S Type
Author
Discussion

macp

Original Poster:

4,810 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Dear PH maseev

So what are they like can anybody who has one or has had one or knows about them tell me what they are like wharts and all.Im thinking the facelift model so late 2002 on just because the interior looks nicer.There is a 2.5 and a 3.0 but im betting the three litre gives more performance for the same economy.Lastly manual or auto which suits the car best ?

I know what else is out there and what I else I could buy but I just want the lowdown on the S Type.

Many thanks.


tr7v8

7,593 posts

254 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????

macp

Original Poster:

4,810 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
tr7v8 said:
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????
I wish I could but the search facility is still down.Have not been able to search for almost a week now.

On a seperate note I have been reading about common auto gearbox problems which dont sound so good.

CavalierAttitude

11 posts

204 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
S types are great and keep me busy most days, common faults include bottom ball joints and anti roll bar links and bushes being noisy, this will be noticable on roadtest on anything but the smoothess road and heater box blend servos failing giving hot air out one side of the car and cold out the other when you want one or the other most normally. These fault are normally on the the post 02 models, earlier car suffer with their own problems (misfiring and vacuum leaks) . Before you buy, seek out and buy an early 2.7d, these are brilliant and go like stink. And of course, a modern Jag should be auto.

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
quotequote all
tr7v8 said:
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????
Me, it's brilliant. A really good (5-speed) short shift gearbox.

The S-Type is a terrific car to drive, but my advice is get as late a car as you can, get a Sport model - it has firmer suspension and better seats and is still very refined. An S-Type R is no doubt the best, but a 4.2 is great fun to drive. Mine is a 3 litre and still fast enough, but the V8 is the way to go if you can. I am sure a 2.5 is ok too, though I test drove a 2.7 diesel and didn't take to it.

I don't believe that the fuel consumption is too much of an issue either way, because though you have a bigger engine it isn't having to work as hard.

RW774

1,042 posts

249 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
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Somewhere between 17/ to the gallon for the 3.0 V6 round town, but great value for money. Normally hit a mileage wall at around 75/80K with issues Cardigan states, which are just normal issues as with any car. The early model (x200)auto gearboxes are not brilliant, the later cars much improved.
Early cars (V /W) are now fetching £2k or less for a manual, which is such good value for money. I too think the manual is a much better car. There were some major issues with Alarm sounders and relevant looms on 04 plate cars though.A recall was carried out,but some slipped the net so worth checking any of factory recalls were done on what ever car you buy.Simple check with chassis number through the local dealer. Otherwise It could be a painful and time consuming repair. Both the loom and sounders have been nil stock for some time now

Edited by RW774 on Thursday 18th June 17:54

renrut

1,478 posts

231 months

Monday 9th August 2010
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cardigankid said:
tr7v8 said:
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????
Me, it's brilliant. A really good (5-speed) short shift gearbox.

The S-Type is a terrific car to drive, but my advice is get as late a car as you can, get a Sport model - it has firmer suspension and better seats and is still very refined. An S-Type R is no doubt the best, but a 4.2 is great fun to drive. Mine is a 3 litre and still fast enough, but the V8 is the way to go if you can. I am sure a 2.5 is ok too, though I test drove a 2.7 diesel and didn't take to it.

I don't believe that the fuel consumption is too much of an issue either way, because though you have a bigger engine it isn't having to work as hard.
Glad its not just me then. I've got a manual 3L and its plenty quick enough although if the V8 had come in a manual I'd have gone for that instead. I can't get on with auto boxes though so maybe its better for some people. I think its a bit silly to say that a Jag 'must' have an auto box, if the interest in the thread on converting XKs to manuals was anything to go by then you could well be wrong.


I'd partially disagree about the early cars depending on what you're looking to spend, they've now hit the bottom of the depreciation ladder and you can pick up relatively low mileage (sub 60K) cars for far less than the price of a nearly new shopping trolley. Take your time to try a few, there's loads of them out there at the minute, and pick a good one. And the interiors on some of the early cars weren't 'death by beige' but you need to look around for them.

dan tournay

491 posts

234 months

Monday 9th August 2010
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Bought my 2006 2.7d XS in March and the real issue I've had is that the valance a bit low at the front.


300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

216 months

Monday 9th August 2010
quotequote all
macp said:
Dear PH maseev

So what are they like can anybody who has one or has had one or knows about them tell me what they are like wharts and all.Im thinking the facelift model so late 2002 on just because the interior looks nicer.There is a 2.5 and a 3.0 but im betting the three litre gives more performance for the same economy.Lastly manual or auto which suits the car best ?

I know what else is out there and what I else I could buy but I just want the lowdown on the S Type.

Many thanks.
I quite like the S Type, the looks never bothered me, although I do prefer the XJ if honest.

I drove the 3.0 manual and auto back to back many years ago. The manual certainly felt more spritely and faster all the time. But the auto was quite good too. I think the performance stats show the auto is a decent amount slower though.

Fleckers

2,878 posts

227 months

Friday 13th August 2010
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this is mine, I love it














2007 57 plate with black leather inside, only issues so far, it gets dirty.........

cardigankid

8,866 posts

238 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
Fleckers said:
this is mine, I love it




2007 57 plate with black leather inside, only issues so far, it gets dirty.........
Watch out, there's a ned about to key it!!! wink

Fleckers

2,878 posts

227 months

Tuesday 17th August 2010
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Nar not him, I own him and he had just helped wash it, he is very proud of it smile


diesel piston

287 posts

240 months

Tuesday 17th August 2010
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I`ve the same 18" Mercurys on mine and they`re a right pain to clean.
They don`t seem as though they`ve any clear coat on and quickly corrode, I had mine replaced under warranty.

Kevin VRs

13,739 posts

306 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
The OP talks about a 2.5 and 3.0. IIRC these engines were common to the X-type, not the S-type. S-type had 3.0, 4.0 and 4.2 petrol, 2.7 TD. X-type had 2.0 and 2.2 TD, 2.0?, 2.5 and 3.0 petrol. OP do you mean X-type or S-type.

Bat21

658 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
tr7v8 said:
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????
I did!

Mattmeister

788 posts

233 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
Kevin VRs said:
The OP talks about a 2.5 and 3.0. IIRC these engines were common to the X-type, not the S-type. S-type had 3.0, 4.0 and 4.2 petrol, 2.7 TD. X-type had 2.0 and 2.2 TD, 2.0?, 2.5 and 3.0 petrol. OP do you mean X-type or S-type.
From 2002 2.5 and 3.0 and 4.2 were available, later 2.7 diesel. Pre-2002 cars were 3.0 and 4.0 and imho should be avoided.

I would recommend 3.0 or 4.2 as 2.5 is a little underpowered and would give no improvement in economy. These later cars will have a 6 speed ZF auto which is basically the same as the current XF box (as used by MANY other marques) so very good but the manual isnt bad, just a little awkward to use with the electronic handbrake.

4.2 auto if you can find one is a lovely car and not too hideous on fuel economy. 3.0 auto a good second.

Bodykit (above) looks lovely - that car is a post 2004 facelift.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

216 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
Bat21 said:
tr7v8 said:
I'm on S Type no. 2 I think they're great. Do a search on here & you'll find a write up I did on the first one.
Both of mine were/are diesels, the first an SE the second a sport. Both autos who buys a Jag with a manual?????
I did!
I would too given the choice. Always bugs me that so many good cars are auto only.

4.2 with a manual would be so much more fun.

V88Dicky

7,363 posts

209 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
It would, I agree, but the 6 speed auto suits the 4.2 V8 very well. I'm very impressed with the wife's new car (2007 S-type V8 Sport). Relaxed, refined and downright fast when required smile

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

216 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
It would, I agree, but the 6 speed auto suits the 4.2 V8 very well. I'm very impressed with the wife's new car (2007 S-type V8 Sport). Relaxed, refined and downright fast when required smile
Sorry, didn't mean the auto isn't good. Just it'd be nice to get a choice.

A few years back now my Dad had a 3.6 XJ40 manual, it was so much more fun than the auto ones.

sabre

106 posts

310 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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I have just bought a 2003 4.2. 54k miles and £5.2k
Its not a quick as a R on paper but in real life its doesnt feels that much slower(R's are not in my price range yet). If you are a good boy 33mpg at 70!! (34.6 average Swansea to Reading!!) as it had dodgy tyres.
New avons 235x50x17 (£120 each at National)have dropped the average to 24mpg.

I think the 3.0 is probably not much better.