I'd like it quiet, smooth, cheap... 2.7 XF ?
Discussion
Hello,
I'm looking for a replacement for my current wagon... an old 2.4 jtd alfa 156.
And i'm looking for something quiet and smooth.
With small-ish rims, magic carpet ride, room for 4.
Ideally an engine with more than 4 cylinders (or a really quiet one), running on diesel,
I don't need lots of grunt, but it's always nice to have some.
In a perfect world it would be equipped with a machanical gearbox.
And I need it to be cheap, and somehow old.
I don't care about the badge, I'd rather go unnoticed.
I drive like an old person, and tends to do all maintenance myself, bar clutch change and brake bleeding. Talked to a dealer twice in the last ten years. Most of my journeys are 2 hours trips on dual carriageway, 1900 rpm on cruise control. I do around 10 to 20k miles per year. Running costs are close to zero (pads and tires last forever)
The most obvious choice would be an old alfa 159 with the 2.4 jtd engine, but it's a tad heavy, and I've read that particulate filter tends to clog itself expensively very often, especially given my pensioned way of driving. Not a big job, but a very expensive spare part.
The second most obvious alternative to me is the Jaguar XF 2.7.
There's a significant number of these in the classifieds around me, are way cheaper than german common alternatives.
The ZF is probably the only auto box I would not want to fix with lots or rage and a crowbar.
I have not been able to find a buying guide (well, one that does not seem to be generated by a content harvester robot)
I could do with a bit on advice regarding the running costs and common failures of the 2.7 XF, and maybe into alternatives ?
Thanks a lot
I'm looking for a replacement for my current wagon... an old 2.4 jtd alfa 156.
And i'm looking for something quiet and smooth.
With small-ish rims, magic carpet ride, room for 4.
Ideally an engine with more than 4 cylinders (or a really quiet one), running on diesel,
I don't need lots of grunt, but it's always nice to have some.
In a perfect world it would be equipped with a machanical gearbox.
And I need it to be cheap, and somehow old.
I don't care about the badge, I'd rather go unnoticed.
I drive like an old person, and tends to do all maintenance myself, bar clutch change and brake bleeding. Talked to a dealer twice in the last ten years. Most of my journeys are 2 hours trips on dual carriageway, 1900 rpm on cruise control. I do around 10 to 20k miles per year. Running costs are close to zero (pads and tires last forever)
The most obvious choice would be an old alfa 159 with the 2.4 jtd engine, but it's a tad heavy, and I've read that particulate filter tends to clog itself expensively very often, especially given my pensioned way of driving. Not a big job, but a very expensive spare part.
The second most obvious alternative to me is the Jaguar XF 2.7.
There's a significant number of these in the classifieds around me, are way cheaper than german common alternatives.
The ZF is probably the only auto box I would not want to fix with lots or rage and a crowbar.
I have not been able to find a buying guide (well, one that does not seem to be generated by a content harvester robot)
I could do with a bit on advice regarding the running costs and common failures of the 2.7 XF, and maybe into alternatives ?
Thanks a lot
The DPF shouldn't be a problem doing mainly 2 hour motorway trips, it's ideal driving conditions for a diesel so the Alfa should be ok.
A manual XF must be a pretty rear beast so will restrict your choice somewhat.
How about a Mondeo, good value for money, comfortable, generally reliable and a badge not to die for.
A manual XF must be a pretty rear beast so will restrict your choice somewhat.
How about a Mondeo, good value for money, comfortable, generally reliable and a badge not to die for.
Alas, the soot filter requires conditions (heat & revs) that I don't meet a lot (steady, high gear & low revs). I tend to clog the recirculaton valve kind of often (floor it a few times, puff a black sooty cloud & gone is the engine light). I've read reports of clogged filters from people who use a lot more highway than I do, drive faster and floor it harder...
I understand that a mechanical gearbox is somehow a thing of the past, and as I buy (very) second hand I'm stuck with what is common... Most of the cars listed are auto box nowadays... And if I have to live with an auto, let it be a good & reliable one (hence the ZF on the XF).
I'm afraid the mondeo comes with only 4 cylinder diesel...
I understand that a mechanical gearbox is somehow a thing of the past, and as I buy (very) second hand I'm stuck with what is common... Most of the cars listed are auto box nowadays... And if I have to live with an auto, let it be a good & reliable one (hence the ZF on the XF).
I'm afraid the mondeo comes with only 4 cylinder diesel...
Probably a bad choice of car. There has never been a manual XF, but more to the point - the 2.7d XF requires just as much DPF attention as anything else.
Furthermore, that engine has sequential turbochargers. There are quite a number of reported failures of the boost control system from excessive slow driving besides the DPF problems caused by same. The larger turbocharger is never allowed to come on boost when driven granny-style and it's expensive to put right.
They're very robust and reliable if driven in a style most people with cars that type would consider normal, but it sounds like you'd be inflicting problems on yourself with that car driven in your style.
Furthermore, that engine has sequential turbochargers. There are quite a number of reported failures of the boost control system from excessive slow driving besides the DPF problems caused by same. The larger turbocharger is never allowed to come on boost when driven granny-style and it's expensive to put right.
They're very robust and reliable if driven in a style most people with cars that type would consider normal, but it sounds like you'd be inflicting problems on yourself with that car driven in your style.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff