RE: Shed Of The Week: Jaguar S-Type 4.2
Discussion
jamieduff1981 said:
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?The fact that the S Type didn't drive quite so well and did (still does) look utterly sh**e should mean that he shouldn't really have to explain himself.
Jimbo
JMF894 said:
jamieduff1981 said:
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?The fact that the S Type didn't drive quite so well and did (still does) look utterly sh**e should mean that he shouldn't really have to explain himself.
Jimbo
Looks are subjective. E.g. TVR Wedges are cheaper than all the good looking TVRs for a reason, but each to their own and all that...
Great shed. Rear wheel drive, petrol engine, V8, British and from one of the worlds premier marques. To top it all it's Jewish Racing Gold and one owner from new. Yes they look s
t from the rear but who cares, better to drive than an LS400, less rusty than a W210 Merc and an E39 at this price will have twice the miles, twice the aggro and half the engine. I'd rather have an Alfa 166 3.0 V6 though.
t from the rear but who cares, better to drive than an LS400, less rusty than a W210 Merc and an E39 at this price will have twice the miles, twice the aggro and half the engine. I'd rather have an Alfa 166 3.0 V6 though.IanCress said:
MOT history site shows the mileage was 185k in July. Probably getting towards 190k now.
Good news is that it hasn't had any major issues on the MOT. Mainly bald tyres and corroded brake pipes.
I noticed that, a bit of a fib there on the mileage, why mention 170k when at the last ticket it was 185k?. Even in 2014 it was reading 175K on odo, according to the MOT checker.Good news is that it hasn't had any major issues on the MOT. Mainly bald tyres and corroded brake pipes.
BFleming said:
Did all S-Types suffer from dodgy air-con reliability? Not sure it's a great winter hack with that many horses through the back wheels, and not a great summer one either with no aircon (or the risk that if it works now, it won't do in 6 months). So great Spring/Autumn car then!
Not at all. It is a known fault - one of very few IME - I've had 2 S types (the first only had a single issue in 60,000 miles from new- the clutch lever (almost unheard of on S types, but I ordered a manual (!)). In my second S type R the heater valve caused the air con to fritz and run hot after about 80,000 miles. It's a known fix and a specialist replaced the heater valve and re-soldered the heating module in a day at a reasonable cost (can't even remember - good for another 80,000 miles but this time it has a fuse to save the module). I've had nothing but good experiences with these cars and my type R has 400 BHP at the rear wheels with NO problems unsettling the back end. I've has both cars out on tracks from the 'ring to Oulton Park and handling is not an issue ... this has been mentioned (incorrectly) on PH before - my traction rarely flips on, and as you might expect from someone who has tracked S types, I don't have a light R foot. What I do have, however, is a 400 BHP reliable and silent uber saloon. These things are ridiculous VFM and probably the best performance, comfort and value vehicles it's possible to purchase right now.
tezzer said:
I had an 07 diesel. Lovely drive but every trip an adventure. 4 back axles in a year.All replaced under jaguar warranty but the minute it turned 3 years old it was gone.
My experience with a 54 plate 2.7d was similar, it was lovely to drive (if underpowered). The 2004 facelift and a good choice of colour made it look far less ghastly. What a fking nail though, one fault after another after another and none of them straightforward to fix due to stty design, poor access and crap quality fixtures that had all corroded to dust. Fuel economy average over 100K or so was 32MPG so I would have been better off with a 3.0 petrol or a 4.2.I could be tempted by a lower mileage 2004 onwards 4.2 or STR with a nice thick wad of invoices if it was very cheap but the rest need to be £250 disposable sheds to be worth considering, and even at that price the early cars aren't worth the trouble.
That said an E39 of the same age is not looking so great either - they all seem to rust, cooling issues and plenty of electrical gremlins. I thoroughly enjoyed driving a 530i around when they were new but very nearly every single one I've seen for the last few years has been a tired rusting heap. The youngest E39 is 12 years old now though, it's worth remembering that only the pre updated 1999 - 2002 S-Type was sold against the E39 and was seriously outclassed. The 2003 onwards S-Type was competing with the E60.
For my money the 2003 onwards S-Type had a better ride/handling compromise than the E60 but the relative sizes of the development budgets were pretty clear everywhere else.
Edited by dme123 on Saturday 28th November 11:05
jamieduff1981 said:
JMF894 said:
jamieduff1981 said:
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?The fact that the S Type didn't drive quite so well and did (still does) look utterly sh**e should mean that he shouldn't really have to explain himself.
Jimbo
Looks are subjective. E.g. TVR Wedges are cheaper than all the good looking TVRs for a reason, but each to their own and all that...
Thank you you've made my day!
dme123 said:
tezzer said:
I had an 07 diesel. Lovely drive but every trip an adventure. 4 back axles in a year.All replaced under jaguar warranty but the minute it turned 3 years old it was gone.
My experience with a 54 plate 2.7d was similar, it was lovely to drive (if underpowered). The 2004 facelift and a good choice of colour made it look far less ghastly. What a fking nail though, one fault after another after another and none of them straightforward to fix due to stty design, poor access and crap quality fixtures that had all corroded to dust. Fuel economy average over 100K or so was 32MPG so I would have been better off with a 3.0 petrol or a 4.2.I could be tempted by a lower mileage 2004 onwards 4.2 or STR with a nice thick wad of invoices if it was very cheap but the rest need to be £250 disposable sheds to be worth considering, and even at that price the early cars aren't worth the trouble.
That said an E39 of the same age is not looking so great either - they all seem to rust, cooling issues and plenty of electrical gremlins. I thoroughly enjoyed driving a 530i around when they were new but very nearly every single one I've seen for the last few years has been a tired rusting heap. The youngest E39 is 12 years old now though, it's worth remembering that only the pre updated 1999 - 2002 S-Type was sold against the E39 and was seriously outclassed. The 2003 onwards S-Type was competing with the E60.
For my money the 2003 onwards S-Type had a better ride/handling compromise than the E60 but the relative sizes of the development budgets were pretty clear everywhere else.
Edited by dme123 on Saturday 28th November 11:05
As for the 2.7D, well yes it had problems, it was jags first ever diesel engine, but look on the forums and the 3 litre diesels in the BMWs or Mercs have their issues too... We brits always seem for more critical of home grown products than those with a German badge for some reason....
legless said:
This particular car started life as a Jaguar engineering hack for 2004MY powertrain calibration development. I know as it was allocated to me at the time.
After we'd finished with it, it was returned to standard and put into the Approved Used network.
That's a great piece of trivia for Jacko's thread he started yesterdayAfter we'd finished with it, it was returned to standard and put into the Approved Used network.
Although I have always liked Jaguars, I have never wished to own one. The old man image, I suppose, has always got the better of me.
Two things have happened in the past two years to change that, however. The first was renting a 4.2 E-Type for a friend's 50th and falling hopelessly in love with how accomplished it was. They're astonishing cars, especially considering their age.
The second was the rather emotional purchase of my deceased father-in-law's 2003 2.5 S-Type. Dad had owned this since new and had loved and cherished it for 12 years, sparing no expense. It didn't move me at all, though. I felt it cramped, underpowered (as a passenger) and largely unremarkable, not to mention with dubious styling.
We wanted to keep the car in the family and so I bought it for my wife so that she could remember her Dad and also for my mother-in-law as it still sits on her driveway in the same spot that Dad parked it. We have a few cars of our own and don't have the space, so this arrangement works rather well.
However, now we own the car and now that I've driven it, my view has altered completely. Firstly, it drives really rather well indeed. What the 2.5 lacks in urge, it makes up for by being very willing and never harsh. Even fully loaded, it cruises along at motorway speeds in near silence and riding far better than I had ever imagined it would. And it goes around corners even better than it rides. I cannot compare it to a BMW as I haven't driven one in ages, but it's more fluid than my E55 and reminds me of my old Peugeot 405's. Interior quality isn't bad, either and although it's a bit cramped in the back and boot, that rather adds to the appeal in an odd way. It's flawed and that, partly, adds to the character.
The styling is still contentious, but it grows on you and especially after layering the thing with 4 coats of wax. Curves everywhere. Different. Rather nice. I hate to use the word 'sensual', but in a geeky way, it is.
It's made me want to own an XJ, but I love my Range Rover too much for that and we'll never sell the S unless forced to.
Two things have happened in the past two years to change that, however. The first was renting a 4.2 E-Type for a friend's 50th and falling hopelessly in love with how accomplished it was. They're astonishing cars, especially considering their age.
The second was the rather emotional purchase of my deceased father-in-law's 2003 2.5 S-Type. Dad had owned this since new and had loved and cherished it for 12 years, sparing no expense. It didn't move me at all, though. I felt it cramped, underpowered (as a passenger) and largely unremarkable, not to mention with dubious styling.
We wanted to keep the car in the family and so I bought it for my wife so that she could remember her Dad and also for my mother-in-law as it still sits on her driveway in the same spot that Dad parked it. We have a few cars of our own and don't have the space, so this arrangement works rather well.
However, now we own the car and now that I've driven it, my view has altered completely. Firstly, it drives really rather well indeed. What the 2.5 lacks in urge, it makes up for by being very willing and never harsh. Even fully loaded, it cruises along at motorway speeds in near silence and riding far better than I had ever imagined it would. And it goes around corners even better than it rides. I cannot compare it to a BMW as I haven't driven one in ages, but it's more fluid than my E55 and reminds me of my old Peugeot 405's. Interior quality isn't bad, either and although it's a bit cramped in the back and boot, that rather adds to the appeal in an odd way. It's flawed and that, partly, adds to the character.
The styling is still contentious, but it grows on you and especially after layering the thing with 4 coats of wax. Curves everywhere. Different. Rather nice. I hate to use the word 'sensual', but in a geeky way, it is.
It's made me want to own an XJ, but I love my Range Rover too much for that and we'll never sell the S unless forced to.
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