• Immaculate condition 

• Comprehensive history 

• Low owners and Low mileage

The predecessor to the XF, the S-type was Jaguar’s executive four-door notchback saloon, designed by Geoff Lawson and built in Birmingham, it shared a platform with Lincolns and the Ford Thunderbird. The S-type was designed to be a market competitor to the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E55, styled to echo the popular models from its history, the mark II and the classic S-type. 

With a broad range of engines and transmissions on offer, the S-type had everything you’d expect from the prestige brand. The ride was sublimely comfortable, and it had enough power to keep up with its competitors. In either manual or automatic, V6 or V8, the Jag is surely set to be an appreciating classic and we think its looks have stood the test of time rather well so far. The model in this auction being so immaculately looked after, surely must be a contender for investment opportunity or comfortable daily cruiser. 

The Jag presented here is a one owner from new car, with the current owner being its second custodian. With very low miles for its 22 years of age, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was only taken out to the local shops to stock up on whisky and cigars. 

The current owner is in the motor trade and took this car in on a part exchange, it has been garaged all its life, with the current owner continuing to give the car the utmost of care during his ownership.

The owner admits to taking a liking to this particular car however which probably goes to further evidence just how good this car is. However with the owner being in the trade, it doesn’t make sense for the car to stay, so it’s looking for a new owner to continue to care for it. That said however, it will be a hard parting as the current owner has become accustomed to the luxury and comfort the Jaguar offers. 

Being a one owner car from new with such little miles, the previous owner made sure to keep all the documents and brochures and all the associated items in good order and condition. Jaguar even supplied an owner’s manual on a VHS tape, which is a first for us to see. Even the VHS tape is in immaculate condition and screams retro cool, you’ll have to source a VHS player to browse its contents though. 

Every little thing has been documented and recorded with this vehicle and as such it comes with a huge amount of paperwork. Included as well and worth mentioning, because it again is typically classy of Jaguar, is the brown leather wallet embossed with the big cat logo to keep all your documents neatly stashed away. 

The last service was in Nov 2018, but the current owner will supply the car with a full years MOT which we have no doubt the Jag will pass with flying colours. 

Inside the Jaguar is a beige cloth interior with a leather and wood trimmed centre console and dashboard. Everything inside the car is, just as the outside, in immaculate condition, no rips, tears or stains. The seats are, as expected, exceptionally comfortable and with them being cloth and not leather, won’t catch you out on a hot day. The cloth is just as plush as it was when it rolled off the factory floor, like sitting on a memory foam mattress.

The rear seating area of the car looks as though no one has sat in it, with the only thing to give away this car’s age being the lower door card fabric ‘bobbling’. That’s with us being extra thorough, there really is very little if any of this car that needs attention. 

The boot area is in great condition also, it hides a full-size spare, with a good tyre. Underneath the spare, the metal work looks exceptional as well, we wonder if this car ever saw the rain during the previous owner’s time with it.  

Some features of the interior of the Jag are A/C, wood & leather steering wheel, electric glass sunroof and electric seats.

The sapphire blue metallic paintwork is wonderfully kept on this car and even some of the high traffic areas, such as the kickplates in the doors have escaped any scratches or stone chips. Talking of stone chips, on our inspection we couldn’t see anything big enough to worry about if there were any at all, the pictures will do the talking on that front so please do take the time to look through the gallery below. 

16” 7 spoke alloys are again in unbelievable condition, with no scuffing or curbing to speak of, see pictures. Tyres seem to be in good condition, with them having lots of tread left and on the evidence of the rest of the car it’s probably safe to assume they’re good for a long while yet. 

The face of the Jag harks back to the cult classic of the mark II with the four headlights and the centre grille, all of which are in working order, with no hazing or stone chips in the headlights. There was a very minor scuff on the grille as shown in the gallery below, although you’ll have to look hard to see it, we’re sure a bit of T-cut and some elbow grease will soon sort that. 

Underneath you’ll find a similar story, with very little surface rust for a car of this age. The only places that look to have surface bloom is the rear exhaust silencers, it doesn’t look by any means detrimental to structure, but worth mentioning in the interest of being thorough. 

The 3.0litre V6 automatic drivetrain is in good working order with the gearbox being super smooth on our short test drive with the owner. No knocks or bangs, squeaks or strange noises presenting themselves at all, a pleasant and restful experience, just as Jag intended. 

The Engine is one of Ford’s Duratec engines, with the Jaguar versions having aluminium block and heads to reduce weight. It was also one of the most common fitted to this model, so parts should be cheap and plentiful, although we suspect you’ll not be needing any anytime soon with this car being so well looked after. 

The engine fired up eagerly on the turn of the key and the gear changes were smooth and not juddery or jerky at all. Producing 240bhp and 221lb.ft torque, the big cat has plenty of power to get around quickly. The engine was so successful, Jaguar decided to fit a refined version to the S-type’s successor the XF. 

Smooth, stylish, comfortable, timeless looks, luxury, careful owners, low miles, plenty of boot and cabin space, wood trim…this big cat has a lot going for it, couple that with the fact that this example could enter a ‘show and shine’ event and place highly and this car looks to be all things to all people. 

When the S-type launched in 1998, it received very favourable praise from the press at the time. They loved its interior and ride quality, proclaiming that it was ‘a paragon or refinement, quietness and fuel economy’, so it’s fair to say that Jaguar got this car very right with it successfully living up to the reputation set down from cars of its lineage. 

If you’re in the market for a good-looking car that will last, that you can get in a do hundreds of miles and not be out of pocket or exhausted when you get to the other end, you couldn’t go far wrong with this S-type. Even if you were to take it to the local shops to fill up on the essentials, you’re equally likely to feel like royalty wherever you go.