Hi I'm new to the forum, im about to take a gamble and buy an auto S Type. Probably a 2004 to 2006 model, I'm not worried about petrol costs, so the V8 is under consideration as is the petrol V6. I don't want diesel.

Extras I would like are xenon lights front and rear parking sensors, upgraded music system, sat nav and a built in phone..voice activation, Rain sensitive wipers, and Maybe a sunroof, folding mirrors. Auto lights. Not much really

I don't know if any of the above are standard on a particular model.

Can anyone tell me if all the above where options..? And out of the 2 engines which would be the least troublesome the v6 or v8.

I hope to buy a car within the next few weeks. It's just waiting for a fully loaded one to appear on auto trader

Any advice on what to look for would also be a great help..
Thanks
Ken Passey.

I suspect few chose all of those options so you may not find one quickly

If you think buying one is a gamble, then stop. I see tears in your future.

I got the STR because it comes with almost all the options standard.
Keep looking and you will find the one you want.
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Ken

I spent eight months seeking a replacement for my Volvo V70R mostly fighting the urge to return to the car I really wanted a Jaguar. Once I could justify that, which was easy by every objective comparison, I had to choose between the models and offerings within them.

I quickly determined I wanted an S and an R because it was the ultimate S. Then I came across an S-type R with the Luxury package and knew that was the car for me. Jaguars are not all that common in this part of the states and it took awhile to find some to test drive. I knew the R was outstanding but positively surprised by the six cylinder. I found the performance very pleasing.

I finally compromised to the middle ground with a 4.2 that offers more performance than needed but not the heaps of excess I would have liked to know was there used. My car has most of the options you seek and the others were available. My Volvo had the xenon lights and this Jaguar does not but the lamps are of such high quality I do not miss them.

Much more practical than one would think. My seat even folds down making the hauling capacity very wagon-like.

Good luck.

My '08 4.2l has all those options, although the folding mirrors are not mechanical and must be pushed over from the outside.

My advice is to look for a 4.2l V8 rather than an STR. Plenty of "sport" without the complexity of the supercharger and so will probably have been owned by a more "responsible" person. It won't be a race car but certainly won't be embarrassing on the street (I absolutely destroyed a friend with a tuned XJS 4.0l straight 6, 5spd). There is really no substitute to a V8 engine.

The 4.2l will probably also come with more options than the 3.0 v6 as well as an additional 65hp.

A classy comfortable touring sedan with a big enough motor to just handling everything effortlessly.
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Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar

Thanks everyone for your input appreciated �� the search begins.. As and when I buy a car I will post. Some photos- cheers.

Hello Massey,

As a recent purchaser myself, I'd say buy the newest one you can find. On the 2008 model year cars in the U.S., most of those options were standard; that improves the likelihood of finding one with all of the features you are looking for... (I'm guessing the higher standard option content was the same in the UK as in the US?)

With regard to engine choice, I wanted the V6 for fuel economy and serviceability. Two fewer cylinders, more space in the engine bay, a Ford-based V6, no "valley pipe," . . . I don't have specifics, but I know it's easier for *me* to reach things in the engine bay; I would expect that to translate to fewer billable hours from the service department for someone who does not service his own vehicles.

I may be a little different from a lot of people here: I didn't buy this to be my "fast" car; it's a daily driver to me, and the V6 makes plenty of power for you to do whatever you need to navigate safely and swiftly through traffic. If this is to serve as your "sports car" too, then by all means, go for the V8!

Cheers,

Tony K.

Back when I bought these for the car lot, I ended up buying only the V6 model which I also drive myself. The V8 has issues and the STR is another mess altogether. It got to the point that I quit buying the STR due to engine, transmission, climate control and other issues.


I would spend 3x in the shop what the margin on the car could be on a good day. On the other hand, the 3.0 Duratec V6 is very reliable and easy to work on.


Just my perspective but an STR is not one that I would recommend buying unless it was less than $2k and ultra clean.

Climate control issues affect them all. This site shows how easy they are to fix. Same trans (ZF 6HP26) so same issues (few, mainly check two bolts and change the oil).

The V8 valley pipe rarely seems to fail but is quite easy to change. The STR is a nightmare to change it.

The V8 (or STR) is much easier to change plugs and coils and the plugs last longer (100K not 70K) than the 3.0, whose manifold has to come off.

The wrong and ignorant perception of many including traders means the V8 are a steal, the V6 mostly a steal. Very little margin for traders. Great news for buyers.

>The V8 has issues and the STR is a ...

Hi, just wondering what you mean by that wrt the "regular" 4.2l? They seem to be very reliable after they replaced the 4.0l.

Not poke'n at'cha, just wonder'n

But agree, that the STR brings a whole other set of concerns... ;-)

Cheers
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons

I chose the 05 STR for a few reasons. it was the last year for the Brembo brake option, it was new enough to have rid of the early model bugs, The body style was not as nice as the 04, but still had the classic "Jag" look I wanted.

Other than a couple minor repairs, covered under my extended warranty, it has been a very reliable car. Search the forum for a lack of complaint threads by yours truly.

All that I can say is that my experience with the V8 model and the STR were not good.


The STR is not for me at any price, including being paid up to $2,000 to take a clean one.


However, Mercedes all day long for me!

Of course, if a trader can't make money then we non-traders win.

hi mate im jim in hull and i bought a 2001 stype sport 18 months ago and its an absolute dream,yes there are the normal probs like windows packing up n wiper motors ceasing top hoses replaced but once these are done the s type is a marvellous car,everybody looks at it when i park up and it looks better than most new cars,regarding engines mines a 30 v6 but i believe the v8 is a better option,the v8 comes with all the extas you talk about to

Without meaning to offend any of our pre-2004 S-Type owners, from personal experience, I would suggest that if you're looking for an S-Type as a "daily driver" you should stick with the later models. Any S-Type is going to show some wear-and-tear and you will be at the mercy of the maintenance whims of a previous owner or two. Otherwise, prioritize your desired interior features. If you limit yourself entirely to an S-Type with the best possible options package, you also limit your buying power to the selling price of a very limited pool of individuals and used car dealerships selling that particular vehicle -- and of course, you have to ask yourself, "With all these nice options, **why** did someone ever want to sell this?"

+1 to the above. Buy the best low mileage car you can find. There's nothing more expensive than a low priced fixer-upper.

Potential buyers also must realize that buying the car is just the entry fee. Owning an old Jag is just as expensive as maintaining a new one when it comes to parts and labour.

+1 except it probably costs even more since the parts are now all old and more liable to fail. DIY and many fixes are affordable.

In my experience, the V6 is way easier to work on and the valve cover gaskets take half the time of the V8.


The V6 has no issues other than some superficial parts that occasionally fail over time.

All that matters is the budget. If you are not limited you can buy a very nice S type, with a lot of equipment. As a general rule the single most important thing to look for is the overall condition of the car- i do not know how traders conduct their business in the US but here, in Eastern Europe, buying a second hand car is quite risky and tricky. Many traders manipulate the mile count on the car, the vehicle itself comes with limited or no history whatsoever.