Sunday 23rd December 2018

Jaguar S-Type R: Spotted

A 'charged V8 in a classical British bruiser for £8k? Sounds good to us...

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Beauty, it has been said, is a matter of millimetres. It is the merest difference in the slant of a nose or the distance between the eyes or the nose and the mouth that can colour our decisions on who is beautiful and who is perhaps, like your esteemed author here, best judged on their personality.

In the matter of cars, there is no argument. We know one of the reasons most people choose a car is for its looks, and that probably applies no matter how much the individual knows about cars. The same rules apply: the smallest change can make all the difference. How else to explain the penchant for aftermarket alloy wheels, or bib and tucker spoilers, or even extended sills? After all, we all lust after a GTI, but we aren't so interested in looking at the 1.0 S version.

Some cars, of course, are beyond reasonable help. To be different and to stand out from the crowd is all very well, but in 1998 the S-Type was one of the first of the modern breed of retro-styled cars, picking up brazenly on hints of Jags of old, most especially the Mk2. Some saw this as cynical styling, stealing from the past when the object of good design is surely to lead the public gently by the hand into a brave new world.

To drive, the base models of the S-Type weren't overly impressive either, which didn't help its cause. However, in 2002 the R was launched, complete with an Eaton-supercharged 4.2-litre V8 engine making 390hp and 399lb ft, attached to a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox. The R thus equipped was rorty enough to give the impressive headline figure of 0-62mph in 5.5sec. Externally, it had bespoke badges and alloys and also a sporty mesh grille, as well as a discreet rear spoiler on the lip of the boot lid and a body kit. Subtle, but it looked a whole lot better than the standard car.

It was a heavy car, admittedly, but it was also refined and relatively smooth riding. If desired, you could hang the tail out, but for those moments when you weren't in the mood the R was a stable and well-balanced proposition. Inside, it had powered front sports seats trimmed in opulent leather, cruise control and air-con, and plenty of room for the family.

This one has a full service history to support its 88,000 miles. It looks the biz in metallic black, and as it's a 2006 car it benefits from an aluminium bonnet and the restyled bumpers and tail-lights that came as part of the 2005 facelift. At a tad under £8,000 it doesn't seem bad value, although it has to be noted they were once even cheaper. Owners' reports on reliability and build quality are a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, with rust a major bugbear. Ultimately, it's no beauty either, but a supercharged V8 in a classical British bruiser for this kind of dosh is not to be sneezed at, especially if your nose is just the right distance from your mouth.

Mark Pearson

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SPECIFICATION - JAGUAR S-TYPE R

Engine: 4.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 390
Torque (lb ft): 399
MPG: 22.4
CO2: 314g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 88,000
Price new: £55,680
Yours for: £7,995

See the full ad here.

[shakesc]

Never a big fan of the S-Type, wouldnt mind an R but not shed territory yet

[The Leaper]

II had a 4.0L V8 for 3 years then a 4.2L V8 for 10 years. Often lusted after the S type R. Got to drive one once and glad I did not own one because although obviously a great performer it was not very Jaguar like to drive. The regular 4.2 was a fab car just like a Jaguar should be. I followed these with a XF 5.0 V8 n/a which also performed very well but the comparatively harsh ride did let it down.

R.

[Jim the Sunderer]

Chavtasticly tinted windows, probably smells of smuggled cigarettes.

[sideways man]

I was seriously tempted by one of these with an LPG conversion for £1300. Ok it was a few years ago,but not that many,prices really have risen on these.

[Plug Life]

The British PT Cruiser...

[alec.e]

I am not suprised at the usual PH anti Jaguar hate so far. The S type R is a performance bargain and I think the looks are improving with age.
The R styling is much improved over the old man spec SEs.

sideways man said:

I was seriously tempted by one of these with an LPG conversion for £1300. Ok it was a few years ago,but not that many,prices really have risen on these.

You sure it was a real R? Genuine ones around the £3k mark are usually very sheddy.

Edited by alec.e on Sunday 23 December 13:44

[bristolracer]

Tan leather and wood looks so much better in these.
Dark Black interiors are available in any old common German product.

[soad]

One ugly car. Would rather smoke around in a XJR.

[amoeba]

soad said:

One ugly car. Would rather smoke around in a XJR.

Which would be significantly more expensive!

I have an STR, mechanically has been very good (192k miles so far).

Not convinced the one in this article is a particularly good example - interior looks like the worst colour combination to me.

Rust - think the facelift (2004+) was meant to be much better than the earlier models.

[Gandahar]

I love this car and often while drunk decide to buy one and send my long suffering friend in the USA a link to it. Only to sober up in the morning.

It is actually the greatest car ever but only if a friends lends you one for the weekend and says "just spank it" . Where upon you end up trying to do doughnuts in a supermarket carpark and hit 155mph downhill on the M20 near Brandshatch whilst listening to ACDC on the CD player. At which point the oil light comes on.

Actually that was an XK8 we once hired from Hertz at Heathrow. I saw one today, they are aging really well externally. The inside will always be 1990's

Just look at it?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

green and cream and wood, almost as much wood as I have at the moment (no cream yet, though that might appear). Crap to drive sportily of course. this is one for a man who wants to waft along so his sheepskin coat does not ruffle.

I need to sober up soon before I get an unwanted Christmas present.

[sideways man]

alec.e said:

I am not suprised at the usual PH anti Jaguar hate so far. The S type R is a performance bargain and I think the looks are improving with age.
The R styling is much improved over the old man spec SEs.

sideways man said:

I was seriously tempted by one of these with an LPG conversion for £1300. Ok it was a few years ago,but not that many,prices really have risen on these.

You sure it was a real R? Genuine ones around the £3k mark are usually very sheddy.

Edited by alec.e on Sunday 23 December 13:44

It was definitely a supercharged v8 s type and was for sale about 3 years ago. Mileage was 180,000 or so and I was incredibly tempted as fuel had just gone down to £1 a litre, which made it nearly acceptable to fuel.
My brain ruled my heart though,and decided against following it up.

[anonymous-user]

Or you could pay a grand more and have the far better looking, newer XF SV8 with the same powertrain

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or a tidy X350 XJR or X308 XJR.

An S-Type R makes sense for £2k to smoke around in as a comedy barge but you'd be a bit mad to spend £8k on one.

[The Leaper]

Or, even better IMHO than the SV8, is an XF 5.0 V8 n/a. I had one for close on three years, great car. Very rare in the UK too.

R,

[alec.e]

sideways man said:

alec.e said:

I am not suprised at the usual PH anti Jaguar hate so far. The S type R is a performance bargain and I think the looks are improving with age.
The R styling is much improved over the old man spec SEs.

sideways man said:

I was seriously tempted by one of these with an LPG conversion for £1300. Ok it was a few years ago,but not that many,prices really have risen on these.

You sure it was a real R? Genuine ones around the £3k mark are usually very sheddy.

Edited by alec.e on Sunday 23 December 13:44

It was definitely a supercharged v8 s type and was for sale about 3 years ago. Mileage was 180,000 or so and I was incredibly tempted as fuel had just gone down to £1 a litre, which made it nearly acceptable to fuel.
My brain ruled my heart though,and decided against following it up.

It that case, it would have been the bargain of the century, your brain ruled wrong

[alec.e]

The Leaper said:

Or, even better IMHO than the SV8, is an XF 5.0 V8 n/a. I had one for close on three years, great car. Very rare in the UK too.

R,

What advantage does the 5.0 N/A have, less BHP and Torque than the 4.2 S/C and less tuneable, slower to 60mph too?

[anonymous-user]

alec.e said:

The Leaper said:

Or, even better IMHO than the SV8, is an XF 5.0 V8 n/a. I had one for close on three years, great car. Very rare in the UK too.

R,

What advantage does the 5.0 N/A have, less BHP and Torque than the 4.2 S/C and less tuneable, slower to 60mph too?

Probably more efficient due to Direct Injection? Also less of a known quantity, which matters at this end of the market

[Don Roque]

Love these but that paint looks as flat as anything. It needs a good way and polish.

[The Leaper]

The XF 5.0 V8 n/a has around 385 BHP so not far short of the S Type R. It will get to 60 in 5.5 seconds so no slouch. 0-60 and top speed is not everything. With a Jaguar you're expecting the ride to be really good too, something out and out performance cars often lack.

R

[The Leaper]

The XF 5.0 V8 n/a has around 385 BHP so not far short of the S Type R. It will get to 60 in 5.5 seconds so no slouch. 0-60 and top speed is not everything. With a Jaguar you're expecting the ride to be really good too, something out and out performance cars often lack.

R

[johnxjsc1985]

Many of them had two tone leather interiors which was a bit of a put off for me. Having had a Diesel some 12 years ago I thought the R would be good option in the future but never got around to buying one and they are getting a bit long in the tooth now but still a cracking Car