[Hacker59]

I spent some of the weekend looking at S types. I was mainly looking at diesels but looked at other models as I was mainly looking at interiors. It's hard to know what you like just looking at pictures.

I saw quite a few s type petrols in lovely nick with low mileage, so condition of the cars were very good. I would really appreciate views on the difference between having the petrol and the diesel. Are the 3 litre engines reliable on a low mileage? I have avoided looking at low mileage diesels as i fear problems with DPF.

Probably would go for an 04 sport model or later. I know the diesel would be better mpg, but by how much? I dont do as much mileage these days as I work away a lot. Petrol prices are now lower than diesel so maybe that combined with lower purchase price means there is not much in it.

I would really appreciate your views. I have been reading a lot of this forum, and it has really impressed me with the knowledge and considered views given by the members. None of the schoolboy cat calling you see on some other forums.

 

[Victor]

Well, I like my 2.7 diesel BUT it has NOT got a DPF filter. Reasons? my car useage would be no good at all with a DPF, they are disliked by most people (they DO cause problems), and DPF's are forced on us by the EU.
So, IF I were to change my Jaguar for a newer model, it would have to be a 3 litre petrol. No DPF's for me.

I gave mine a blast down to Dover and back just over a week ago, I cruised it "quickly" and I averaged over 40mpg.

As a little side note, my brother has recently retired after 30+ years with VOSA, he's run diesel engined cars for as long as he can remember, as a little retirement pressie he has ordered a new Audi A1, he's gone for a 1.4 petrol engine wholly because of the DPF thing.

 

[Guest]

I agree with victor, I do have DPF which I have not had a problem with, but with the price of diesel and the length of journeys I do, I wish I had got an STR.

 

[arrowlink]

Having had all the s makes 4.2-4.0-3.0 2.5 and 2.7d for me its the diesel everytime. dont worry about the dpf. so long as you do a 20 minute run every week or so depending on your mileage it will cause no problem. my commute to the office is 4 miles. ive done a week of that then on sunday a run to felixstowe market and back in 2 weeks and never had the dpf light on yet. granted 99% of my mileage is motorway miles i cant see little runs in between causing probs. i loved all my s types but i sold this car then bought it back so much is the smiles per hour from driving it.

 

[yorkie]

Hi Hacker

I owned a 3.0 petrol (year 2000) a few years ago and now have the 2.7D (late 04 - no DPF).

They are both very good cars and offer luxury motoring for little money.

The petrol I had would return around 20/22 mpg when running on relatively short trips and up to 32 on a long steady run.

The diesel is little better on the short runs but does return up to 42 on the same long steady run that I regularly do. (South Yorks to Norfolk which is almost dead flat and apart from the odd by-pass means travelling often at 50mph in a queue of cars behind heavy trucks on the A17/A47).

So its horses for courses. If you intend doing long trips the diesel will be considerably better on fuel but otherwise there is not a lot in it. They drive quite differently, of course, the diesel having more low down grunt but it is marginally noisier - albeit very quiet for a diesel. As you say petrol is cheaper too so thats another consideration. In winter the diesel will take longer to warm up especially if the auxiliary fuel burner is not working. This is a device that heats the coolant water by burning diesel fuel when the temperature is below 5 deg C to help the engine warm up quicker. maintenance costs are not very different, the diesel has a longer interval of 15,000 miles whereas the petrol is 10,000 but if, like me your mileage is fairly low then they will both require an annual service anyway. Both units are very reliable but in the event of an engine problem, the petrol is easier and cheaper to fix. The petrol also has cam chains that in theory never need changing but the diesel has belts that need doing at 105,000 miles and will cost around £500 so factor that in if you are looking at diesels approaching that sort of mileage.

In summary, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed owning both cars but if asked to choose, I would stick with my diesel as I love the way it drives and at 80,000 miles it feels just run in!

 

[arrowlink]

Hi Hacker

, I would stick with my diesel as I love the way it drives and at 80,000 miles it feels just run in!

makes mine at coming up for 200 k just out of the showroom and i agree with you.

 

[BuckMR2]

Had a 3.0 (X Type) for 4 years before my current 2.7 XJ
No problems in 3 yrs of 99% short trips, every other service is essentially just oil and oil filter.
Easy to remap and increase the already big torque into huge torque together with even more mpg
Dont forget it will also be worth more when you sell it and the market is getting bigger for diesels as fuel prices increase so you will have a much bigger buyers market when you come to sell so you will be able to sell quicker for a better price and not be stuck with a thirsty petrol unless you take a low price as people are buying the R versions with not too dissimilar mpg
Just been watching the Duke of York leaving the palace and the security car behind is a 2.7d Jag
Re belt at 105k...mine was under £200 inc Jag belt and fitting....S Type is omly a couple of extra hours which would be about an extra £70 at my specialist

 

[57jam89]

Are the 3 litre engines reliable on a low mileage?

Well they are still reliable with 194k on them (i should know), they are very good engines, have no timing belts and as long as the oil has been changed as it should be it will go on for miles.

And with lpg thats the same as 40-45mpg with 240bhp under my right foot!

 

[BuckMR2]

Nobody is saying they aren't a good engine.LPG isn't used until the car is up to temp so no good for short journeys and you've got to do the mileage to warrant the expense of fitting it so unlikely if the OP is away a lot.
Bring yours down to one of the Santa Pod races and you can show us all how quick your 240Bhp fares against mine which has kicked the mighty 4.0 V8. butt once or twice down there.If you like I'll wait to fit the methanol so not to embarrass you too much: -)

 

[Ian D]

Just go and test drive them all and pick the one that suits your driving style the best.

I had a 3.0 Petrol S-Type before this car and it was so quiet and relaxing to drive, couldn't even tell the engine was running even from outside the car! The Noble uses the exact same engine with twin turbos attached, so is a very tough robust engine the 3.0L.

A diesel is great if you do the high mileage as that's when you'll reap the benefits of the superior mpg, otherwise with diesel more expensive with only doing a low mileage per year, petrol overall will be cheaper to run.

 

[57jam89]

Nobody is saying they aren't a good engine.LPG isn't used until the car is up to temp so no good for short journeys and you've got to do the mileage to warrant the expense of fitting it so unlikely if the OP is away a lot.
Bring yours down to one of the Santa Pod races and you can show us all how quick your 240Bhp fares against mine which has kicked the mighty 4.0 V8. butt once or twice down there.If you like I'll wait to fit the methanol so not to embarrass you too much: -)

Mine switchs over to lpg at 40c coolant temp which is less that 2 miles from cold start, so yes lpg is good for short journeys!

I fitted my lpg for the total cost of £270 (of which £200 was for a new tank), so its paid for itself within 6 weeks!

I was just highlight that you can have a lpged 3.0 V6 which will be as cheap (if not cheaper) to run that a diesel and your offering me a race so you can embarrass me!!

 

[Neilr]

Just go and test drive them all and pick the one that suits your driving style the best.

Exactly

I have a 3.0 manual from 2000. It has done about 4k miles per year and does not seem to have suffered one bit. Drives as well as the day it was delivered (maybe not, but you know what I mean! It will still show 150 mph+ on the clock if you ask it to). The V6 is a very robust engine with the minimum of weak points. I leave it in the garage for months at a time and it just picks up where it left off (as long as the battery has been kept topped up).

My mileage is a mixture of going to work which is a 5 mile trip, to holidays around Europe so a fair mixture. I would not expect low mileage to be an issue as long as the basic maintenance has been carried out and the car has not been abused. In 11 years and 45k miles, except for filters and oil, I have only had to change the spark plugs on the engine, mainly because I was afraid that they might not come out if I left them in any longer.

Both engines are good but the petrol is simpler and reliable, so a very safe bet. The diesel has a different power delivery and so may be less work to extract its performance but in ability, there does not seem to be much in it. And looking at UK prices, the petrol may well be the better buy. Neilther will be worth much in a few years time so buy the one the suits you the best.