I don't think you'll find a huge difference in MPG my V6 does around 20-21 average around town.
For the type of driving you are suggesting I wouldn't get hung up on the V6/8 choice.
Better to concentrate on finding a good car at the right price.

 

I'm not sure what is a good price, I checked kelly blue book, it appears that the car is worth about what the seller is asking. I thought that's a decent deal.

Are jags being sold way below kbb value now or something?

 

I found this in a small dealer near my house, what do you guys think?

 

Yes. The S Type is out of date and is very cheap now. Really push on the price because the don't move at all.
.
.
.

 

I'm in Cache Creek, British Columbia tonight in my 2006 4.2 with
107,006 miles on it, and, I'm headed thru the Canadian Rockies,
on to Winnipeg, Minneapolis, then Atlanta. What, me worry???

Only mistake I made with the vehicle was buying new; biiig mistake.
Depreciation is deadly, but that's to your advantage buying used.

Tires: I got 38,000 miles on the original Contis, then switched to
Michelins' MXV4 and got 67,000 on them with 4/32 still left on the
tread. I do notice tire noise on the type of pavement where the
top layer has worn off exposing the rocks below. You want quiet?
Get the Lexus...it's Valium on wheels. Or, as Bart Simpson says,
"boring".

There's an old joke about (insert manufacturer's name here) and
Lexus. We'll say General Motors. When Lexus came up with the 430,
the CEO of GM bought one and gave it to his engineers to compare with GM's Caddy. "How do they make these things so quiet?" he asked.
The engineers went thru the Lexus for clues, and, the first night they
had it, they left a cat inside with the windows closed. The next
morning when they arrived at work, the cat was dead. The following
night, they left a cat in the Caddy. The next morning, the cat was
gone.

Man up! Buy the Jag. Wife is probably worried that the Jag attracts
individuals of the female persuasion. No self respecting female would
ever hit on a Lexus driver; hey, it's been proven in a European study
a few years ago when women were asked about the sexiest cars that
men could drive. Aston Martin, Jag, Mercs, etc. made the list.

Got a shaky marriage? Get the Lexus.

 

I wasn't commenting on the price, more on the engine choice, a good price is one that you feel comfortable with.

I have to say that that is my least favourite colour for an S that's just me though.

I looked at Autotrader for your area, and the S Type prices are certainly not bargain basement, maybe you should widen the net?

 

^ +1 - good advice from Norri on engine size. Won't be much of a difference between the N/A 4.2 and the 3.0 as far as mpg. Glad to hear you are thinking of driving another S-Type for comparison purposes - good job, be thorough.

Don't pay full KBB for an S Type (or really for any car). It is a guideline, nothing more.
Maybe there is another forum member somewhere near the OP who could meet up and let him take a spin in another S Type? Just throwing it out there since I know we have many active members in Canada.

That one you found near your house, maybe try to find one with lower miles if possible. They are out there. Just my $.02, keep the questions coming, we are all here to help get you in the right S Type!!!

 

I think the OP is in California, not Canada (?)

 

I'm in Alhambra, California, It's in the San Gabriel valley area

 

I'm considering this car the seller is willing to sell it for $17300. this is the car I test drove, is it a good deal?

 

Here's my thoughts and if I get anyone upset, not the intent.

First we own a Jag and a Lexus, Inherited the lexus from sister in law a year and a half ago for my son who uses it for college. 241 thousand miles.

On the sound and feel and ride of the car no comparison, the Jag. A lot depends on tires, and the other parts that control the ride, along with the surface of the road. On a macadam road the car is so quiet, its scary, on concrete a little noise but no big deal. Driving both cars, Jag wins.

Next point as was mentioned earlier, and really not a big topic in this forum, is gas mileage. Ok it might be mentioned at some point but I don't think anyone buying an S type, the first thing they are thinking is what they get highway and city, lets be honest here. I wasn't thinking about how many mpg its going to cost when I got the car for my wife. I was thinking how "appreciated" I was going be. At least for the next two weeks (married over 25 years). And if I got divorced and kept the car, how many chicks I could pick up with it.

There is a great line in a movie with Ben Affleck who plays a millionaire many times over at 26 years old, called Boiler Room where he says "when people say money doesn't buy you happiness, its because they don't have any, Look at me baby, smile from ear to ear".

That said, if you have the funds, and if you do experience possible service issues with either car and money is not an issue, and no worries about putting the cash away for college educations, its a simple choice. Go with the Jag.

That warranty you are getting is for the amount of time on the car which to me, reading it and correct me if I'm wrong, runs out next year, right? 6 years or 100,000 miles whatever comes first. Just a transfer right? So unless you plan on getting another extended warranty (which would sway me towards the Jag), again this is just odds and having the experience of owning both cars, its hard not to say Lexus and only because those Toyota's seem to go forever and the odds are (and this is strictly playing the odds) your expenses for maintenance on the Lexus could be less. Again!!!!! you could get a lexus and it turns out a lemon. Just stating odds and having the experience.

I love our Jag, and if you DIY service which becomes a religion and you really care about the end result, or get a great mechanic and there are many doing great work, the car should last a long time. Coming to this site doesn't hurt either.

You need to do a T close on yourself. Put Jag on top of one side of the T and Lexus on the other and write down reasons on each side for getting either car or not getting it, and then add them up. Biggest number of pluses wins. The first one you can write is: Next to each other in a parking lot, the eyes go to the Jag. So their is one for the Jag. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

I used to own a Lexus GS300, and let me tell you that car was super reliable. I hope I don't get bashed here, since we are on a Jaguar forum.
I am not biased either, as one of my sister has an 01 S-type, and my other one has an 05 S-type. Both of them have been a bit problematic. On other hand, I used to drive my GS like I stole it all the time, and it never gave me problems.
I have other points, but I don't want to sound too biased. I think the Lexus is more updated too, as it was released from 06-12, while the S-type has been around since 1999? I know there were some changes but still. Good luck on your decision.

Please don't bash me.

 

Over here the reputation of Lexus is that their cars cost considerably more, are more (as in: very) reliable, and very very boring. Not for me, but I can see the attraction for some. That's if the reputation is deserved!

 

thanks for the feedback everyone! I've decided to go with a jag, just gotta find the right one.

 

We're not going to hurt you...while you have Lexus "Envy".

 

Awesome! Keep on looking and keep on posting. We'll try to help any way we can. It's not all that unusual around here to have one forum member even go check out a car for another forum member if they are closer to the vehicle. So don't necessarily restrict your search geographically too much.

 

Chris, I had a 96 Land Rover Discovery...piece of crap! Worst seats and electrical gremlins everywhere. It molested us to the point where we gladfully traded it in...hopefully its resting off the coast of Florida making a reef.

 

LOL!!! Yes, they can be infuriating and require quite a bit of attention on a constant basis. My Range Rover has great seats, and when it claws up a hill that a mountain goat wouldn't dare, then it's hard not to love it. Then it will lock you in the car with the heat on HI in the middle of summer for no reason and you hate it again. Rinse and repeat.

 

Oh Really?

 

"Claw up a mtn. like a Billy goat"? Then when at the top lock u in the car with heat on high in the swelter of summer? Not only is it a piece of crap Chris...it sure sounds as if it's posessed. Torch it before it drives u over a cliff and not let u out cause it decides to lock the doors. Torch then "Reef" it bro.