Folks
As in the title really, at the moment I do all my own tin top maintenance, it goes to the garage once a year for it MOT and to a tyre place went it
needs new boots. As a do around 30k miles per year this saves me a bucket load of money. I’m looking at a Jaguar S type diesel as a replacement for my
current Citroen daily driver as it is nearing 300k miles and is showing its age.
I appreciate that running a Jaguar is going to cost more than a Citroen but how realistic a DIY proposition is it? What is within the capabilities of
a moderately competent mechanic and Locost builder?
Cheers
Brook_Lands
[Edited on 12/11/12 by Brook_lands]
S types are known for auto box failure, not DIY fixable you'd be better off with an X type as its just a rebodied Mondeo
If you really want a big diesel that is easy+cheap to maintain find yourself an MG ZT or Rover 75 there are still a few out there with reasonably low mileages and parts are cheap, the most expensive job you will likely have to do is wishbones and bushes.
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
If you really want a big diesel that is easy+cheap to maintain find yourself an MG ZT or Rover 75 there are still a few out there with reasonably low mileages and parts are cheap, the most expensive job you will likely have to do is wishbones and bushes.
If I'm not mistaken the engine is a PSA derived unit and they are well known for the quality of there diesel engines. I've not heard anything about auto box failiure and I've been looking at S-types for the last two years with the intention of eventually getting one, but I've not looked at diesels and they do have a different box and a manual was also available, but to me that defeats the whole object of having a jag.
Thanks for the info.
The Jag I'm considering is a manual which is fairly rare, had a couple of auto's in the past and I just don't seem to get on with
them.
I've also been looking at the Rover 75's as I'm now officially an old git but always fancied a Jag. When I was a young junior engineer
the Boss had a brand new XJ V12 and if you went anywhere with him you had to drive (so he could have a drink) just loved that car, compared with my
old Beetle it was like it came from another planet.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201240487428164/sort/default/usedcars/model/mark_ii/make/jaguar/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/o
nesearchad/new/page/1/postcode/cv359pf/radius/1500?logcode=p
I had a 54 plate manual s type diesel sport for 3 years and covered about 60k in it.
Didn't do any maintenance myself, but it was a great drive.
Service at main dealer was around £1000 once a year, and it cost me a fortune in tyres too!
Now I'm retired I can't afford it (got a Kia instead!!!)
If I were getting another I'd go for a manual again (better mpg too) and avoid the low-profiles and sports seats, which were much more
uncomfortable than my old 406.
The big problem with jag autoboxes is the filled for life mentality, if they have regular oil changes they will last a very long time.
The boxes in XK & XK jags were Mercedes in non supercharged guise, Mercedes had a dip stick and recommend fluid changes - no complaints.
Compared to the rock solid slush boxes of the classic era most modern autoboxes seem to very fragile especially if they don't get a fluid
change, they also don't tolerate over or under filling.
I have been told the reason for this is friction materials in the boxes are now asbestos free.