1999 / 2000 MY S-Type - running costs etc
Discussion
I posted something similar in GG last week but it fell off the radar pretty quickly, so hopefully I'll have a touch more luck here 
I'm looking for something to replace my 9-5 Aero with, as my current 1.8 litre Focus is not my best friend on longer journeys.
I find myself drawn to the S-Type as something comfortable, different and not a 5-series BMW.
Something like this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
What are they like to run? Are there any particular things to look for? Cambelt / chain? Common issues?
I know the pre-facelift ones weren't received too warmly but as a motorway hack, which is where it will spend 90% of it's time, surely they can't be that bad?
Thanks in advance for any help / advice.
I'm looking for something to replace my 9-5 Aero with, as my current 1.8 litre Focus is not my best friend on longer journeys.
I find myself drawn to the S-Type as something comfortable, different and not a 5-series BMW.
Something like this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
What are they like to run? Are there any particular things to look for? Cambelt / chain? Common issues?
I know the pre-facelift ones weren't received too warmly but as a motorway hack, which is where it will spend 90% of it's time, surely they can't be that bad?
Thanks in advance for any help / advice.
If you are looking for reliability go for a S type sport manual 2001 on, also better on fuel and quicker than the auto, some early autos had gearbox problems, sometimes not too expensive to fix depending on the fault.
I got 32.8mpg on a 450 mile run, 23+ around town and apart from 2 ball joints tyres and brake pads have not had any other costs in 4 years 35K miles
I got 32.8mpg on a 450 mile run, 23+ around town and apart from 2 ball joints tyres and brake pads have not had any other costs in 4 years 35K miles
I've just sold my 2001 3.0SE with 149K miles and bought a newer diesel version. The big step was from 2002, with another smaller step in 2006 I believe.
However we all have budgets and if that puts you in 99-01 territory they can be perfectly sound cars. I had mine for about five years and in that time it needed two new front struts at a few hundred each (the bearings responsible are only 4p of course but they corrode in). So make sure the suspension, bearings/bushes are OK.
Although in hindsight I think the later model is more handsome, I still liked the older one a lot and everyone said how nice it looked. 'Sport' means they replace the wood with black plastic, and you're probably trying to get away from that so I'd head for the SE. And people who like Jaguars generally like their gears changed for them so I woudn't choose a manual... the 3.0 Auto has plenty of oomph.
As for mpg, I got (just) 30 on long runs and about 25 average. Am now enjoying the 2.7D which returns 45 average
If you're after satnav, the earlier cars have a CD-based system which is not upgradable and won't take postcodes - but you can always buy a TomTom and use the car system as a scrolling map which is very handy for an overview.
It's a prestige car for little money, so buy a clean one with FSH, keep a few £ aside for a rainy day and enjoy
However we all have budgets and if that puts you in 99-01 territory they can be perfectly sound cars. I had mine for about five years and in that time it needed two new front struts at a few hundred each (the bearings responsible are only 4p of course but they corrode in). So make sure the suspension, bearings/bushes are OK.
Although in hindsight I think the later model is more handsome, I still liked the older one a lot and everyone said how nice it looked. 'Sport' means they replace the wood with black plastic, and you're probably trying to get away from that so I'd head for the SE. And people who like Jaguars generally like their gears changed for them so I woudn't choose a manual... the 3.0 Auto has plenty of oomph.
As for mpg, I got (just) 30 on long runs and about 25 average. Am now enjoying the 2.7D which returns 45 average
If you're after satnav, the earlier cars have a CD-based system which is not upgradable and won't take postcodes - but you can always buy a TomTom and use the car system as a scrolling map which is very handy for an overview.
It's a prestige car for little money, so buy a clean one with FSH, keep a few £ aside for a rainy day and enjoy
Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 21st May 21:45
Cheers guys, most helpful.
I'm not too bothered if it's manual or not, though I should really apply some thought to what happens when I want to shift it onwards, as I guess the market looks harshly on manual Jags.
To be honest I had the suspension down as a weak point (bushes anyway) and one to check.
Budget-wise I'm looking between £3k - £4k, which probably would get me a facelift version. My reason for asking about pre-facelift was to determine if they are so bad as to be avoided (in that the facelift is so much better).
There are other options on the board when it comes time to change but, as I've had the Aero and a Multipla, I have a thing for cars which aren't the default choice.
One more thing - I'm thinking the 2.5V6 is just not strong enough for the size of the S-Type, am I right?
I'm not too bothered if it's manual or not, though I should really apply some thought to what happens when I want to shift it onwards, as I guess the market looks harshly on manual Jags.
To be honest I had the suspension down as a weak point (bushes anyway) and one to check.
Budget-wise I'm looking between £3k - £4k, which probably would get me a facelift version. My reason for asking about pre-facelift was to determine if they are so bad as to be avoided (in that the facelift is so much better).
There are other options on the board when it comes time to change but, as I've had the Aero and a Multipla, I have a thing for cars which aren't the default choice.
One more thing - I'm thinking the 2.5V6 is just not strong enough for the size of the S-Type, am I right?
Simpo Two said:
fathomfive said:
One more thing - I'm thinking the 2.5V6 is just not strong enough for the size of the S-Type, am I right?
IIRC the 3.0 is actually more economical, so it's a bit of a no-brainer!Is there anything else to watch for? Other than saving for a 2.7d
I had a run in one when a guy I was working with had his X-Type in for a transfer box
I bought a 3.0 in May 2006, and sold it on to the father in law at the beginning of 2007. He's still got it and it's not had any major issues, just normal run of the mill stuff like discs and pads. It's now got 96k on it and just been regularly serviced and looked after.
Around town you'll get early 20's, on a run late 20's maybe 30ish if you are being very good!
All in all a good car and I do regret selling it to the FiL, but I was chopping it in for a TVR!
Around town you'll get early 20's, on a run late 20's maybe 30ish if you are being very good!
All in all a good car and I do regret selling it to the FiL, but I was chopping it in for a TVR!
fathomfive said:
Other than saving for a 2.7d
It's spooky. I was travelling along a dual carriageway at about 70mph and saw the 'instant' mpg was reading 99mpg (as far I could tell I was going slightly uphill). Thinking it was a fluke I put my foot down a little - but it still said 99mpg. To make sure the trip wasn't broken, I put my foot down a good deal more and then it said 27mpg... truly 'stonishing. In most cars you get best economy at about 50mph and it gets worse above that; in this it keeps getting better. I haven't done any tests but it seems at least as quick as the 3.0 V6 as well.Back to the plot - I hear that auto gearboxes can be fragile in high mileage early S-Types, but mine was fine at 149K miles.
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 23 May 19:37
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