My Daily Driver Quest, it has been completed.

"SmugAardvark" (SmugAardvark) 02/26/2020 at 22:06 • Filed to: jaguar, jaguar xe, daily driver, car shopping

13

35

The Nissan Cube era of my life has finally reached its conclusion. I have leapt back into British(-ish) vehicle ownership.

I t’s a 2017 Jaguar XE R-Sport. RWD, with the supercharged 3.0 V6. And of course, in British Racing Green. It’s got black leather interior and pretty much all the optional equipment, including the 20" rims.

As for initial driving impressions... it’s a good car. Totally civil when you’re just tottering along. But put it in Dynamic mode, step on the gas, and you can feel all 340 horses. Turn off traction control, and you can definitely have some fun kicking out the rear end. Since it’s been more than 12 years since I’ ve owned an automatic vehicle (and that one was a 2003 model year Land Rover) , the ZF 8-speed really surprised me. Buttery smooth shifts on its own , while using the flappy paddles is surprisingly gratifying.

The exhaust note is a little subdued, but you definitely get a bit of the Jag V6 growl. The Meridian sound system is fantastic, and the infotainment unit is actually workable. I don’t have much experience with them, so I can’t exactly compare it to others out there. But it’s been responsive and intuitive to me.

So, here’s the interesting thing. It makes nearly as much power as my Corvette. While signing the paperwork at the dealer, I started to worry that the C5 would begin to feel unnecessary to me, and that it would just sit under its cover, hardly used. But having spent a little more than 24 hours with the XE, I don’t think it will be a problem. If you drive both cars with gusto, the Corvette requires a little more attention to keep it going in the right direction, while the Ja g will maintain a level of composure through the whole thing. Beyond that, the Corvette is a much more visceral experience. The engine noise, wind noise, the feeling like you’re 3 inches off the ground. I accidentally did 90+ mph today in there Jaguar, and it felt more or less the same as 55mph.

So in other words, I’m satisfied with my current fleet of two RWD, sporty cars. But the next problem, what to do for my custom license plates? I mean, “JAAAAAG” is already taken. 

CB > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 22:43

2

BIGCAT would be appropriate if you were driving an R level car.

Congrats! I’m jealous. And welcome to the green car club.

someassemblyrequired > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 23:00

1

Jags rule, I miss having one.   Enjoy, they’re better cars than people think, especially these days.  

superdave847 > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 23:05

1

Beautiful JAAA AG. I love the color!

BeaterGT > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 23:05

2

Wow, congrats! Must be one hell of a change from a Cube. Makes sense about the exhaust note and sense of speed being wrapped in all that luxury.

License plate suggestion: GRNKITN

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 23:31

1

That’s a Shaaaaaaaarp car 

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > SmugAardvark 02/26/2020 at 23:40

1

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

And that right there is what Jags are all about.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 00:12

1

That’s a glorious color, even coming from someone who also bought a green car today.  Your green is better.

SmugAardvark > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/27/2020 at 00:27

1

You’ve got the JDM 4x4 hotness though! Also a very cool purchase.

SmugAardvark > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 02/27/2020 at 00:28

1

Thank you kindly. :)

SmugAardvark > BeaterGT 02/27/2020 at 00:30

1

Hmm, I like that. I shall check the DMV....and it’s available. Going on the list.

And yeah, for sure it’s a monumental change from the Cube, which sounded like an angry sewing machine at 80mph.

SmugAardvark > superdave847 02/27/2020 at 00:31

1

Thank you! Glad I waited to find one in this color rather than settling on the white and silver ones I test drove first.

SmugAardvark > someassemblyrequired 02/27/2020 at 00:32

1

Longevity will be the key, but thankfully there’s still a year and a half left on the factory warranty. It really did stand out to me from the sea of BMWs and Mercedes I see around me. Nothing wrong with those cars, but I always enjoy being a little different.

Nick Has an Exocet > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 00:49

1

Congrats! Welcome to the BRG Jag club!

Edgyhal94 > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 00:55

2

Looks good, just one question, British(ish)? I mean it’s a Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....(ad infintum)...aaaaaaaaaaaguar, not that much is more British than that. I suppose you’ll also never worry about buying silverware, paintings and whatever takes your fancy and never having to pay to for dining at restaurants again.

“Oh who’s paying? Me ? No problem... oh no ! I appear to of left my wallet in the J aaaaag, let me go get it.”

* engine noises and car swiftly pulling away *

“He’s not coming back, is he?”

NKato > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 01:21

1

JagBomb.

SmugAardvark > Edgyhal94 02/27/2020 at 01:39

1

I mean...technically, they a subsidiary of Tata Motors. But yes, they r eally are a quintessentially British company.

I greatly look forward to forgetting my wallet in the Jaaaaaaaag often ...

SmugAardvark > Nick Has an Exocet 02/27/2020 at 01:39

0

NorCal BRG Jaguar party! We can just straight up ruin some tires.

SmugAardvark > NKato 02/27/2020 at 01:40

0

I like it. But I work at an airport, and some people still get a little uneasy hearing/seeing the word “bomb”.

Sucks for them!

Edgyhal94 > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 01:55

1

Eh, they supply the money, JLR do all the engineering and making stuff. Hell, from a certain point of view Chrysler is Italian.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 02:10

2

T hat’s quite an upgrade :)
The XE and XF of that generation look so good, I’m quite tempted to get an XF myself, but most of them are diesels here

NKato > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 02:12

1

If anyone asks, tell them it's a Jaegermeister version of an Irish bomb. 

gettingoldercarguy > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 02:43

1

Drool. Go d that is impressive.

SmugAardvark > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction 02/27/2020 at 03:48

0

I also test drove an XF-S. It was nice, but a little worn down and higher mileage.

Captain of the Enterprise > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 04:50

1

Awesome car! I love that color too!

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 08:06

1

Beautiful! Congrats!

someassemblyrequired > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 08:17

1

I think you’ll be hooked,  you could probably drive it for a year, then trade it on another one with a longer warranty for not much money...   they hold their value pretty well after the initial drop.

avalonian > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 09:31

1

CONGRATULATIONS! Like I said in one of your previous post, I was a technology specialist at JLR. Lemme knowing you have questions . 

Nick Has an Exocet > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 10:36

2

Mine are 20x10.5 in the rear. That's a pricey thing to do, haha

gmctavish needs more space > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 11:02

1

Oh hell yes. I love these, they’re one of the only new cars I want

SmugAardvark > Nick Has an Exocet 02/27/2020 at 19:28

1

I think mine are only 20x8.5 in back , but the 265/30/R20 tires are not exactly super cheap to replace either.

SmugAardvark > avalonian 02/27/2020 at 19:32

0

Will do, thank you!

Nick Has an Exocet > SmugAardvark 02/27/2020 at 22:14

0

F: 255/35 ZR 20

R: 295/30 ZR 20 >.<

SmugAardvark > Nick Has an Exocet 02/28/2020 at 00:26

1

Yikes. Time to take out a 2nd mortgage.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > avalonian 03/14/2020 at 11:15

0

Hey. I also just bought a 2017 XE 25t. Mine is the base model with the smaller infotainment screen. Do these have a way to configure the driving modes? I’d love it if the car would let me have the steering setup and shifting strategy of dynamic mode, but with the normal throttle response. I the steering is so very good in dynamic mode, but I could do without the exaggerated throttle response.  

avalonian > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 03/14/2020 at 19:49

0

Nofelmohamed99@gmail.com send me your questions there and I can answer them! I don't wanna post some super long reply.