What to look out for when buying an S type (R)
Discussion
So, after seeing one next to me at the lights the other day, and then opening my window to hear to roar off i've made up my mind, and with the misses saying she's always loved "a jaaaaaag" i've started looking at getting a Jaguar S type R, the 4.2 supercharged V8.
I've started reading up on them, but would like to hear some owners tips/advice, especially on what to look out for when buying, and what big services/replacings should have been done at what millage.
Also would like to know if the bits in the dashboard are easily swapable. I've seen a few nices models which had the alluminium dash whereas we'd both prefer the wooden bits in the dash, is it possible to buy wooden panels and swap them over afterwards or does that mean removing half the interior ?
Cheers folks.
That "Water pipe under the supercharger", is that something that would get changed during a big service at jaguar, or it that at owners initiative ?
Budget upto 10K.
Have actually already emailed the guy from that first autotrader link (the green one), as really like that colour.
Also, is the dash trim easy to swap ? That one above has that grey/aluminium dash, but we both prefer the wooden look.
This is gonna sound a bit silly, but been looking at a few youtube video's and during acceleration that supercharge wine seems to be quite prominent.
I've never driven anything with a supercharger before, so was just wondering, are you still able to hear the V8 rumble and burble away, or does the supercharge noise kinda take over ?
LFB531 said:
Stunning car for the money.
I've had mine for 18 months now, I bought it after 3 years with a normally aspirated 4.2 as I just had to scratch that Supercharger itch!
I do have another tip mind you! My daily commute uses a lot of lanes followed by City pootling. It wasn't doing the STR a lot of good, especially with all the brambles and potholes along the way. I treated it to a driveway mate for the City and am now keeping the Jag for more pleasant journeys where the open road beckons! This little 4wd screamer cost the same as a couple of services, goes anywhere whatever the weather, can be parked on a sixpence and sips fuel at a miserly rate. 850kg and 105bhp provides a bit of fun too. Suprised Jaguar don't have them on the options list! Man maths I believe
Cheers for that.I've had mine for 18 months now, I bought it after 3 years with a normally aspirated 4.2 as I just had to scratch that Supercharger itch!
I do have another tip mind you! My daily commute uses a lot of lanes followed by City pootling. It wasn't doing the STR a lot of good, especially with all the brambles and potholes along the way. I treated it to a driveway mate for the City and am now keeping the Jag for more pleasant journeys where the open road beckons! This little 4wd screamer cost the same as a couple of services, goes anywhere whatever the weather, can be parked on a sixpence and sips fuel at a miserly rate. 850kg and 105bhp provides a bit of fun too. Suprised Jaguar don't have them on the options list! Man maths I believe
Neither of us commute as she takes the train to London and i got an 8 minute walk to work.
We've got a little Clio sport 182 (900 kg, 182 bph) and a 3000GT (3.0 V6 twin turbo, 500 bph, but still off the road with multiple issue's) so the 182 is the shopping car, and the Jag would be for weekends away and to drive to Holland in, as eventhough the little countrylanes back home were a lot of fun, the motorway journey to Holland in a Clio wasn't great...
Was there a lot of difference in oomph between the 4.2 and the supercharged 4.2 ? I've seen a few really nice 4.2's online but i don't want to regret not getting the R version after a few months.
Also, above i read "Pre 2004 cars have front fogs, post 2004 cars have twin oil coolers behind the grills so no fogs", but yours is a 2004 model with fog lights ? Or did it change somewhere in the middle of the year ?
I am looking for a post 2004 model as i read the engine etc is a bit better.
Think I'd better go for that R then so I won't have any regrets ;-)
I've seen some with that chrome leaping jag statute on the bonnet and some without, is that something that could be added afterwards? Does it screw in or what?
And what's your view on the Sat nav, does it work ok and is it easily updateable ?
pherlopolus said:
you won't get a sat-nav disk any later than 2012, not being updated any more 
Really ?? 
Not even from a jaguar dealer? How do people get round this one, can you put different software on it somehow?
We travel to Holland, Belgium and France quite a bit so would like up to date sat nav without having a TomTom hanging off the window.
I guess I could use my phone which has sat nav software, just not ideal.
What mileage did you guys buy yours at, only seen one with low miles (55K) and a few around 80 - 90K but also saw a nice looking one with 116K.
Would that be too much or still ok if it's looked after and services well?
I only do about 3 to 4K a year anyway.
9mm said:
My advice with cars like these is to be very careful around the 50,000-70,000 mile range. Many of these cars are timebombs with lots of impending expenditure. For example, I bet the valley pipe on that 55,000 miler hasn't been done.
On the other hand, many cars with higher mileages have had all the expensive things done. My car, now on 108,000 miles, has had new suspension, the valley pipe and various other wear and tear items, all of which are good for another 50,000 miles or more.
That's a good point. But then on the other side, if i was to get a 40 - 44K model i'd probably have a few years driving in it before i have to start looking at servicing those bits, and therefor can prepare for it.On the other hand, many cars with higher mileages have had all the expensive things done. My car, now on 108,000 miles, has had new suspension, the valley pipe and various other wear and tear items, all of which are good for another 50,000 miles or more.
Saw one that looked nice but stated the fuel gauge stopped working, is that common and/or an easy fix ?
Never been a fan of black alloys on any car really, but this does look awesome :
Does it look like he has spacers on the wheels though, or do they all stick out a bit like that ?
Spend the whole morning look over this one, going through every little thing, and have just put a deposit down on it, and am going to pick it up on monday :-)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Very wel looked after, full service history at local Jag specialt. Current owner actually come over to my house (lived not far away) and after testdrive he showed me all the receipts and work done.
I'd actually already found him on the jaguar forum and have gone through all his posts going back to 2010 which also showed the car was services as it should, and well loved.
Can't wait till i pick it up in 2 days now!
Tame Technician said:
2006 Model year cars got different brakes, the expensive brembo calipers were ditched for ATE ones, at the time were all thought this was a cop out and price cuts by ford. But the later brakes proved to squeak and warp discs much less, somthing the Brembo ones did all the time.
The ATE calipers look more like this,
I had my MOT a few weeks back and the guy said the brake pads all round are starting to wear a bit and will need doing soon, though they weren't bad enough to be an advisory.The ATE calipers look more like this,
Going through the paperwork i got with the car it had the read brake pads replaced exactly 2 years ago at a local indi, for about £ 150,
So i rang up that indo today to ask about pads all round, and he confirmed the rear ones still £ 150, but the front onces will be about £ 210, or £ 280, with labour (not brave enough to do it myself, going abroad in a week and don't want anything going wrong).
He said they were more expensive because my car will probably have "the expensive brembo's" but then i remembered your comment on here.
My car is first registered 03-05-2006, so would that mean ATE calipers then ? Would you be able to tell from these pictures which type they are :
jamieduff1981 said:
Those are the ATEs.
The Brembos are big monoblock things with pistons both sides of the discs. Your calipers are more common floating type which makes them ATE
Cheers for that. The Brembos are big monoblock things with pistons both sides of the discs. Your calipers are more common floating type which makes them ATE
Some folks on the Jag forum are recommending the 'EBC Redstuff ceramic, low dust brake pads" (http://ebcbrakesdirect.com/en-gb/Store/Automotive/vt/1/mk/9cecd2c4-ec6f-42f1-b59f-4e837b4e83f5/md/e2b1d017-ec75-407e-afc6-1fab2bc255f3/vid/8651f5d7-c87c-4b14-971e-a7097183c137#).
Would they fit my ATE brakes then ?
LFB531 said:
I've just had my R serviced at my local garage with Mintex kit and according to the part numbers (2004 car) I've got Brembo calipers, looking at the bill the pads are £30 exc Vat a set, the discs are £58 each and the parking brake pads were £24 for a set.
I use EBC yellows on the rally car but never had a problem with standard stuff on the R.
Standard service (no plugs), disc and pad change, MoT, all done for £522 inclusive.
That's some good prices, especially considering my local indi wanted £ 205, just for the front brake pads, "due to them being brembo's"...I use EBC yellows on the rally car but never had a problem with standard stuff on the R.
Standard service (no plugs), disc and pad change, MoT, all done for £522 inclusive.
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