Guide Price: £5,000 - £7,000

﹒Good records of service history

﹒Nicely presented engine and interior

﹒Supercharged V8 engine from the XKR

Originally launched in 1998, it wasn't until 2002 that the X200 S-Type awoke from its long sleep and tapped into a market that transformed the reputation of the model. By installing the hand-built 4.2-Litre V8 with an Eaton M112 Supercharger, the Jaguar S-Type R underwent a complete metamorphosis into a machine that was capable of pumping out 400 horses, without the loss of Jaguars long-established qualities for luxurious interiors, ride and refinement. The retro-styled body was not universally liked, but the addition of the R's 18-inch wheels, body modifications and subtle but iconic R badging transformed the car into a genuinely menacing presence.

Finished in a striking hue, known as Carnival, the car was originally sold by Jaguar dealer Mead of Burnham in Berkshire in 2004 and lived the first seven or so years of its life in the Daventry area. Up until this point it had recorded around 80,000 miles and had been regularly serviced at the Jaguar main dealer. It eventually spends a spell in the South of France, drifting around the beaches and remarkable architecture, also acting as a comfortable quick car for the Autoroutes. The car was repatriated back to the UK in 2020 and issued with a V5C and now sports the distinctive registration M3 JCE which is included with the sale. The car is also sold with both key remotes. The car was placed into an auction and this is where the current owner comes in.  

Bought on a whim, he originally dismissed the S-Type R when looking for a car, but when the car was started up and vibrated the hall with V8 reverb, his ears literally pricked up. Persuaded by its modest price, good service history and decent condition, led him to bid and win. The fact that the previous owner was also there on hand, who told him about the car and its devastating performance was a huge factor too. As a passionate car collector, particularly bigger more powerful cars, he is in the enviable position of buying and trying out cars as a hobby. He sensibly he sets a specific budget and then uses them for a period of time and then moves them on to try other temptations. He mentioned that on the drive home the noise from the superchargers initially startled him, but was told that the distinctive whine is all part of the experience of the car. The addictive aspect of the car has meant it has been used regularly in his ownership.

The car is backed up with service stamps up to 2015, with the last recorded service documented at 107,000 miles. There is also further evidence that the car has seen servicing since then too. This care of duty goes means that the car also comes with a pile of paperwork, which includes receipts for a bottom radiator hose, a sensor and all-round replacement brake pads. The tyres are all relatively recent items too. The owner has told us that he has not needed to spend much while he had the car. The car comes with an MOT which is due for renewal in June.

As an all-rounder, the S-Type R can cope with around town trips or the bigger longer continental cruises, the Jaguar is simply a nice place to be sat in. The interiors general condition shows evidence of careful ownership, with no major issues that should concern the new owner. There is the expected wear and tear of the driver seat, with the bolster showing cracks and the bench leather slightly looser than the other cream leather seats but all are free from rips and tears. The rest of the seats are in good condition with the odd minor mark. The quality of the leather embellishments has stood the test of time well, and point to a quality made product. The door cards and trim are in good condition. The carpets would benefit from a clean, but overall show limited wear. The boot shows no signs of heavy use, with the carpet in decent order.

The S-Type has a bit of a reputation for sagging headlining, and this example is no exception. It has seen an inelegant repair in the past and while it does the job, it might be a task for the next owner to consider. The dashboard is in good order, with no cracks or tears on the facia. The general condition of the maple wood is decent with no significant blemishes, the accompanying leather trim padding is in a similarly good condition. The dials, controls and switches are in good condition with no obvious wear. All are said to be functional. The steering wheel has worn well, with small signs of wear, the steering wheel controls are good too. 

The specific engineering and focus of its precise quality are remarkable for an executive car with Ford underpinnings. The body’s overall presentation is very good, the metalwork is straight, with even panel and door gaps and no obvious signs of poor repair. There are a couple of minor points worth mentioning, with a couple of well-known issues that seem to affect the S-Type. There's a small rust spot on the top of the off-side front wing, and the lower sections of the inner arch of both front wings show signs of bubbling too - this is limited to the wing metal itself and the wheel well from the outside appears to be solid. The underside of the car is good, although there's an area underneath the near-side front section of the wheelbase floorplan that warrants further inspection.  The underside is good, with no signs of significant damage. There are a handful of tiny dings on the doors but overall he car has resisted the typical day to day damage better than you might expect from a 17-year-old car.

The paintwork is well finished, with a good even lustre and no obvious signs of overspray or touch-ups. There are a handful of small scratches dotted around the car and small stone chips on the front bumper, but all are treatable and all typical of a car of this age. The rear bumper would probably benefit from a respray, largely due to the peeling lacquer. The glass is good, with no issues with significant damage, there are no chips or scratches. The rubber glass trim is in decent condition with no signs of water ingress into the car. The decent condition of the exterior trim and finishing maintain the overall presentation, with no issues with the lights, although the front lamps show signs of mild fogging. The front tyres are 2015 Pirelli Cinturato’s, with recent EP Accelera PHI 2 on the rears, all have a good thread. The alloys would benefit from a refurb, with signs of peeling lacquer and minor scraping. 

The S-Type R has built a reputation for its strong and reliable power plant and has to be classified as a completely different car to the standard S-Type. The engine presentation is very good, with evidence that it has been looked after. The engine is said to pull well and no have any problems with starting and the owner reports that there are no significant rattles or noises when the car is being driven. The exhausts were in good condition, with no physical damage or blowing. 

The brakes discs show no uneven wear or scoring and are said to perform with no evidence of fade, noise or grind. Electrically the car is good, with all of the items said to be operational. The headlamp motor levelling functions work. Another known issue with the S-Type is rear suspension bush wear, luckily this car has seen those renewed within the last 5 years. There appear to be no issues with the steering, with no noises coming through when the car is in motion.

The car falls into an attractive category of having a decent number of service history stamps with plenty of evidence of good maintenance. Those who know the ability of the S-Type R will not need too much convincing, and perhaps that’s where it's appeal lays, but for the uninitiated, that refinement, communicative driving experience and outright grunt could surprise anyone willing to take a punt on one Coventry's finest performance saloons for the first time. This later phase one model has the benefit of improved build quality which can be seen as the first of the modern Jaguar saloons that can be described as not just as a great Jaguar but also one of the best value 4 doors V8’s you can buy for the money.

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