I've seen a number of reviews describing the S-Type ride as being supple. However, in my view it is rather firm but sporting. At least that is when I compared it to my previous XJs. Whereas the XJs would sort of glide over the road, the S-Type seemed to follow every ripple or bump. The overall result seems to be a car that is hard-wired to the road. The upside is that handling and steering are razor-sharp but the downside is that it encourages a certain bit of hoonage. My Audi A6 is quite a bit softer, but not nearly as precise as the S-Type.

 

The excellent ride quality is one of the reasons I purchased our S-Type. My wife now much prefers her XK8 and pretends that it delivers the better ride. No way....

 

The ride rather depends on which version is bought (such as Sport or not) - larger rims with lower profile tires being harder ride but more connected with the road. The XJ used to be (still is?) known for being rather "wallowing" from some view points - "soft / comfortable" from others! You pick the one you like I think.

 

I would have to agree. I have the sport suspension in mine and it's like bein "stuck"to the road. I had a 88 Merc Cougar LS and that was a floating land barge. Super smooth ride but yo did "wallow" aroound if you were turning/weaving down the road. I like the new ride much better. More control and more responsive.

 

I'm pretty sure my S-Type has the normal suspension being that it's a 3.0 V6. When I first test drove it, my comment to the salesman was that "it's not like my XJ". I noticed my driving style has gotten decidely more aggressive since I got the S-Type. It is a lot easier to drive at a higher rate of knots than the XJ due to the handling and smaller size.

 

The 3.0 was available with a suspension choice I think. Many brochures are on this site (& the net) and may make it clearer.

I got a lengthy car spec just by asking a dealer nicely - free
Could be worth the same, or email jag corp (others report this works).

 

Certain years had either the sport 3.0 or 4.2 sport option...Also all had larger diameter rim options...

Remember, shocks/struts/springs are wear items...So if you bought you're car with 75K on the ticker, it was a much different car when it only had 75 miles on it...

 

I have my Bilsteins on the rear and it has helped the ride tremendously. Look forward to doing the fronts soon. The ride has firmed up without being bone jarring by a stretch.

The ride on the Jag is second to none, even with bad shocks, when I road tested other vehicles in my price range about 20k, I came away thinking I was crazy to look at another car.

This is the best riding car I have owned by far.

 

Do not forgett the stype has a more sophisticated rear suspension. The xk rear suspension is pre historic

 

Mine is a sport, the obvious clues are the colour coded trim on the grille and corners and larger dia front brakes.
I didn't know the springs were different but they well may be.

 

FloridaJag,

I would have to rate the 96 XJ6 I had as the best riding, but my current S-Type as the best handling by far. It is much more agile and sticks to the road like glue. The only other cars that came close I had were a 1971 Datsun 240Z and a 1980 Maxda RX7 LS but it seems I'm more comfortable at the limit in the S-Type.

 

Norri, maybe they changed the exterior trim in '03, but I have a 00 S Type sport and it has a chrome grill and corner trim. I actually like the chrome better than same color trim. I think it adds just the right amount of flare.

 

The pre-2003 cars have much simpler suspension which was redesigned for the 2003-on cars. I believe it was possible to order the trim independently of the Sport/SE/XS/etc at extra cost so use trim as a hint only.