is your responsiblity.

#1045 of 2594 Neuroguy by joe166

May 19, 2002 (7:03 am)

I don't own an X-type so I can't speak to reliability, but obviously you have lots of money and aren't all that concerned so what difference does it make? I, of course, rely on your statements that 1) you blew almost $10,000 by trading in your Xtype at by far the worst time depreciation wise 2) trusted a CAR GUY to deal with YOUR insurance company without checking on it in a matter which could result in financial ruin for you and your family, and 3) you are either a Doctor or you play one on television.
 
I have found the Doctors I have dealt with to be uniformly extremely smart but blessed with common sense in just about the same ratio as the rest of the world, they just don't know that. Good luck with your Lexus, it is a nice car and the dealer network is excellent. They treat you like a king and for the most part, the customer is always right. They make you THINK that all that is free. Nothing is free.

#1046 of 2594 reliability & "cachet" by leogenghis

May 21, 2002 (2:52 pm)

The fact that someone has "lots of money" doesn't mean reliability isn't important to that person. After all, Neuroguy has obviously spent a lot of his time visiting the dealership and receiving almost no attention to his problems. Writing about them here informs us Edmunds readers to be slightly more suspicious of Jaguar cars and/or his dealer Scott Jaguar. Although I do agree that he should definitely have double-checked on that insurance issue.
 
I find TownHall grab bag's current question topic interesting. Desertguy bought an "upgraded" Ford Mondeo and relishes it; Neuroguy got an "upgraded" Toyota Camry and loves it as well. I drive an "upgraded" car as well: an Alfa 164 which shares platforms with the SAAB 9000 and Fiat Croma. I agree that Jaguar has more of a cachet than Lexus does, but it has decreased somewhat with the X-type - the "cheap" Jaguar. Lexus's however is rising with the introduction of the SC430. When I was little, I used to think Jaguars were untouchable...
 
Leo

#1047 of 2594 dumped by jonnyj

May 21, 2002 (5:51 pm)

First, like ego29iste, I am about to come out of a 2000 328 (prem) and am considering the X-Type or a 330. I drove an X almost a year ago, and was really impressed. I thought it handled well, and had lots of zip. I also like the idea that it has rear curtains; you can only special order rear bags on the 330. Also, BMWs are everywhere; the X seems a little more unique.
 
However, Neuroguy has about convinced me to pass on the X, especially since I, too, live in Charlotte (small world -- also saw your same post on Jagtalk). While the dealer would be very close to my office, I don't think I could deal with constant problems. Maybe this would be solved by the 2003. I don't care if Jag is raising the price -- they'll still have to heavily subsidize the leases.

#1048 of 2594 jonnyj by jagboyxkr

May 23, 2002 (7:18 pm)

If you really want the X-TYPE, then I would urge you to get one. Neuroguy is a single person who encountered problems with his car, and unlike him, I and many other X-TYPE owners are far beyond pleased with our cars.
 
I have had NO problems with my X-TYPE except for the initially leaking windshield wiper jets that were promptly fixed by my dealer, who has also been very good to me. To this day, I am still impressed with my car in every respect, from its solid build quality to its unique styling and inspiring performance. I would not take any other car for it, and much like you, I had previously really wanted a 330i before the X-TYPE was released. When I compared the two cars however, and both are exceptional, the X-TYPE came out on top. I preferred its distinctive eye-catching styling, its smooth ride and road manners, its richer interior appointments, its larger size, and its individuality. It just made me happier to be around than the other cars I was considering. You should get whatever car your tastes prefer.
 
Don't let one very vocal person who had issues with his car drive you away from the X-TYPE. You have tested the vehicle for yourself and made your own judgments, and it comes down to what you truly want. Good luck, and I hope you choose the car that is best for you.

#1049 of 2594 I don't want to dwell... by heelntoe

May 26, 2002 (7:50 pm)

...on neuroguy's problems but I'd have wondered about the insurance situation when I didn't receive a new card and information regarding changes to my policy within a few weeks, not after almost six months.
 
On another note, the Jaguar-branded leather cleaner seems to work very well on the dirt-gathering Ivory interior. Better, in my opinion, than Lexol...

#1050 of 2594 Hmmm by im_brentwood

May 26, 2002 (8:29 pm)

The guy who reps the Budget Rent-A-Car turn-ins at the auctions down here (Who I know) says that their X-Type fleet has been nearly flawless and that their customers are very pleased. Hesaid they had a few problems with some early cars... but that since then they have been great.
 
Bill

#1051 of 2594 Leather cleaner by desertguy

May 27, 2002 (7:18 am)

Hey thanks heelntoe. I just bought two bottles of Lexol(cleaner & conditioner). <G> I have used it in the past and it used to be the gold standard of leather care. Now it seems everyone is getting into the act including Meguires. I too have the Ivory interior and have contemplated putting sheepskins on. As with most new Ford Corp. products, the headrests do not come out and require a upholstery shops assistance. Then there's the side airbags......

#1052 of 2594 Quality by lenscap

May 28, 2002 (10:59 am)

The latest issue of Automotive News, an industry trade publication, has an article titled "Quality bugs bedevil X-Type."
 
Note these are not my views (I have no experience with the car personally).
 
The article quotes several owners who have experienced problems with their cars. Most say it's not only the problems that are bad, it's also the dealer and/or Jaguar itself not providing any assistance and follow-up.
 
While I don't have a link, here's a quote lifted from the article:
 
"Jaguar Cars Ltd. is at risk of alienating its newest group of owners, many of who complain their new X-Type sedans have an array of irritating quality snafus. While none of the problems directly affect safety or operation, they are of sufficient annoyance that some first-time Jaguar buyers say they're ready to bolt the franchise."
 
The article says there are two separate drivetrain problems:
 
1. A high-pitched noise during acceleration up to 70 mph. This problem is so widespread there has been a bulletin issued and a manufacturing change has taken place to correct the problem.
 
2. A noise during cold-weather driving. This problem has not been acknowledged by Jaguar, and some owners have had prop-shafts replaced (some more than once, including one guy who is on his sixth).
 
Some other quotes from the article:
 
(An owner named Miller): "While he loves his X-Type, Miller is frustrated by his dealer's inability to repair the problems, despite three visits to the service bay."
 
(An owner named Kennedy): "But the prop-shaft is only one of several problems Kennedy sites, including a rocking driver seat, weeping windshield washer nozzles, vibration from the tires above 45 mph, and an apparent knocking from the CV joints when turning. 'It seems to me that Jaguar doesn't know how to handle my problems, and it's taken them a long time to get this under control...'"
 
"Many of the X-Type customers are buying their first luxury car and are bristling that a luxury carmaker can't solve the problem on its first attempt. None of the customers interviewed for this article said they had been contacted by a Jaguar representative. Said Moss: 'If you insult one customer, you lose 25 of his friends down at the country club. And Jaguar is still considered a risky purchase."

Messages Page 106 of 261

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