JAGUAR X-TYPE 2.0 V6 SE 4dr Auto (2001)

X-Type 2.0 SE - Fantastic cruiser, extremely smooth, classic look too

It might be a bit of an old man car, but I'm happy to admit I am an old man. I am comfortable in my oldness. I'm also comfortable in my X-Type, because it's, well, very comfortable. It's wonderfully comfortable in fact, for short journeys, long journeys, extra long journeys or epic journeys. I've never felt so much as a twinge in my ageing back. Add in the cruise control and auto gearbox and my long trips feel like I hardly need to be there at all sometimes.

The Jaguar X-Type is quite a long car of course, which can make it a bit of a challenge to park and otherwise manoeuvre. I was given the option of getting little sensors to tell you where you should be parking, but I think that would have added something like £300 so I didn't bother in the end. I think my wife might have appreciated these, but she hasn't raised it much. I have to admit I was the one to cause the only scratch we've had, and that was a reverse park, but buffing it out didn't come to £300! Otherwise it's had a small oil leak, and I seem to recall some tweaking of the brakes or some such, but that's about it. Tyres it's also needed, actually I think the front tyre wear is a bit high, just a bit.

It's a pleasure to drive, as you'd expect. Exceptionally smooth, nice light steering (but not lifeless), smooth engine, happy cruising at 90 but doesn't make you feel you need to be rushing anywhere. One little problem is that it has been steaming up quite a bit in the winter, inside the car. It's not dreadful but is a bit of a surprise on a Jag, you think this sort of thing wouldn't happen. It's also a bit cramped in the back which is a shame. There's a great deal of space in the front, and the boot can hold a vast amount (I once had four garden chairs in there) but the rear seats have been neglected a bit.

Inside the X-Type it all looks very impressive. Some bits of the interior trim are made to look like carbon fibre I think, which to me seems a little bit gimmicky, and some of the other interior bits seem just ever so slightly cheap, but it's generally a very pleasing car to look at. One thing I have no patience for is the satnav display in the centre, I can't look at it without taking my eyes off the road. It's just too far away from your eye line.

In terms of its costs, the petrol costs could be lower I should say, and the insurance and tax aren't nearly as cheap as my daughter's Micra, but then I hardly want that car anyway. I'll get a diesel next time as the cost of petrol seems to climb higher every time I fill up.