Jag XF

[hawk20]

I think it,s best to compare cars on price a fully loaded 320cdi is good but is it worth £40,000 +

Definitely. A supreme being by any standards. Choose less extras. It still drives the same.

 

[MBManInKen]

I think it,s best to compare cars on price

I disagree. I'm with Hawk on this, cars should be compared based on being similar models. The price is largely a red herring in terms of how cars compare in terms of features, performance, etc. When a functional comparison is done, the customer is then free to decide whether or not the higher price you pay for some models in the same segment is worth it.

 

[barryj]

I saw one at the reading services today and honestly thought it was a Mondeo from the front, looked better from the back though. I don't think I have ever liked a Jag so its no surprise to me that I dont like this one.

 

[hawk20]

The problem with doing it just on price is you compare, say, a Mondeo with leather, air, parktronic, a V6 engine with a Merc with a four cylinder, no leather etc etc. What you should do IMO is compare technically similar and say 'but the Merc costs £x more, as you would expect, and some will find that worthwhile and others won't. I like Mercedes and am happy to pay the extra just as I like good watches that cost more than some others.

 

[st4]

This is true, and the list price nowadays isn't always the key indicator on what you pay for the car as most buyers choose a finance route. Ergo PCP rates (monthly payments + GMFV) come into play, as of course the discount that is offered on the car itself.

 

[Ron . B.]

Jaguar Tata.:bannana:

 

[gary350]

I have my second test drive booked for 14:00 hrs and if I still like it the order goes in this afternoon for XF 2.7 premium lux silver/black for del jun.

gary

 

[verytalldave]

Look at a ten year old Mondeo.
Then look at a ten year old Mercedes.

Then tell me the extra isnt worth it.

 

[gary350]

Look at a ten year old Mondeo.
Then look at a ten year old Mercedes.

Then tell me the extra isnt worth it.

A 10 year Mondeo is worth about £900 average and a 10 year old C class is worth about £1750, when you take the starting costs the Ford is by far the best buy financially whether its the better car who knows.

gary

 

[verytalldave]

I am not talking about its financial worth or value - I am talking about condition and appearance. The chances are the Mercedes will look FAR better for much longer due to superior materials.

Your arguement regarding the financial losses involved becomes more marked the higher the original price of the car - with a very few exceptions. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Maybach and others suffer worse of all.

What would YOU rather drive?
A ten year old Mondeo which is just about limping through its last few MOTS getting ready for the scrap yard, or a reasonable Mercedes what, with a degree of TLC could well go on for a futher 10 years, maybe more.
THATS when the financial differences makes sense.

 

[chriswt]

I am not talking about its financial worth or value - I am talking about condition and appearance. The chances are the Mercedes will look FAR better for much longer due to superior materials.

Your arguement regarding the financial losses involved becomes more marked the higher the original price of the car - with a very few exceptions. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Maybach and others suffer worse of all.

What would YOU rather drive?
A ten year old Mondeo which is just about limping through its last few MOTS getting ready for the scrap yard, or a reasonable Mercedes what, with a degree of TLC could well go on for a futher 10 years, maybe more.
THATS when the financial differences makes sense.

Don't particularly disagree with anything you're saying here but give the Mondeo it dues.

My father-in-law uses a 12 year old 2.0 as a daily runaround and its passed 175,000 miles with ease and the engine still sounds perfect (honestly) as is the gear change etc, and its had a toughish life too boot. Also a friend at work has a 10 year old 2.0 Ghia which up to 150k and still going strong.

Ok the paintwork and trim is shabby but that has alot to do with the fact that the cars aren't worth more than a few hundred quid. Overal the Mondeo's certainly have a lot less rust than an equivilently abused Merc would.

The only reason these cars are on there last legs has little to do with the overal quality of these cars but is more that fact that no one wants to keep a worthless Mondeo going but there are plenty of people willing to spend over the odds to keep their pride and joy Merc in useable condition.

EDIT: Have a look at 10 year old Mondeos on Autotrader and you'll see how much car you can get for your money. If it came down to budget then the Mondeo will be the better car as it will he half the age, safer, more kit, better to drive etc. If it comes to two equally matched cars of the same age then the Merc will be a good several thousand more and difficult to justify given the what you actually get for the extra spondoolies!!!

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

Have a look at 10 year old Mondeos on Autotrader and you'll see how much car you can get for your money. If it came down to budget then the Mondeo will be the better car as it will he half the age, safer, more kit, better to drive etc. If it comes to two equally matched cars of the same age then the Merc will be a good several thousand more and difficult to justify given the what you actually get for the extra spondoolies!!!

So why aren't we all driving Mondeos?

 

[RSS]

I took the XF out for a test drive a few weeks back, first impressions as I stood in the showroom was the interior was great, the designers tried to give it a sporting feel they told me with a high door line and raised centre console like the XK. Had to agree with that as I had an XKR before the E-series.

Saw a few if different colour XF's and I always feel that certain colours suit certain cars and for the XF it was the silvers particularly the Pearl Grey with the light leather interior, the dark blue version didn't look right as all the lines of the car were lost, very bland. Incidentally I saw a new X-Type on the forecourt in white (with a bit of body kit) and that looked really good..!, never seen one in that colour before.

Anyway, boot big but restrictive opening width, seats good and suportive, wood trim options offered a good choice but one just looked too plastic (American Walnut). Solid feel to everything and switchgear looked better in real life than the brochure.

Driving (2.7 diesel with big alloys) was sharper than my E-320 Elegance (as expected) but the engine seemed to lack pace, this XF had 300 miles on the clock so maybe it gets better with a few miles on the clock but it did seem to need more throttle to get going. Quiet inside, muted engine but more tyre roar than my E possibly due to the XF optional big alloys. One thing that did seem strange was resting my elbow on the centre console and not having a gear shift to place my hand on but that would just take a little getting used to. Gear change a touch smoother than the Merc but again the kick down for overtaking just seemed to lack urgency. Stepping straight from the XF back into my E it did make my car seem more open, not saying either was better just noticed the difference.

Prices I thought for the spec were very good and the option list would easily take more of your money with must have toys. I would have liked to have played with the standard bluetooth to see if it picked up my Blackberry but time was limited.

So in summary, yes I liked it, I liked it a lot, would I buy one, yes but not just yet. I would want to have a bigger diesel option or certainly more power than the 2.7 gives. I like 6 cylinder diesels so both the XF and my Merc win there with smooth engines. Styling was very good I do place a lot of importance on the interior of a car (its where I spend my life). I wasn't that keen on the grill and lights but not enough to put me off buying one and can see that the 1st revision would see a tweak in that area so another reason to step back for a while.

Lets just hope Tata build on what they have got with this model but its in British history to build something and then let it slip away.....

 

[chriswt]

So why aren't we all driving Mondeos?

I don't know about you but I for one have more money than sense!!!

If I had stuck to Mondeo type cars for the first 12 years of my driving life now I'd have enough wonger to buy a very nice motor indeed.

Oh well where would the fun in that be!!

As for the correct answer to your question, you'll probably find that there are a few Mondeo owners out there

 

[gary350]

Talking to a friend who hires cars out he says he can not get any new mondeos for love or money, I like the new shape, a good looking car, so its a ford and you pay ford prices.

gary

 

[verytalldave]

Talking to a friend who hires cars out he says he can not get any new mondeos for love or money, I like the new shape, a good looking car, so its a ford and you pay ford prices.

gary

I saw a new Mondeo the other day and it looked superb. A real head turner.
Someone posted a comment the other day remarking that the gap in perceived quality between Mercedes and other "lesser" marques was becoming less and less.
However, I do believe Mercedes have upped the anti and have produced a stunner with the new W204. Given a choice of a new W204 OR a Mondeo plus £10K in my pocket, I would take the Mercedes anyday.

 

[chriswt]

I saw a new Mondeo the other day and it looked superb. A real head turner.
Someone posted a comment the other day remarking that the gap in perceived quality between Mercedes and other "lesser" marques was becoming less and less.
However, I do believe Mercedes have upped the anti and have produced a stunner with the new W204. Given a choice of a new W204 OR a Mondeo plus £10K in my pocket, I would take the Mercedes anyday.

Your right Dave, Ford quality has moved on leaps and bounds but as you point out, the goal posts keep moving, albeit to a lesser degree.

In 2003 I owned a 4 year old Audi A4 and at the time my old-man owned a brand new Mondeo. The quality of the Ford was very good but it couldn't match the Audi on things like the quality of the leather, the weight of the doors and the lovely clunck they made when they shut. Then again his car was worth £24k and mine was £35k when new!

I guess that 'lesser' makes are never going match the luxury makes, current model vs current model because where the likes of Merc, Audi and BMW add more sound deadening, extra trim and thicker materials, Ford et al will be cutting back to try and save as much money as possible.

 

[st4]

I saw a new Mondeo the other day and it looked superb. A real head turner.
Someone posted a comment the other day remarking that the gap in perceived quality between Mercedes and other "lesser" marques was becoming less and less.
However, I do believe Mercedes have upped the anti and have produced a stunner with the new W204. Given a choice of a new W204 OR a Mondeo plus £10K in my pocket, I would take the Mercedes anyday.

So would I, and most folk. The W204 is perfect. Some reviews complained about the plastics in the interior. Once you sit in one you'll see differently. A fantastic car IMO

 

[barryj]

What would YOU rather drive?
A ten year old Mondeo which is just about limping through its last few MOTS getting ready for the scrap yard, or a reasonable Mercedes what, with a degree of TLC could well go on for a futher 10 years, maybe more.
THATS when the financial differences makes sense.

It depends if you have 900 or 1750 to spend? remember thats nearly double the cost and not everyone has the opportunity to even make the choice.................

 

[verytalldave]

It depends if you have 900 or 1750 to spend? remember thats nearly double the cost and not everyone has the opportunity to even make the choice.................

True, but did you read my reply? I wasnt refering to the money side of things, it was more the condition/appearance.

If your finances are so tight that you cant afford the difference between between buying a car for £900 and £1750, then a Mercedes isnt for you anyway by shear virtue of its running costs.