In November (first cold of the winter) it became apparent that the heater simply wasn't generating anything like enough heat to keep the cabin warm.

The car went back. "No problems from the diagnostics" came the reply. Next cold snap, the car was back in again, same problem. They kept it overnight this time and drove in the morning. This time they accepted that the heat was wrong. In total, they had the car four times for the same problem.

It went to them on 20 December 2001 and I haven't seen it since. The heat was 20 degrees C colder than it should have been. Dealer informed me that Jaguar are aware of at least four other 2.5s with the same problem. Engineers from Jaguar technical have inspected the car as have the aircon manufacturers. Both agree that there is a fault and do not know how to fix it.

In January, I was offered a brand new 2.5 with climate FOC. Despite my misgivings, I agreed and went to the dealer to collect the car on 1 March. Imagine my disbelief when I got into the car to find.....

....manual aircon! The whole point of them offering climate was to guarantee that, whatever else, the same problem couldn't recur. I have now rejected the car and finally received a refund from dealer/Jaguar.

The whole experience has been a nightmare. Dealer blaming Jaguar, Jaguar blaming the dealer, neither prepared to accept liability. I believe that it was only my making it perfectly clear to the dealer and Jaguar that NOTHING that they could do would persuade me that I should ever enter a Jaguar dealer again as long as I live that got me my cash.

I still can't believe that I sold my 2001 BMW to buy this heap.

Reitzle said at the xtype's launch that it had to be "right, out of the box and that Jaguar wouldn't get a second chance". To b....y right.

Oh yes, it also rattled, the boot (trunk) wouldn't always shut, it would claim the boot was open when it wasn't and it has to have the most gutless 190hp 2.5 ever built. Other than that, it was fine.

I will NEVER set foot in another Jaguar dealer (I'm only 35 and exactly Jaguar's) target for the X. I now have an Alfa 156 - completely fault free and 5 grand cheaper.