Thoughts on 2003 Jag S-Type R?

Automotive ADD strikes again. I need to stay off of Craigslist.

Any experiences with the Jaguar S-Type type R?
4.2l supercharged engine w/ 6 speed automatic.
390HP
400+ lb/ft torque

Top Gear seemed to like it. They liked the Monero better but I like the style of the Jag over the GTO.

Thoughts, comments, snide remarks?

only if i learn how to crap money

My old MS3 beat one up once. The poor guy didn't know what it was, just kept doing a double take to see what it was.

& what belteshazzar said "only if I learned to crap money"

I say go forth, test drive and report back with thy findings.

"Monaro" not Monero

Like

Camaro not Camero

MA$$hole wrote: My old MS3 beat one up once. The poor guy didn't know what it was, just kept doing a double take to see what it was. & what belteshazzar said "only if I learned to crap money"

What you didn't say here was that there were three of us in the car, we were already on the road for 1.5 hours, it was 90-something degrees out (heat soak city!) and the guy in the Jag got the jump on us. Still, the $20,000 MS3 destroyed the $60,000+ Jag.

Don't buy one.

Do it!!!!

The Jag is definitely "cooler" than the MS3.

A good friend has one. I have driven it many times and it is a nice car. And that is the problem it is just "nice". After driving it you are left thinking why is this not the standard jag and there should be a completely bonkers version that has that denotation.

You will not be displeased with it but it is not a "supper car" it is a very good GT cruiser with adequate HP.

These cars in good shape command a premium and down the road they may be collectable as jags go but if I was looking I would get a regular one. IT is such an obscure car that the only people you will impress with it is other jag owners.

rotard wrote: The Jag is definitely "cooler" than the MS3.

Agreed, even if the Jag is broken. My MS3 was cool in it's own right but if both cars showed up to an LA party, the Jag would get VIP treatment.

If you've got the crapping money thing down, by all means get the Jag.

belteshazzar wrote: only if i learn how to crap money

This seems to be the prevailing reply...any evidence to back that up?

The research I've done so far doesn't make it sound any more expensive to maintain than the beloved E36 M3.
The most commonly discussed problem is the transmission and there is a TSB that covers it.

I severely regret not buying a 1999 Jaguar XJR with 36,000 miles for $9,000. I should've gone for it, as it was mint and beautiful. Jags just look like they should come with machine guns in the trunk.

I love any Jag with an R badge, just something about them DO IT!!!

Go ahead and succumb to the lure of "Grace, Space, and Pace" if you want, but be aware that...

"The 6-speed trans has suffered from a series of electronic glitches, causing shuddering, noise, and a tendency to hang onto gears too long when decelerating. There have been several ECU upgrades which should have sorted most of these symptoms, but problems my still remain on some cars."

"An unusual problem relates to the electronic handbrake used on the later cars; it seems that the original actuating motor had insufficient travel to clamp the disc sufficiently once the pads wore. Replacement motors have been designed with extended range."

"The S-Type seems to have a healthy appetite for batteries...there is noticeable current draw for up to half an hour after the key has been removed. Common problems include corrosion of the wiring loom where it passes through the front wheelarch."

"The dual control valve, which varies the coolant flow to each side of the heater unit according to the temperatures set, can eventually seize up regardless of the coolant type used, and will often be the first casualty if conventional antifreeze is mistakenly added to the cooling system." [A replacement dual control valve is listed at 145 British pounds, BTW.]

Info from "Jaguar World Monthly," March 2007. Y'all want to hear about the front and rear suspension issues? How about the "collapsed water pump impellers, stuck thermostats, and poor quality timing chain tensioners" on the early V8s? (In fairness, the 4.2s are supposed to be better.)

rmarkc wrote:

belteshazzar wrote: only if i learn how to crap money

This seems to be the prevailing reply...any evidence to back that up? The research I've done so far doesn't make it sound any more expensive to maintain than the beloved E36 M3. The most commonly discussed problem is the transmission and there is a TSB that covers it.

I don't know if I could even begin to catalog all of the money I poured into mine. I would just get mad remembering all of the stupid things I had to fix on that car. I will say that much like my Range Rover it was a wonderful car to drive when it worked, but that didn't balance all the problems. But by all means don't let us talk you out of it. If you want to get it then do it....maybe you wont curse the day you bought your Jag...maybe....

Is the Monaro the Holden that the Pontiac G8 was based on?

^GTO

Stealthtercel and Ojala, thanks for the info and insight.
I'm still interested in the S-Type R but the dealer doesn't respond to my emails. I rode by and looked it over and wasn't impressed by it's condition cosmetically. It also has a worrying groove in the left rear brake rotor.

Maybe I'll just wait for the 05/06 GTOs to depreciate a little more.

it is too bad that Jaguar dosn't make a manual trans. completely ruins them for me and the six other people on the planet that would want a newer stick shifted jag.

Rusnak_322 wrote: it is too bad that Jaguar dosn't make a manual trans. completely ruins them for me and the six other people on the planet that would want a newer stick shifted jag.

Count me in that group.

OK, so the S-Type was poo-poo ed.
How about this...

1982 Jaguar XJS w/ 350/700R swap?

edit: for close to challenge $

Only approved if you post burnout or drift pics.

rmarkc wrote: OK, so the S-Type was poo-poo ed. How about this... 1982 Jaguar XJS w/ 350/700R swap? edit: for close to challenge $

More fun than a box of frogs!!!!

Edit: This is the 6 year old in me trying to get out

kid tested, belteshazzar approved.

No burnout or drift pics yet but here it is...

Edit: oh crap, I now own a Stig killer.