StrayCat

Now that IS a classic, well done. Jim

Hello Barry I have been very pleased with the service I received at Letellier Perrault (SARL) in Sainte Foy La Grande. There's also a side to their business which provides new and used components for Jaguars of all types: http://www.pieces-jaguar-lmg.com By chance, I've seen two S Types being worked on at another garage nearby: Garage JME at Pineuilh, both cars are local, I've seen them often. Good luck with your own search.

Decades ago, as a gauche youth in my open top sports car, I was amused by the way a tunnel amplified the noise of its exhaust, a few blasts on the loud pedal should impress the natives. Not so the old lady who gave me a whack around the head with her handbag, claiming that I’d “scared the life out of her”. At the time my passenger and I thought it was hilarious but she was right. Importantly, I sold the car, partly because of fuel consumption, only to realise later in life that had I not burnt fuel in a manner that frightened old ladies (and thrilled the chancellor), I might still be the owner of a car the likes of which seem to fetch a fortune these days. One of the things that appeals to me about the S Type is it’s serene progress in all conditions. I’ve accelerated hard up a mountain, computer showing 4mpg, and seen the descent at 99mpg! I’ve worried when stuck in a motorway traffic jam, low on fuel, knowing that 0mpg is all I’m getting, and guessing that if I ‘revved it up’ I’d probably be recording gallons per mile. Today my driving style is more chauffeur than Sébastien Loeb and, believe it or not, cruising quietly through a town, the car seems to attract more attention than any traffic-light boy racer. My S Type is a 4.2 V8 and I’ve not re-set the computer for about 8,000 miles. This is a pic, taken today, of the average fuel consumption; 25.4 mpg, I’m more than happy.

In anticipation of a move from North Wales to France, I upgraded my car’s SatNav earlier this year, to the 2012/13 version. A word of warning. We spent three weeks in Shropshire followed by four in north east Scotland before crossing the channel. As we had very little experience of those areas we came to depend on the SatNav and, in covering about three thousand miles in France, we’ve used it frequently . My warning attends to it’s unwillingness to admit when we're going wrong. Importantly, and helpfully, previous SatNavs we’ve owned have instructed us to “Turn around at the first opportunity” or used similar phrases very soon after we’ve taken a wrong direction. The Jaguar system simply calculates another route and we’ve often driven unpleasantly circuitous alternatives, sometimes adding very long distances and considerable time to the journey. My suggestion is that if you suspect you’re going the wrong way, trust your instincts immediately and stop to check or follow the road signs. I felt cautious about adding this post but these experiences have been too frequent and too obvious to ignore. Happy driving.

Hi Phil That's a good idea, I'm not sure my Franglaise is up to it though. When we lived in Gwynedd (until May this year) the car was well served by Matthew at North Wales Jag so I'm pleased to find a garage here that appears to be similarly competent.

Thanks Peter, but credit where it's due, the photo is courtesy of the Goodol' boys at a famous search engine. I visited the garage today, it could have been a vintage Jaguar motor show, at least two V12 XJS's, two Mk2's and several XJ's of various periods. I've booked my car in for an examination, we went ploughing this week, involuntarily. Everything appears to be fine but I'm no engineer, better safe, etc.. Kindest regards, Jim

I might have answered my own question, simply by chance!

Hello Stan Similar problem in my case turned out to be a suspension bush. If that's the case for you, the bill shouldn't be a worry. Good luck Jim

Hello Steve It might be worth having a word with Woolies in Market Deeping. They stock all the materials and might know of a specialist locally. http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk Good luck.

Hi Paul, When I bought my S Type a leaper was already fitted. Fortunately it's a good quality example, swivels easily and has a nicely machined baseplate. Also, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, there's a rather self-satisfying feeling see it ahead as you drive. Interestingly, the leaper catches the attention of youngsters, some even commenting about it. However, I've gradually come around to wishing that it wasn't there, preferring the bonnet's unadulterated contours. Decisions, decisions ...

Hi Chris, I think this topic has been covered before, hope this helps: http://www.jaguarownersclub.com/forums/topic/9961-code-p1586 Good luck.

Hello Ken Try HillsAlive and have a wonderful trip.

Hello all, In a few weeks time, my wife and I will be moving to south west France. Having made that decision, I have been torturing myself whether to take our beloved S Type with us or change it for a left hooker of some description. We’ve lived in France before and the temptation to cruise those open roads in our 4.2 V8 is compelling so here’s my question; can anyone tell me please, of an independent Jaguar specialist in or around departments 24, 33 and 47? Many thanks in advance.

The St George faces the SEA as well!!

Hi Paul I have to commend North Wales Jag Cente. Matthew looks after my S Type and I've seen every model there including XK120, several E Types and all the very latest models. They're on the web. If you have to wait, the St George hotel facing the see does a very pleasant light lunch. All the best.

Hi Guys In the boot there's a tired old travel bag in which all the essentials are kept including emergency and foreign travel bit'sn'bobs. Also, there are a few useful things squeezed in around the spare wheel under the boot floor. But here's one for the AA. A few years ago our car (not a Jaguar) wouldn't start after we'd been shopping somewhere in south-west France. Phone the AA back in the UK. Instructions were to remain in the car park with the bonnet open. After a very short wait a smart tow truck appeared and then SHE did. Stepping down from the cab, long, long legs in cut-off denim shorts, a bare midriff below a raggedy trimmed tee shirt and smiling face with a trendy, cropped hair-do. No, I'm not making this up as you'll soon realise - I let myself down! The young damsel in (my) distress connected her electronic gadget to the car, checked a few things before discovering the mobile fridge we were carrying in the boot. I'd left it on while we were shopping and it had drained the battery. The dear girl advised me to buy a new battery, pointing across the road to a car accessories outlet before (and here's where it gets embarrassing lads) taking my wrist and smacking the back of my hand. My dear wife was giggling uncontrollably, although I was thanking our delightlful rescuer, my wife told me that my voice had shot up a couple of octaves and it was difficult to know whether I was squeaking "merci" or "mercy"! The shame of it, amongst family and friends I've not been able to live that one down!!

Hi Shaun It's worth checking the history of the replacement gearbox. What does refurb mean? If it's a rebuilt box it won't have been cheap but if it's simply a 'reclaimed' box from stripping down another car there's always the chance that car was abandoned because of, dare I suggest, expensive gearbox problems. Good luck. Jim

Hello everyone, A couple of years ago I bought a 'shaped' plate from the web, it's perfect. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the supplier but I believe all plates have to meet British Standards. Very best, Jim

Hi Guys Why it's important to keep the SatNav up-to-date! Very best Jim

Hello Charlie Jags do make an impression, this incident had me smiling ear to ear. Although my S Type is ten years old, it’s still immaculate. Recently I joined the queue at our local ‘tip’ where I clicked open the boot for the attendant to check what we had and direct me to the appropriate container. Having done so, he raised his hand to stop the next vehicle from proceeding and shouted to his colleagues “Jaaguuaaar coming through!” They're a great bunch at the Bangor tip. As for getting ripped off, luckily for me, my wife spent a few years in the ‘high-end’ of the beauty business so she does her own manicures! Very best, Jim

Good morning gentlemen, my goodness, some of you guys get up early! I'm sure you'll remember that several years ago, there was a maxim which applied to tyre kickers looking at Rolls Royce cars; "If you have to ask about fuel consumption, you can’t afford the car.” Times are changing and now, when manufacturers of opulent cars subtly promote some models on the basis of surprising frugality, it’s understandable that fuel consumption has, once again, become an important criterion for many buyers. That said, I fully appreciate Trevor’s point of view, you don’t buy a luxury Swiss watch because it’s any more accurate than something from a department store. My S Type cost me less than various cars I’ve owned since the late ‘eighties. It’s not an ‘economy model’ so I squeeze in an extra visit to petrol forecourts each month, but the car remains a pleasure to own and drive.

Hi Colin When I was looking for my S Type (same age as yours) I came across a couple that had been ‘tarted up’, my instant reaction was to walk away. The designers at Jaguar knew what they were doing, that's why we were attracted to the car in the first place! My best advice would be to buy the Autoglym Clay Surface Detailing Clay Kit or something similar, a couple of hours carressing that bodywork and you’ll be in love for life. Happy days ahead.

Looking at all the posts under this topic, it’s interesting to see so many different vehicles owned by JOC members in the past. If they were lined up in a large field would any of us be tempted to keep any of them, or have we already circumvented that imaginary possibility, buying Jaguar S-Types which combine an aesthetic link to the past with the practicalities of modern motoring? Taking ‘Old Peter’s’ thought just a little further; is the S-Type the last from an era of classic Jaguars? Modern cars are in a different league, better built, more reliable and far more economical than those for which some of us still have affection. Some are consummately impressive, imposing on the road and boasting amazing performance statistics. However, as they’re all the products of CAD (Computerised Amorphous Design) engineering which, combined with the huge numbers rolling off production lines, are they likely to be considered ‘classics’ in the future? Ubiquity disqualifies scarcity which is one criterion that distinguishes the special from run-of-the-mill. Another type of CAD (Committee Assisted Decisions) steered by commercial competition and market trends, has virtually eliminated identifiable design flair, delivering a kind of homogeneity evident in almost all leading marques’ showrooms. We’re supposed to be better off than we were forty or fifty years ago and it does seem as if many people are, a fact which is reflected in worldwide car sales that are a multiple of what they were back then. Indeed, it’s likely that a few weeks’ output of any of today’s desirable cars could exceed the total production run of similar vehicles in the past. That’s great for business as well as the economy and if you’re lucky enough to be able to drive a new car off the forecourt, you’ll be the envy of many, but for some of us who’ve bought S-Type Jaguars, we’ve probably looked back nostalgically to the late ‘fifties and ‘sixties when the 3.8 and its siblings, or a clowder of XK models, were the cars of which dreams were made and, for us, that adds another dimension altogether. So, is History Repeating Itself? Our S-Types confer a flavour of the good old days, which is just one reason why we enjoy these cars and look after them. Who knows, there may be young motoring enthusiasts dreaming about Jaguar S-Types right now, and we may be able to pass on our cars so that, in the fullness of time, they’re properly elevated to that rarified rank of ‘classic’.

Hello Steve, Good advice from bilmac. My own S Type hasn't been faultless (no car is) but the repair bills haven't been too much of a shock either. Incidentally, while the Jaguar X Type does share a few components with the Ford Mondeo, our S Type’s platform is a very different beast which was a joint venture development between Ford and Jaguar engineers. The platform was employed in the Lincoln LS, Jaguar S Type and I am led to believe it also underpins the current XF model. I wish you luck in identifying your mysterious noises.

Mike (Northants) makes a good point, my own 4.2 is amongst the least ‘sporty’ cars I’ve owned. That said, here in North Wales we can enjoy some outstanding drives where the V8 really comes into its own, effortlessly prowling up mountain passes, graciously purring through rolling woodlands, and cossetting passenengers along a glittering coastline. Yesterday was like that. With a few tasty indulgences en route for us, when we stopped at the petrol station, I thought it only fair for the big cat to get the cream!