I am considering buying a 2003 S type 3.0. 85K, full service records, clean carfax.

I am quite concerned about overall reliability.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

Single biggest factor is whether you can at least DIY simple stuff (forum FAQs are great for help). They're not inherently unreliable but a car's a car....

 

S-types are one of the most reliable cars on the road. The dark nasty days of Jaguar were a long long time ago.

Just about any problems that do come up have been addressed on this website. I've never regretted buying mine and I use it as a daily driver, not a garage queen.

 

I agree, mine is heading towards 90K now, and I'm happy with it.

In general the common problems are relatively simple and you will find all the info on the site.

 

Do it...go on...do it.

 

How much? Have you looked into the supercharged S-Type R models? You may be able to get one with comparable mileage around $10K...

What parts have been replaced on the service records?

 

Iv'e had my 03 s type 6 cyl two years this month. Only had coils replaced and reg maintainence. It's the best car I have ever owned. The only thing I really don't like about it is when I turn the key off and get out.....and have to wait til I drive her again! LOL

Bought it in New Jersey, had it shipped to Oregon with 93K. It now has 137K and going strong. It does have the transmission lurch (even after I had the transmission serviced and reflashed, it didn't help) intermittingly. I just live with it.

I have always gotten 30+ mpg on the highway (no lone believes). If your a handy guy, you can tackle the easy & small stuff. I still get stares and comments from this classic. It's my only car and I'm counting on it for at least another 15K until I get a new 3rd row suv then she will be my 'classic'. The 2003's were 70% upgraded from the 02's thats why I held out for an 03. I'd buy another jag. Been looking at the xf's lately...just looking. Happy jag hunting.

 

Make sure it has 2 keys with FOB's.

+1 to everyone elses comments above, especially in the FAQ thread.

 

I don't think reliability is the issue. Any car can have problems. But if you can't do DIY repair work, Jag dealer charges will blow the simplest repairs out of perspective. I think that is where some of the unreliable reputation comes from. Not the frequency of problems but the costs incurred to fix them. It's the main reason these things are available so cheap once the warrantee expires.

 

I have a 2003 S-type I bought in early 2009 with 52 k miles on it. It now has 90k. The car has not been entirely "reliable." I bought the car for $10k and have put approximately $6k to keep it on the road over the last 3 years.

During the three years of ownership, I have had three cooling system related "failures" requiring the immediate attention of a shop. Being that it is my only car at the present, I have had to take the car to a shop to have things like struts installed as well.

The following items have been done on the car:

1. Replace upper radiator hose and coolant tank
2. Replace Water Pump with
3. Transmission "service"
4. Replace battery
5. Replace upper and lower radiator hoses
6. Replace front upper control arms and struts.

I still have to do the front struts and some other suspension parts as well. It is coming up on 100k and I will have to hit the spark plugs and valve cover gaskets as well. Those I will be able to do myself.

In short. Parts for these cars are readily available if you are able to wait a few days for them to get there. You can find some at the chain parts stores. If you are doing suspension work, stay away from cheap brands as these cars are complex and have many pieces.

The engine and related components seem to be very reliable as they have been in all Jags. Cooling system and suspensions are the weak points for me. Brakes are okay and can be changed in 30 minutes for the fronts.

My maintenance costs are in the range of $175.00 per month. As soon as it crosses the line to $250.00 per month, it may be time to say good bye.

 

Wow $6K for the work specified?? That's 3K more than I would have expected. In your other thread, you mentioned that the front upper control arms were changed to address a 'pop' but made no difference. Should that cost be included?

 

I am working on that issue right now. The upper control arms did improve the handling and ride, but the pop remains.

I expect that the pop will be handled by a $100 part or so.

The 6k does include tires and a second trip to a Firestone where they charged me about $1k for the radiator hose job. I just paid off that bill and am not going to use Firestone for anything but the lifetime alignment and wheel balancing that I bought 2 years ago. I priced radiator hoses from NAPA and they are about 1/3 of the cost of OEM or chain ripoff parts costs. When I get the cash, I am going to buy an extra set of uppers and lowers.

I think that I overpaid for some services due to the urgent need for the repairs. My plan is to be better prepared and shop around. You can save money on parts and also by doing things yourself. I will be doing cooling system repairs myself from now on.

 

Dealer items SUUUUUCK. I had to pay $60.00 for a turn signal bulb socket. What a ripoff. A dealership in Houston had the nerve to try to sell me bulbs in the fancy Jaguar box as well. I told them that they can keep those. I have $3.00 (still a ripoff) bulbs from Autozone that work just as well.

Apparently some of us are having better luck with their local dealers than I am having, but they want to lay you out on the floor around here. Thieves.

 

This adds a new definition to the phrase 'hose job' Ouch!

 

lol!

 

I would advise you to only buy 2004 and up.

 

Any special reason?