jaguar S-Type road test reports and car reviews

Jaguar S-Type 2006

Before this week I would have given this car 5 stars but now it is sitting in a garage needing a new engine and would you believe only 14,000 miles on the clock. I bought this car about 18 months ago privately at only 6,000 miles. The warranty expired last January and because I did not use a franchised Jaguar dealer I have little chance of convincing the manufacturer to help me out.

Jaguar S-Type 2.7 Diesel SE 2005

4 years of superb driving experience from new with this beautiful car, which still turns peoples heads to admire its classic lines. I am still a confirmed addict of the marque. For the joy of it I have just completed a 2,000 mile round trip in 5 days from the Exeter in the West Country via Wales and the Lake District, then around the west and north coast of Scotland to John ’O Groats and back down the East coast & via Yorkshire to Exeter - with an average fuel consumption of over 38 mpg. I am amazed at the tireless "Grand Touring " capability of the car.

Jaguar S-Type 2006

September 2007 - I purchased a Jaguar S-Type, registered 2006 on a 55 plate from H A Fox Guildford. From the beginning I experienced DPF and cold start problems. The first time the temperature went below 4 Celsius the car smoked like a wet bonfire so much so I had to phone Jaguar roadside assistance, each time this happened I was told it was normal, by both Jaguar and H A Fox. I’m not talking a little smoke it was so thick you could not see out of the windscreen. On November 7th 2008, the car had to be returned to H A Fox to have work carried out on the DPF, the car was returned to me on the 12th November. On the 5th December 2008, (outside temp 3 Celsius I went through the smoking bonfire bit again), I set off on a journey. After a matter of some 5 miles I realised other drivers flashing their lights, they were trying to warn me that the car was leaving a smoke trail, I pulled off the road and the car immediately filled with smoke, at which point someone ran over to the car banged on the window telling me to get out immediately as the vehicle was on fire. I got out and just made it to the other side of the road when whoosh there was a bang and it burst into flames. The fire brigade and Police were called but the car was totally destroyed. I was in total shock, and have suffered post traumatic stress since this incident. This car was still under warranty, but neither Jaguar or H A Fox attempted to instigate a detailed forensic inspection. Their behaviour in this matter has, in my opinion been appalling they did not want to know, and have not offered me any form of compensation for a replacement vehicle.

Responses to this review

Look on Google under Particulate filter this is the AA report on these filters - Ted Gray from Cheshire

The cause of the `smoke` in this case is nothing to do with the DPF, it is from the auxiliary fuel burning heater which operatates at -5 and below and is perfectly normal - Dave Green from England

Sorry to hear about the car on fire. Mine has smoked bady since day one, and I am trying to sort a video to show. Im going to take it back to Jag because I want to sell it, but don’t want the new owner to moan that it smokes badly. Also had major problems with dpf, and the engine light coming on til they sorted an update, (6 months it was off the road.) - Anthony Osborne from England

Jaguar S-Type 2004

Hello, I have a Jaguar S-Type 2.7 diesel, its very economic, and I have beside that car an Audi A4 3.0 v6 cab and Porsche 996 c4 and the Jaguar is the most comfortable. But now I have some problems with it, the first problem was with the PDF, I got a few times the engine going in "safe mode" specially when I was driving for a while only in town. I went to Jaguar and after that no problems any more. I have also a problem which I really don’t like, when its cold outside like 5 degrees, the car sometimes smokes a lot from the front side and has a bad oil smell. I was panicked when I saw that, I went to jaguar and it’s normal, actually the engine 2.7 (only that one) have a boiler to warm up the water and that boiler works independently from the car engine and works with the fuel of the car, so sometimes it smokes a bit for a few seconds and after its all perfect. I also had a problem with the electrical handbrake, one day I could not release the hand break, it was blocked and with alarms inside. I call Jaguar and they came directly with a truck to fix it. I must say that Jaguar in Luxembourg where I live have a wonderful and serious service. My next will be of course a Jaguar XF with the 3.0D engine. My car has done 60.000 miles.

Jaguar S-Type 2.7d Sport 2005

Hi, like so many others the only thing I can fault is the smoke on cold days... IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ON FIRE... And the looks I get from everybody who sees it are astonishing. It also has the habit of filling the cabin with a smoky smell. The dealer says this is normal but it is quite embarrassing!

Responses to this review

Look on Google under Particulate filter this is the AA report on these filters - Ted Gray from Cheshire

The cause is the auxiliary fuel burning heater, nothing at all to do with the DPF - Dave Green from England

Jaguar S-Type 2.5se 2003

Brings a large smile to my face every time I drive it. Looks absolutely brilliant. What more does a guy want (in a car)? Style, comfort, speed etc... etc... etc...

Jaguar S-Type 2007

This will be my third S-Type. My first was a manual 3 litre followed by a 4 litre auto. I am now returning to the fold with an older 3 litre but it is a great looking car and a drivers dream.

Jaguar S-Type 2.5 V6 Petrol Sport 2003

S Type 2.5 V6 Petrol Sport. I have had this car from new and can only praise it - the best car I have ever had; the build quality is superb. I did 60,000 miles and it never let me down. I have just exchanged it for 2.7 XS S type; tried the XF but not the same ride quality.

Jaguar S-Type 2000

Can anyone help me, my car was sitting for a long time and when I started it there was hardly any fuel in the tank so I filled it up but since it seems to be missing or not running on all cylinders - could it be the air filter filled or clogged up with with what was at the bottom off the fuel tank?