Jaguar S Type R - Proper Owners Review
Discussion
I’ve been meaning to post this for ages.
A few years back, I was unavoidably let down for a lift when I flew back into the uk. I could have got a train ticket home, or grabbed a taxi - that would have set me back a few hundred quid after allowing for, possibly, a hotel. So, I decided to do what we all would do. I got a five quid cab ride into town and went to the first forecourt I could find, with a view to buying a junker and either running it into the ground or throwing it away. Something like a Rover 200, or a Micra.
Understandably therefore, I paid the thick end of £850 for a 04 plate 3 litre SE. It was up for £1300 but the lads running the place were being evicted. Just over 90k on the clock, two doctor owners (honestly) and main dealer of specialist history, and all receipts to hand. An online check verified the MoT history, so it was with a sense of doom that I tapped in my PIN. Too late, she was mine. “Three month warranty sir?” Not likely, they’d be gone in under a week. Anyway, I had AA - what could go wrong?
Actually, nothing. No, honestly. Nothing. Apart from the sunglasses holder occasionally dropping open. And.. well, that’s it. I kid you not. In all the time since, she has purred beautifully. So, I thought I’d buy a V8 SE. I looked for over nine months. And then I found this. A very late model STR, very good (not complete) service history and a mot record that was a credit to its couple of owners. I couldn’t say ‘no’. The price was very good indeed, and after a faff with the online banking, off I gingerly went. I needn’t have worried. So easy and relaxing to drive, it’s unbelievable.
But, wind them up and they are absolutely hysterical. There’s no other word for it. Hysterical. So characterful, so engaging - a bit like a faithful old lab after a few pints. It’s psychotic. It’s very restrained, but when you go Buster and pull the Tit, Jesus Christ, that supercharger sounds like the earth tearing itself apart and it just goes and doesn’t want to stop. Mine is incredibly tight, almost feels like new. The hide is perfect order, the seating position is spot on, it’s restrained and refined, but you don’t want to mess with it. As a neighbour said ‘Tony Soprano would like that. He wouldn’t have an AMG, too cold - no character’.
A lot of people bang on about the wheel size and if I was going across Europe, a set of 18" jobbers may be nice. But it’s an R, FFS. If you don’t want the package, go for the SE - itself, lovely, but different.
So, my two are siblings born of different mothers. One’s a complete nutter and the other one is a silky swot. Should you buy one? Oh, yes. I’m lucky - mine is a beaut of a very late example. An early F10 M5 owner ambled over the other day, and we agreed - his, and the E60 variant truth be told - are far more proficient cars, but there’s not much else to touch the STR for sheer exuberance and madness. It’s not just fast, it’s powerful - and in all the right ways. The cockpit cossets you, it’s honest, and nothing flatters to deceive. It growls, in a subdued way, but only those idiots who go through life being fooled by an adversary’s politeness and cordiality, and miss the velvet stiletto, are fooled.
You’ll never find good examples as cheaply. I was going to trade the 3 litre against a Freelander, but it’s so relaxing, and it was so cheap, and it’s in indigo and dove grey (the best combo imho), so I’d be mad to. And it has beautiful walnut of course - a nice contrast to the STR. So, currently, I have the brace. Buy one. I’m so bloody glad I did.
A few years back, I was unavoidably let down for a lift when I flew back into the uk. I could have got a train ticket home, or grabbed a taxi - that would have set me back a few hundred quid after allowing for, possibly, a hotel. So, I decided to do what we all would do. I got a five quid cab ride into town and went to the first forecourt I could find, with a view to buying a junker and either running it into the ground or throwing it away. Something like a Rover 200, or a Micra.
Understandably therefore, I paid the thick end of £850 for a 04 plate 3 litre SE. It was up for £1300 but the lads running the place were being evicted. Just over 90k on the clock, two doctor owners (honestly) and main dealer of specialist history, and all receipts to hand. An online check verified the MoT history, so it was with a sense of doom that I tapped in my PIN. Too late, she was mine. “Three month warranty sir?” Not likely, they’d be gone in under a week. Anyway, I had AA - what could go wrong?
Actually, nothing. No, honestly. Nothing. Apart from the sunglasses holder occasionally dropping open. And.. well, that’s it. I kid you not. In all the time since, she has purred beautifully. So, I thought I’d buy a V8 SE. I looked for over nine months. And then I found this. A very late model STR, very good (not complete) service history and a mot record that was a credit to its couple of owners. I couldn’t say ‘no’. The price was very good indeed, and after a faff with the online banking, off I gingerly went. I needn’t have worried. So easy and relaxing to drive, it’s unbelievable.
But, wind them up and they are absolutely hysterical. There’s no other word for it. Hysterical. So characterful, so engaging - a bit like a faithful old lab after a few pints. It’s psychotic. It’s very restrained, but when you go Buster and pull the Tit, Jesus Christ, that supercharger sounds like the earth tearing itself apart and it just goes and doesn’t want to stop. Mine is incredibly tight, almost feels like new. The hide is perfect order, the seating position is spot on, it’s restrained and refined, but you don’t want to mess with it. As a neighbour said ‘Tony Soprano would like that. He wouldn’t have an AMG, too cold - no character’.
A lot of people bang on about the wheel size and if I was going across Europe, a set of 18" jobbers may be nice. But it’s an R, FFS. If you don’t want the package, go for the SE - itself, lovely, but different.
So, my two are siblings born of different mothers. One’s a complete nutter and the other one is a silky swot. Should you buy one? Oh, yes. I’m lucky - mine is a beaut of a very late example. An early F10 M5 owner ambled over the other day, and we agreed - his, and the E60 variant truth be told - are far more proficient cars, but there’s not much else to touch the STR for sheer exuberance and madness. It’s not just fast, it’s powerful - and in all the right ways. The cockpit cossets you, it’s honest, and nothing flatters to deceive. It growls, in a subdued way, but only those idiots who go through life being fooled by an adversary’s politeness and cordiality, and miss the velvet stiletto, are fooled.
You’ll never find good examples as cheaply. I was going to trade the 3 litre against a Freelander, but it’s so relaxing, and it was so cheap, and it’s in indigo and dove grey (the best combo imho), so I’d be mad to. And it has beautiful walnut of course - a nice contrast to the STR. So, currently, I have the brace. Buy one. I’m so bloody glad I did.
Welshbeef said:
Does anyone modify these?
Highest BhP?
What is the 0-100mph time?
I think it's quite easy to find someone who will fit a new pulley for the supercharger & remap the ECU...someone like Swallows in SomersetHighest BhP?
What is the 0-100mph time?
...standard is 400bhp, the X150 XKR had 420bhp, so 450bhp should be achievable...
...check out youtube videos of them with Milltek exhausts fitted (great sound, not cheap though)
0-100 = 12.5s for a healthy standard one...if you can get it off the line cleanly
Welshbeef said:
Does anyone modify these?
Highest BhP?
What is the 0-100mph time?
This has been useful.Highest BhP?
What is the 0-100mph time?
https://jec.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10761
I think you could make some quite noticeable marginal gains around the edges, very easily. But I wonder if more extreme tuning might just ruin the character.
Slightly relevant, as the STR and X350 S/C share the same mechancal components.
I have carried out a number of mods to mine, intake, cats, exhuast, pulley & remap. 295 width tyres on rear. 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds and 0-100 about 10-11sec.
Ran 12.89 at Santa Pod, which is the lowest time for a open diff 4.2 jag
.
I have carried out a number of mods to mine, intake, cats, exhuast, pulley & remap. 295 width tyres on rear. 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds and 0-100 about 10-11sec.
Ran 12.89 at Santa Pod, which is the lowest time for a open diff 4.2 jag
.I have just recently upgraded to a 2003 STR on 84000 miles from a 2.7 twin turbo diesel version which was running 260 bhp, that was pretty quick and very torquey at 535 nms, the new jag tho has the smaller uprated supercharge pulley, Adamesh cat back stainless pipes and iridium NGK plugs with a KnN air filter, total output is 430 bhp, awesome power that really kicks in quickly, I have heard all the scaremongers talk about the so called dreaded Valley pipe and cost of replacing but neither of the former owners were advised to have it done, Fox’s in Norwich/Lincoln who have serviced it for years said it wasn’t required as was running fine and cooling system was great, I am having a stainless Cadoofy induction pipe made that should be here in three weeks max so that will add more cold air to the charger and cooling system, should I be worried about the Valley pipe and what’s the method on changing it? 
I like these a lot, and I think time has been kind to the 2004 facelifted versions, however the biggest problem any S-Type has is the availability of the X350 for the same money. No rust (an issue with S-Types), and much lower weight. An XJR is 135KG lighter than an STR and an XJ6 is 165KG lighter than an S-Type 3.0!
Unless the 21cm of extra length and 5cm of extra width are a real issue you can see why you'd just go for the XJ.
Unless the 21cm of extra length and 5cm of extra width are a real issue you can see why you'd just go for the XJ.
Dave55STR said:
Cadoofy stainless intake pipe for £140 delivered, couple it with a KnN air filter, NGK iridium plugs and a Adamesh cat back exhaust in stainless and you like me will be pushing 440 bhp throu the rear wheels and a bigger whine throu the charger 
Are you assuming that figure? Or have you actually put it on a dyno?
Have recently bought one of these.
Black with black and oxblood red leather interior. Got it from a Jag specialist, and before it came to me, had new front discs and pads, replacement oil-breather pipe, a service and 12mths mot.
Since taking delivery, i have had it Hunter-aligned as it had feathered the outside edge of its front tyres, and then replaced them with new Goodyear Eagles.
New rears going on next saturday, as the current Conti’s are cracking their sidewalls due to perhaps a more spirited driving style than it was used to.
Looking ahead, it’ll go to my long-suffering best mate for a transmission service using ZF parts, and appropriate fluid. From there, he’ll hopefully go through it and replace all fluids, as well as likely a new rad as i understand the gearbox shares its cooling capability.
Body is very tidy, and i’ll just do a paint correction and finish with some zymol glasur.
I’ll go through the interior, and clean and condition the leather with gliptone. Its taken the years very well.
It feels very well screwed together, almost like a german marque. Rides silently, no creaks or rattles.
No creeping about due to its fruity exhaust. Jury is still out as to whether it will stay, as it only has rear non-standard silencers. It is loud. Not a crappy loud, though. Makes me smile, so thats all that matters.
Performance is quite special for a 16 year old saloon, and the soundtrack of v8 from the rear and supercharger whine up front adds to the experience.
My first v8, and i’m also kind of proud of this old cars abilities as we lurch towards brexit (even though i know its heritage is blended with Ford and Lincoln).
Unless we find some horrors along the way, this may well be a keeper.
If anyone asks, these are awful cars. Best avoided.
Black with black and oxblood red leather interior. Got it from a Jag specialist, and before it came to me, had new front discs and pads, replacement oil-breather pipe, a service and 12mths mot.
Since taking delivery, i have had it Hunter-aligned as it had feathered the outside edge of its front tyres, and then replaced them with new Goodyear Eagles.
New rears going on next saturday, as the current Conti’s are cracking their sidewalls due to perhaps a more spirited driving style than it was used to.
Looking ahead, it’ll go to my long-suffering best mate for a transmission service using ZF parts, and appropriate fluid. From there, he’ll hopefully go through it and replace all fluids, as well as likely a new rad as i understand the gearbox shares its cooling capability.
Body is very tidy, and i’ll just do a paint correction and finish with some zymol glasur.
I’ll go through the interior, and clean and condition the leather with gliptone. Its taken the years very well.
It feels very well screwed together, almost like a german marque. Rides silently, no creaks or rattles.
No creeping about due to its fruity exhaust. Jury is still out as to whether it will stay, as it only has rear non-standard silencers. It is loud. Not a crappy loud, though. Makes me smile, so thats all that matters.
Performance is quite special for a 16 year old saloon, and the soundtrack of v8 from the rear and supercharger whine up front adds to the experience.
My first v8, and i’m also kind of proud of this old cars abilities as we lurch towards brexit (even though i know its heritage is blended with Ford and Lincoln).
Unless we find some horrors along the way, this may well be a keeper.
If anyone asks, these are awful cars. Best avoided.
Greetings
Reviving this topic...
I have had my STR for 2 years now, having had an XJR previously (as well as 2 X-Types and a beautiful XF Sportbrake).
The car was a genuine 1 owner car from Warrington, owned by an oldish fella who may have died from Covid. I paid £4k for it with 87000 showing.
It is Platinum Silver. I have had the lamp washers deleted, Had the rear badges deleted. Got rid of the back boxes and fitted those 'J-Pipes' from the company starting with Z...?
Black and red interior to some loving before it made me happy. I changed out the silvery walnut for the aluminium flashings (which are an homage to early E-Type centre console) and it completely transformed into a more modern interior.
Performance?? AbsoFrikkinLutely Blistering for what it is and the age it is (2004 car). It is just so much fun surprising various cars & contenders away from the lights!!!
It's not even had a service yet but I am doing discs & pads all round very soon, for piece of mind. My Mrs drives it quite happily and gets lots of 'comments' from blokes in vans etc.
100% recommend if you are of a mind to find and buy a goodun.
If I knew how to post a picture I would...
Reviving this topic...
I have had my STR for 2 years now, having had an XJR previously (as well as 2 X-Types and a beautiful XF Sportbrake).
The car was a genuine 1 owner car from Warrington, owned by an oldish fella who may have died from Covid. I paid £4k for it with 87000 showing.
It is Platinum Silver. I have had the lamp washers deleted, Had the rear badges deleted. Got rid of the back boxes and fitted those 'J-Pipes' from the company starting with Z...?
Black and red interior to some loving before it made me happy. I changed out the silvery walnut for the aluminium flashings (which are an homage to early E-Type centre console) and it completely transformed into a more modern interior.
Performance?? AbsoFrikkinLutely Blistering for what it is and the age it is (2004 car). It is just so much fun surprising various cars & contenders away from the lights!!!
It's not even had a service yet but I am doing discs & pads all round very soon, for piece of mind. My Mrs drives it quite happily and gets lots of 'comments' from blokes in vans etc.
100% recommend if you are of a mind to find and buy a goodun.
If I knew how to post a picture I would...
wilwak said:
I miss having a USB port to plug a stick in to with all my music.
Could something like this be a workaround?https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314359027414?itmmeta=01...
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