My First Jaguar: 2003 S-Type
Discussion
Chaps and ladies, I thought I'd introduce myself to this area as I've bought my first Jaguar.
By way of brief history, this is my (our) seventh car in our nondescript little collection. It joins a Supercharged Range Rover, Defender, E55, Mach 1 Mustang and a few others.
So why an S-Type? And why the weakly little 2.5 V6?
It's an emotional purchase as my recently departed father-in-law bought this from Royal Ascot Garage when new. He loved this car as he'd always wanted a Jaguar. So I've known this car for over twelve years.
Dad died of pancreatic cancer rather suddenly shortly after he turned 71 a few months ago. The plan was to sell the Jaguar, never to be seen again. But when push came to shove, we all agreed we'd rather it stayed in the family. So I bought it for my wife and it joined the other six cars we own. It seemed the right thing to do. My mother-in-law lets us keep on her driveway in Dad's space and I rather think she's glad of that.
So, what we have is a rather nondescript one-owner S-Type with 67,000 miles and full Jaguar main dealer history. No expense spared maintenance. The odd non-fault bump, fully insurance repaired, in the past. Carefully driven all over the UK. And loved.
We've agreed that it'll stay exactly as Dad kept it. I.e, perfectly standard.
A few pictures.
The day I brought it home - all of 1.5 miles from home. It hadn't been cleaned in a while... I'd just sprayed wheel cleaner on the alloys.
The inevitable clay bar shot. Needed it after twelve years.
Following a machine polish with a mild cutting compound, I hand polished the paintwork and then started the first layer of a wax I really love, called Harly Wax.
The wheels need refurbished. So that's the next job along with a service and MOT. Second layer of Harly Wax applied.
Gratuitous beading shot. The bonnet was resprayed last year.
Four layers of wax. Looks OK.
Quick engine clean. Not the best job but will have another go when time allows.
Interior pretty much as-new and needed little more than a vacuum and dust.
Now I freely admit I'm no fan of this model. But after driving it to Devon and back last weekend, I'm sold. It drives exceptionally well and is immensely quiet. Handling is far, far better than I ever thought; fluid, taught and fairly precise. It's not the fastest thing around, but with just me it does OK.
I'm hoping 'the old girl' will be happy with us. She's one of the family.
In fact, it's got me thinking about replacing my Range Rover with a Jaguar XJR.
By way of brief history, this is my (our) seventh car in our nondescript little collection. It joins a Supercharged Range Rover, Defender, E55, Mach 1 Mustang and a few others.
So why an S-Type? And why the weakly little 2.5 V6?
It's an emotional purchase as my recently departed father-in-law bought this from Royal Ascot Garage when new. He loved this car as he'd always wanted a Jaguar. So I've known this car for over twelve years.
Dad died of pancreatic cancer rather suddenly shortly after he turned 71 a few months ago. The plan was to sell the Jaguar, never to be seen again. But when push came to shove, we all agreed we'd rather it stayed in the family. So I bought it for my wife and it joined the other six cars we own. It seemed the right thing to do. My mother-in-law lets us keep on her driveway in Dad's space and I rather think she's glad of that.
So, what we have is a rather nondescript one-owner S-Type with 67,000 miles and full Jaguar main dealer history. No expense spared maintenance. The odd non-fault bump, fully insurance repaired, in the past. Carefully driven all over the UK. And loved.
We've agreed that it'll stay exactly as Dad kept it. I.e, perfectly standard.
A few pictures.
The day I brought it home - all of 1.5 miles from home. It hadn't been cleaned in a while... I'd just sprayed wheel cleaner on the alloys.
The inevitable clay bar shot. Needed it after twelve years.
Following a machine polish with a mild cutting compound, I hand polished the paintwork and then started the first layer of a wax I really love, called Harly Wax.
The wheels need refurbished. So that's the next job along with a service and MOT. Second layer of Harly Wax applied.
Gratuitous beading shot. The bonnet was resprayed last year.
Four layers of wax. Looks OK.
Quick engine clean. Not the best job but will have another go when time allows.
Interior pretty much as-new and needed little more than a vacuum and dust.
Now I freely admit I'm no fan of this model. But after driving it to Devon and back last weekend, I'm sold. It drives exceptionally well and is immensely quiet. Handling is far, far better than I ever thought; fluid, taught and fairly precise. It's not the fastest thing around, but with just me it does OK.
I'm hoping 'the old girl' will be happy with us. She's one of the family.
In fact, it's got me thinking about replacing my Range Rover with a Jaguar XJR.
That is a very tasteful colour combination, don't think I've ever seen one in dark blue with dove(?) interior.
SimesJH said:
Now I freely admit I'm no fan of this model. But after driving it to Devon and back last weekend, I'm sold. It drives exceptionally well and is immensely quiet. Handling is far, far better than I ever thought; fluid, taught and fairly precise. It's not the fastest thing around, but with just me it does OK.
It's been a while, but I test drove one years back, probably when the one you now got came out, and remember that I was very surprised about it, as it was nothing like I expected.What I was hoping for at the time was a BMW 5 series rival with more style. But instead I found the ride very close to an S-Class Mercedes. Which is probably high praise, but not what I wanted at the time, so I decided that this was not for me.
However, I can think of few better motorway mile munchers from that period. And the V6 is defiantly the one I would have went for, best combo of performance and fuel economy. In fact, 10 years later, I did end up with a V6 Jag
I've had two S Types, both from new. The first was a 4.0 V8 SE which I had for 3 1/2 years and then a 4.2 V8 SE which I had for 10 1/2 years, this latter being the same edition as the OP's. Both excellent cars although the latter was a significant improvement over the first version.
Personally I do think that the 4.2 is the best of all the S-Type engine models as it is most Jaguar like in performance, ride, etc, but it's all a matter of personal taste.
I now have an XF 5.0 Portfolio. This is an altogether different overall driving experience to the S-Types. Less waft but way more outright performance.
R.
Personally I do think that the 4.2 is the best of all the S-Type engine models as it is most Jaguar like in performance, ride, etc, but it's all a matter of personal taste.
I now have an XF 5.0 Portfolio. This is an altogether different overall driving experience to the S-Types. Less waft but way more outright performance.
R.
Lovely to see it remaining in your family - must have real emotional ties to it
My dad loved his Jags, had an XJ40 and two X300s
We knew he only had a few weeks to live in 2007 so i managed to borrow a new XK for the day and took him on a little trip around where he grew up, went to school etc, the last photo I have of him is leaning against that car - he passed away that night after I'd taken him home
I bought my first Jag last Nov, an S Type R - had a lump in my throat when I got behind the wjheel and hoped my dad would be proud of me
My dad loved his Jags, had an XJ40 and two X300s
We knew he only had a few weeks to live in 2007 so i managed to borrow a new XK for the day and took him on a little trip around where he grew up, went to school etc, the last photo I have of him is leaning against that car - he passed away that night after I'd taken him home
I bought my first Jag last Nov, an S Type R - had a lump in my throat when I got behind the wjheel and hoped my dad would be proud of me
Andy665 said:
Lovely to see it remaining in your family - must have real emotional ties to it
My dad loved his Jags, had an XJ40 and two X300s
We knew he only had a few weeks to live in 2007 so i managed to borrow a new XK for the day and took him on a little trip around where he grew up, went to school etc, the last photo I have of him is leaning against that car - he passed away that night after I'd taken him home
I bought my first Jag last Nov, an S Type R - had a lump in my throat when I got behind the wjheel and hoped my dad would be proud of me
Lovely story, I am sure he would be proud.My dad loved his Jags, had an XJ40 and two X300s
We knew he only had a few weeks to live in 2007 so i managed to borrow a new XK for the day and took him on a little trip around where he grew up, went to school etc, the last photo I have of him is leaning against that car - he passed away that night after I'd taken him home
I bought my first Jag last Nov, an S Type R - had a lump in my throat when I got behind the wjheel and hoped my dad would be proud of me
^^+1.
Thanks for the comments.
With the S-Type parked on my M.I.L's drive in the space the Jaguar always occupied when Dad was alive, I went to see it today. It's not been touched in two weeks and still looked incredibly clean.
I know Mum finds it a comfort being there, so at least it's doing some good even sitting still.
Needs used, though. I'll take it off to our local specialist this week.
Thanks for the comments.
With the S-Type parked on my M.I.L's drive in the space the Jaguar always occupied when Dad was alive, I went to see it today. It's not been touched in two weeks and still looked incredibly clean.
I know Mum finds it a comfort being there, so at least it's doing some good even sitting still.
Needs used, though. I'll take it off to our local specialist this week.
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