Which one? S-TypeR or XJR

[comrie]

Hello,

Considering a new car in the next few months up to £16k
like the look of the S-TypeR or XJR.........opinions and advice greatly received


thanks steve

[Triple7]

The S-Type R, was extremely under rated. If you ask a Jaguar test driver which car they wanted to borrow, it was always the S-Type. It is a very good, focused car. It's heavy, but extremely strong, great handling set up and really quite comfy.

The XJR, I assume you ate looking at an X350 (aluminium) is a saloon first. The air suspension, gives it weird handling IMHO. It is a great car though, if all you want is a motorway cruiser which packs a punch then this would be a perfect car. The S-Type R would be more fun. If you are looking at older XJ's, I don't know much about those.

[fatvik]

I haven't owned or driven either of these cars, however, I feel that the S-type interior looks dated whereas the interior of the XJR looks more classic. Is the XJR a LWB or SWB?

I had a S-Type R exit a side road out of a golf course a fair bit in front of me on the A406. Before I realised that I ought to start slowing down, it had gone! All I saw was its tail drop and it disappeared out of view. When I caught up with it in traffic, there were four people in the car [and I'd presume some golf clubs too]. Moral of the story, even with all the extra weight, they are flaming quick! get one

-FatVik

[daphantom]

comrie said:

Hello,

Considering a new car in the next few months up to £16k
like the look of the S-TypeR or XJR.........opinions and advice greatly received


thanks steve

It will be between these 2 what my next car is too so, i'll keep a wee eye on this topic. I must admit im swaying toward the s-type R basically because it seems a "normal" size. I use a lot of B roads + the thought of having to pull over in an XJR and scrape the bodywork on a hedge whilst, watching the other car skimming past my wing mirrors is enough to put me off

[a8hex]

The only problem with owning an STR would be that everytime you saw an XJR (X300/8 not 350) you'd think to yourself "God she does look good, wish I had one"

[Stedman]

a8hex said:

The only problem with owning an STR would be that everytime you saw an XJR (X300/8 not 350) you'd think to yourself "God she does look good, wish I had one"

There is something about the waftability of a car with 400bhp, 240bhp/tonne, and shed loads of torque with not that much weight, but a huge size that is LUSH!.

My very-narrow minded-thought, is that i would look at myself in a shopfront driving an STR and think, i just SHOULD have had that XJR...in ultraviolet

picture here

[Mick_N]

If you use lots of B roads the S Type certainly handles better, still suprises me how much you can chuck it about. Had mine 4 years and 55k miles now which is by far the longest I have kept a car.

I prefer the XJR shape, but from the side / back the S type aint bad

Edited by Mick_N on Monday 11th January 08:11

Edited by Mick_N on Monday 11th January 08:11

[jcelee]

Mick, what is the ride quality like on the S-type R?
Nice car BTW.

Jon

[Mick_N]

Ride quality is excellent, certainly compared to similar sized Merc / BMW's I'd driven which I've found are far too hard riding. When you start to work the suspension the CATS work well too.

[cardigankid]

Both cars are fantastic, but if you get an S-Type R you just won't want to get out of it again.

[thomson]

Go for an STR, had mine for just under 1 year now,still makes me giggle when booted, although it is better to walk when it snows though!

You really do need to have a look on here as there are some horror stories, but like anything in life, luck does play a big part : http://www.jaguarforum.co.uk/index.php

Oh and here's mine:

[Simon Bags]

I too have been looking at both and the easiest one to drive about daily would be the S-Type R but reading the forum they don't half seem to suffer with major gearbox problems. Whether this was all sorted on the last of the line ones I'm not sure but they don't seem to be a problem with the newer XJR's.

XJR is by far the better looking machine and if you look them up and do a comparison, they're not that much different in size.

[cardigankid]

I never found the air suspension on the XJR a problem, though clearly others have. I found that it was fantastic on motorways, and surprisingly economical, and then on twistier bits it somehow firmed up and allowed much harder cornering. The STR is probably a rawer drivers car, but make no mistake, the XJR is superb.

[thomson]

If you haven't had a run in an STR, I would be happy to oblige, don't think i'm that far from you, that is if you stay in the place of your username??

[Inverness]

comrie said:

Hello,

Considering a new car in the next few months up to £16k
like the look of the S-TypeR or XJR.........opinions and advice greatly received


thanks steve

Before I can post answer I need to know wich XJR, 308 or 350.

[comrie]

looking at x350


steve

[Tame Technician]

S-Type R for me everytime.

S-Type R drives quite a bit better than X350 XJR. S-Type has propper springs and dampers, where X350 has air suspension.

X350 is much larger more comfortable on the other hand, actuall performance is very similar indeed.

Depends which suits you and what you intend to do with it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[warnster]

STR for me any day but then i'm biased as own one, had it for 3 years now and never had a problem, performance is excellent, i traded my TVR chim 500 for it and on a track i think its better?!

Tried the XJR, nice but not as good on a twisty b road. I'm only blasting short journeys now, most of which are in traffic and am averaging 17mpg...ouch, still going to hold onto it though although quite fancy an XKR.

[Inverness]

Steve

Old man has XJR (308) and I have a s type r so as your looking at at (350) XJR I can't comment as I've only driven 3.5 litre (350) XJ sport.

But I will say I love my s type r, I always describe it as the worlds fastest arm chair, I love leaving hot hatches for dead. I also have miltek s/s exhaust on mine so get a lovely V8 rumble.

HTH.