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A variety of rational family saloons fall within a £25,000 budget that would buy you the entry-level KWE Jaguar. In its most expensive form, as an alternative to big luxo-barge executive cars like the Audi A8 and 7-Series, it ducks under the Benefit in Kind business car taxation that can cost you £10,000 a year. Servicing will be more frequent (every 7500 miles) but cheaper than an equivalent modern luxury car and it comes with a one-year, unlimited-mileage parts and labour warranty. It's hard to talk in detail about depreciation with such an oddball but it must hold its value better than your average luxo-barge, especially long term.
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The Series 3 is not a truly big car any longer. Modern saloons have become so bloated that this svelte Jaguar is now like some kind of low-slung four-door sportscar in its proportions. Open a door and slide down into its embrace. You are surrounded by glass and light, sat low in an aromatic orgy of leather and veneer that's half way between Pall Mall and Arthur Daley's favourite watering hole. A slightly incongruous sports steering wheel just tips the balance in favour of the latter but you can, of course, stick with standard thin-rimmed wheel. There is a distinct lack of air bags or other passive safety aids but, interestingly, the XJ has one of the lowest fatality rates of any car, probably because you have so much metal around you and, as Chris points out, the feel of the car tends to civilise your driving style.
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