Noobie, here. Afterall, who else would be posting here?

Anyway, I want to upgrade my DD and was contemplating a Lincoln LS when it struck me that my wife might far prefer an S-Type especially over my current DD, a Ford Focus ZX3 I currently use for every-day chores.

Trouble is, ATs are for old men ... I gotta have a MT ... and they don't seem to be too plentiful.

How do I find production volumes for the '00-'02 model years that were equipped with M5 trannies? Is there anything else I should be considering in this endeavor?

Thanks!

 

Welcome, I am moving your thread off to the S Type Forums so that you get a satisfying reponse from our guru members .
Sorry but I beg to differ as to your point of transmission systems . AT all the way lol

 

AT for old men? Seen the supercars with ATs? When did an F1 car last have MT?

 

Try chowing down a bagel-cream cheese-lox in one hand and a coffee the other, then shift....Yea, you got it pal...Hot pants and shmootz all over your face. With an A/T I can do all while my right knee does all the driving....

 

Hm-m ... tough crowd ... here.

Yeah, in my 61 yrs, I've found that I far prefer to row my way down the road. My garage queen is a six-speed manual '05 CTS-V that I managed to tinker a supercharger onto. Had three early '90s SHOs with 5-spds, and my current DD (Focus) is a 5-spd manual. My left foot wouldn't know what to do with an AT.

Am I unlikely to find an early 2000s S-Type with a MT without searching the entire country?

 

You told some 20-somethings and 30-somethings they were old men, what kind of reaction did you expect?

Still, no hard feelings LOL

Did the MT even make it to the USA? Might be 2003+ if so. The comments on the .co.uk forum are that it's a heavy clutch (and made worse if you have the 2003+ due to the EPB) but don't let me put you off....

 

How about just driving and putting your full attention towards the road while you hurl that 4,000lb object along at 70+mph?

Yeah I'm guilty of some of it too but man, some of these people. Texting while driving? Putting on makeup? Hanging in the left lane while they try to work their BB? I even saw someone once changing a shirt!

They should be arrested for attempted involuntary manslaughter.

Maybe if everyone had manual trannies the roads would be safer? Nawww. The women's makeup would just be really horrible ...

Bob S.

 

When racers weren't a buch sissies, knew what good footwork was and could do it!

Ever been in a race car with a really pro driver and watch & feel his foot work? It's amazing.

The truth is they all can still work manuals very well. Paddle shifting and sequential gearboxes just make you a lot quicker around the track. I'm not convinced it's such a good thing. Something has been lost from the sport.

Bob S.

 

If i can't get my STR's a/t to shift when i want her to (6200 rpm) i'm gunna make her direct-drive...LOL!

 

Probably so, however, ATs are no fun going to get groceries. I like to be involved while driving. Plus, I haven't put on any makeup since that one night in San Francisco back in ... uh-h ... forget I said that.

Seriously, though, I'm under the impression that 5-spd manuals were in some number of S-Types in the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Model Years in the U.S., but were then discontinued. Where can I confirm or refute that?

 

Autotrader has three 2003 V6 w/manual trans in the country. Closest to you is in Phoenix.

 

Actually, the S-Type and the Lincoln LS were available with a manual transmission. They were available in the LS from 2000 to 2003(?) and in the S Type from 2000 to 2004. The Jaguar release literature from 2005 specifically announces that they are discontinuing the manual trans. BTW, the manual trans was only available on the 3.0 V6. Good luck trying to find one, since they probably sold less manual cars than they did the pretty rare 03 and up STR.

Personally I would get over the (auto) stigma and drive a V8 S Type.. I have the V6(auto) and really regret not getting the V8.

 

I currently have two cars to choose between: a four-banger '03 Ford Focus and my supercharged LS6 CTS-V with LT headers, lowering package, etc, etc which stays in the garage except on special days but way more than satisfies my need for speed. A 3.0 V6 would be a big step up as a daily driver for me especially from an interior standpoint. The Focus' interior is, shall we say, rather utilitarian. My wife prefers not to ride in it except in emergencies and really dislikes having to drive it.

Phoenix, huh? Oh, boy ...

 

Whoa! Nice car! Dang, if that were local, I'd be all over that car.

Alas, mapquest says exactly 2,000 miles. Flying there and driving back would be an option ... if I weren't married.

 

How about Georgia?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

Or have you thought about a Lincoln LS?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

Funny thing is I only see "pre-update" Lincolns out there and only "post-update" Jaguars..

Have you thought about maybe an X-Type? There are a bunch of those around all the time with manual's.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/search...=1279577047453

 

"Pre-Update" and "Post-Update"? Sorry, but I'm ignorant on this. Does this refer to some "fix" made by dealers?

Actually, I started my look for a car with the Lincoln LS, then realized that an S-Type would be an option, too. That's when I started noticing the X-Type. Hm-m ...



(BTW, thanks to you guys for your help.)

 

rand, I had an 02 X-Type 3.0. Though they look reminicent of their larger cousin the XJ, they are palgued with weak transmissions and transfer cases. Just giving you a peek into my experiences and MHO.

 

Both the LS and S Type got a refresh that addressed many of the early faults. This was done for the 2003 model year in the US. It is known as the 2002.5 refresh for the S type in Europe. The S type is easier to tell if it is a post refresh car since it got a new "family" dash panel, six speed auto and the electric parking brake. The LS is a little harder to tell. The only real visual clue is the electric parking brake.

Funny thing... I started out looking at the LS also and stumbled on the S Type.

 

Since Rand is looking for a manual transmission car, would there still be transmission issues? I have heard the transaxle has a belt that transfers power to the rear.. I drove a loaner X-type that had horrible driveline lash. I personally chalked it up to the whole "transverse engine/transaxle" thing, maybe I was wrong...

 

No, you're not wrong. The loaner X-Types I've had while our S-Type was in the shop last year for various warranty repairs all drove exactly as you described. I simply could not understand the appeal of the X-Type once you drive an S-Type other than the AWD capability. But they're noisy and uncomfortable....