Hi, I'm new to the forum so I'll start with a little background. My name is Van, and a I am here because I wish to know how to properly maintain or store my brother's 2004 Jaguar S-Type. He has past away last year, and I wish to do my best to keep the vehicle in good condition until his son, now 2, is of age to recieve it. So I have at least 14 years to go.

The car was running fine before he past away, but needed a jump start when I moved the car to my house. I was starting it up, with jumper cables, and running it once a month for about 3 months, but about 4 months ago cables no longer did the trick. I've read some threads already, and I believe it is the battery.

Are the batteries interchangable? For example, can I put an 01 S-Type's batter in it?

Storage or upkeep?
I do want to keep the car running, but 14 years is a long time away. From what I've read, I only need to do oil changes every 6months, and start the car once a month.

Thank you for your time.

 

Very sorry your brother died but I think you should really rethink this entire idea??

14 years to store a car is a lifetime. The S type is not any kind of rare car so you will spend too much money on something that's not worth it. Do you have a covered, heated storage area? Put the car on jack stands so it's not resting on the wheels. Be careful about starting the engine. You need to DRIVE the car and NOT just start the engine. Then the car should be driven at least 20 miles every time it's started.

Who's idea was it to save the car for the kid? I would sell the car and invest the money in something long term for his son. Maybe use the money for a college fund?
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Sorry for your loss.

I see you live in CA, so there are many financial considerations involved in storing a vehicle, especially for so long. Will you be going for a non-op to save on taxes and titles? What is the cost of the space involved for 14 years of storage? Will there be financial provisions available to replace rubber and plastic parts that will deteriorate over the course of 14 years. For example, 14 year old tires will not be viable. Plastic parts like coolant tanks and some hoses and seals will be prone to failure simply because of age and the degradation of the plasticizers in the material.

I'm not saying you should not store the vehicle for the son, but rather you should be prepared for the cost.

As for the actual storage, I disagree with putting it up on blocks. An S-Type needs to be actually driven to stave off problems. At least monthly, it needs to be taken for a short drive. This will keep the battery charged, the fluids circulated, components articulated, and the fuel system in good health. Additionally, the occasional drive will alert you to problems associated with age, like leaking seals, hardening suspension components, and simply the usual issues cars develop as they get older.

It can be done, but it will take a little funding and effort to ensure it is in great condition when it's presented on that glorious 16th birthday.

 

In addition to the above, you may also want to consider adding a fuel stabilizer such as STA-BIL. This will help prevent internal corrosion from potential water condensation. You should be able to find at your local auto parts store -- it's a pinkish type fluid that comes in a small plastic container. I don't drive my S-Type a whole lot and add STA-BIL in the winter months as I store the car.

Best of luck.

 

Sorry about your brother.

I'm going to side with tbird, I don't think it's viable, sell the car and invest the proceeds for the son.

 

Storing a car for more than a few months is a very specialized science. The debates of drive/don't drive, put on block/don't put on blocks are just the tip of the iceberg.

The cost and work involved in storing such a car for 14 years is astronomical, I'm not sure it would be worth it.

 

Welcome to the forum Van,

Sorry about the loss that brings you here. There's clearly a very emotional attachment to the S-Type but all logic says keeping it for another 14 years is impractical.

On top of the points already raised about storage facilities and costs, it's now an 8 year old vehicle. Compare it with the current products from Jaguar in terms of specification and equipment - it's already a different generation. Almost double that period of time again for the proposed storage. Without even second guessing what personal transport will be like in 2026, a 22 year old vehicle, no matter how carefully it is stored, will need an in-depth recommissioning to make it roadworthy. Parts availability will be a serious issue.

Keep the memories, the pictures and the videos but sell the car.

Graham

 

Sorry for your loss Van.

I'm going to add a +1 to all of the previous posts I'm afraid.......It really doesn't seem viable.

Good luck with whatever route you decide you wish to go down

 

If it were me, I'd sell it and invest the current market value. That'd surely grow to buy an appropriate first car in 14 years with money left over for insurance. But before I sold the Jag, I'd build up a file of documentation, copies of paperwork, list of options, photographs of the car and more importantly, photographs of the man with his car, family vacation photos, etc. I would be very surprised if the kid truly appreciated you saving the car for him at age 16, but in say about 30 years, IF the kid grows up to be a car-guy, he'd appreciate knowing all about his father's car then and could buy his own if he were really that interested.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum Van and please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your brother.

As the other members have chimed in - I must agree - I would not look to store the vehicle. As I commend your thoughts for your nephew - you should sell it and set the money aside for a college fund.

Best wishes to you on whichever way you decide to go - Anthony

 

Thank you everyone.

There are definately attachments to the car. This was my brother's first car, that he had bought and paid off on his own. I haven't touched a thing inside, and it still has his smell in there, and not a single person in the family can get in there without breaking down all over again. So selling it is definately not an option.

As for storage, I have volunteered my garage. There is plenty of space, and it is insulated.

 

Ok guys, looks like selling isn't an option and storage is a MUST!!

I've included some linke below to past threads on storing the car for shorter periods of time / over winter etc.

I'm sure some of these may apply, but you're talking about a really long extended period of time, so other rules may also apply.


https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...RAGE+LONG+TERM

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...RAGE+LONG+TERM

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...RAGE+LONG+TERM

I'm positive that others will chime in with some really good info for you shortly.

Best

 

Are you going to non-op the car? California is crazy expensive to keep it titled, licensed, and insured. Could an out-of-state relative perform this to keep costs to a minimum?

As I stated before, the easiest way to keep the car happy over the years is a simple 20 mile drive on the first Tuesday of every month. That little drive will keep the rotors from sticking, the gas from going bad, the battery topped off, and EVERYTHING lubricated (bearings, transmission, differential, etc.).

You have to consider that a modern automobile won't store the same as a pre-70's car. A farm fresh classic can be brought back to life for relatively little cost because they are of a much simpler build. This car has loads of sensitive sensors and components that don't fair well if left to sit for 14 years. As Poor Richard said, "The used key is always bright."

 

If it must be stored, then I would add to the advice already given. About 14 years ago I bought a used boat that needed to be resurrected from a long slumber. I knew nothing about outboard motors so I took it to a specialist outboard mechanic. After cleaning or replacing everything that had gummed up with old fuel, he gave me some advice that kept it going trouble-free. He told me to only buy top-tier gasoline and never to fill the tank, rather only buy as much as I planned to use by the end of the season. Use Stabil over winter with only whatever little was left in the tank, then dilute last season's old fuel with fresh each spring. You can use the same strategy with the "drive it once a month" advice. Just put about four or five gallons in it with Stabil and then put a couple gallons in each time the light comes on. They used to tell you to keep a tank full to prevent the inside of the tank from rusting, but today's cars have sealed tanks because of emissions vapors so I don't think that would be an issue for the Jag.

I have a Toyota Supra that I tend to drive infrequently. I'll enter it in a show mabe once or twice a year but otherwise its stored toward the back of a building, have to move other cars to get it out so I do good to get it out once every two or three months. Store the Jag where its convenient to get out and where its sort of in your way so you can't easily forget about it. My biggest issue with the infrequent use has been square tires, but I'm afraid if I stored it on jack stands, it'd be that much more trouble and I'd never drive it. Good luck.