Anybody consider a Jaguar S-Type R?

[rdtjr]

Awaiting my E500 but just saw a very favorable review of this Jaguar. Was not aware that the car had been redone. Now I am wondering if I should go drive one to eliminate any doubts. My local dealer has several in stock. Have looked through most of the forum and never seen this car mentioned. Not looking to start flame against Jaguar, just wondering if anyone had considered it when shopping and why they chose the E series instead.

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[Kain]

The Jaguar S-Type R is "meant" to compete with the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, BMW M5, and the Audi RS 6.

However, it doesn't seem to fit well in that group.

[Tezta]

Have a drive in the Jag..i have always looked at jaguars as being very classy upscale cars even if they don't truly represent it.

[mbprince]

A good friend of mine who leases was having all kinds of problems with his new Lincoln and thanks to the lemon law was able to bring it in and get the Jag S type. He loves it but was really unhappy to find that it used the same platform as the Lincoln he had just gotten rid of. He's had no problems yet!!

[benzorAjag?]

Im thinking about getting one myself. They are pretty cheap now 03s from 16K-20K depending on milage.

[vettdvr]

Yes I considered one and a new X/R was about 4G's under what I paid for the MB. I could have also got a corporate fleet discound on it but the car was for the wife and she chose the MB over the X type.

And the X type we were considering was the R

[Benz-O-Rama]

I actually owned a Jag S-Type R. It was a 2003 and although I never had any mechanical problems with it, I just wasn't very happy with it. The dash was very Ford-like and it rode very stiff. The power was good (400hp/400tq) but ultimately I opted to sell it for my E500.

Yes, the Jag was a bit faster but I give the nod to the Benz for overall experience. The interior of the W211's is second to none in it's class and the 500 flavor of our cars will get around town nicely. Not to mention the 550's will probably out run an S-type R.


It's worth mentioning that these cars are notorious for having what's called 'The Lurch". Its a very rough downshift from 2-1. They were NEVER able to remedy it in my car.

www.thelurch.com

[Benz-O-Rama]

Originally Posted by vettdvr

Yes I considered one and a new X/R was about 4G's under what I paid for the MB. I could have also got a corporate fleet discound on it but the car was for the wife and she chose the MB over the X type.

And the X type we were considering was the R

You mean S-Type R, right?

I don't think there is such a thing a X-Type R. I used to have an X-Type too.

[KiwiRobbie]

Originally Posted by Kain

The Jaguar S-Type R is "meant" to compete with the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, BMW M5, and the Audi RS 6.

However, it doesn't seem to fit well in that group.

from all the group tests I have read the Jaguar tends to handle better than the E55, M5 et al but is let down by missing about 100hp, with it it should clean up, the chassis is very very good.

The new XF is also getting rave reviews so maybe if you can hang on a while take a look, styling wise it leaves all the germans for dead,wait a little longer and the XF-R will turn upand it promises to be a world beater.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...Jaguar-XF-SV8/

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/07/1.html

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...ed-SV8/229638/

[365v]

When I travel to the UK you never see locals driving Jags. I asked our limo drivers why, he replied " no quality since Ford took them over."

[NCE500]

I woud tread cautiously with an used Jag S type....a British styled Lincoln LS.

I see the Jags come through the auctions weekly, and IMHO they pretty much fall apart at around 70K miles....which is why they are so inexpensive. These things are FORD through and through, and have reliability issues. Transmission, electrics, suspension, cooling system, and brakes all are common trouble spots and tend to carry big $$ repair costs. The "R" model is rare and pretty fast, but the supercharged engine puts more stress on everything, including the engine itself.

For my money, depending on your taste and priorities, I would go with a used Benz, Beamer, Infiniti, or Lexus over an S type Jag.

If you really want/got to have a Jag, I would consider the XJ8; still temperamental, but a much better car than the S type in every way.

[KiwiRobbie]

Originally Posted by 365v

When I travel to the UK you never see locals driving Jags. I asked our limo drivers why, he replied " no quality since Ford took them over."

Completely untrue, I'm in the UK everyother week and you see loads of Jaguars all over the place, especially X type estates. Quality to a big step up when ford took over,not the other way around.

[khaug]

By all means, if you haven't driven one of the new Jags, do so!

The X-class "Jaguar" was, in fact, a Ford Mondeo, and was universally panned by the automotive press and owners.

I, personally, work as a performance driving instructor, and my impression of this car (from the Right Seat) has been relentlessly negative. I would not buy one, by a mile!!!

Maybe the new ones have been hugely improved (one would certianly hope so!) !

If you're looking for a Sport Sedan, consider the new iteration of this loser! Othewrwise, be conventional and go with the BMW 3-series w/twin-turbo, or the M-B "C " series with the performance package!

[559EVO]

I looked into the R type before I bought my E500 and if your 6'2 like me your knees will be 2 inches away from the dash/ ignition keys when in the full back seat position. That was not cool, I mean even civics have more room for the driver. The dash looks soo cheap compared to the benz. If your short I'd say test drive it.

[MotorWerkz]

if I were to look for luxury midsize sedan, I'd pick lexus GS over Jaguar S type. for type R model, I'd get audi, bmw or merc instead.

jaguar is no longer a luxury car we knew long ago.

[Dema]

I highly consider Jaguar. I only believe that S type is discontinued and replaced by XF. So probably you can find some used S type R quite cheap. I test drove S type and really liked it over E class. It has less shift lag, style is exceptional. It has touch screen navigation as Lexus. I'd never pick Lexus though, too fast aging, no style and performance, just Mom's car.

[Playdrv4me]

Jaguar got BETTER after Ford's ownership, not worse. Anyone who remembers the Jags of the 80s and the Land Rovers up to 2002 can atest to this... keywords LUCAS ELECTRICALS.

Yes, the cars got a tad cheaper overall, but the reliability of the cars is now unmatched. Jag is now hovering in the top 3 on the J.D. Power surveys every year.

An S Type R is a fine ride, and a cheap one at that. Just dont expect to make your money back on it when you go to sell it, they still depreciate like Jags. It certainly can't be any worse than an 03 E Class.

Now comes the REAL interesting part... Ford in all it's characteristic stupidity finally accepted a bid for Land Rover and Jaguar by INDIAN firm TATA. You want to see Jag and LR reliability tank.... just wait.

[vettdvr]

Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama

You mean S-Type R, right?

I don't think there is such a thing a X-Type R. I used to have an X-Type too.

You caught me, It was the S Type R.. been a while since 03 and we are still driving the E500. But for us the E500 was the winner over the Jag. even with the discounts available.

[Benz-O-Rama]

Originally Posted by vettdvr

You caught me, It was the S Type R.. been a while since 03 and we are still driving the E500. But for us the E500 was the winner over the Jag. even with the discounts available.

I thought as much. I read somewhere that Jag was releasing an X-TYPE R soon, though.

Anyway, the E500 was a winner over the S-Type R for me too. I actually liked my Jag S-T-R for a while. The torque was fun and with 400 ponies under the hood, you could surprise some people who weren't familiar with the "R" flavor.
But the suspension was way to firm for my taste. As a daily driver it kinda beat me up. Once I drove the E500 it was a no brainer. It's not a fast as the Jag but the supple ride and interior made it too good to pass up. The interior of the Jag looked archaic compared to my E500. But the interior on the new XF looks amazing.