X351 TEST DAY, WOW

[robv12]

after a fairly disappointing two days with a 2.0F pace, our local dealer, bless 'em, gave us a 3.0 XJ R sport today for a couple of days, shame it was a devil juice car, but WHAT a car, you lucky folk who have one will know what I mean, god it is good, I feel in love with five miles, I do not want to take this one back!!, and, over lunch I found myself looking at used petrol cars for sale, maybe, just maybe, watch this space

[ptjs1]

Rob,

5.0 supercharged...Go on, you know it makes sense!

Paul

[raysearles]

ha ha, took only 5 miles to convert you from a 350 addict to a 351! Just make sure you redraw the lines for your parking spaces, small they are not!

[J44EAG]

Such a shame that the opportunity was discounted or missed or in making the X351 a hatchback. That would have made a huge impact on the usability of the car. Remember how useful the Rover SD1 was. The fact that it was a real hatchback, never ruined its lines.

I have to ask. Why do Jaguar now make cars with such limited boot access? Getting luggage under the rear screen area is so irksome. In this respect the X350 scores over the X351 by the ton. Those with shot lower lumbar regions will understand this issue and the resistance to bending forward when loading a car.

The X351 quite interests me as a next car but the boot access, the stories of creaking roofs and the rather verbose 1960`s rocket style dash somewhat puts me off. For the present, I`ll stick to my out dated, visually time expired X350R until it needs to be changed due to old age. Then I will have a problem!

Mike

[davidr]

Ahhhh! The Rover SD1. I had several if them back in the 80's.
Very practical cars. The fact that the rear seats folded down flat meant that you had over 6ft of dead flat space in the back with carpet throughout. Made it a very effective passion wagon!

[J44EAG]

Without doubt, the most practical car I`ve owned.

I had three 2.6, then a 3.5 SE manual, previously owned by the Chairman of the RAC in Croydon...definitely the best of the lot, followed by a single plenum Vitesse. That car rotted to pieces, blew three engine ecu`s, an injector ballast pack, a camshaft and its up-rated shot peened gear train. It would also open the sunroof when you unlocked it on a rainy day! It was the one GT that just had to be, but wasn`t. It just disintegrated as you drove it and was one inch longer one side than the other. How on Earth did we put up with them!!

I would love a 351 but as said, the boot opening dimensions are none to clever.

Mike

[waynelondon]

I had a very usable 2600 SD1 in my younger days ok its not the 3500 but it was a nice car all the same i did love the brown interior.