I'm looking to buy my 1st Jag. I'm looking at 2 of them 1 is a 2002 S-type 80k miles other is 2004 with 95k miles. 2004 slightly cheaper. Other then Trans 2004 being a 6 speed and 2002 being a 5 speed anything else different.
Not sure which to go less miles or 6 speed and both sale color inside and out and have clean service recorders.

 

There was a major redesign between those years - get the later one!

They fixed the suspension issues, changed to better internal networks and a ton of other stuff.

 

They changed the transmission to the German ZF6HP26 also .... From Wiki check the cars that share that .. Rolls, Maserati,Bently etc.

• 2001–2008 BMW E65/E66 7 Series
• 2002–2005 Jaguar XK8/XKR
• 2003–2008 Jaguar S-Type
• 2003–2009 Jaguar XJ (X350)
• 2003–2010 BMW E63/E64 6 Series
• 2003-2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003)
• 2007-present Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
• 2004–2006 BMW E53 X5 V8
• 2003–2010 BMW E60 5 Series
• 2005–2011 BMW E90 3 Series
• 2005–present Ford Falcon (BF, FG)
• 2005–present Ford Territory (SY & SY II AWD; SZ RWD)
• 2005–2008 Lincoln Navigator
• 2006–present Jaguar XK/XKR
• 2007–2013 BMW E70 X5 Except 4.0d
• 2007–2012 Maserati Quattroporte
• 2008–2012 BMW F01/02 7 Series (except 760i/Li and Hybrid 7)
• 2008–2011 Kia Mohave
• 2009–2011 Hyundai Genesis V8 4.6L
• 2009–present Jaguar XF
• 2006-2009 Bentley Arnage
• 2008-2011 Bentley Brooklands

 

Agree, the newer one is much improved.
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons
Current: '08 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition" (250.06 hp / 259.67 torque)
Past: '05 X-Type 3.0/auto Jaguar Racing Green

 

Get the newer one. I'm sure you probably won't regret it.

 

I own both pre- and post- facelift S-Types (2001 & 2003). I can tell you the post-faelift 2003 is way better than the '01 in so many ways. I would get the newer one. Too many changes/improvements to list.