So what makes a "quality" car
Discussion
Last week a numpty drove into my Subaru Legacy which was parked at the kerb, so its off the road for three weeks or so. As it was not my fault my insurers have provide a loan car, a 58 plate Jag X type diesel. That’s very good I thought, definitely more up market, but is it?
The Jag is billed as an executive saloon, and the Scoobie is by most people’s definition an “ordinary” quality car, so I should be very pleased with what I’ve been provided with. They are about the same size, both autos and the basic spec is much the same.
BUT…….. the Jag has ½ leather compared to the Scoobie’s full leather, the electric seat does not control the forward & back movement, there’s no sat-nav and no sun-roof. It cannot have traction control as I’ve spun the wheels twice pulling away. The fit, finish and quality of materials are pretty well identical, but the slab of highly polished black plastic in the middle of the Jag’s dash looks really, really cheap. So there’s no contest, the Subaru has the more up to date and classy cabin.
The Jag is faster and has a better gearbox, but the Subaru Diesel would be a match for it. The Subaru definitely handles better being 4x4.
So, as I see it the Subaru is the better car, and I cannot see why the Jag is regarded as an executive car. Don’t get me wrong, I not slagging it off and I have nothing against Jags, but in the last few years I’ve though the same of Audi, Merc and BMW. It seems to me that the quality of cars has improved and the difference between most is really not that much and the so-say exec cars are on shaky ground.
Or am I just becoming an old git?
Rob
The Jag is billed as an executive saloon, and the Scoobie is by most people’s definition an “ordinary” quality car, so I should be very pleased with what I’ve been provided with. They are about the same size, both autos and the basic spec is much the same.
BUT…….. the Jag has ½ leather compared to the Scoobie’s full leather, the electric seat does not control the forward & back movement, there’s no sat-nav and no sun-roof. It cannot have traction control as I’ve spun the wheels twice pulling away. The fit, finish and quality of materials are pretty well identical, but the slab of highly polished black plastic in the middle of the Jag’s dash looks really, really cheap. So there’s no contest, the Subaru has the more up to date and classy cabin.
The Jag is faster and has a better gearbox, but the Subaru Diesel would be a match for it. The Subaru definitely handles better being 4x4.
So, as I see it the Subaru is the better car, and I cannot see why the Jag is regarded as an executive car. Don’t get me wrong, I not slagging it off and I have nothing against Jags, but in the last few years I’ve though the same of Audi, Merc and BMW. It seems to me that the quality of cars has improved and the difference between most is really not that much and the so-say exec cars are on shaky ground.
Or am I just becoming an old git?
Rob
Well, you have chosen a particulary poor example of a quality car, and a particualry good example of a jap car.
Being a courtesy car, it will basically be a FWD Xtype ( based on a Mondeo ) with the minumum options.
This type of car is designed to be sold to sad sales execs and old men who think driving a jag will make them into Albions finest. Many of them would buy it if it had a hamster in a wheel as an engine and was trimmed in sackcloth.
If you compare a "proper" Jag, say..an Stype R, you will find the gap between the quality very much in place IMHO.
Being a courtesy car, it will basically be a FWD Xtype ( based on a Mondeo ) with the minumum options.
This type of car is designed to be sold to sad sales execs and old men who think driving a jag will make them into Albions finest. Many of them would buy it if it had a hamster in a wheel as an engine and was trimmed in sackcloth.
If you compare a "proper" Jag, say..an Stype R, you will find the gap between the quality very much in place IMHO.
Robwhite said:
Last week a numpty drove into my Subaru Legacy which was parked at the kerb, so its off the road for three weeks or so. As it was not my fault my insurers have provide a loan car, a 58 plate Jag X type diesel. That’s very good I thought, definitely more up market, but is it?
The Jag is billed as an executive saloon, and the Scoobie is by most people’s definition an “ordinary” quality car, so I should be very pleased with what I’ve been provided with. They are about the same size, both autos and the basic spec is much the same.
BUT…….. the Jag has ½ leather compared to the Scoobie’s full leather, the electric seat does not control the forward & back movement, there’s no sat-nav and no sun-roof. It cannot have traction control as I’ve spun the wheels twice pulling away. The fit, finish and quality of materials are pretty well identical, but the slab of highly polished black plastic in the middle of the Jag’s dash looks really, really cheap. So there’s no contest, the Subaru has the more up to date and classy cabin.
The Jag is faster and has a better gearbox, but the Subaru Diesel would be a match for it. The Subaru definitely handles better being 4x4.
So, as I see it the Subaru is the better car, and I cannot see why the Jag is regarded as an executive car. Don’t get me wrong, I not slagging it off and I have nothing against Jags, but in the last few years I’ve though the same of Audi, Merc and BMW. It seems to me that the quality of cars has improved and the difference between most is really not that much and the so-say exec cars are on shaky ground.
Or am I just becoming an old git?
Rob
Quality is much in the eye of the beholder. And I suspect a base model 2wd X-Type Jag is not a great example.The Jag is billed as an executive saloon, and the Scoobie is by most people’s definition an “ordinary” quality car, so I should be very pleased with what I’ve been provided with. They are about the same size, both autos and the basic spec is much the same.
BUT…….. the Jag has ½ leather compared to the Scoobie’s full leather, the electric seat does not control the forward & back movement, there’s no sat-nav and no sun-roof. It cannot have traction control as I’ve spun the wheels twice pulling away. The fit, finish and quality of materials are pretty well identical, but the slab of highly polished black plastic in the middle of the Jag’s dash looks really, really cheap. So there’s no contest, the Subaru has the more up to date and classy cabin.
The Jag is faster and has a better gearbox, but the Subaru Diesel would be a match for it. The Subaru definitely handles better being 4x4.
So, as I see it the Subaru is the better car, and I cannot see why the Jag is regarded as an executive car. Don’t get me wrong, I not slagging it off and I have nothing against Jags, but in the last few years I’ve though the same of Audi, Merc and BMW. It seems to me that the quality of cars has improved and the difference between most is really not that much and the so-say exec cars are on shaky ground.
Or am I just becoming an old git?
Rob
This being as its Jags lowest model and you are paying for the badge more than anything else, the same as you would with a base model BMW or Merc.
Also the X-Type is built off of a Mondeo and uses much in the way of Ford parts.
Had you been given the keys to either a 4.0 litre or XJ12 XJ40 (yes and old Jag from around 1993) I'm fairly sure the quality would have shown through. Same would apply if you'd gone in a new XJ8.
So no, I don't think you're being an old git, just having a different and sensible take on it.
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