Jaguar XJ
by Aiden Wrenn
I've driven an XJ Sport for over a year. The 4car review, while generally complimentary, makes a few unjustified criticisms and rates the car lower than most other road tests do. I don't see how anyone could describe this car as cramped in the front. Either they are an enormous tub of lard or they've never been in one. Yes, the legroom in the back is poor, but one can specify a long-wheelbase model for very little extra.The car is very reliable: mine has never broken down, nor did the XJ6 I owned previously and, given its excellent performance in customer-satisfaction surveys, the car can't be faulted here. It is very easy to drive; I prefer it to my wife's Rover 214 in this respect. The width of the car is a very spurious ground on which to criticise it. Fold-back mirrors are available, which make negotiating tight spaces easier. One does not buy a car like this for cheap motoring. Running such a car is bound to be expensive so, again, it is unfair to criticise the Jaguar on these grounds. Incidentally, with the cruise control set to 70 mph, I can get over 32 mpg driving from Newcastle to Leeds.The car is terrific fun to drive and has a character and charm not found in German or Japanese cars (and I'm not especially patriotic). The interior is particularly wonderful. On the negative side, I find the driving mirror a little small, and there is something else I don't like about it but I can't remember what it is.
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