Hi there!

My current daily driver, a 2007 Volvo C30, is currently getting more and more unreliable. So I'm considering an S-Type V8 as daily driver.

I was thinking of one from around 2005/2006 with the non-supercharged V8 and automatic.

Now, how reliable is that V8 (I've read about problems with the timing chain tensioners) and can it be convert es to run on LPG without causing problems? How is the chassis? Rumors in the Volvo area say it spares chassis and suspension parts with the S80...

What should I look for best? Anything extremly common to go wrong? What kind of MPG can I expect under normal relaxed driving conditions?

I'm currently on the look... Not buying on the spot tomorrow...

Cheers

Damien

 

OK you scared me for a minute!!!

You want the 4.2L V-8 and NOT the 4.0L V-8. But with the years you posted it will have the 4.2L. No worry about the tensioners as all that has been properly fixed by Jaguar when the 4.2L came out.

I think you have picked the best years for the regular 4.2L but really there is almost no difference between the 2003-2008 4.2L V-8. Even after Jaguar went to the XF they carried over the 4.2L for another 2 years.

It's a good motor with not many problems. If any.

It's built on the DEW98 platform. This was only used on the 1999-2008 S Type and the 2000-2006 Lincoln LS. Bits and pieces were and are used across the old Ford line including the Mustang but only small bits. The main problem is this platform is expensive to build as Ford really Engineered right but both cars were rapidly our paced by the competions improvments.

Ford DEW platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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I have the 4.2 engine in my wife's 2006 XK8. It's relatively strong and can get surprisingly good gas mileage for a V8. She routinely gets 28 mpg on the highway using cruise control and the HVAC system set to a comfortable 70 degrees for her....

Since there's no dipstick/fill tube on the ZF 6HP26 transmission, it is quite the Rube Goldberg procedure to service it. Read up on the specifics here on the forums....

Many of the plastic components used in the engine bay are of questionable quality and get extremely brittle as the years and heat cycles go by. Not a deal-killer but you need to be aware of that fact, especially with regards to the cooling system. Again, read up on it here on the forums....

These cars are still a great bang-for-the-buck if you are looking for a rear-wheel-drive highway cruiser. The more service records you can locate, the more success you'll have maintaining the car. In order to keep ownership affordable, you'll need to DIY as much maintenance and repairs as you can. If you must pay a dealership to do so, your bank account can be drained very quickly....

Good luck in your search....

 

If you're overwhelmed by maintenance costs on a small Volvo, buying an even older Jag is a move in the wrong direction.

 

Overwhelmed? Where did I weite that? My Volvo is getting unreliable. Not expensive...

 

>It's built on the DEW98 platform.

Right, everything that has been said up to now. They can be a very rugged and dependable car, but repair costs can be expensive. Start out by trying to
locate a non-dealer repair shop.

But wrt the platform. I believe that it is highly related to that of the current XF, and compared to my old X-Type I considered that to be an important fact for continued ownership.
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Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar

 

OK, it's the frequency of repairs and not cost. You're contemplating buying an even OLDER car than what you've got. No car gets more reliable as it ages.

I don't follow your logic.

 

My 'little' Volvo is getting unreliable in the sense that it has an expected life span of 160.000 km. With more than 200.000 km (all self driven), wear on all parts is getting higher and the electrical gubbins are slowly getting niggles (windows lse memory functions, radio loses all stations, xenon lights set themselves wrong, the heated seats don't always work, etc.). Yes, I know older cars don't get more reliable and I am aware that an S-Type isn't the newest of all cars on the road. The difference being, I can buy a brand new Dacia Sandero for €7500 or for the same price buy a 2007 S-Type V8 with 75.000 km and full service history and an expected life span of 300.000 km minimum. I already have an XJ-S V12, so I know how a Jag can behave. I didn't want to start some 'can't afford principle' debate...

I've got no problem repairing cars myself (if you were to beak into te XJ-S section, you'll see it yourself). So that isn't the issue here. I only wanted to know how reliable these cars are in general and what kind of issues were to be expected. Nothing else. No discussion about overwhelming costs (after stuffing a good €3000 into my XJ-S I guess I can say that Jaguar isn't cheap... It is cheaper (parts) than Volvo though!). A simple 'what to look for' and 'what would you recommend'. So far I've been recommended to get the 4.2l V8... So that is a start. General tenor is that the car seems to be reliable.

 

They're fairly reliable but a 7+ yr old is going to start needing all manner of things, especially suspension but also coils, plugs, just things, all due to age. It's not distance so much as heat/cold cycles and oxidation etc. Call it age. Matters far more than miles/km.

DIY will make a major difference as parts are not awfully priced whereas labour is.

 

Not sure where you heard this.

Your experience with the Volvo in terms of needing increasing repairs at 150-200K and beyond is not much different than Jags.

 

Okay, you don't want to understand. I'll just buy a V60 T6 AWD instead... 5 x the price... Should do for 300.000 km...

 

That's certainly a different approach!

Since you are able to do repairs, I think a 2005/06 4.2l S-type with 70,000 km sounds just perfect. You'll probably need a new battery, and should change out coolant hoses, thermostat, DCCV and overflow tank for peace-of-mind reliability.

Check out possible TPS problems in heavy rain or carwash, make sure that the A/C is in perfect condition and the tranny "jump" problem has been resolved, and check if the headlights have received the "Brutal" treatment.

Finally, check that the tranny cable bolts are tight, the EPB mounts/cables are clean and well lubricated, and that the lug nuts are solid 1-piece.

After that, anything else is just bad luck. Of course, the supercharged 4.2 comes with a few other potential problems!

The car is a great bang for the buck, and don't see why you shouldn't see 300,000 km with careful driving.

 

I think I do understand...................

You're looking for a vehicle that will require less maintenance in the future with an ultimate life of 300K KM.

It is unlikely that an S-type will satify either of these requirements. If you read the on-going topics of discussion here, you'll see that the same general type of electrical and mechanical issues appear that are affecting your present car as it ages.

Nothing gained.

If you want the car because you like S-types and understand that the low initial purchase price will be offset by expensive repairs (unless you DIY like most of us here) then that's different.

Please do your research and learn the differences between 1999-2002 and 2003+ cars.