No, Stevehg.

Ah!

The old X-type is based on the Mondeo, from the days when Ford owned JLR.  The XF is completely new, and apart from the radiator grill which was designed using a spoon, is a beautifully styled car, and would be my preference against an Octavia.

Was this post really called for?

The VRS is plenty good enough for people like me who've either bought or ordered, but personally I'm under no illusion that it's anything special. Given that, it's no surprise that some people font find it worth waiting 6 months plus for.

 

A good point well made. I think it's a great car for what it was really intended, getting families from A to B in relative comfort but some people do seem to live on skodaland whilst looking through skoda glasses and drinking skoda coffee.

 

Looking at some of the posts, some people really think that their VRS' are executive rocket ships capable of filling BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar drivers with jealousy. They were never intended to, and never will complete with premium executive brands or sports cars. To suggest that they do, or will is just misguided silliness. I enjoy my car and it serves me very well, but I know its limitations and I don't try convince myself that its something that neither the designers or engineers ever expected it to be.

Edited 17 February, 201412 yr by skovirg

I can't blame the OP for cancelling, the lead time he is looking at is totally wrong, at the end of the day its a Skoda not a Porsche or something, despite Skoda saying the orders for the vRS has caught them on the hop its still not a valid excuse, the Golf GTI/GTD and the Seat Leon version were all being launched around a similar time, so they would of known that people looking to buy a German derived 'hot hatch' will be looking at doing it around this time, so surely factory could be expected to produce what was required?

Skoda don't care that you have ordered anyway, the car is on its way, it will get sold to someone else and they won't get 0% or anything else, so more profit for Skoda or the dealer.

Also, interetsing to note that people that have ditched there orders are looking at the Jaguar, BMW etc, shows that the Skoda is competing in a different league to 10 years ago.

I keep getting cards from the local BMW place with the special offers, and they are VERY attractive, I think there was a 3 series diesel M-Sport estate or something and it was about £40 per month less than what I am paying currently per month, so it is tempting, however, I like my Skoda/VW products, so thats what I wanted, and for me I see no reason to change, but, they aren't the cheap supermarket trolleys they used to be!

Skorvig, I couldn't agree more that there are members who have a slightly warped perception of the VRS and where it sits in the market. Notwithstanding that, my point was that it is a couple of years of development ahead of the Jag.

However, as always it comes down to personal choice and needs. I would have happily forked an extra couple of grand if VW built a GTD estate or the 3 series was roomier inside. They are not however so the Skoda seems the best compromise.

I'm not sure what I would have if I had to wait longer though.

The OPs decision to buy a Jag wouldn't appeal to me though but then the world would be an awfully boring place if we all wanted the same thing.

I'm not so sure everyone here would have done the same. A Jaguar XF, while it is a stunning looking car, is underneath a 2008 Mondeo.

 

Do you have any evidence for that claim? I don't remember the Mondeo being rear wheel drive.

To the OP, the Jag is a nice car but aimed at a totally different market to the vRS. The only thing with the Jag is not many being sold in the UK unlike the vRS, hence able to reduce the price by 4K. Result is horrific depreciation, it looses more than £10,000 in the first year alone. There is a nice ex. demo 2.2D XF for sale at a dealer near me with just 3,000 miles on the clock for £25K.

 

A Jaguar XF, while it is a stunning looking car, is underneath a 2008 Mondeo. I think you are giving up on quite a bit of engine refinement, efficiency and build quality. On the other hand, you are driving a Jag so my guess is, you are not going to lose a lot of sleep over it.

Total tosh ... try getting your facts right before you post sheeite mate.

The underpinnings of the XF are based on a stretched S Type chassis (DEW98) which is the platform size above the Mondeo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_DEW98_platform

Anyway what would've been wrong with the Mondeo platform ... its acknowledged as the best handling car in its class so that wouldnt have been a bad thing !

The XF build quality is head and shoulders above anything VAG currently produce for the similar money.

Edited 17 February, 201412 yr by morty

Well, I love my TSI VRS to bits and think it's awesome, but a chance at a sexy XF Sportbrake for that kind of money and with a nice engine too... All I can say is: tasty!

You are infact right. Shall I edit my original post or can we all live with the fact that I was wrong about the XF platform?

I don't quite agree with you on the Jag built quality and definitely not the handling of a Mondeo but that's probably not for this forum.

 

You are infact right. Shall I edit my original post or can we all live with the fact that I was wrong about the XF platform?

I don't quite agree with you on the Jag built quality and definitely not the handling of a Mondeo but that's probably not for this forum.

 Nah dont bother editing...... just get your facts right before posting as most info is now available to everyone on the net

and your right about the Mondeo handling .... after all most motoring journo's and testers must be wrong then ??

Will do morty. Thank you for the fatherly advice.

As for the Mondeo, maybe I have driven a particularly bad example but handling wise, I really think there are a lot better cars out there. It's a big car but it doesn't have to feel like one these days. Not going to argue about it but certainly my experience. (Granted it is based on having it as a hire car for a couple of weeks last year).

On another note, noticed you ordered a White vRS. Any second thoughts re the Candy white, eg change to moon white?

How about I start new thread with a poll to sort out whether a Mondeo handles well? Personally, I do not care as I am not buying one ;-)

I originally ordered candy white, but changed it (early on) to Rallye green which I thought was a stunning colour, and would stand out amongst all the white and blue ones

Will do morty. Thank you for the fatherly advice.

As for the Mondeo, maybe I have driven a particularly bad example but handling wise, I really think there are a lot better cars out there. It's a big car but it doesn't have to feel like one these days. Not going to argue about it but certainly my experience. (Granted it is based on having it as a hire car for a couple of weeks last year).

On another note, noticed you ordered a White vRS. Any second thoughts re the Candy white, eg change to moon white?

No sticking with Candy mate .. I refuse to pay a premium for metallic paint on a 23.5k car + I really like the flat white with the Anthracite Gemini alloys

The moon White wasn't available when I ordered but I do like the idea of it. However, my order was locked at the time it came out and I don't even want to think about delivery times if I had been able to change it. I shall be quite happy with my Candy White estate.

Candy white with anthracite is a grand choice. Skoda marketing think so too as it's the image widely used in their materials.

I certainly agree. It does need the Black pack and sunset glass to offset the white.

We will see in about 2 weeks time...watch this space, pictures will be provided.

Personally I would just not want to drive around in a car from one of the "vanity" brands. One of the characteristics of Skodas that I like (although I know this is slowly changing as VW move them progressively more upmarket) is the everyman/unpretentious character of the brand.

I certainly agree. It does need the Black pack and sunset glass to offset the white.

We will see in about 2 weeks time...watch this space, pictures will be provided.

 

I've had mine since December 20th. Candy white vrs estate with black pack and sunset glass. Only had the black pack as I managed to poach an order already confirmed in the system destined to be a demonstrator so I had to have it. I probably wouldn't have specced it otherwise but I like it and if ordering again i'd definitely buy it.

is the everyman/unpretentious character of the brand.

+1 still does it for me too, the Mk1 vRS was a dream for this but, a mildly tweaked TSI Elegance will still have the same effect some 15 years later.

Regards

T

Hard to buy a real true British car these days, even Jaguar were owned by an Indian company at one point, now owned by Ford I believe !

Hard to buy a real true British car these days, even Jaguar were owned by an Indian company at one point, now owned by Ford I believe !

Ford sold Jaguar to Tata Motors in 2008

Hard to buy a real true British car these days, even Jaguar were owned by an Indian company at one point, now owned by Ford I believe !

 

The other way around actually. And just because the shareholders are Indian, it doesn't mean it's not developed and built in the UK. You really think the people that came up with the Tata Nano would be able to create the XJ or the new F-type?