XM entry at Wikipedia

[Dieselman]

Which markets didn't require side repeaters? And since most countries seem to require them why did the test and photo cars not have them? I notice also that the spoiler appeared very late in the day. Few of the photos in the Norbye book have one.

As Robert said for the side repeaters, but in fact most of the World didn't require side repeaters, the UK was first.

Spoilers isn't an age thing, the base models never got them in all but UK cars. Company cars pushed the accessories to become standard equipment for UK cars.

[Tonx]

How do these CX engines cope with such high boost pressures, lowered compression ratio's?

never mind that, 250bhp on a front wheel drive lol.

[Tonx]

And anyway to the OP, why worry what other reviewers or people say?? enjoy your car/s and move on. Critics lol, don't bother,and as for that wiki, Who cares

[casalingua]

"As for that wiki, who cares?" Um, I do. I wanted to know if the compiled reviews were of interest or provoked any thoughts.

[Ciaran]

I wouldn't give much weight to anything Tonx says, casalingua, he's probably too busy burning his XM anyway
The rest of us are very interested in your changes to the Wiki article

[steelcityuk]

I read the Critical appraisal it's very interesting. I think this shows the drawbacks of taking others opinions as fact, maybe as do viewers of Top Gear and readers of such motoring press. It is hard to tell who has what prejudice/adgenda underlying their reporting. In my opinion this has lead to some awful trends in modern cars - rock hard suspension, very low profile tyres, obsession with speed and power. It's easy to see why such biased reporting exisits, if such journalists gave realsitic reviews to M3s, M5s, etc. it's unlikely they'd get whisked off by the manufacturers to some junket car launch and they'd only get to review what the rest of us can afford. If they were truely motoring fans rather than thrill seekers perhaps they could see the obsurdity of such cars in everyday circumstances and the real life needs of the majority of motorists. If it's different and they don't understand it they dismiss it. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of high performance cars but why should everyday cars be expected to imitate them.

Steve.

[casalingua]

My feeling was that the car reviewers seem to be missing the long-term experience of car ownership. Of course we can´t have magazines waiting five years to tell us if something is any good. Conversely it would be good if people understood that judging a car on a two day test drive is not wholly valid.

It seems the end result of the dialogue between testers and the industry and the consumer is to make cars good for showroom visits and short drives. I presume that if you make a car compromised to suit long-term use rather than drive-testing appeal you won´t sell so many.

The XM in the reviews isn´t really much like the car I own, with the single exception that I don´t think the ride quality is all that good on rough surfaces.Then again, it is now a 21 year old car. A brand new one might have been a different story.

[steelcityuk]

I often hear how bad the Prius is, terrible fuel economy, engine revving wildly during overtaking/climbing hills etc. But I find it's all Toyota claims it to be, a full sized car with low emissions, easy to drive and reliable. Other car owners I've lent it to are surprised to find how easy it is to live with but journalists generally don't them because they don't understand what Toyotas aim was.