With Mrs H's car being 8 years old and mine being 14 years old, it's about time I reported a change of vehicle. I have just bought a 2004 Jaguar S-Type 3.0 (petrol) SE with about 74K miles recorded. Known faults are aircon making a gurgling noise, a rust blemish on the OSF wheel arch and reverse sensors not working. It's got a good history, been maintained by a Jaguar specialist and I can't see any corrosion or welding underneath. It drives nicely with immaculate automatic changes, a beefy surge from the engine and no knock or bangs from underneath, even over speed humps. All the electric toys seem to work, the tyres are good, the exhausts are new, the driver's seat is intact and it comes with a heated front screen and 2 working remote keys.
This brings to a halt my search for a reasonable and cheap S-Type and maybe opens a possible money-pit. Back in 1974, as a youth, I had an original '67 3.4 S auto (without power steering) which I cherished. It's too embarassing to report why I sold it but I didn't know any better.
In about 2001, my bil and I went to a Jaguar-sponsored test drive day. We tried an S-Type and an X-Type and hooned around Saltburn for an hour or two and were treated to a pleasant lunch. There was some immature tyre-squealing round a roundabout and bil (Class A Police driver) did a little rapid driving for our entertainment. I thought it would be splendid to have an S-Type of my own. One day.
About March time I started a tentative search for a Jaguar. I've looked at S-Types and XJs and seen many tired old dogs. I've been lied to, gazumped and generally messed around, but I've persisted. Rather like this post.
I pick it up Boxing Day. Wish me luck. What could possibly go wrong?
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