Jaguar S-Type Review Specs, Engine, Pros And Cons

What do you associate the British brand Jaguar S-Type with? With prestige? With luxury? Or maybe with a heavy failure rate? To dispel all the guesswork and guesswork, we decided to look at the eccentric E-segment limousine under the sign of the predatory cat, which is an attractive alternative to BMW, Audi or Mercedes. See what to know about the S-Type model before buying it.

Jaguar S-Type Engine Specs Reviews Problems Reliability

S-Type History

The history of this car begins in the 1960s, when the first S-Type model based on the Mark II left the Jaguar factory, it was a luxury limousine with a very distinctive design, clearly referring to its modern version. The round headlights, the distinctive curves of the bonnet and the flat rear body give the car a sense of the spirit of history, and that’s the essence of the Jaguar.

The new S-Type was introduced for the first time in 1998. Four years later, the British manufacturer decided to modify the front suspension, increasing the car’s durability and traction. That same year, a sporty R 395 horsepower version appeared in the offering. In 2004, the car underwent a slight facelift, and in 2008 the S-Type was replaced by the modern XF model.

S-Type Specs

The drive, like the Jaguar, is moved only to the rear axle. The S-Type engine can be mated to a 5 and 6 speed manual transmission or a 4, 5- or 6 speed automatic transmission. The suspension uses a multi-link system both at the front and rear.

S-Type Engine

Fuel:

  • V6 2.5 (200 hp)
  • V6 3.0 (238 hp)
  • V8 4.0 (281 hp)
  • V8 4.2 (298 hp)
  • V8 4.2 compressor (395 hp) version R

Diesels:

  • V6 2.7D 207hp

Jaguar S-Type Problems & Reliability

How durable are the machines mentioned above? Unfortunately, the Jaguar S-Type is not a very popular car on the streets and therefore there is not much opinion about the engine installed in this model. In the case of gasoline engines, we recommend not buying cars with V8 engine manufactured before 2000 due to unstable cylinder surfaces, damage that can lead to engine spasms.

Fortunately, this problem does not apply to V6 engines, but the ignition coil can be damaged in any gasoline engine. If we wanted to buy a Jaguar diesel engine, we only had the option of one 2.7 liter engine from PSA Concern, which in Jaguar was already equipped with two turbochargers. The TwinTurbo system used increases the service cost if repairs are possible.

What’s the biggest problem with this S-Type? First of all, electronics and electricity. Failure of elements such as: electric windows, central locking, electric seat adjustment, navigation touch screen, reversing sensors, and sometimes an alarm system. Suspension is also not one of the main strengths of this car, especially at the front.

In used cars manufactured before 2002, due to an unfavorable design, the lower ball joint and two parts of the forearm were badly damaged. On newer cars, the suspension has been slightly modified, but despite the greater durability of the new system, the problems mentioned above may arise, but with a slightly higher mileage. Be careful with automatic transmissions in 2002-2003 cars, where the solenoid can be damaged.

Conclusion

The Jaguar S-Type is a prestigious class car that still stands out among German limousines. It’s not a proposition for everyone, some won’t like the design, while others will complain about the low-quality interior materials and many common switches that Ford borrowed.

When buying this car, we couldn’t count on a large trunk (400 liters), low fuel consumption (the V8 engine can burn about 25 liters of gasoline per 100 km in the city) and low maintenance costs. The rear-wheel drive, pure engine sound and original design made the S-Type very enjoyable to drive and aroused interest among other drivers. We’ll buy the cheapest used S-Type for around $ 5,200.

1 thought on “Jaguar S-Type Review Specs, Engine, Pros And Cons”

  1. Seriously looking to buy a 2007 Stype . Your article was very helpful. I’m convinced I would love to have that car. Although I’M hesitant to fully commit to buying. There were certain items you mention that discouraged me. I still worth the time and investment, considering the possibility of the mentioned dissatisfactions. Are any of the S-Types exempt from having problems. Is it possible that some of the cars are less troublesome than others? I guess what I’M asking is all of them (each car ) to be expected to be put in the same category? Thank you Clyde Thomas

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