• Low mileage – just 66k

• 3.0 petrol V6 with AWD

• Desirable manual transmission

• Very tidy bodywork

The Jaguar X-Type represents an interesting chapter in Jaguar’s history. Built from 2001-2011, this was a single-generation car – no predecessor, no successor, simply existing as a moment in time. It was a successful one too, with over 355,000 cars produced; this was a ground-breaking creation, the platform offering Jaguar’s first ever production estate car, first diesel engine, first four-cylinder engine, first front-wheel-drive configuration…

The company’s position at the time within the Premier Automotive Group helped enormously with the X-Type’s development, the car using a modified version of the CD132 platform that underpinned the Ford Mondeo. The appointments were quintessentially Jaguar-like, however, and while there were sensible diesels and estates in the range, the one you really want is the one we have right here: the saloon with the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and the 5-speed manual gearbox.

With 228bhp and 206lb.ft to play with it’s an entertaining mover – especially with the all-wheel-drive system – and the equipment levels are extremely generous inside. A proper bargain in today’s market.

This car recently came into the possession of a serial car collector with a particular passion for Jaguars. Spying an opportunity, he jumped at the chance to buy a solid and usable example of that rarest of X-Type configurations, a 3.0 manual.

Having run it around for a little while, however, it’s time for it to move on – simply because he has a 1960s S-Type in need of restoration, and needs must.

The V5 is present, as well as the original manuals and service book – which has dealer stamps up to 2010. The car’s history indicates impressively low mileage, averaging just 3,600 miles per year across its life. 

The owner has it booked in for an MOT asap, so it’ll have a full ticket before sale.

These cars were lavishly equipped, with the standard appointments including proper wood trim, leather upholstery with an 8-way powered driver’s seat, automatic climate control, one-touch electric windows, automatic headlights and an electric tinted sunroof.

The condition of this interior is in keeping with its miles, with no undue wear to the leather beyond some cracking to the driver’s side bolsters and the steering wheel rim. The carpets and headlining are in good condition. There are one or two shoe scuffs and marks in the rear, but these should easily clean off. It’s all standard spec in there, with the only deviation being the oversize aftermarket stereo head unit – but don’t worry, the owner will be replacing this with something more fitting as well as replacing the surround to make the dash complete.

All of the electric windows work as they should, and all controls appear to be functional. Inside the boot it’s dry and tidy, and the space-saver spare wheel appears never to have been used.

This is arguably the prettiest paint colour for an X-Type (certainly more tasteful and attractive than the usual metallic beige), and the bodywork is in remarkably good condition for a 19-year-old car. It seems very likely that it’s spent much of its life garaged, given the lack of dirt and detritus in the places that usually collect such things – the boot shuts, for instance, are pleasingly clean.

On the whole the body is free from any dents, dings or scratches; the only notable blemishes we found were a small chip on top of the bootlid which has become a tiny patch of surface rust, and a minor scrape along the passenger-side rear door – the sort that you only spot if you’re looking for it.

The alloy wheels are tidy, and all of the light lenses are in good condition, including the often-vulnerable front foglights. The headlights have gone a little opaque, but they’d be easy to polish up and get good as new. The windows have been tinted, and it’s perhaps not a professional job as there are bubbles in the film, but that’d be simple to remove.

Overall, a really tidy example that’s evidently been looked after.

This is the drivetrain in you want in an X-Type: the 3.0-litre petrol V6, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel-drive.

The car fires happily on the first turn of the key and settles into an even idle with no warning lights illuminated. The owner reports no issues with the gearbox or clutch, and it’s equally good news with the steering, brakes and suspension. By all accounts this is a sweet thing to drive, smooth and reliable.

X-Types are looking like extraordinary value at the moment, with prices having plateaued at an affordable point for some time. This car is an interesting example to gauge a value of, as there simply aren’t very many 3.0-litre X-Types out there which were specified with the manual transmission, you’re far more likely to find an auto.

We reckon this gives the car a tantalising hook – and beyond that, there’s the fact that it’s a low-mileage example that’s clearly been cherished as it’s in such straight and tidy condition. We suspect that someone might be about to snag a magnificent bargain here.


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