Just came across this ad:

MonsterAuto.ca: 2008 Jaguar S-Type R Sedan

2008 STR, under 5000 miles, no VIN, asking nearly $38000! I never thought that any 2008 models had made it to North America.

 

Neat... They are out there, but you are correct to say that it is one rare car.

I wish they had more pictures... It may be Mikey's car, though, since they list the fuel requirement to be "Regular Fuel"...

 

And in Jaguar racing green...my favorite.

 

Hey! I resemble that remark Note that it's regular unleaded , wouldn't want to accidently put leaded in.

$38K for a 5 year old Jag? Nuts. It's still going to be sitting in Calgary this summer. (Aug 15th, about noon). Winter starts that same day about 2 PM.

 

ALL of those thoughts went through my mind when I saw the ad, and I may have to eat really humble pie in the (unlikely) event that you have been right all along, Mikey.

Seriously though, is that "unleaded regular" a misprint, or has something changed for the 2008 model?

 

I figured you'd like that Mikey....

Heck, the way the weather is going, here in Ohio winter may come back in August as well.... Oy...

Robinb... It was a joke.... No, nothing changed for 08. I'm sure it was just a miss-print. I catch them all the time...

It's my curse for carrying so much trivial knowledge in my little brain.....

 

Nice S-type. I noticed that it has chrome like a VDP but it's an R: chrome window trim, the trunk strip with "JAGUAR" is chrome, and the mirror caps are chrome. Were any other STR's sold with that chrome factory trim?

 

Yes a few 2008 STR's are around and they have all kinds of weird stuff on them!!

As you can tell they went chrome crazy with the window surrounds, mirror covers, grille surround.

They don't show the inside but the upholstery pattern is different and you got the wood wheel. This car could have a wood kit but the 2008 is so rare we don't really know?

See below.

 

 

In late 07, low production numbers, the decision to kill off the S-Type, and Fords' imminent sale of Jaguar to Ta Ta Motors, non R interior/exterior decor began to show up.

 

Very rare cat indeed, so very low in mileage too!

Definitely not feeling the chrome bits though, then again, I don't really like the softer looks of the 05+ R cars either,

I like the wood on the steering wheel though, kind of wish my STR had the wood trimmed steering wheel,

And that wood trim running across the hvac and radio control is kind of neat, I always wondered what it would look like if the wood trim ran up the entire center console, wonder if that was factory finish on that particular 08 tbird posted, or if that's some aftermarket stick-on wood grain accessory...

 

Yes the last time I posted the pictures someone pointed out it was an aftermarket wood kit but I never found another 2008 STR to compare it to?

I was surprised that the seat cushions had a different pattern but it was the last year so I think they were using up what they had like bfsgross said.

Hey I think they were still using those crappy lug nuts right up to the last S Type!!










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There were various options, too. The R could have a wood steering wheel all along.

I think the seats with piped edges became the default on the late R but I expect some said no (as I would have).

 

I have all the factory sales literature for 2005 and the STR did not have a wood wheel option and I have never seen one in an STR except the 2008 pictures I posted?
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I have no idea how many were chosen but they were options such as
wood & leather XR8 43099 xxx (xxx = trim colour such as AEK Sable)
all wood XR8 43100 xxx

By 2007 & 2008 there was the R Luxury Package. I'm not sure when it was first introduced. It allows the above types of wheels as well as the default all-leather R steering wheel.

I think the general idea was: it's a Jag, you have money, we'll sell you what you want if we have it.

 

Hmm... I'm guessing all the S-Type cars had the same 4 spoke steering wheels more or less alike...

Wonder if I could find one from a plain V8 S-Type that is black leather with birds eye maple wood trim... then again, maybe that will be too much wood and an R is more suited to an all leather steering wheel...

 

There were also ones with and without the audio switches.

I expect you could fit any of them.

 

YES....
.... The R could be had with chrome and burl walnut trim (the wheel and console of the car Tbird6 posted) from as early as 2006 in the US.

It was called the luxury package.

Here is a 2007 Luxury Package Car.. Note that this one doesn't have the add on stuff that Tbird6's post has.

Cars for Sale: 2007 Jaguar S-TYPE R in Elmhurst, IL 60126: Sedan Details - 341915484 - AutoTrader.com





Also, remember the S Type wasn't cancelled, it was phased out and updated. The replacement model, the XF is based on the same platform. That said, many of the strange stuff... Like the R shifter and plain leather wheel showing up in base cars.. all cars getting the upgraded piped leather.. and the R fascia showing up on base cars were all cost cutting measures to reduce the number of parts or use up extra parts as they phased production out and got ready for the 2009 XF...

As for the wood wheel..JagV8 is correct, but the availability was a bit different here in the US. First of all, the only way to get a wood rim steering wheel in the R from the factory was with the above mentioned Luxury Package. That said, they always allowed the dealer to install them as an accessory.. also, all cars in the US came with the steering wheel controls, so I guess the "no audio" wheel would also be a UK/Europe only thing where there is such a thing as a "standard" S Type.

 

Some more fun...

The standard cars had some strange content in 2008 as well.

Here is a 4.2 "satin edition" with the satin finish wood, non-staggered R wheels and the R nose. Note the all leather wheel and r shift knob..





Here is a 3.0 with the satin final edition trim..





And finally a 3.0 with the now standard in 2008 burl walnut trim...

 

Boy thanks for all the info!! My 2005 sales catalogs don't have a number of these packages? I have seen this before with other cars as the sales publication date is before the date the factory released that option.

My 2003 Lincoln LS is a certain shade of red which was not available until mid-year and then only if you knew how to order it. So the beginning of the model year factory color charts do not show it at all.
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