S-Type 3.0 Sport.......talk to me please!
Discussion
As title states, having been focusing on BMW E65 7s lately, I've read one of the longer threads in here and it's had me noseying at the S-Type for similar money/less miles, but I don't have the foggiest clue about them.
No idea what their foibles are, how (sort of) economical they are when pootling, what the basic spec is, and what the options worth having are.
So, anyone fancy bringing me up to speed, and persuade me they're worth a look at (seriously)?
One I have spied is an '04 Auto 3.0 Sport with black/buttermilk interior, full JSH, 60K ish, and in the £5-6K budget.
Cheers guys.
No idea what their foibles are, how (sort of) economical they are when pootling, what the basic spec is, and what the options worth having are.
So, anyone fancy bringing me up to speed, and persuade me they're worth a look at (seriously)?
One I have spied is an '04 Auto 3.0 Sport with black/buttermilk interior, full JSH, 60K ish, and in the £5-6K budget.
Cheers guys.
Edited by PJ S on Tuesday 2nd August 19:35
I have an '06 3.0 Sport manual.
Lovely car. As the mileage has crept up, the fuel consumption has improved, from about 23 mpg to about 27 now. It has been very regularly serviced though. I am told the later ones look better, have improved suspension, and are more reliable. I have never had any significant trouble with mine, and it is a delightful car to drive.
The 3.0 is a gutsy little engine, and can go, though being on the heavy side the car is better when it is under way. If you could get a 4.2, supercharged or otherwise, I think most people would agree it is quite a bit nippier, and is a powerful car by any standards. Handles well, very much a sports saloon. Space for four in comfort, five at a push, and the boot is a little small.
You will get small stone chips on the bonnet. Too bad.
I can heartily recommend the S-Type.
Lovely car. As the mileage has crept up, the fuel consumption has improved, from about 23 mpg to about 27 now. It has been very regularly serviced though. I am told the later ones look better, have improved suspension, and are more reliable. I have never had any significant trouble with mine, and it is a delightful car to drive.
The 3.0 is a gutsy little engine, and can go, though being on the heavy side the car is better when it is under way. If you could get a 4.2, supercharged or otherwise, I think most people would agree it is quite a bit nippier, and is a powerful car by any standards. Handles well, very much a sports saloon. Space for four in comfort, five at a push, and the boot is a little small.
You will get small stone chips on the bonnet. Too bad.
I can heartily recommend the S-Type.
For comparison, I've had my 4.2 from 14 miles, now up to 103,000, and I reckon I get 23 mpg without thinking about economy, and when I go on a long run (which is often), say to Cornwall, cruising at a steady 70ish I get maybe 29-32 mpg.
I spent a lot of time deciding which engine to get, having had a 4.0 previously, and in my view the 4.2 was the best by a long way, especially the most Jaguar-like.
Mate had 4.2 and has had for the past year a 2.7 diesel which he says is just great too, especially as a cruiser.
R.
I spent a lot of time deciding which engine to get, having had a 4.0 previously, and in my view the 4.2 was the best by a long way, especially the most Jaguar-like.
Mate had 4.2 and has had for the past year a 2.7 diesel which he says is just great too, especially as a cruiser.
R.
For comparison, I've had my 4.2 from 14 miles, now up to 103,000, and I reckon I get 23 mpg without thinking about economy, and when I go on a long run (which is often), say to Cornwall or France, cruising at a steady 70ish I get maybe 29-32 mpg.
I spent a lot of time deciding which engine to get, having had a 4.0 previously, and in my view the 4.2 was the best by a long way, especially the most Jaguar-like.
Mate had 4.2 and has had for the past year a 2.7 diesel which he says is just great too, especially as a cruiser.
R.
I spent a lot of time deciding which engine to get, having had a 4.0 previously, and in my view the 4.2 was the best by a long way, especially the most Jaguar-like.
Mate had 4.2 and has had for the past year a 2.7 diesel which he says is just great too, especially as a cruiser.
R.
johnxjsc1985 said:
Well I did see 6 mpg when going up a steep hill rather quickly.
My 1990 4.0 would show 4mpg if you hoofed it in second 
Perversely it is equally enjoyable to see my 2.7D showing 95mpg when cruising and 40mpg when accelerating - but that's in DPF regeneration mode.
Need to work out how to keep them regenerating!
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 4th August 11:41
The wife has a 4.2 Sport and it really is a lovely car. Powerful, refined, handles well with it's sports suspension, and is economical for a near 2 ton car. She averages 24mpg for the whole working week, which includes a lot of town driving.
On a recent 300 mile drive down to Dorset we averaged 34mpg which I think is very reasonable for a large 300hp saloon.
Now, if I can just get her to stop kerbing the damn alloys!!!
On a recent 300 mile drive down to Dorset we averaged 34mpg which I think is very reasonable for a large 300hp saloon.
Now, if I can just get her to stop kerbing the damn alloys!!!
V88Dicky said:
The wife has a 4.2 Sport and it really is a lovely car. Powerful, refined, handles well with it's sports suspension, and is economical for a near 2 ton car. She averages 24mpg for the whole working week, which includes a lot of town driving.
On a recent 300 mile drive down to Dorset we averaged 34mpg which I think is very reasonable for a large 300hp saloon.
Now, if I can just get her to stop kerbing the damn alloys!!!
You must have been going on a bit much about the benefits of less unsprung weight: she thinks she's helping On a recent 300 mile drive down to Dorset we averaged 34mpg which I think is very reasonable for a large 300hp saloon.
Now, if I can just get her to stop kerbing the damn alloys!!!
What did the '04 'facelift' bring to the table?
I can see the clocks are better (chrome/silver rings, with improved digital display), but what else changed?
On that version (Mk 3?), what were the main concerns/things to check over?
Cambelt still, or chain like a lot of others? If the former, when should it need doing.
How useful is the JaguarVoice?
Similarly the touchscreen Nav option?
How reliable has the diesel proven to be - vis a vis the BMW swirl flaps & crankcase breather filter notoriety?
Gave a Subaru Legacy 2.5 a bit of a run out ('04 I believe), and whilst decent enough, really didn't grab me.
Centre armrest too far back (and seat heating controls) to be anyway remotely useful.
'Manual' mode on the box seemed to only have 4 gears!
Nav display screen had graphics that emulated the Skyline to show battery voltage, instantaneous mpg, and something else.
All in all, tacky and layout for AC controls poorly thought out for frequent use/changing, and a bit underwhelming.
Same dealer has a 53 plate 3.0 S-Type in green, but time didn't permit the chance to do anything much other than look at it, sit inside. Was pleasantly surprised with the inside - photos online hadn't really been selling me on it.
Heard a bit of a rattle/vibration on idle sitting inside - seemed to be behind the dash, but upon opening bonnet, couldn't detect it again.
It was after that, that had me looking through Auto Trader again, and seeing the different clocks, has made me focus on the facelift, although an LPG'd late pre-facelift could potentially tempt me on the 3.0 front.
Thanks for the responses above, and in advance for the ensuing ones with all the extra questions in this post.
Much appreciated.
I can see the clocks are better (chrome/silver rings, with improved digital display), but what else changed?
On that version (Mk 3?), what were the main concerns/things to check over?
Cambelt still, or chain like a lot of others? If the former, when should it need doing.
How useful is the JaguarVoice?
Similarly the touchscreen Nav option?
How reliable has the diesel proven to be - vis a vis the BMW swirl flaps & crankcase breather filter notoriety?
Gave a Subaru Legacy 2.5 a bit of a run out ('04 I believe), and whilst decent enough, really didn't grab me.
Centre armrest too far back (and seat heating controls) to be anyway remotely useful.
'Manual' mode on the box seemed to only have 4 gears!
Nav display screen had graphics that emulated the Skyline to show battery voltage, instantaneous mpg, and something else.
All in all, tacky and layout for AC controls poorly thought out for frequent use/changing, and a bit underwhelming.
Same dealer has a 53 plate 3.0 S-Type in green, but time didn't permit the chance to do anything much other than look at it, sit inside. Was pleasantly surprised with the inside - photos online hadn't really been selling me on it.
Heard a bit of a rattle/vibration on idle sitting inside - seemed to be behind the dash, but upon opening bonnet, couldn't detect it again.
It was after that, that had me looking through Auto Trader again, and seeing the different clocks, has made me focus on the facelift, although an LPG'd late pre-facelift could potentially tempt me on the 3.0 front.
Thanks for the responses above, and in advance for the ensuing ones with all the extra questions in this post.
Much appreciated.
PJ S said:
What did the '04 'facelift' bring to the table? I can see the clocks are better (chrome/silver rings, with improved digital display), but what else changed?
I think that's when they remodelled the front - the grille and lights are steeper and the whole front looks slightly chunkier. Also the rear changed significantly.I have an 04 4.2 SE Plus with sports suspension. In answer to some of your questions.
Car changed a lot in 2002 when electric handbrake, 6 speed auto, new suspension, revised engines where introduced.
Late 2004, back end changed slightly water jets moved from bonnet to wipers. bonnet changed to alluminium, interior looks the same. get the one with sat nav if possible.
Engine choices (my opinion) 3.0 nice engine, nippy but no more efficient thant 4.2 in real world. I average 24 Mpg. On the run from Chester to London last night I got 33.5 Mpg averaging a little more than the speed limit. In the real world it will be touching 34 Mpg at 80.
Jaguar Voice; I have it, never used it.
Touch screen Sat nav. really good little system graphics a bit dated but really easy to use.
Foibles and faults. I have replaced header tank and all coolant pipes plastic parts fatigue. ABS sensors or connections are prone to failure. mine is currently being worked on at Racing Green after the rear wiring loom wore through hence abs fault showing. power steering squeak can be dealt with by buying additive from Jaguar (do not get ripped off for them to do it!) Tyres and brakes are heavy. This year had front tyres, brakes front and rear, Major Service coolant system and on and on. Will be selling once ABS is sorted by Racing Green who i would recommend. For anyone in the North Jo Jags in Liverpool are excellent (looks a bit dodgy but he can get any part and does not charge the earth!)
Performance, 4.2 can surprise a lot of things particularly in sports mode. handling is good for a big car good grip levels.
Looks I love the way it looks I have S Type R alloys on mine which look excellent, people do actually look at these; but they are love or hate.
Car changed a lot in 2002 when electric handbrake, 6 speed auto, new suspension, revised engines where introduced.
Late 2004, back end changed slightly water jets moved from bonnet to wipers. bonnet changed to alluminium, interior looks the same. get the one with sat nav if possible.
Engine choices (my opinion) 3.0 nice engine, nippy but no more efficient thant 4.2 in real world. I average 24 Mpg. On the run from Chester to London last night I got 33.5 Mpg averaging a little more than the speed limit. In the real world it will be touching 34 Mpg at 80.
Jaguar Voice; I have it, never used it.
Touch screen Sat nav. really good little system graphics a bit dated but really easy to use.
Foibles and faults. I have replaced header tank and all coolant pipes plastic parts fatigue. ABS sensors or connections are prone to failure. mine is currently being worked on at Racing Green after the rear wiring loom wore through hence abs fault showing. power steering squeak can be dealt with by buying additive from Jaguar (do not get ripped off for them to do it!) Tyres and brakes are heavy. This year had front tyres, brakes front and rear, Major Service coolant system and on and on. Will be selling once ABS is sorted by Racing Green who i would recommend. For anyone in the North Jo Jags in Liverpool are excellent (looks a bit dodgy but he can get any part and does not charge the earth!)
Performance, 4.2 can surprise a lot of things particularly in sports mode. handling is good for a big car good grip levels.
Looks I love the way it looks I have S Type R alloys on mine which look excellent, people do actually look at these; but they are love or hate.
Before the XF S my S-type 3.0 Sport ( manual ) was the best car I'd owned. 3 years and 60,000 miles ( bought 1 year old ) only one fault ( a sunroof microswitch ) fast, refined and only a heavy clutch let it down. In my opinion it was ( along with the v8's ) the most underrated car I've known of. I even averaged 31mpg on a 300 mile commute and swift motorway speeds!
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