Your opinion only. And I have a right to mine as well. I'll leave it at that....

 

TPMS exists solely because owners would not/could not check their own tire pressures, frequently leading to accidents and deaths. Owners such as yourself who do it manually as a habit are an extreme minority

We see regular instances here of owners who continue to drive their cars despite big red flashing lights on the dash telling them to stop. The number of owners who are capable of interpreting coolant temps correctly are an even smaller minority.

OEMs don't build cars for the 0.1 percentile potential buyers.

 

It's not vital to have a lug wrench when you get a flat tire
either. You can always have it towed to the nearest tire
shop. For some of us, it comes in handy although a breaker
bar with the right socket in the trunk is even better.

 

Yes it sure does make it easier to swap fluids!!

My wife's 2013 MKS with the 3.5L twin Turbo and AWD has a dipstick and a drain plug for the transmission.

20 minute fluid changes. I already changed it at 30K after my experiences with the 5 speed Ford and 6 speed ZF transmissions without dip sticks.

Not as easy to change the transfer case (Ford calls it the PDU) and the rear differential (Ford calls that the RDU) because they have fill plugs but no drain plugs. Used the old vacuum pump method to get the old oil out.
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This presumes that the car comes with a jack and a spare tire. Many modern cars don't and substitute a can of flat fixer goo and an a 12V compressor.

 

+1.

You can very quickly tell the health if the fluids and the tranny with a dipstick. But on out Jags what a complete PITA.

Everything is oriented now to the person who leases. Fluids? What fluids? As long as the lease buyback value can be maintained high enough it's golden ...

These cars are becoming impossible to repair at shop labor rates.
MY local mechanic who's very good and fast can fix things I cannot handle on my 99 Suburban but I could never afford to have him work on my Jag. He does work on S-Types too and typically they recommended for the wrecking yard a lot earlier than my Suburban with at 140K has at least another 100K to go.

But there are worse ones than that!

My 71 Espada needed a new Brake MC and pedal box bushings. It takes 5 days to get them out! Seat comes out, steering wheel comes off, instrument cluster comes out, fuel lines in the engine compartment and even the wiper mechanism has to come out. Even with all of that you still have to cut the brake lines.

I think the master cylinders, pedals and brake lines must be the first things put in the car! I know ... I picked my own poison

 

It would be nice to have but it's not vital and isn't likely to change bearing in mind so few people give a monkeys.

If it seriously impacted second-owner price it MIGHT change, but it clearly does not.

Those FEW who care a LOT: buy a different car.

 

Not much use if the majority of owners don't know that the car has one or care or would know what to do even if they did care.

The number of faulty transmissions that might have been saved by the owner sniffing the dipstick just at the right moment doesn't justify their existence. Most cars with auto trans go to their grave with the dipstick and trans fluid untouched from the factory.

Again- cars are not built for knowledgeable DIY enthusiasts.

 

Very true! I was shocked when I asked the labor rate for the British car specialist shop I am taking my car to this morning.

$115/hr is above what I think even Jaguar changes here in Houston!
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Heated Seats only meant to take off the chill. Meant to be a safety feature.
Some Volvo's car seats were catching fire. I renter a VW in the UK and my wife accidentally turned the heated seats on in summer. By the time i was able to get off the motorway and find the switch I was almost burned. I was really hurting the seat was so hot. Don't know why there was not an overheat sensor but for me its better to switch them on a second time. Do not try to find a bypass mechanism you may cause a fire.

 

Then why do they still dipsticks for oil and markings for coolant level.

Maybe they should just seal those system for life too? LOL

 

Be careful what you wish for.

They probably could for coolant. Really want that?

 

The latest Jags have no 'old school' oil dipstick but rather an analog indicator on the instrument panel. They also have low coolant level indicators.

So we're already part way there.

I have no problem with any of this.

 

I only do in the sense that I've a habit of buying well used cars and keeping them for years. That means I get to fix things the car maker never cared if they broke as anything vaguely warranty-like has long gone.

However, I'm in such a small minority that nothing I'd prefer has any relevance to the car maker.

What I REALLY need is the workshop manual and such like. (Which they tend to have moved online and made expensive to access. Now THAT hurts.)

 

Until JagV8's post, I have been sorely tempted by this thread's title "What annoys you most about your S-Type?" to answer "Not a single thing!"

I open the door . . . and it smells brand new! It starts first time, every time! Even with low profile rubber on the 18" Mercurys, it soaks up road and wind noise. It doesn't just "go" like ordinary cars . . . it "proceeds" with style, but rewards with big kick in bum and huge growl when you press hard on the loud pedal! In short, I love it! Unlike John, I have bought a few new Jaguars over the years . . . and I agree that is where the manufacturer's and dealers' only concerns lie.

Compared to the S-Type, XK8/XKR or XJR, none of the new crop attract me . . . yet even this aspect of S-Type ownership is no annoyance . . . for each of my Jaguars will outlast me by many years, if properly maintained.

However, JagV8's comment has awakened a new and genuine annoyance . . . the data, the knowledge and the skills required to guarantee such maintenance is under some threat. Once revered books, especially on maintenance and restoration, are rapidly disappearing - no longer in print, nor in circulation among re-sellers. IMO, this makes the work of our gurus and the resources of this forum, combined with those provided by people like Graham (GGG) and Gus (JagRepair.com), of inestimable value.

Lesson learned . . . for many months, I have been downloading all the manuals, TSBs, everything I can lay hands on . . . and for every Jaguar I either own, service, or would like to.

Cheers

Ken

 

Have not had a reason to add, as nothing to date has "got up my nose", but I am a tad Jaguar biased, and maybe accept many, many things that others do not.

Then I spotted Ken's post, and they are ALWAYS a laugh.

After todays little escapade to sort a non working mirror. What to do, FUSES Grant.

OOPS, now that is something that has got "up my nose" in regard to the Cabin fuse block location on the RHD cars. It is in the dumbest place possible, and maybe 40 years ago when I was waaaaaay more flexible, not a problem, but today, in 38c temps, I said a few choice words, trust me. Damn near went OFF the wagon, and reached for a JD.

3 hours later, all fuses OK, and the problem was in the door switch pack, which is now suitably repaired, thanks to a FBH.

The rest of the car, its a Jaguar, and one must have FAITH.

 

Let's see:

At only 105k miles, my '02 had/has almost EVERY problem experienced by many forum members. Latest ones are that #%?$ P1584 throttle body PITA and the infamous air/heat/defroster problem that results in a windshield that cannot defog. These may wind up costing more than the book value of the car to address. Shame, because the car looks new in and out!

 

I HATE the rearend whine. It is just loud enough to drive me crazy on any drive over a few minutes. Since there is no fix this is my first and last Jag. Always loved the looks but the quality is weak. I have had a few issues over the years, coolant tank broke, TB seal leak, wiper wiring short (took me forever to find the fix), 2 fuel pumps, radio shorted out, now the trans pan is leaking. Local trans shop who seems to know a lot about the ZF trans is only going to charge about $9 / qt for the fluid so I believe they are not using the right stuff but you can't question some "experts". Will look for another shop. My s-type is 2005 and only 70k miles. Not what I would call a quality machine but nice to drive at times. I have looked at several other brands and the trade in value of the jag is 2000-2500...wow

 

Its a fault. Clearly it can be fixed (hardly any cars have it).

Do you mean you don't want to spend the money to fix it? Or what?

 

What annoys me, frankly nothing... OK so she's been somewhat unreliable and a little expensive, I still need to replace the A/C compressor and a slightly clunky front end.... But she looks great, drives great, turns heads and generally I love being behind the wheel.


If you learn how to fix them, get the right diagnostic tools, follow a common sense approach, fix the urgent things without delay, conduct all the routine maintenance and listen to sage advice from those that know, they are a pleasure to own.


I've lost count of the cars I've owned and, hand on heart, my S-Type is far and away my favorite. :-)