Ping Steve Firth

OK, so, S-Type Jags.

Are they really a realistic proposition?

I'm tempted to stretch to a V6 Twin-Turbo Diesel, but a 2.5 petrol would do me fine. SE spec. looks good, and petrols are cheap, even for 2004 facelift models.

Going to see if I can blag a drive of a 3lt petrol from my local dealer in the morning - but I may struggle as I don't look the type who can afford one, as you know.....

I note the V6 petrols have chain driven cams, which is a good thing, so once I'm out of Jag. warranty, I'd just chuck it at my local mechanic to fix.

Reply to
SteveH
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They didn't tempt me as a car at the time that I considered getting one. I didn't like the faux-retro exterior. I got invited to the launch party at Goodwood and had a ride in each of the launch models and found them not to my taste. The interior was cramped for the size of car and the launch models had poor packaging (CD player in glove box, for example.) That was when I had a Merc. E-class for a time. However that turned out to be underpowered (3.2L) and unreliable and bits fell off it. So I'm not sure I got the best option.

I can only say drive them first. The ones that interested me were the V8s and even they feel a tad slow compared to the XJs. The later ones have a better drive and the interior package seems better sorted but still "snug". The inside is a nice place to be though and for a sporty saloon the tight fit of the cabin works for the driver. It's possible to wedge your self against lateral g and once you get into the Jaguar approach to driving it's very comfortable for long distances. It's a different approach to Audi who seem to like lots of free space and elbow room.

I don't know anyone complaining about reliability issues, and we have several owners in the village and I gossip with the garage owner who fixes just about every car around here. He'd be quick to tell me if they were truly rubbish.

What will astonish you is the way they feel compared to German cars. The roadholding is excellent, and the ride still manages the "magic carpet" feel. I don't think any other company is as good at matching engines to transmission either.

Hmm you don't look like the sort who can't afford one. I used to turn up at the local Jag dealer (Swain and Jones) wearing much the same gear I had on when I met you. They never batted an eyelid, and were obsequious to the point of being embarassing. OTOH H A Fox, another dealer at Guildford were snotty, stupid and lost the sale.

Depreciation is a headache, The XF is much better and I can see the S-types depreciating rapidly because of that and because of the VED and mpg making them less attractive to S/H buyers.

A non-Jag specialist can keep the car maintained for reasonably cost. For my old Jag I used a local specialist, XJ Engineering at Bentley, Hants. They did a really good job and I noticed that they serviced the E-type owned by the local stately home dweller.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Yeah, they styling is still 'marmite' even now it's approaching 10 years old - however, I do think the 2004 facelift improved things, especially around the rear end, where the boot was flattened off. I believe these later cars also got a less obviously Ford derived dash.

I've passengered in one many times and know what you mean about the space, I don't know how they made such a big car so small inside.... but again, the late model cars appear to be very nice inside.

That's good to hear. My biggest issue in this respect is that my father in law had to have a new gearbox at around 50k miles - but his is an early pre-2002 car, which are known to be a bit more troublesome.

Depreciation isn't an issue. The company allowance more than covers the purchase cost over 3 years (although it's a bit tight in terms of banking cash for maintenance - I'd have around £100 / month left for tax / insurance and maintenance) - but if the car is worth £3k at the end of my 3 years of use, I'd be more than happy.

Even tyres don't appear to be horrendous on non-Sport models, coming in at around £100 a corner.

However, assuming nothing major breaks on it, £600 / year for servicing should be fine.....

I don't think I have a local specialist, as ours moved to Weston Super Mare..... but it's all mostly Ford bits, as I recall - if he can cope with maintaining the Alfas, I'd hope he can maintain a new-ish S-Type.

I have a test booked in a 320d at 11 this morning, then I'm going to see if I can blag a drive of an S-Type and also a Subaru Legacy.

Reply to
SteveH

Um, the late ones share a whole load of dashboard with the Jag X-Type.

I'd have an S-Type, but only if they'd never made the alloy XJ.

Reply to
Pete M

Yes that's the big fly in the S-type's ointment. The XJ isn't *that* much more expensive and the alloy body means that the diesel gives better performance and economy in the larger car.

The XJ also depreciates less than the S-type and has a sensible boot compared to the S-type.

OTOH the S-type does over incredible VFM.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Paid more than that for tyres on the Zafira (nearly double if I went for the same as it was supplied with...) so yeah, sounds good

Reply to
Abo

Yes, that could be an explanation. OTOH sometimes shit happens. The box is, I think a ZF so you'll stand the same risk of failure with any BMW auto. Jaguar did fit some Mercedes auto boxes, but I think that was to the XJ, not the S-type. It's not a component I've ever worried about on a Jag. Even when they used GM boxes they were damned reliable, but every manufacturer can have some failures, even Toyota.

Reply to
Steve Firth

don't pay to much for one, my place has been sending loads of jag S types and x types to auction because no one will bid on them at our place even with £1.5K-£2k reserves!

Reply to
Vamp

So that's both cars and computers that your place of work is ignorant of.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Heh, come to the dark side Luke!

Reply to
Steve Firth

My Grandpa has a 3.0 Auto and it's definitely a nice place to be. Cream leather is not my thing, but it's certainly comfortable and hustles along quite nicely. My Dad gives it the odd hard drive and reckons in sport mode (dunno what that does - maybe just shifts later) and with the TC off it's a bit of an animal.

Dad looks after it, and to my knowledge it's needed nothing apart from routine servicing stuff.

Reply to
Carl Gibbs

errm no, mind you that is trade too and they was on like x reg to 51 reg cars. we just can't shift anything round here with anything bigger than a

2litre no one wants them.
Reply to
Vamp

Have you ever considered working somewhere less pikey? :-P

Mind you, the early cars were a bit crap, which has affected trade values.

Reply to
SteveH

I'd have an X-type 3.0 estate over an Alfa Sportwagon, and even though I don't like the look much I'd rather have an S-type R than an M3. It's a shame Mrs F's plans are (a) taking forever to come to fruition and (b) burning my car money.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Sport mode takes the engine closer to the red line before shifting up and sharpens the downchanges. If you dad thinks the 3 litre is an animal f'nose what he'd make of the 4.2.

When I had the XJR Mrs F. once made a comment about it "not being that fast" I used to leave it in the economy setting and just potter when she was in it. At the time we were on a Roman Road arrow straight, no side roads, and had just left a 40 limit. So I used the J-gate and changed to second then floored it, progressively.

The look on her face was impressive and at 5,000 rpm it was doing speed . When she'd calmed down a bit she did admit she'd been wrong about the speed, and added "I hope you don't drive like that when you're on your own!"

Me? Perish the thought.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Talking of the X-Type.

Is there any good reason to avoid the quick ones? - Been kind of thinking that an X-Type 2.5 or 3.0 might be a more realistic proposition in terms of purchase price and tyre costs....

The harsh reality of it is that, at £12k, I'm cutting things far too fine to actually maintain an S.

The alternative is a post-2002 improvements, but pre-2004 facelift car with a few more miles on it - keeping the purchase price down to around £9k or so.

Reply to
SteveH

That's a bloody understatement. There's one out there that has the dual colour seats, chromed gear selector, chromed detail on the dash vetns etc. and I'll even forgive the bloody grey maple "wood", because in context of the rest of the cabin it looks right. And it's a really nice metallic grey dark enough to be black with the mesh grill and and and...

Want.

Reply to
Steve Firth

No reason to avoid them that I know, other than the "look it's really a Mondeo" factor. The big engined ones are the only ones to have, if it doesn't have twin exhausts everyone will laugh at you.

The ideal model is the 3.0SE preferably estate, but the saloon has a mucking big boot. You may recall that the 3.0 AWD was the one that took on a skier in TG and also the one that Clarkson used to go skiing in the Cotswolds.

Must go, nearly 8.

Reply to
Steve Firth

Do they know about cars?

Can't you tell them it's 'R' for 'Reasonable'?

Reply to
PCPaul

I think he meant in terms of grin inducing handling rather than outright speed. Unfortunately I'm not trusted in it so haven't tried it myself :(

Although, I think that if I was spending that sort of money I'd probably be looking at the MG ZT V8 instead. But I'm not, because I'm tight, so that doesn't really matter :)

Reply to
Carl Gibbs

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