I recently acquired an '08 S-type 4.2. Satin edition, Vulcan wheels, if that makes any difference. Any clue as to how to determine which suspension it's got? I assume "comfort" and "standard" are the same thing.

Looks & feels like it's only got 60K miles on it - very tight & comfy - but rear shocks seem shot and sounds like rear wheel bearings are too - seems a bit early for that. Opinions?

I prefer the looks of the Triton wheels to the Vulcans, but suspect they're like the old sex machine limerick ("oh, what a ******* to clean!"). Opinions on that as well (the wheels, not the limerick)?

 

Start under the hood: are there wires coming out of the top of the struts (shock absorbers)? If so you have CATS.

But overall, just ask any dealer to print out what you have - usually free - from your VIN.

 

My 02 V8 has the standard suspension on it which I find quite nice. However when I was reading through the handbook I came across something that made me smile in regards to "ride comfort".
Without going out and getting the book, it went something along the lines of this:
According to Jaguar, they say that with 4 persons in the car the best tyre pressure for maximium comfort at 100mph is 26psi.
It made me smile just thinking about how Jag got the people to sit in the car and test that theory......................

 

I'm unable to find any S-Type handbook with such a low figure. I think you're mistaken.

By way of example, the 2002MY NAS one has (for below 100mph) 28psi front, 32psi rear. Above that 34psi & 38psi.

I also can't find an S-Type one that specifically states comfort pressures.

Perhaps you could post the handbook reference number and page number(s) where you have that low figure.

 

You had to make me go out and get the book didn't you....................

Here you go, from my drivers handbook.
OK, I got it wrong from the 4 persons thing but...............

 

Mine is not CATS. However, when shopping for shocks I saw CATS, non-CATS "Comfort" suspension, non-CATS "Standard" suspension and non-CATS "Sport" suspension. CATS is easily distinguished by the 3X price. I feel sure that "Comfort" and "Standard" are the same thing. But then there's that non-CATS "Sport" thing. I've run my VIN and it doesn't distinguish suspension variants.

 

How bizarre - here's the 2002 NAS S-Type page
https://manuals.co/workshop/jaguar/s...on/5524700/198

As you can see it's much higher pressure.

It appears to be the correct handbook for your car. What reference number is on yours?

Makes it look like Jaguar raised the pressures, perhaps having done a bad copy-n-paste in the earlier handbook.