My wife prefers wood to carbon fibre to be honest but yes it does look remarkably clean - I had expected more wear on the driver seat etc than it has tbh

 

Fundamentally we have a shopping list - enough space for two young teenagers in the back, sat nav, less than 100,000 miles, 2005 or newer, and if possible a little bit of an attention grabber - which is where an XK is on the dream list but too small for a family, an X-Type too tight really in the back to avoid sibling rivalry so to speak, an XJ too close to our budget limit for a good model so currently the S-Type falls into place as the perfect mid range car subject to how we get on with it with a test drive..

 

I'd expect an XK would be way over your budget.

Trans oil if you DIY not too costly. Sorry no idea on garage costs near you!

 

We saw some XKs down to about 6-7,000 would still involve stretching things for us though - with XF's out there down to 8,000 upwards but yes the current pricing we are looking at is much more within our comfort zone for this particular purchase. Just looking for a Jaguar to last a good few years - our X-Type was at a lower price and lasted us a good four years I think it was so I have hope lol

 

From what people seem to be generally saying it looks like the dealer is pitching the price about right so if we decide to go for it, may struggle to get the price down by much.

 

Just heard from the dealer and have a copy of the HPI check and now have the vin number and reg.. will check them out as suggested by you guys now - unusual number plate as well..

 

I don't see the S button (i.e."Sport" shifting) beside the shifter. Was that not something offered in UK versions?

Otherwise everything "looks" nice.
=================================
My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '08 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition" (250.06 whp / 259.67 torque)

 

The car had HPI check in Dec (all clear), which is when I assume the dealer got the car, I have passed the VIN to a contact at Harwoods Jaguar to see if I can retrieve the Jaguar dealership history, and found it has a private plate which might or might not be worth keeping.. The MOT on it is only till August but after asking if the dealer would consider giving a years MOT if we like the car he agreed to that as well. The dealer seems to be quite open, and more helpful than I had expected if honest.

Once the Jaguar history is through I just need the car to prove itself on the day...

 

It'll have an S button - and I _think_ I see one.

(At a guess you'll hardly ever use it.)

 

The dealer is adamant that this is not an S-Type R, it is just badged as that but when I decode the VIN number it is listed as an STR.. he has it listed as a as an S-Type Sport, and the images of the engine bay at his website target-cars.co.uk don't seem to show a supercharger on top.. ??

 

Over here our motoring clubs, like the RACQ in Qld, RACV for Victoria etc, offer an inspection service for 2nd hand cars. They offer various levels of inspection, from the cursory to the very detailed, depending on what you want to pay. The top level is usually around the $200 mark, depending which state you're in, & I've used it often, on any vehicle I'm unsure about. I've often been able to talk the cost of the inspection, & much more, off the SP, from the inspection report. & even more important I've walked away from some very good looking money pits, which I probably would've bought if I hadn't had an inspection. They're not infallible. Some problems are just too deep within a vehicles innards to be diagnosed by an inspection. & I only use it on vehicles that I'm really interested in. At those prices, it's not for Tyre Kickers. But it's a bloody handy tool, especially for known money pits, like old Jags.
Do you have a similar service over there?

 

The images from the dealer add has no photo of the engine.

From what I can tell from the side angle it looks like its missing the Brembo calipers and large rotors. Hard to tell from the photo.
The front grille is not correct or aftermarket. should be chain style mesh
The exhaust looks to be aftermarket. At least the tailpipes.
Also I am not sure if the wheel rims are S type. might be from another Jag style.
STR's have R emblems on each front fender, Although some people remove them.
All in all a nice looking car.

 

The engine pic I see is a V8 NA (not SC, i.e. not STR).

Try the VIN on FordEtis home page

 

>It'll have an S button - and I _think_ I see one.

Ya, you're right, I just missed it, it's there.

 

>The engine pic I see is a V8 NA

I didn't find an open hood pic in the list. What engine pic are you referring to?

 

Here you go, NA for sure.

 

Ok tracked her back to Guy Salmons in Ascot - and have requested the Jaguar history which hopefully will be from new to 68000miles. Meanwhile I need to get a quote for an oil and filter change for the auto box, and for replacing the hoses.. then it is all down to a test drive and talking prices :-)

 

Just went to FordEtis and far more info.... definately some items I had wondered about are covered there...

Primary Features
Build Date: 30.03.2005 Vehicle Line: Jaguar X200 Body Style: 4 Door Saloon Version: Series 35 Engine: 4.2L Damb NA V8 Gas AJV8-Jag Transmission: 6 Speed Auto ZF 6HP26 Steptronic Drive: RHD RWD Emission: 2000 EEC (EEC 7) Air Conditioning: Automatic Air Conditioning Territory: (+)"GB" Paint: Midnight Minor Features

• Marketing Level 1
• With Electronic Stability Control
• Less Warning Display
• Less Heated Windscreen
• With Console Cup Holder
• With Interior Aluminium Pack
• Fixed Foot Pedals
• Front Floor Carpet Mats
• Rear Floor Carpet Mats
• Less Spoiler
• With Electrochromic R/View Mirror
• 4 Door Saloon
• Less Ski Bag Provision
• With LH Electric Lumbar Support
• With RH Electric Lumbar Support
• With Split Fold-Down Rear Seat
• With Driver 8 Way Pwr.Seat Adjuster
• With Pass 6 Way Power Seat Adjuster
• With Programmable Driver Seat
• 433 MHZ Door Lock Frequency
• With Automatic Windscreen Wiper
• Less Sun Roof
• Spare Wheel - 18" Aluminium
• Spare Wheel-18" Mini
• Less Immersion Heater
• With Performance Suspension
• 4.2L Damb NA V8 Gas AJV8-Jag
• For Unleaded Fuel
• Fuel Tank Filler Neck - Unleaded
• Sport/Leather Steering Wheel
• With Speed Control
• With Navigation System
• Less Message Centre
• Navigation Disc - Euro
• With Reverse Proximity Sensor
• Less Anti-Theft Alarm
• With Interior Scanning Alarm
• With Front Parking Aid
• Single Slot CD Player
• Blue Tooth Interface Connect
• Voice Activated Module - British
• Voice Input System
• Less Cigar Lighter
• Less Style Pack
• With Halogen Headlamp
• With Front Fog Lamps
• With Manual Headlamp Levelling
• Midnight
• 6 Speed Auto ZF 6HP26 Steptronic
• Jaguar X200
• Series 35

 

It's a nice car. You probably will love it. You could still be unlucky - as with any car (or other) purchase.

Many retailers do not even know the rights that consumers have. Sure, the directors of the company may know but do they make sure every member of the sales staff know? As if.

This applies to supermarkets, clothes shops, and garages. Most of the time if you have a problem they put it right so it doesn't matter whether they know the details of the law. I expect this applies to most garages too. But garages do have a bad reputation and Which? et al say so for reason.

So you always take some kind of risk.

I would say a warranty is expensive and unlikely to be of actual use but hey I'm a cynic about them.

 

This is the first time I have really researched a purchase.. usually I go with just what I see on the day, and yes my wife quite rightly complains :-)

I really appreciate the shove from you guys in the right direction :-)

I am waiting on quotes for the trans fluid/filter change and coolant hoses change, and the history from the dealership and then will be the most tooled up I have ever been for a car viewing..

As for warranties, no I shy away from them as for older cars there are so many exclusions, and the cost is higher than the planned maintenance costs anyway.

If the test drive goes well, and the price is negotiated to where I am more comfortable with it then yes the prep work has paid off, but if for any reason I walk away from this one I still know a hell of a lot more about tooling myself up for the next one.. so win/win.. but honestly, would love for things to go well :-)