S Type Sport

[macp]

Ok so you cant afford an E39 BM 530 Sport would an 02/03 S Type 2.5 or 3.0 Sport make a good alternative ?

[anonymous-user]

I'd try it - it's quite a different car. The post facelift (02 onwards) S-Types with the updated interior are miles better than the earlier cars, and the 2005 MY (54 plate on) facelifted car tidies up the styling substantially. The 2.5 is a bit weedy, but the 3 litre is quite nice. Are you looking at a manual or auto?

Dave

[macp]

dme123 said:

I'd try it - it's quite a different car. The post facelift (02 onwards) S-Types with the updated interior are miles better than the earlier cars, and the 2005 MY (54 plate on) facelifted car tidies up the styling substantially. The 2.5 is a bit weedy, but the 3 litre is quite nice. Are you looking at a manual or auto?

Dave

Cheers Dave
I also think the 02 on cars are much nicer and Im told much better than the earlier cars.I dont mind manual or auto Im just going to go for condition and history.Its a waft mobile so perhaps auto would be nicer.

I have been considering a 7 also but they seem a lot bigger and there is just something about the Jag.

To be honest I want to buy something I wont want to sell in 6mths so Im thinking smooth,quiet,luxurious and again being honest makes you feel like your doing ok if you know what I mean.

Edited by macp on Friday 15th October 12:53

[V88Dicky]

My good lady wife has been wafting around in an S-Type V8 Sport since June, and she loves it.

Quiet, refined and surprisingly economical (for a 4.2). Whats not to like?

[macp]

V88Dicky said:

My good lady wife has been wafting around in an S-Type V8 Sport since June, and she loves it.

Quiet, refined and surprisingly economical (for a 4.2). Whats not to like?

Cheers Dicky sounds good.Not many V8`s about and not in my price range.

[anonymous-user]

No, the 4.2 V8s are few and far between, but when they do turn up they are usually bargains. Fuel economy isn't much worse than the V6 but it's a far better engine in every way.

If you're after a wafter though, I'd get an XJ as it really does feel to be a class above.

Dave

[macp]

dme123 said:

No, the 4.2 V8s are few and far between, but when they do turn up they are usually bargains. Fuel economy isn't much worse than the V6 but it's a far better engine in every way.

If you're after a wafter though, I'd get an XJ as it really does feel to be a class above.

Dave

I assume you mean the new shape Aluminium bodied cars which are wonderful but start @ 6K for one with a few miles.If Im lucky I might persuade swmbo to let me spend 5K

[The Leaper]

Definitely go for the later model, far better gear box and interior, also "less Ford".

I had a 4.0 V8 SE for 3 years, did 75,000 miles and I've had my 4.2 V8 SE for nearly 6 years and done 95,000 miles. The two cars don't really compare. The later car's 300 BHP is pretty well enough and makes for a sports cruiser rather than a fab performer. I do mostly long journeys and the car is no slouch: 0-60 in 6 secs and top speed of 155.

I plan to keep it until it finally expires!

A mate had a 4.2 V8 for three years and recently changed it for a 3.0 diesel Sport. The torque is good and overall performance is acceptable for so long as you don't want higher end performance; it's not a bad combination.

From what I've read the 4.2 mpg is not really any different to the 3.0 V6 petrol.

R.

[pete5570]

I had a 5 series before getting a Jaguar X300. The BMW was a dog, unlike the 3 series before it. I had gearbox problems, bad starting and loads of electrical problems.In the end, the engine started playing up, turned out to be the dreader nikasil problem. The Guy at My local BMW dealer said, "when they get a few miles under their belt they start costing serious money, get rid of it." So i did,and bought an older Jag X300 and the difference was night and day. The Jag outclassed it in every way, i lost over a grand getting rid of the BMW. I've just sold my Jag at a healthy profit.

[anonymous-user]

£5000 should get you in a nice X308 XJR...

My an XJ I was suggesting a late X308 really, the aluminium X350 really doesn't float by boat.

Dave

[Markymark69]

Another vote for a 308 better a top of the tree one of those than a bottom of the barrel 350.

[macp]

Thanks guys I have come to the conclusion that I am going to be paying bottom money for an S Type which could buy me shedloads of aggravation.I think Im going to have a good long think about it.The X308 suggestion is certainly not unpalatable as long as the typical issues have all been dealt with.

[anonymous-user]

Other than the well known tensioners, water pump and stat issues they seem pretty good. Nikasil shouldn't be an issue at this point either. The 5 speed gearboxes don't appear to be particularly robust, but a rebuilt one is £1500 fitted so budget for that in the worst case. The gearbox in the supercharged cars (Daimler Super V8 and XJR) seems to be much tougher. My choice would be a tidy Daimler Super V8 personally. Much more of Jaguar than my Diesel S-Type :-(

Dave

[cardigankid]

The Leaper said:

I plan to keep it until it finally expires!

If you don't abuse it it won't expire.

While the X308's are undoubtedly nice cars, I have seen more and more of them with corrosion problems. On the other hand I have seen many X350's around the £6-10k mark which suggests to me that a nice one won't be far away. For wafting, and even going a bit harder, the air suspension system is unparalleled.

On the S-Types, I have a '56 reg 3.0 S-type Sport, manual. It is a driver's car, but also has smoothness and silence when you want it. The manual box is a very good one, robust and with a well engineered feel and a short shift. As I have said many times, a lot better than the Porsche Boxster box. I am sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the auto. The 3.0 is a sweet engine with a bit of grunt. The 4.2 however would probably be better, certainly significantly more powerful, and if anything you will get better consumption if you drive carefully. The 3.0 runs between 23 and 26 mpg, the latter easily achieved on long motorway runs but not elsewhere. I'm not sure that I would recommend a 2.5 litre. The S is a heavy car, which also gives it some of its character. The boot is a bit small.

Get a late S-Type and I really don't think that you will have much trouble.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 18th October 09:05

[macp]

cardigankid said:

The Leaper said:

I plan to keep it until it finally expires!

If you don't abuse it it won't expire.

While the X308's are undoubtedly nice cars, I have seen more and more of them with corrosion problems. On the other hand I have seen many X350's around the £6-10k mark which suggests to me that a nice one won't be far away. For wafting, and even going a bit harder, the air suspension system is unparalleled.

On the S-Types, I have a '56 reg 3.0 S-type Sport, manual. It is a driver's car, but also has smoothness and silence when you want it. The manual box is a very good one, robust and with a well engineered feel and a short shift. As I have said many times, a lot better than the Porsche Boxster box. I am sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the auto. The 3.0 is a sweet engine with a bit of grunt. The 4.2 however would probably be better, certainly significantly more powerful, and if anything you will get better consumption if you drive carefully. The 3.0 runs between 23 and 26 mpg, the latter easily achieved on long motorway runs but not elsewhere. I'm not sure that I would recommend a 2.5 litre. The S is a heavy car, which also gives it some of its character. The boot is a bit small.

Get a late S-Type and I really don't think that you will have much trouble.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 18th October 09:05

Good reply thanks and has got me thinking about a manual S Type as prices appear lower.You can get a newer lower mileage car if you go manual.I keep trying not to look at them and had convinced myself to go BMW but when I see that lovely interior and those classy lines I get drawn in again.

[cardigankid]

I went to the Jaguar after two BMW's. While I rate the BMW's highly, I feel that the Jaguar has more comfort, more character, and greater 'driver satisfaction'.

[macp]

cardigankid said:

I went to the Jaguar after two BMW's. While I rate the BMW's highly, I feel that the Jaguar has more comfort, more character, and greater 'driver satisfaction'.

I have had loads of beemers and been pretty happy with them all which is why I was just going to buy another thinking it would be a safe buy but everyone and their aunt seems to want one and there is that image they seem to have.Not that this has bothered me in the past.

[V88Dicky]

cardigankid said:

The Leaper said:

I plan to keep it until it finally expires!

If you don't abuse it it won't expire.

While the X308's are undoubtedly nice cars, I have seen more and more of them with corrosion problems. On the other hand I have seen many X350's around the £6-10k mark which suggests to me that a nice one won't be far away. For wafting, and even going a bit harder, the air suspension system is unparalleled.

On the S-Types, I have a '56 reg 3.0 S-type Sport, manual. It is a driver's car, but also has smoothness and silence when you want it. The manual box is a very good one, robust and with a well engineered feel and a short shift. As I have said many times, a lot better than the Porsche Boxster box. I am sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the auto. The 3.0 is a sweet engine with a bit of grunt. The 4.2 however would probably be better, certainly significantly more powerful, and if anything you will get better consumption if you drive carefully. The 3.0 runs between 23 and 26 mpg, the latter easily achieved on long motorway runs but not elsewhere. I'm not sure that I would recommend a 2.5 litre. The S is a heavy car, which also gives it some of its character. The boot is a bit small.

Get a late S-Type and I really don't think that you will have much trouble.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 18th October 09:05

Indeed. The missus is currently getting 26mpg average between fill-ups, using the car for the 10 mile commute + shopping + family visits.

Used the car for a weeks holiday to the Peak District, and we averaged 35mpg on the trip down. For a 4.2 auto V8, very very good

[macp]

V88Dicky said:

cardigankid said:

The Leaper said:

I plan to keep it until it finally expires!

If you don't abuse it it won't expire.

While the X308's are undoubtedly nice cars, I have seen more and more of them with corrosion problems. On the other hand I have seen many X350's around the £6-10k mark which suggests to me that a nice one won't be far away. For wafting, and even going a bit harder, the air suspension system is unparalleled.

On the S-Types, I have a '56 reg 3.0 S-type Sport, manual. It is a driver's car, but also has smoothness and silence when you want it. The manual box is a very good one, robust and with a well engineered feel and a short shift. As I have said many times, a lot better than the Porsche Boxster box. I am sure that you wouldn't be disappointed with the auto. The 3.0 is a sweet engine with a bit of grunt. The 4.2 however would probably be better, certainly significantly more powerful, and if anything you will get better consumption if you drive carefully. The 3.0 runs between 23 and 26 mpg, the latter easily achieved on long motorway runs but not elsewhere. I'm not sure that I would recommend a 2.5 litre. The S is a heavy car, which also gives it some of its character. The boot is a bit small.

Get a late S-Type and I really don't think that you will have much trouble.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 18th October 09:05

Indeed. The missus is currently getting 26mpg average between fill-ups, using the car for the 10 mile commute + shopping + family visits.

Used the car for a weeks holiday to the Peak District, and we averaged 35mpg on the trip down. For a 4.2 auto V8, very very good

Thats really impressive for all that luxurious waftiness.Just changing the subject slightly I have been doing more research on the auto boxes.Speaking to independent Jag specialists Im told the ZF box fitted to the later 2002 on cars is a strong unit and generally well thought of.Any problems tend to be electronic with the occasional torque converter failure.

[anonymous-user]

My Jag specialist says the same thing - the mechanicals of the ZF6 are indestructible. Torque converter replacement was £800 all in, and rebuild/refurb of the mechatronic unit was £600 odd all in. This includes fluid change and all that too. Not too bad if it lets go at 120,000.

Dave