New Owner - 2005 2.7 V6 diesel Sport - Love it!

DaftMule · November 11, 2015

After many years of driving remarkably dull but serviceable cars, I decided to have a mid-life 'mild panic' and swapped my ageing Skoda for an S-Type.

I wanted the 2.7lt V6 diesel and after some looking around with a budget of about £5k max, I stumbled across a nice 55 plate S-Type Sport in dark green (is it BRG?). Automatic, 63,000 miles, full set of main dealer stamps, 1 owner from 6k miles. It is immaculate inside, black with cream leather and also has the sat nav/entertainments console which I believe was about a £1,500 extra when new. Bodywork was very good, in fact, for a 10 year old car it seemed too good to be true over all. Only slight issue is 1 of the alloy wheels in particular is flaking a bit and they all look as though the previous owner had an affinity for the kerbs!

Test drive was a dream, solid as a rock, effortless driving. No rattles, clouds of white smoke from the turbo's, whining gearbox...nothing like that. Suffice to say I was sold on it.

The dealer seemed unconvinced that the car had a timing belt, let alone that it needed a replacement. But, I insisted that I would only buy it if they replaced the timing belt and gave it a service. They agree'd to this so I was happy to go ahead but what really sealed it for me was I managed to speak to the previous owner!

The service book had the buyers name/address and tel in it. I called on the off chance that the previous owner was still there and he was! He backed up everything and gave me plenty of history and confirmed nothing had happened to it in his time of ownership. Prior to him it was owned by the accountant for the Jag dealership.

Anyway, I bought the car and I've now had it a couple of weeks. It is pure pleasure to drive...a bit like driving around in my living room! Absolutely love it. The diesel is smooth as butter, yet responsive when you bury it past the kick-down gate.

I have only one beef with my S-Type. The passenger side wing mirror is idiotic! It seems to have a high degree of magnification to it which is insane as it massively restricts the field of view in the mirror. I usually have my nearside mirror so I can just see down the side of the car on it's inside edge. With this one I have to have it pushed out a long way just to pick up the car I am overtaking as I am going past it otherwise I am about half a mile past it before it appears in the mirror! It is basically useless when it comes to reversing without fiddling with it every time.

Is this the standard mirror? It looks identical to the driver's side other than the magnification aspect.

CBers · November 11, 2015

Sounds like we both bought our first Jaguar cars around the same time :)

I've had my S-Type for just over 2 weeks now.

I've always wanted one, but never thought I'd get one.

I have the 2.7 Diesel model as well. It's done just over 118K miles, but there's not a hint of smoke from the exhaust, but it's so powerful when needed.

For what I paid for it, it's an excellent car, it just needs a bit of TLC.

Old Peter · November 11, 2015

Hi Adam and welcome to the Club.

The s type is a great car to drive, and the 2.7 Diesel is a great engine.

Wing Mirror? Mine are both similar so I think there haas been an after market change.

The calm belt should be changed at 105k so you can rest easy on that one.

The touch screen is a expensive item --- it was on my wish list when I bought my car.

Kerbed alloys do happen with most big cars --- mine will get a fix when I have £250 spare,

Meanwhile enjoy your car.

Regards,

Peter.

DaftMule · November 11, 2015

Yup, I read up a lot on the cam-belt and general advice was 105K miles or 10 years. As mine is 10 years old I pushed the trader I bought it from to sort that before I would buy. It also replaces the water pump as part of the kit so, should be good for another 100K now :-)

I'll have to investigate re the mirror as I can't continue with it like that for much longer! I just hope it's not a case of to replace the mirror you have to replace the whole unit!

BTW, any advice on a good place to get spares like new mirrors?

Old Peter · November 11, 2015

Hi Adam,

Try the David Manners Group or SNG Barrett. Failing them, you can always take a chance on eBay.

Peter.

dinkydimps · November 11, 2015

Hi, glad you are enjoying your S, mine seems identical to yours although can't say I have any issues with the mirrors only that they wouldn't fold manually so had to remove the covers and lubricate them.

Just wish they were powerfold like on my previous x....

Raistlin · November 11, 2015

Welcome to the JoC Adam :)

Sounds like a nice car you have there.

The mirrors on my car are both non magnifying and as far as I'm aware that was standard, so I suspect that a previous owner may have fitted a self-adhesive replacement, possibly because the original was damaged. Why they would choose magnification is beyond me though, unless perhaps it was the only one available in Halfrauds