One of our active club members, Kevin Keenan recently shared with us that his pristine X Type was published in Jaguar Magazine (Australia edition).
The Article Read: (wording)
"The X-Type is the most affordable modern Jaguar and offers a feast of opportunities for the enthusiast. In many ways, it is the equivalent of the 1950's 'Mk1' which once was the base of the enthusiast movement.
"Kevin is justifiability proud of owning his X-Type and his modifications add to it's distinctive good lucks"
He made useful changes to the interior of his car to modernize it and get more out of his driving experiences. It exudes genuine luxury and the X-Type continues to represent exceptional value. He is an enthusiastic member of the 500-strong Jaguar Club Ireland. We are sure it didn't go through 'Arfur's Yard!
The X-Type became another unfortunate easy target for the motoring press to aim at. Created specifically to create a market just below the mid sized S-Type Saloon, it was criticized for being more Ford than Jaguar. But not everyone fell for that.
It was indeed a proper Jaguar with the posibility of selling more vehicles a year than selling any model before it.
To accomadate that Ford chose it's former huge Anglia and Escort plant at Halewood, near Liverpool for Jaguar to build the X-Type. Currently it is utilized by Land Rover.
The X-Type remains the most affordable used model, and stayed in production from 2001 to 2011 - being up-graded all the while. As Jaguars first compact executive car since the Mk2, the X-Type was the last Jaguar styled under the late Geoff Lawson, with Wayne Burgess, and Simon Butterworth as principle designers.
The 4-door Saloon was launched in 2001, and the 5-door estate followed in January 2004, and production of both ending in 2009 after over 355,000 X-Types were built.
Engines included either 2 V6 petrol engines, 2.5 or 3.0 litre. In 2001 an entry level 2.1L V6 front-wheel-drive model was introduced . All three engines were available with 5-speed automatic or 5 speed manual gearboxes.
The X-Type grill was modified for both the 2004 and 2006 model years.
It would become available for front-wheel-drive 2.0 litre petrol and diesel engines. Styling became more recognizably Xj-like at both the front and rear of the body.
The X-Type still offers opportunities for the younger (or any) generation to become owners of the marque and serious enthusiasts.
In Ireland, Kevin Keenan has owned the X-Type seen here, for nearly 2 and a half years and is still in love with it. He told us (JaguarMagazineAustralia), "It's a 2010 Premium Sport, just 295 from the end of Production, and originally registered in Birmingham.
"It was imported into Ireland in 2017, and I immediately remapped the electronic system for more power."
"I have given it a few up-grades, included new drilled and grooved brake discs, plus goodridge brake hoses, a new mesh grille look, 18" alloys, remote control interior down-lighting, reverse camera and pop up boot release."
"It has all the usual production bells and whistles, including heated memory electric seats, heated windscreen, parking sensors front and back, electric fold-in mirrors, touch screen sat nav and entertainment system."
"It also has what I think is the best colour combo interior with it's Ivory white doubled stitched Diamond pattern seats and Dark brown trim."
"I love it, but it has had it's moments. I have replaced most of the auxiliaries - Starter, Alternator, Water Pump Aux Belts, and all the Pulleys. But there are 131,000 miles on the clock so that's to be expected. The engine and gearbox never miss a beat. It's serviced every 6,000 miles, which is the life of any car."
"It's a Diesel, remapped to 150bhp and 380Nm of Torque, and a dream to drive, keeping up with the best of them. It still returns 50mpg (5.65l /100km) on a long drive, and 40-45mpg (6.57 /100km) tipping around on the usual driving. Yes I am besotted with it despite a lot of cut knuckles and hands."
"Since I saw a White X-Type as a prize in draw at a shopping mall in CoCo Beach, Florida while on holiday back in 2005, I fell for the model. The Classic lines did it for me. It's a car that looks beautiful from any angle, and you know it's a Jaguar the second you see it. I said to a friend then I would own an X-Type in the future."
"Okay, i took me over 10 years to find the one I wanted, and at the right price, because everyone put me off buying one by saying they're a Ford in drag and unreliable. Even a friend who has had Jaguars in the past said they are not a real Jaguar.."
"I pointed out that the Ford Transit van he owned for 10 years and never gave much bother, had basically the same diesel engine. That must have struck a cord with him because a few weeks later I pulled into his drive and he had a beautiful 2009 X-Type Estate parked there. He came out and said 'Kevin, I should have listened to you years ago. It's a great car and does drive like a Jaguar.' He still has it and loves it."
"I had my guinea pig so to speak. Even a Mercedes E200 Kompressor, and a BMW Z4 , all of which were money pits in their own ways. They were heavy on fuel and road tax here in Ireland, so I sold the lot and found my X-Type on a popular Irish site, known as Donedeal.ie "
"It was the best one out there at the time, and the interior was beautiful. So I hopped on a train and headed for Dublin, where I met a guy in a Carpark and bought the X-Type. Of course, I had it all checked out before I went to look at it, but understand I broke every rule in the book as regards to buying a used car. But it all worked out for the best."
"I had the biggest smile on my face on the drive home, and still have that smile every time I get behind the wheel. It's all the car I ever wanted, and then some, with lots of over taking power, and great fuel economy. It gets attention everywhere it goes because people just love it. My love affair with the X-Type is going strong. Space, Grace and Pace - Indeed." There is time to buy a modern first, second or third Jaguar at a reasonable price.
The opportunity is there for all Jaguar Clubs around the world to encourage new and younger membership because affordable and top quality Jaguars such as all variations of the X-Type. Clubs were at their peak when members had genuine driving fun and were encouraged by others to make their Jaguars their own.
Car Owner: Kevin Keenan
Words: Les Hughes, Jaguar Magazine AUS.
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