vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Feb 19, 2019 18:28:26 GMT
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......That is the question, I recently wrote a thread on another forum with me agonising over which car to buy, XFR/ISF/VXR8/C63 I thought I had settled on a VXR8 but then spotted an S type R local to me low miles 46,000 black £8995 and I had a light bulb moment, this is what I actually want! So I arranged to go and view it and I have just got back, the car itself was sat outside and was dirty, one curbed alloy,no big deal, three different brand of tyres on it, two Pirelli on the front (old) a Goodyear and Falken on the back. Things like that make me feel like the car has fallen into the wrong hands at some point, a lack of basic maintenance or care. The salesman started the car for me whilst I was under the bonnet and revved it immediately. wince!  It boasted a full service history in the ad which consisted of five/six stamps in the service book each with a two year gap but no receipts of any kind for work actually carried out. The servicing spaces seemed stretched even though it is low mileage to me? I wasn't keen on the salesman, typical second hand car dealer type, let's just leave it there. I'm torn on what to do, I like the car but didn't get to drive it as it was blocked in and the people put me off. There were a few bits on the car that I could see needed attention but nothing major. if I were to buy it it would get four new tyres and a full service so I'd factor that in. I'm not sure what the going rate is for these what do you lot think? Should I offer £8K to factor in for things needing to be done? Or is it best to walk away because of the guys selling it? Seems a daft thing to do but my gut just doesn't like them. Thanks. Penance,  I know it's a mk2 but I couldn't find any cool old s type pics! |
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Feb 19, 2019 18:41:09 GMT
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You have already convinced yourself it's not a gem haven't you? XJ Super V8? I'm picking up my X260 at the end of the month.
My 420 for penance as I sold my S-type (and X200's) years ago - hmm maybe not, not uploading
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2019 16:32:35 GMT by theoldman
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,869
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Feb 19, 2019 18:45:07 GMT
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It doesn't sound like a winner and theres often plenty of them for sale so worth shopping around I'd say I am curious as to what they're like as I've been tempted by ones at the cheaper end of the market before  either that or an X308 XJR |
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Last Edit: Feb 19, 2019 18:45:46 GMT by adam73bgt
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keyring
Part of things
Posts: 913
Club RR Member Number: 47
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Feb 19, 2019 19:03:40 GMT
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Based on what you have said, I think I’d probably give it a miss, I understand the heart vs mind fight when viewing a new car with excitement, but the gut feeling is usually the right thing to do, and I’ve found that maybe a week or so later, I realise in my head it was the right choice
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Feb 19, 2019 20:12:30 GMT
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I had an S Type a few years ago, although it was only a 3 litre.
I wanted an S Type R but when a friends Uncle died and I got the 3 litre for not much I thought I'd have it then look for an R.
It was an utterly appalling car, the least durable car I've ever had, an unbelievable amount of things broke and I sold it after a couple of years of torture to the first bloke who offered anything (£440), I told him that it was a curse word car and his choice.
I heard that they early ones (as I had) were very bad and they improved later, but I would never buy another one.
Last September I bought a VXR8, one of your other options, ignoring money its worth ten of any S Type, vastly better car even if as you would expect its less timber and more plastic. More fun, more smiles, better noise and lots of people want to talk about it.
The VXR8 is known for lack of rust prevention, and thats some work I need to carry out, but the S Type which was 11 years old at the time I bought it, (same as the VXR is now) was rotten, it failed its MOT on loads of rot after I sold it according to the MOT history online.
I welded up some rails to the top of the jack to spread the load as I knew I could never trust the sill to lift the car.
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Last Edit: Feb 19, 2019 20:14:29 GMT by chris y
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Feb 19, 2019 20:28:46 GMT
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I saw go and look at all of your choices.
The S-Type R I almost bought over my M3 but rot issues and thirst made me go with the M3. I won't say the M3 was the right choice but I'm relatively happy with my choice ; I've still got the car 3 years later which is good going for me.
Out of your choices, it would be the Mercedes C63 AMG, without a doubt. They are a superb car. Flawed, but brilliant for it.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Feb 19, 2019 21:10:49 GMT
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I saw go and look at all of your choices. The S-Type R I almost bought over my M3 but rot issues and thirst made me go with the M3. I won't say the M3 was the right choice but I'm relatively happy with my choice ; I've still got the car 3 years later which is good going for me. Out of your choices, it would be the Mercedes C63 AMG, without a doubt. They are a superb car. Flawed, but brilliant for it. Well in my search for info on all of them this is what I found XFR: Chain tensioner's fail causing the chain to run too slack, skip teeth, valves meet pistons kaboom. ISF: Great car, very reliable, nice engine but to my eye a little bland especially inside. VXR8: Old school engines,ls2/ls3 bullet proof but like to rust a little bit and I'm not keen on the wing. C63: head bolts stretch on the early cars which is the one I can afford and cam lobe wear is not uncommon. Obviously this is all internet and only the people who have these catastrophic failures post up lengthy posts on the subject so the actual numbers may be limited but if I am buying a car at the money these are going for I can't really afford it's engine to eat itself! I'm struggling to find a fun fast and reasonably reliable car and so I don't have a car at the moment! Mrs VT is being pressed into chauffeur duty in the mighty Sandero for the time being |
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Feb 19, 2019 21:21:06 GMT
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Or is it best to walk away because of the guys selling it? Seems a daft thing to do but my gut just doesn't like them. I've walked away from a few cars and bike over the years because the vibe from the seller wasn't right. I also bought 2 cars from sellers who gave off the "wrong" vibe, I wish I'd walked away from those cars too   Have an pic & some positive vibes   |
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Feb 19, 2019 21:43:34 GMT
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Maybe look for one that is for sale privately.
don't get to hangup about the mileage, motorway miles don't wear as much runs to the post office.
An under-the-radar option is too look for post 2006 Mercedes 500 V8 (Clk500, E500, CLS500 etc.). They got 388 hp from 5.5l so more power than a n/a 55amg. But they are quite rare and the early ones have a idler gear issue with the distribution.
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 Click picture for more |
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Feb 19, 2019 22:20:23 GMT
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This? Looks nice enough. I've never been a huge fan of the new S-Type, I found it a bit cramped and claustrophobic. Personally I have never bought from a dealer because they can disguise flaws / bodge maintenance and you're always paying a mark up over a private sale, (a mate of mine was in car sales in the early 90s earning then £70+Kpa). I know the XJR and XKR have a poor reputation for reliability and cost to fix, (a lot of warranty companies won't touch them), I'm guessing the S-Type R can't be a totally different kettle of fish? If you're smitten by the model but don't fancy this particular example keep on looking. If you give this a second look, check the MOT history online, go through the documents with a fine toothed comb. Don't be above getting the last owner's name off the log book and phoning them. If you did decide to commit and you have readies, haggle. The market is sluggish, teetering on the edge of a recession and cash is King!
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Feb 19, 2019 23:05:26 GMT
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To be honest at the moment I don't really know what I want, something interesting for my daily drive i guess. Mrs VT has just suggested I buy a classic muscle car for fun and 'one of those fast Saab estates that you like' for daily. She's a keeper  forum.retro-rides.org/threads/recent/208235 |
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dan
Part of things
Posts: 589
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Feb 20, 2019 17:48:38 GMT
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 I'd say yeS-Type but there are plenty out there and suggest scouring the Jag enthusiast forums If you really want one. They're heavy old beasts and things needed keeping on top of to keep it driving nice. Even the youngest are over 10 years old now and there's a lot of plastic components under the bonnet which are likely to fail at some point. I had a 2005 S-Type XS (diesel sport with the dealer fit bodykit) and although mine was hauling coal I loved it and kept it for a year longer than I normally do. I did feel that I was driving a ticking timebomb though. Any excuse for a photo of mine from the vault  |
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Last Edit: Feb 20, 2019 17:56:51 GMT by dan
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Feb 20, 2019 18:06:31 GMT
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Plastic parts were a big problem on mine, for example 6 times it had failed window regulators. Fortunately its so common rebuild kits are very cheap.
Suspension joints throughout the car were the real biggie though, just everything. Be afraid if the back end of one is creaking or the front knocking.
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Feb 20, 2019 19:47:50 GMT
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Rot seems to be a big problem with them. I welded one for a customer at the end of last year. It had failed on a fairly minimal amount of rust, which once the skirts/undertrays were off to show the full extent turned into major reconstruction work. If it had a been a lower spec model there would of been no way it was worth fixing.
After chatting to people about it it turns out that it's pretty common for them to rot away out of sight and it be too late by the time it's finally spotted on an mot.
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Feb 20, 2019 20:12:43 GMT
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MG ZT260. The Rover 75 came out around the same time as the S-Type, both with faux-Retro styling and I think the 75 has aged a LOT better than the S-Type and the ZT is better-looking still. It’s a car that looks a lot better in the flesh and especially on the move than in pictures. Considering how the 260 came about and lack of budget developing it, it handles so well and the engine is pretty bullet-proof and very under-stressed. Power-wise, sure it’s beneath an S-Type R by a fair bit, but it’ll be more reliable and plenty of room for tuning. Also given the rarity and how they are coveted within MG circles (The 75 and ZT Club is surprisingly active in this day and age even for the lowest-spec cars), values are more likely to be held and increase and easier to sell on in future. Or if you can up your budget a bit (or quite a lot...), you can buy my immaculate X150 XK-R, which I’ve owned for coming up to 6 years, but thinking about moving it on now I’ve just bought something Italian, red and in need of a lot of attention.....  |
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 Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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I absolutely loved my 3.0 one. I parted with it due to the aforementioned rot. What initially looked like simple replacement of the outer sill turned into replacement of the outer sill, inner strengthener, and the outer edge of the floor. With the sill cover on you couldn't see any of it.
Apart from A/C issues (they all do that sir), mine was fairly reliable for an old Jag with 140k on the clock. The shifter cable unattached itself once (50p for new bolts but fiddley as hell) and they tend to throw out spurious errors if the battery voltage drops for any reason.
I think you are right to be wary of handing over £9k to a dealer you have a bad feeling about.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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There’s already a great thread on here, I can’t find it on my phone though!
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Feb 23, 2019 10:07:59 GMT
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There’s already a great thread on here, I can’t find it on my phone though! Yeah I remembered that thread too but also couldn't find it! Anyway the answer, for me at least was, to not S Type. I went for a B6 S4 instead. |
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OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544 
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Feb 23, 2019 10:14:37 GMT
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Is it possibly worth trying to find one private?
I went to view a M3 for sale locally from a dealer and I will never return to one. I hate them. Or I have not found a good one yet which is probably more the case.
I’ve always liked the XKR, always thought they look ace, whichever generation. I just read a review from Evo on the S type R and it seemed to get some good feedback. Certainly not something you see every day.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Feb 23, 2019 10:24:12 GMT
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I went for a B6 S4 instead. |
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either that or an X308 XJR 
