Old Peter

Welcome to the club, Adam. The x type estate 2.0D is a very sturdy workhorse when you need one, and the engine is a well tested Ford engine. I would get it checked out by a good mechanic, or the AA or RAC who should probably highlight any issues. It is also worth checking the MOT history --- just look up the registration number of the Free App Vehicle Smart which out to give you a good start. Enjoy the Jaguar Experience, Regards, Peter.

Hi Graham, On the s Type there is a function that when you turn off the ignition and take out the key, the seat moves fully back, and the steering wheel moves upwards. You can get out quite easily. When you get in and put the ignition key in and close the door, the seat returns to its set position, as does the steering wheel. I was assuming the the XK had the same function. In my wife's car, [Toyota Yaris] I move the seat back manually, which also makes it easy. Regards, Peter.

Hi Matt, Two weeks ago I went to Weymouth for a quiet holiday. About 120 miles on the M5 with usual heavy traffic in places and about 50 miles on a mix of mostly single carriageway and some dual carriageway. I got 44.5 mpg driving down and 44.4 mpg coming back. I only used Cruise control now and then because of the speed controls on Smart Motorway sections. Local short runs and ordinary use I get around 30 mpg. I have the S Type 2.7 litre diesel , so I reckon that what you get is OK. I did get 50.2 mpg on an 80 mile drive with 50 mpg speed limit on the M1. If you cruised at a similar speed you would probably get the same, plus some salutes from motorists behind you. Regards, Peter.

The auto seat movement allows me to swing in my left leg perfectly. It is more difficult on the passenger side,

That the best thing to do, Graham. I had guessed that sciatica was the problem as a colleague when I was still working was told by a Doctor to get an automatic car. That then became an option on company cars - just a year after I retired. Regards, Ptr.

Hi Graham, Getting older is a problem, which is the main reason I did not sell the house to buy an F Type, which is do find difficult to get into and more to get out . But seriously, sciatica does affect me and the left knee is the problem with the sciatic nerve starting in the lower back and affecting the left knee on it's way down to the toes. Regards, Peter.

Hi Graham, A lot depends in your age. Getting in and out of my cars and SMWBO's smaller car demands a certain technique . Having worked the method out amd after following the system in my car I suddenly found it difficult to get in and out. I also found the reason why I found it difficult -- it is called sciatica. I just hope you don't get it! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Chris. More drivers are buying S Types and are delighted with this model. I have said that the S Type of 1999/2004 - 2008 is a future classic. It does sit very well with the Mk1, Mk2 and s type Type [1965]. The re-engined Mk2 with the 4.2 litre engine will designed by ian Callum will soon appear but at £300k + there will not be a lot. Enjoy Your s type. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Stuart. The Jaguar experience is a great one that you don't forget. People often say that RWD is not as good as front wheel drive, but the XF and S type enables;e you to drive properly as well as quickly when you want to! Enjoy. Peter.

Hi All, You have to look at both sides of the discussion. When the thoughts by Ford were about selling Jaguar they needed a new car. The sales of the s type had reduced while the sales of the x Type had increased. Ford were going to sell Jaguar and Ian Callum, the Head of Design was given the job of doing just that. You have to remember that Ian Callum had also been the architect of the design of the facelift Jaguar which had a lot of innovations from the original design, with the one you can see being the mesh grill, which replaced the "Waterfall" design. The mesh grill is now common on all Jaguars. The first thing he did before putting pencil to paper was to sit in the driver's seat of a Mark 2 Jaguar to determine what was unique to Jaguar cars. After a while he decided, and I agree with him, that the atmosphere he felt was unique. The XF does come with an atmosphere and its sales record does the job for which it was intended, and the Jaguar desire since 1970 to build a small saloon was fulfilled in the XE which is also getting good sales figures Jaguar Cars are here for good, a far cry from the time in 1979 when even the Jaguar Leaper design had been sold off. Sir John Egan, who managed to free Jaguar from the shackles of BL cars and make it a viable entity, feels that Jaguar has moved ahead on its target of being the best Luxury car, and although Jaguar has not reached its target yet, his words to me a month or so ago were "but it will." Having said that, I am a devotee of the S Type, and had wanted one since I saw a good friend of mine restoring a Mark 1. I had to wait till 2013 and I would love to buy one of the newly engineered S Types that was Ian Callum last design, but selling our house is not an option. Regards, Peter.

Nor I, David. I was prepared to go to Dumfries, but the offer to bring it to the Midlands was too good. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Adam. It is often worth checking out Jaguar main dealers to see if they have one in stock. Some Main dealers will source one for you almost to the spec your require. There is often criticism of main dealers in respect of repair and service costs, but if you are buying a car you will certainly get a good warranty and the car you eventually get will be well presented. When I bought my s type over 5 years ago, I had seen one in Dumfries at the price I was willing to pay, and the main dealer was will to get it down to the West Midlands that night for me to look at the next day. They then told me that a dealer close to them also had one that had not been advertised that was available to look at the next day. They knocked some money off the price they wanted, and I got a great car with all the bells and whistles at a good price. Regards, Peter.

A good bet is to look out for a good auto electrician, -- I have heard that there was one in Leeds [if you are willing to cross the border into West Yorkshire]. You can also check if there is a mobile auto electrician in your area -- there is one in the Midlands whom I have heard has reasonable prices. Regards, Peter,

Hi Nick, An s type battery [and other models] will last about 5 years. I am on my third battery, which is a Platinum. There are quite a few other makes. My local accessory shop sourced my battery when it was giving me a problem, and he also fitted it. When it was fitted I put a date note on the battery, although I don't expect that I will get another car, as I like the s type so much, and I am now 84. Regards, Peter.

Hi Nick, At a very rough guess it is a battery issue. I had a similar experience and found that it was a faulty connection with the negative terminal of the battery. Solved for £8. Peter.

Hi Jon, Nice car. The engine is an uprated version of the 2.7 diesel in my s type. I got 44.2 mpg driving to Dorset last week at mostly 70 mph and driving back with some road works delays getting 44.5 mpg. Grace, pace and space personified. Enjoy! Regards Peter,

Stoke-on-Trent is one of my favourite places, not for the scenery but for the people. I was there frequently while Shelton Steelworks was open, and I had my retirement "do" at the Queens. I told the management that they would never have the guts to close the Steelworks while I was there. And they didn't. They did 5 months after I retired, though! Peter.

Hi Kevin, Stoke-on-Trent? Peter.

Sutton Coldfield, Kevin. B75 5AW. Just a small shop but very helpful. I live across the road! Halfords quoted me £42 for fitting and supplying new Bosch windscreen wipers. He supplied and fitted the same ones for £29. Regards, Peter.

My Dash cam sits quite low on the left side of the windscreen, and the cable goes under the carpet. No problems whatsoever. Peter.

My local Auto accessory shop supplies most things, and if I ask for something specific like a bulb he will just loook in his catalogue and get one out of a drawer. Never let me down yet in 35 years. Peter.

While a car might well have an engine which will tow a trailer /caravan with a kerb weight of 2000 kg, a car can only tow something with 85% of the kerb weight of the car. And as David has correctly said that weight is with a laden caravan. I used to check out the weight of the battery, the gas bottles, and all other items like food, and utensils. I used to put quite a lot of items in the car when I was going to keep the weight of the caravan down. I had two Bessies and the only reason I didn't get a third was that they were getting too heavy. I would certainly not tow a Bessie 625 with anything less than a Range Rover or a Land Rover Discovery. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Matt. I have had my s type for over 5 years, but I still get the feeling of the atmosphere of a Jaguar when I get in and drive away. You will enjoy the Jaguar experience. Regards, Peter

I sometimes replaced spokes on my various motorcycles. No too difficult a ob, though I am unsure about cars. Peter.

Hi Nigel, Steve has given you the two options. From my years cycling and motorcycling cleaning the spokes was a regular chore. I use to use Solvol Autosol which can be obtained at most auto accessory shops. Brasso will also do the job. I had all 5 of my allow wheels refurbished las year and it cost £80 a wheel to have the kerbing repaired and powder coated. I might be worth getting as quote if you want the easier but more expensive way. Regards, Peter..