So I'm looking into buying an 01 s-type 3.0 with 49k on, I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts or things i should be looking into stuff like that thanks a lot!

 

If you dare - get it for the lowest possible price. The v6 models are a bit more dependable (engine wise) but the 00 - 02 MY's in general are problem plagued and can drain your wallet quickly, even w/ only 49K miles...

 

Check the stickies in the top of the S type forum here on to what to look for and expect..

 

+1
Stickies are the first 6 threads on this page:
S-Type / S type R Supercharged V8

Also scroll down through the thread titles - you will see others have asked questions similar to yours. Many of the problems in the earlier S-Types were resolved in MYs 2003 and up.

 

I bought Nigel Thorley's buyers guide when I was looking to purchase, it is a very good guide, in my opinion. I think that if you can do work on the car yourself then it's a very different decision than if you have to take it to a dealer. You will very quickly blow a large wad of cash at dealers, it would be hard to justify a spend like that on such an old vehicle. That does not mean that they are not a good purchase though. For example, my 4.2 needed a trans oil and filter change - just £230 at a local trans specialist, it now performs flawlessly. Before I bought it the previous owner had to replace the radiator and expansion tank - less than 1/4 of the dealer price at an independant. These cars are old enough now for there to be a good amount of used parts available at very reasonable prices. There is nothing to compare with driving a well sorted Jag so a bit of added expense can always be justified :-) In summary if you can do work yourself or have a mechanic in the family then great, if you need to go to a dealer every time a bulb blows, get a bike instead.
1/2er.

 

Sorry, should have said that £230 is about 350 US Dollars

 

I'm currently trying to make room in my garage for an incoming 2010 XJ.. I haven't put much effort into selling my S-type yet but I do have a 2001 Roman Bronze S-type 3.0 in mint condition with barely 42k miles on it. Literally the only thing I've had replaced on the car (at the Jag dealership by the way) was the driver's side window motor. Its all original and flawless. Routine maintenance and service has been done meticulously only by certified Jag technicians (both at dealership and privately). I truthfully haven't seen a 2001 Roman Bronze S-type in the condition that mine is in. It was kinda just a take-it-out twice a month Sunday driver. It's been heated-garage kept.

If you're interested, Aburse19, I can send you some pics privately. I don't believe I'm allowed to do it publicly?? It's my profile pic currently

 

Sometimes it's simple mathematics. Look up the book value and compare the price at that mileage. Then average 2 years of repair costs...this goes for ANY used car...and add to purchase price. If it's less or equal to book value, then its a good deal. Remember that with such low mileage that the car may have sat a while, and will need belts, hoses and tires replaced. Once I bought a Cadillac SLS for $500 knowing that I needed a transmission and other items...but engine had less than 100k miles. Total cost was less than retail estimate on KBB web site. And I got to drive a luxury car for the low.

 

Sorry, but acquiring a car that old with the complexity/expense of an S-Type is just not worth it.

If you really like an S-Type it would be far better to plan on getting a CPO XF coming off lease.

Anything else would simply be a hole in the road to pour money into.

Again, sorry, but unless you really knew the history of the car (i.e., your uncle owned it since new and only drove it on Sundays...) it simply won't be worth it.
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My karma just ran over your dogma
'08 Jaguar S-Type 4.2

 

Actually, you hit the nail on the head. History of mine was that it came off a lease, right at 36K when my wife bought it. I knew about the maintenance history, and even threw some $ into it along the way. Now, she's in a new Audi A6, so I bought (yes, I had to BUY) the Jag from her...primarily because I needed a car, and knew everything about it. OK, I might have overpaid a bit - but 90% of all needed work has been done already, so it's a wash. Unless you can get access to all of the maintenance records for the past 3 years on it, it may be risky - only because not all mechanics/shops can work on a Jag, so repair expense can run up quickly.

 

That way of buying an XF is guaranteed to be overall quite a lot of money. At least with an S-Type you have a good chance of a decent car at far less cost.

 

While much of the above is likely good advice, as in all things, it depends on a host of factors, not including how lucky you are. The key in my mind, as also mentioned above, is if you can do your own work. I bought mine very cheap as a parts car with 150k miles and missing bits and warning messages everywhere and running problems, and no history. After about a grand worth of this and that, she's a fantastic, lovely daily driver, easily one of the nicest and funnest cars I've ever driven.
I wouldn't touch any of these cars at this age if I couldn't do the work myself. Low miles might mean the engine bearings and rings are great, but suspension bushings could still be shot, seals leaky or close to it, hoses cracking, belts needing replacement etc etc. If you have to pay for a tech to do this stuff, suddenly it gets very costly.

 

I would get a hold of SonnyJag. A car that has been taken care of and maintained properly is well worth the risk.

Too may people come here after the fact. It's too late at that point.
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>That way of buying an XF is guaranteed to be overall quite a lot of money.

Actually not, it allows you to take advantage of the steep depreciation of Jaguars while still being able to buy a very, very, nice car that is still covered by a warranty.

That is how I ended up with both of mine ('05 X-Type and '08 S-Type 4.2)

The S-Type in particular was 5 years old when I got it and cost ~$60K new. I got it for ~$20K, from a dealer, with less than 50K mi, and over a year left on the warranty. That dealer-prep, plus warranty, allowed me to be comfortable owning it after the warranty expired. These cars are very dependable but if they have problems are extremely expensive. But I'm willing to "self-warranty" because I know it is in such fine shape.

That's what you get with a CPO Jaguar. If it breaks during the warranty it gets fixed but after that it is a very reliable car.
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons

 

Looks overly expensive to me, especially relative to what the OP wanted.

 

I'm looking to buy one similar what are you selling yours for?

 

He should look at your car. I just got a 2000 with 44K on it. Wonderful car and only jag dealers have made the 2 repairs since new. One owner too. I would caution anyone to NEVER let a regular monkey with a wrench touch these cars. Take it to jag or do it yourself.

 

Don't forget the 4.0's tensioners!!

 

Maintenance and history of it (just like with any other car) is the most vital thing. Like everyone else mentioned, if you're not doing the wrenching opt for one with everything completed and documented.

 

Hmmm, I resemble the later, the do it yourself monkey with a wrench!