Hi Jon,

The MB sounds like a pretty nice ride. I assume it was not near any hurricane areas, but might be nice to confirm. Since it's a FL car most likely not AWD. In my area though, most MBs are AWD

The air suspension feels a bit different than a conventional suspension in that it's a bit smoother and reacts differently over undulating roads.

 

Hey Mike,

The CLS550 is not a flood car, and it is not AWD. It is absolutely pristine. My general research has turned up four potential issues with the CLS550 model: the air suspension failing, the direct injection system clogging up the fuel lines and causing carbon build-up on the intake valves, the on-board computers and electronics playing havoc, and the brake rotors warping at less than 30,000 miles....

My wife really wants this car and asks me every day if I am ready to pull the trigger on it. The four potential issues above do not bother her since she will not be the one getting her hands dirty to resolve them should they arise. I keep brushing her off. I have never spent this much cash on a vehicle before and I am having a difficult time coming to grips with that....

 

I have had my 2000 MY X200 since 2012 when I purchased it from a person who did virtually no maintenance whatsoever. With multiple misfires, a worn gudgeon pin on the no. 6 piston, leaking DCCV and so forth, I liked the low miles and colour combination.

After overhauling the engine and fixing other bodge work on the vehicle, I find her a pleasure to drive! Smooth and powerful, the epitome of 'grace, pace and space' for the most part.

Other than now routine maintenance, she remains trouble-free and actually gets a fair number of compliments and admiring looks wherever she goes.

I hope not to offend any of the X250 owners, but I find them to be a bit too Honda-esque for my liking, so I'm not sure what to replace my S-Type with when the time comes. I have looked at the X760, but I don't like the generic look of that body style either. Putting it into perspective, I suppose I'm not a member of the 'target market segment' the newer Jaguar cars are attempting to be in due to my age, so I'll just keep driving my X200 for the foreseeable future!

 

>I hope not to offend any of the X250 owners, but I find them to be a bit too Honda-esque for my liking


If you feel that way about the X250, don't look at an X260, all Toyota (but not Lexus) all the time.


I just replaced my '08 S-Type with a '15 X250 just because the interior was still elegant!


But I'd have to say that the obvious "replacement" for a V8 S-Type seems to be a Lexus GS with the V8 engine. Pretty pricy at the time, however.


Cheers
================================================
Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar
Current: '15 XF (X250) AWD 3.0
Past B: '08 S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition"
Past A: '05 X-Type 3.0/auto Jaguar Racing Green

 

Update:

After a couple weeks of research and weighing the pros and cons of acquiring that gorgeous 2014 CLS550, I have decided to pass on it and keep my trusty daily-driver 2005 S-Type in our stable for the time being. As much as I would like to have that vehicle, the economics involved in acquiring/maintaining/insuring/owning it simply were not financially prudent. Our four current vehicles continue to serve our various needs quite well and there is no justifiable reason to change our line-up at the current time....

Whoever purchases that CLS550 will be getting a tremendous amount of performance, elegance, luxury, comfort, and eye appeal for the money, though. But it will not be me....

 

Hey Jon,

I know the feeling when one desires something especially when it comes to a good deal. It's a difficult decision at times. As you mentioned in your current stable your needs are met, I must say with some pretty nice vehicles!

Wayne pm'd me the other day. I think he was betting the farm that you were going to purchase the CLS. I should have bet him a beer.

 

Hey Rick,

Yeah, I think Wayne figured that because Jan made it quite clear that she wants the CLS550 to replace my S-Type, it was automatically going to join our stable here. But because it would be my daily driver and she would not lift a finger towards maintaining it, she gets very little say in the matter....

Hope your knee replacement rehab is still ahead of schedule and that you are now able to get plenty of restful sleep without the knee waking you up throughout the night....

P.S. - The rubber hose-to-metal tube junction on Jan's XK8's power steering fluid hose just above where it heads into the steering rack is weeping, just as they all do sooner or later. I will head to Wayne's shop in a couple of weeks where we will cut out that lousy junction coupling and replace it with a 3/8-inch brass barb connector, a new 1-foot section of 3/8-inch power steering hose, some worm-drive clamps, and perhaps a pint or so of fresh Dexron III top-up in the power steering fluid reservoir. Less than $10 for parts and hopefully not too much hassle getting the tools into the space where the repair must take place. Then, a great Lexington-style BBQ lunch afterwards. If you are able to travel by then, come join us. We promise not to put you to work, and you get out of the house to relieve some of the boredom....

 

Hey, it turns out the dealer where I traded my S-Type has decided to offer it for sale rather than sending it to auction:

https://www.jaguarsudbury.com/used/J...29f4ada74d.htm

Seems like they think I kept it in pretty good shape.

If anyone in the US North East should decide to look at it, I've got all my records and would be very happy to talk about it.

Cheers
================================================
Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar
Current: '15 XF (X250) Portfolio AWD 3.0
Past B: '08 S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition" (250.06 whp / 259.67 torque)
Past A: '05 X-Type 3.0/auto Jaguar Racing Green

 

Wow, they are asking ten grand! Hats off to them if they get anything close to that price....

 

Hmm its an '08 with the STR front bumper skin, maybe that warrants the big bucks.

It is crazy pricing, all over the board if you look at ebay from time to time. Although there seem to be S Types re-upping their auctions. Whoever picked up tbirds STR a couple months back, sure got the deal of their life!

 

>Hmm its an '08 with the STR front bumper skin, maybe that warrants the big bucks.

That's because it's a Satin Edition, one of the last 750 made. It has lots of interesting parts from the STR, including the chrome mirrors on the doors.

I always thought it was because they were emptying the parts bins and using everything they had.

Hope they can get a good price for it, but you're right $10K is nuts (but then so was the $7K trade they gave me... ;-)

=================================
My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF

 

You are correct, Jaguar was indeed emptying the parts bin. They did the same thing on my wife's 2006 XK8 Victory Edition when it was built in the final month of XK8 production (May 2005)....

I would sell my meticulously-maintained 2005 S-Type 3.0 for $5,000 in a heartbeat (and then probably grab that 2014 CLS550 that I cannot quite get out of my system)....

 

I purchased my now-sold 2005 S-Type 3.0 ten years ago today during the depths of the 2008/2009 economic recession. Best vehicle-purchasing experience I have ever had due to the prevailing financial conditions at that time that kept so many potential customers out of the showrooms. While I still miss the car for being the great highway cruiser that it is, it no longer fit our transportation needs so I sold it to a good friend of Rick's (joycesjag) back in May. His college-student daughter now enjoys it as her daily driver and Rick helps to keep it in top running shape - a winning combination for all involved. Well-cared-for S-Types remain a great sedan option, and it is truly a shame that they are worth so little nowadays. So enjoy your S-Types, folks. They remain a very misunderstood automobile to the general motoring public, but those of us who have owned them will always understand and appreciate their niche....