Hi all! I’m interested in picking up a 2006 R and wondered if I could get some opinions on it.

- Just over 100k miles
- FSH
- Valley hose has been repaired
- Recent gearbox service
- Rear control arms and prop shaft donut replaced recently
- The remaining bushes are nice and tight
- No warning lights
- Has been regularly under sealed so zero rust
- New front discs and pads
- New drivers side brake pipe
- Power steering pump has been refurbished
- Both xenon bulbs have been replaced
- Tyres have loads of tread on all round
- Just had timing chain guides replaced

The car is currently in a Jaguar garage as even though the chain guides have been replaced it’s still rattling a bit. The current owner won’t sell it to me until it’s been properly repaired which is a nice thing.

The only negative is it is a CAT S, but it’s passed MoTs and been professionally repaired, I’d never have know it was CAT S if it hadn’t been registered with the DVLA as so.

The middle cats have been deleted as well.

Any thoughts and guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dan.

 

If it is registered after 23rd March 2006 the car tax shoots up.
Something to consider.

 

thanks for the response, I’m aware it’s the higher tax bracket but I’m not too worried about that I’m more concerned with reliability of these cars at this level, from what I know it’s been very well looked after and serviced regardless of cost and the usual problems (that I’m aware of) have been dealt with, the CATS suspension is also in very good condition, does anyone know of any other things I should look out for or consider? Thanks!

 

Undersealing may not be enough. There may be rust behind the side skirts (e.g. just rear of the front wheels).

 

I grew up in salty roads Vermont. Yes, underseal is not only not enough, it could make things worse. Salt will rust metal right through undercoating.

 

Okay thanks! I’ll be sure to check these areas, anything else I should look out for?

 

Can you DIY most of the regular, ordinary things? If not, they're not cheap to keep going. It's 16+ years old...

 

Yes I can do my own brakes, bushes, servicing, gaskets etc… I’ve changed a few gearboxes in my time but I don’t have the capacity to do that anymore but most wear and tear I can do myself

 

FYI I’m also looking at a 2008 XF SV8 so any advice on that would also be welcome! Thanks!

 

Think I’m gonna go with the XF, it’s got FSH and I can get a 3 year warranty which includes labour and VAT added on so it’s a no brainer really lol

 

Hi
Think you have dodged the bullet on the STR, by not going for it and going for something else
I have ooked at lots of these and worked on a few over the years and theres lots of bad signs on this
Just a few items I would be concerned about are the Cat S, would of walked away just for that, it will never hold its value like any other STR and any dealer or trader wont have it off you, any that do will be a much reduced price,
the regular underseal is usually there to hide something, underseal tends to hold the water in and they usually rust faster from the ones ive seen
the rattle on startup, is never usually chains, guides and tensioners, the 4.2 are all sorted from new and these are never known to fail, its usually VVT for rattle on startup, the oilways get blocked and lack of oil on startup make then rattle for a few seconds, there very awkward to flush and cost over £2.5k to swap both VVT pulleys, if there even still available
do you know the reg, I bet if you checked mot history, it would give you other areas to look at,
cheers
Joe

 

I agree with the above with the caveat, that if you know what the Cat S was for, with the details, and can inspect the area.

A bargain can be had.

I picked up my STR, for a song. for the details listed above, thou is was not advertised as such, you have to do your home work.

It is not for an investment, but a (potentially) Good STR on a budget to drive with some reliability.

The SV8 is a very good alternative. (But, I just don't like the headlamps.)