RE: Shed Of The Week: Jaguar S-Type 4.2

[to3m]

I thought these were horrid when they first came out, but they have grown on me over the years. The new-style Jaguars helped recalibrate my opinions, too.

For £1,000... what could possibly go wrong?

[ChrisR99]

My Grandpa has a 2001 4.0 S-Type. It's grey with (chrome?) Wheels and ivory interior. Only done 54k and he's had it for 12 years, he loves it and will never sell it. He drives rather fast too (he's 82)

[anonymous-user]

jamieduff1981 said:

abitlikefiennes said:

EggsBenedict said:

Weren't these build on some Yank Ford underpinnings? Lincoln Town Car? Dunno.

Mondeo I think? I'll ask my father-in-law. He's owned a fair few Jags but struggles to find anything nice to say about these.

No (and the X-Type connection to the Mondeo is tenuous - with the front strut towers being the only panels unchanged and a different wheelbase and track compared to the Mondeo, but don't let fact get in the way of misinformation).

The S-Type started life using Lincoln LS floor pan and some suspension and steering components as well as either the Ford 5R55N auto box, Ford manual gearbox (both V6s) or ZF 5 speed for 4.0 V8s. This was the 1999 model. It drove like crap though, so it received an extensive mechanical re-engineering for 2002 onwards with virtually no parts compatibility between <2002 and >2002, let alone >2002 and Lincoln LS. Post 2002 S-Types also received a completely redesigned interior.

Even the V6s were only Ford short blocks. The heads used the Mazda castings from the Duratec V6 family but machined to Jaguar specifications. Amongst chances to Ford spec V6s the Jaguar ones had different valve port geometry, introduced inlet cam variable valve timing, dumped the hydraulic lifters in favour of direct acting mechanical buckets (solid tappets) and had new manifolds designed. That's why the Jaguar V6s have far healthier torque and power curves compared to Ford V6s of the same capacity. They were built in Ford's engine plants alongside the Ford engines however, which is Ford enough for the misinformed - despite the Jag V6s producing more power than contemporary BMW I6s of the same capacity.

Lesson leaned. Thanks.

[johnxjsc1985]

How many people who comment on this car have driven one? just curious.

[jamieduff1981]

johnxjsc1985 said:

How many people who comment on this car have driven one? just curious.

Long term owner of a non-knackered one.

In my experience lots of people have an opinion about the car overall based solely upon what they think it looks like. They see "old man", assume it wobbles about on jelly suspension and steers like a ship based upon this, then they fabricate "an uncle" who used to have one upon which their imaginary driving experience is derived.

They do look old-manish. They will corner with any E39 5-series though, and do so with a superior ride quality.

[plasticpig]

pSyCoSiS said:

Totally agree - some really pointless and unjustified comments within these forums!

Most XJs (apart from the 350 and latest model) suit wearing the leaper on the bonnet. And that has never detracted me from buying one or judging the previous owner...

I hope you declare it as a modification to your insurance company. People who fit them obviously don't give a st about pedestrian safety. It's sort of understandable on series XJ and XJS cars as many dealers fitted them as an option but there is no excuse on anything newer. Certainly not on XK's and F-Types.

[J4CKO]

johnxjsc1985 said:

How many people who comment on this car have driven one? just curious.

I drove one in the US, it was alright really, but now, the image is a bit iffy, it has the sort of cheesy aspects of older Jags without the redeeming features like a massive Supercharged V8 and being massive

[LittleEnus]

plasticpig said:

I am always wary of people who put leapers on modern Jags.

I am always wary of people who are wary of people who put leapers on modern Jags. No worse than the garish stars on Mercs no?

[LittleEnus]

J4CKO said:

I drove one in the US, it was alright really, but now, the image is a bit iffy, it has the sort of cheesy aspects of older Jags without the redeeming features like a massive Supercharged V8 and being massive

Come on J4CKO who gives a toss about image? Oh that's right, almost everyone on PH.

I like this and would love a supercharged one. They have definitely improved with age.

[Pickled Piper]

It was only ever "OK" at best. Remember the competition was the E39 BMW 5 Series.

[tonyb1968]

I like it, it fits shed of the week perfectly, 4.2ltr V8, auto, rwd, full leather etc and chances are with being a 1 owner car and that sort of mileage, its either done lots of trips to the golf course or motorway miles, either way, that engine can take it, as can the gearbox and for less than a grand... if I wasnt getting a dog this weekend I would buy this (oh and no dog jokes either please )

[ambuletz]

maybe it's only me but I think there's something wrong with the way that ad is displaying landscape pictures. It's stretching/distorting all the landscape ones into portrait ones when you click the photos to expand it..

[jamieduff1981]

Pickled Piper said:

It was only ever "OK" at best. Remember the competition was the E39 BMW 5 Series.

So giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you have driven both of these types personally for any distance, objectively in which ways was the E39 5-series better, and by how much?

[dantournay]

I'd hunt down a post 2002 model as they are just better all round. I had a late diesel and loved it

[johnxjsc1985]

J4CKO said:

I drove one in the US, it was alright really, but now, the image is a bit iffy, it has the sort of cheesy aspects of older Jags without the redeeming features like a massive Supercharged V8 and being massive

S Type R ?

[gowmonster]

is that the ad of someone that doesn't really want to sell the car but just enough to say to the missus, there is a for sale ad up love....

[pSyCoSiS]

plasticpig said:

pSyCoSiS said:

Totally agree - some really pointless and unjustified comments within these forums!

Most XJs (apart from the 350 and latest model) suit wearing the leaper on the bonnet. And that has never detracted me from buying one or judging the previous owner...

I hope you declare it as a modification to your insurance company. People who fit them obviously don't give a st about pedestrian safety. It's sort of understandable on series XJ and XJS cars as many dealers fitted them as an option but there is no excuse on anything newer. Certainly not on XK's and F-Types.

I do indeed, and the safe ones are the spring loaded ones which some of my previous XJs had.

Totally agree, I think the leapers should be reserved to only the XJS, XJ up to X308 and anything older. Not an S Type, X Type, XK, etc.

All IMHO, of course!

[kmack]

I love the add!

It should read, "Great car please contact me for further details as I am far too important & busy to write anymore due to tending my land" Please ask for Giles, Lord of the manor...

[johnxjsc1985]

I have had 7 jags never had a leaper on the bonnet.

[Jimmy Recard]

dantournay said:

I'd hunt down a post 2002 model as they are just better all round. I had a late diesel and loved it

For instance the 2003 model that's featured as Shed of the Week?