I am wanting to purchase a jaguar and am totally new to the car. I had my heart set on the S type 2005 but I am reading all sorts of very pricey repairs especially to the transmission. I also do like the X type but I was wanting to gather as much information as I possibly can to learn which years are best, if any, to avoid transmission troubles compared to other years. Please help? Are these transmission and a/c problems with these cards being blown out of proportion and not as common as people make them out to be?
Thank you

 

The S type transmissions (being rear wheel drive) are much easier to get in and out, and much cheaper to fix. They also don't have the same failure rates as the X Type with their known issue of the reverse/high pistons cracking.

X type transmissions are a total pain to replace due to the all wheel drive trans, and transfer case all being shoehorned into the engine compartment and many transmission shops won't even touch them.

If your heart is set on an S type, I wouldn't settle for an X Type as they are almost the same price used, the X Type is much noisier inside and not quite as luxurious as it's big brother so if you don't absolutely love the lines and look of it you may be disappointed.

 

Thanks for your reply are there any particular years of s types that I should avoid? I heard post 2003 are alright and others say post 2006. So I am not sure which to shop around for. Thanks again for your help!

 

Sorry I can't give you any good tips on what year S-Type is best as I've never owned one. You may want to post this question to the folks on the S-Type boards.

Good luck!

 

All Jaguar engines after 98 are Ford engines. S-type is identical with Lincoln LS. I am pretty sure their transmissions are Ford too.
X-type 2.5 engine was installed first in 99 Mercury Cougar, I think. Or 96 Contour?