Jaguar S-Type R | Spotted
Cruelly overlooked for too long, the S-Type R now looks something of a fast Jag bargain
Quite why the design of the Jaguar S-Type was so vilified when it arrived back in 1998 has always puzzled me. Sure, the Mk2-inspired design missed the mark somewhat, with the saloon’s bulbous silhouette looking a little awkward and frumpy compared to the XJ of the era, while the gaudy chrome trim had a strong whiff of Rover 75 about it. But does it deserve all the mean spirited comments it still gets 25 (sorry, 26) years on - especially when the X-Type exists? I’d argue not.
Case in point: the S-Type R. A real hidden gem of a performance saloon, playing second fiddle to the E39 BMW M5 and the W211 Mercedes E55 AMG when new while also sitting in the darkest depths of the XJR’s shadow for much of its existence. Sad, really, because the S-Type R has all the hallmarks of a proper four-door bruiser. Behind that divisive oval grille (I’ll get onto that in a bit) is a burbling 4.2-litre V8 with an Eaton supercharger strapped to it, delivering an XJR-matching 400hp and 399lb ft of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF auto. So fast was the R that it could hit 62mph from a standstill in 5.5 seconds and had to be electronically limited to 155mph - just like the German big guns.
This is normally where comparisons between a Jaguar and its Bavarian brethren would end, but not so the S-Type R. Not only did it get the obligatory brake upgrade, stickier tyres and adaptive dampers, but reviewers at the time were full of praise of the R’s ability to deal with corners without completely losing the plot. The XJR did have form here, but it’s worth remembering the S-Type R was based on the same platform as the Ford Thunderbird and weighed 1,800kg; the fact that it was praised for its agility and class-leading steering is extraordinary.
Even more extraordinary is how a light facelift and sporty body kit transformed the S-Type from an ugly duckling to a less-ugly swan. The R got rid of all the nasty chrome trim, which had a significant effect on the freshening up the car’s look. Most importantly, however, was the move to a body-coloured grille surround, meaning it didn’t sit quite as proudly as it did on the standard cars. A pair of exhausts either side of the rear bumper was properly old-school Jag (in a good way) while new 19-inch wheels helped bring the retro mobile into the 21st century.
Go on, admit it. You’re tempted, too. So here, feast your eyes on this 2006 example looking really rather smart in Radiance Red. It’s had just two keepers, packs a full service history and has only covered 70,000 miles. And just look at the immaculate interior. The S-Type’s cabin received a bit of flack in the day for being a touch outdated, but fast forward a couple of decades and the button-filled dash seems almost comforting compared to the mess of touchscreens we have to deal with today.
Then there’s the price. The seller’s asking £11,995 for it, which is quite a bit cheaper than an X350 XJR on similar mileage. For that, you’re getting near identical performance and heaps of Jaguar coolness, albeit with a smidgen less street cred. Not that you’ll care, because anyone whinging about the S-Type’s looks will be drowned out by the sound of supercharged V8 thunder.
SPECIFICATION | JAGUAR S-TYPE R
Engine: 4,196cc V8, supercharged
Transmission: six-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 400@6,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 399@3,500rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 314g/km
Year registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 70,000
Price new: £47,000
Yours for: £11,995
Problem is, they just don't look as good as an XJR and don't go any better
So what is the "why buy" ?
A little cheaper maybe but to be honest with a car like this, the purchase cost is not the real concern; it's running costs and there is nothing between one of these and an XJR, so most people chose an XJR
That said, those that have them in the Enthusiast community really do like them and they tend to be modified and tuned more than XJR's
Horses for courses ......
I've always fancied a fast Jag saloon since then. A quick look around says an XFR wouldn't be a whole load more money though (if you can afford to run this then the extra £4-5k probably isn't much to you), which I'd imagine to be a better car in every way.
It was the middle of Bangle's time at BMW, for example where he binned all the late 80's jelly moulds and went edgy as did others. Kike them or not, they sold really well.
This was back to jelly moulds.
but there's no advantage on buying a 56 reg one to pay over £700 p.a. in VED (after April) when a car registered before March 2006 will cost you £300 less per year. Which buys a fair bit of fuel! 
0 - 40 kph 1.7 s
0 - 60 kph 2.8 s
0 - 80 kph 4.2 s
0 - 100 kph 5.6 s
0 - 120 kph 7.8 s
0 - 140 kph 10.2 s
0 - 160 kph 12.9 s
0 - 180 kph 16.7 s
0 - 200 kph 21.3 s
60 - 100 kph 2.9 s
80 - 120 kph 3.6 s
Est. 100 - 140 kph 4.7 s
Est. 100 - 200 kph 15.7 s
0 - 60 mph 5.4 s
0 - 100 mph 13.6 s
0 - 150 mph 42.0 s
Est. 1/8 mile 9.8 s @ 87.6 mph
1/4 mile 13.8 s @ 103.1 mph
That said, £12k for a 70k-mile example is decent value when you compare it to its rivals of the day such as the E39 M5, where you could be paying almost three times the price of this. The facelift examples are night-and-day better than the early cars as the interior is effectively borrowed from the XJ and the V8 was updated to the bulletproof 4.2.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff