Did the S-Type save Jaguar from extinction?
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2021
- With the New Labour Government of 1997 and its youthful new Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the UK was undergoing a “Cool Britannia” transformation of identity. Britpop and The Spice Girls were sparking a renewed pride in being British as the country hurtled towards a new millennium and possibly a bright new future. It was into this atmosphere that Jaguar, under Ford’s stewardship, launched its new mid-size luxury car, the S-Type, a car that didn’t look forward, but backwards to Jaguars storied past. 8 years later the S-Type, and Ford’s ownership had disappeared, replaced by the modern, forward-looking XF. Why did Jaguar choose the retro-modern looks of the S-Type, was it any good, and did it spark a resurgence in the brand to make it a competitor with Germany’s finest, as Ford had wanted?
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Erratum: The Triumph logo I show is for the motorcycle division.
Great informative video.................but could you replace the spectrum 48k (the one with the rubber keys and pixel dot graphics) with a VIC 20.....................it was better. PS I was gonna say C64 but that just wouldnt be fair!!!!
However bad Jags were in the 80s, I'd still pick a Jag over a BMW or Mercedes if I had the money.
If you buy a BMW or Mercedes, you're making a statement; 'I'm an asshole!' Something you don't do if you drive Jag.
Also, in modern day UK, owning Mercedes is almost 100% equal with being an Arab and driving 80 to 100 in mph the city center through pedestrian crossing. Another reason to pick Jag over a German brand.
@@trabali5168 No.
Just No.
I wonder why Jaguar dropped the manual transmission from the 2003 SType??? and beyond.
I don't agree that the S-Type didn't age well. In my perspective, despite the retro-there, it actually still looks a clean well-proportioned design to dae. It aged much better than the 1995 Mercedes E-Class, for instance.
Absolut truth. 👌👍
Agree totally the e class aged awfully
The (new) S-Type had already aged badly when it was launched. Even if it had been based on the better-looking Mk II, it would have been a misguided choice for a forward-thinking marque (as the vid rightly pointed out) even if it had been well-executed, which it wasn't. The E-Class was just a truly awful design, slab-sided with those curious ovals in the (already bland) tail lights, which split their shape and highlighted the bootlid shutline. The round headlights were actually the most pleasing part of the design! Both terrible cars design-wise!
Back then I was thinking the Rover was tolerable and the Jag was disgusting, I must say the Jag aged way better than the Rover...
I don’t agree. The Mercedes w210 is becoming a real classic. This S type will always be the re édition of the real S type (of the 60’s) without talent.
I owned an S Type 3 litre petrol for three years. When entering the car, sliding onto the leather seats and grasping the wood and leather steering wheel was truly a special occasion every time. A wonderful car and the styling was a sight for sore eyes.
Me too. I 100% agree with you!
As do i, a very solid enjoyable ,reliable Jag.
I had one and the interior quality/design was terrible
I loved the s type. I saw it first in one of the gran turismo games
This is by far the most common Jaguar I see. Even decades after they were built. Must have done something right.
Sure, they only made about 90K XK’s from 96-05, 83k XJ’s from 02-09, but made nearly 300k S-types from 99-10. And they sold them cheeeep.
It's actually a pretty decent car to drive, good enough that the XF chassis is actually very similar but my god it's ugly. If they made it decent looking they'd have sold several times as many
Utter rotting crap I guess non of you have worked on one
Um no...these were garbage along with the X-type
@@netrioter
You and big smoke (same person?) tell us (and me as an experienced mechanic) what was so bad about them. I'll warn you to tread carefully though.
That jaguar is timeless it still holds up when I see them out on the roads. Why they ever changed and didn’t just evolve that timeless look is beyond me.
It literally says in the video why.
It is odd when you think the porsche 911 has been the same since 1963, but for some reason that's different plus the engine is in the back which makes crap handling but still people buy them then people argue no one buys saloons anymore yet the BMW 3 series is the best selling saloon in europe, people just are seemingly obsessed with over rated and unreliable German cars like Mercedes which has always had a good reputation but hasn't built a good reliable car since 1989...
I still think that the S Type still looks good today, 20 years later. It wouldn't take much to update the shape.
That styling would appeal to a very small niche. It would never make the mass sales needed to be profitable and that's if it could ever get similar styling through pedestrian safety standards in Europe and the US.
@@stevec6427
Seeing as we're currently in a sea of non-niche retro inspired cars I don't think your comment holds water, or more accurately takes on too much water and sinks into the North Atlantic Ocean.
I have a 2001 and love it just the way it is but always wandered what if...
I drive a black jaguar s type 2000. Slick 4 liter V8 love my car.
@@derekharrington8787 what crack are you smoking they are god awful and they start to smell fusty inside as they age
I bought a used 2003 S-Type Base in Sept 20. Its a good car. The importance of the interior/mech improvements in 2003 are significant. Its a decent, RWD sport sedan with a 6sp AT. The retro styling now is a headturner. The S-Type is a good car that my 17 year old son loves to drive.
I was always a fan of the Ford era Jaguars, particularly the post 2000 ones, as well as the Lincoln LS. I still see both occasionally on the streets around here.
The sport modded turbocharged LS out there is very striking, and a window into what could have been.
they are the most reliable jags ever built, and cheapest to maintain...if your mechanic is trustworthy.
I like both Jaguar X type and S type. I don't know why they weren't successful. They look very beautiful and stylish to me.
@Daisy Lynn no because jag never put 1.4-1.6-2.0 engines.. thats why jag sell less..
Even stype nice car..
An X-Type estate still looks like a tempting buy against the Mondeo version.
@@Emrestill Jaguar were always a premium brand not aiming for the mass market. Not quite as deliberately restricted production or premium as Ferrari or Rolls Royce, but putting anything less than a 3.0 would be degrading the brand. There is higher profit margin in the premium market for those that have the pedigree, like Jaguar did but Ford and Toyota didn't, so they don't need to sell hundreds of thousands, just dozens of thousands.
@@dcarbs2979 in my country Turkey Mercedes E classes have 1.6 engine versions and BMW 5 series too.. and that versions sell millions in years in my country..
İ just say if jaguar uses low pressure engines too.. im sure people not talk about stype like this .. cause when you sell more people Love more..
@@Emrestill Something like that with such a tiny engine, you have to wonder if it can propel itself under its own power! It would be so underpowered, people would *hate* it. Here in the UK there are genuinely cars that are so bad, they can't be sold. Not through safety (although that is a factor), but specification so low that no one wants to buy it. I think Tata tried to under-cut Dacia and it was like entry-level stuff in the 1980s. We demand more here, especially for our own premium brands like Jaguar. Everyday mass-market cars like Mercedes and BMW, maybe not so much. As truck and bike builders too, they aren't car specialists.
I was literally sitting in my room, and think to myself, how long till a new Big Car video, I guess for me it was a mere 60 seconds. Also a excellent video as expected.
They usually come out at this time, every 2 weeks.
My V8 S Type was one of the best cars I have ever owned. Took it 193k with just two coil packs & regular service needed
Has to be a future classic
woow 193k miles and nearly no failure...
It's actually a classic car these days. And It's a head turner. Most junger people don't know this car today and elder people have forgotten it after two decades.
Not surprised because it was under Ford, after they sold jaguar and land rover to tata it went down hill.
@@theshield1613 Yes. I think the fusion with Ford was not bad for Jaguar, even if some guys see it differently. But the Tata takeover was the worst that could have happened to Jaguar, as a traditional car brand.
@@metekavruk_Alanya
I get you're attempting sarcasm but based on what? 193k miles on an older car is big, especially with failures slightly more troublesome than a failed wiper blade...
It was perfection in my opinion - a perfect fusion of the modern car with the loveliest design from the 60s. If this is not a retro car well done I don't know what is. Even today, the iPace is not nearly as appealing or characterful. In fact this would be my favourite car for electric conversion.
I think the Nissan Figaro did it better. The S type is just not quite right. it has that hint of old VW beetle conversion kits, which are suppose to make it look like something more expensive. It's all just a bit off.
I agree ,always loved the old mr2 my dad had one .
I think they did a great job designing a more refined luxury car.
A definite classic. I my book
Was more into the older, long wheel base S type. I think they were a straight six. Very nice car.
It was always about the Lobby-work of Audi,VW and Mercedes, these cars were shut down by the Fake media, so called "motor journalists". I bought a 2006 jaguar xj8 last year and these cars are beautiful, sporty, comfortable, gas saving, so much better than any Mercedes, Audi or BMW from this era.
Because of some stupid "motor journalists" people never even test drove a Jaguar because the magazine told them it is not as good as BMW, Mercedes or Audi...
Every motor-journalist that get payed by an automaker is no more a reliable source
@@freedomisnotnegotiable Yes, if general mainstream media is anything to go by, then what you say does ring true. Mercedes, BMW and Audi have all had great moments in the past but they are putting me to sleep now for the longest time. Corporate bores.. Its like Opel recently when they showed off the original Opel Manta A from the 70s with a conversion to electric. And after great public reaction then claimed they will bring back the Manta - as an SUV - and nothing like the original. If they do that I will make a point of boycotting them.
Sales of the Scorpio weren't sagging because people were buying other luxury brands, it was because Ford had done another Edsel and seemed to have ignored everyone shouting at them that this was a hideously ugly car that looked like an inanely grinning frog. No executive wants their car to look like that
The final Scorpio really was an oddball that unsurprisingly flopped badly. This strange "frogeye" front would maybe have suited an Asian small car, but how Ford thought that they could compete with the likes of Mercedes with that remains a mystery.
if the scorpio had looked like the opel omega, the renault safrane or the nissan maxima it would have flopped too.
My other half always found it highly amusing when I referred to it as the 'Froggio'...
Agree the Scorpio looked awful from the front.... worse from the rear.
Have to wonder what they serve at these focus groups
Insanely unpopular opinion: I love the S-Types looks a lot. Best looking post 20th century Jag imo
You need an eye test
Hardly
Have you seen the XJ or the XK?
😂😂😂😂😂🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
@@paulgabolinscy2502 Yes they're good, but _I like this_
@@paulgabolinscy2502
They're merely OK.
@@stevec6427
You need to shelve your bizarre hatred of a car.
IMHO, the S-Type was the most elegant and beautiful design Jaguar had in decades. Just the right number of curves and chrome. The later models were too angular and aggressive.
I agree, Kunal.
Other than the F-Type, every Jag since 2009 has looked blandly Asian.
The S-Type wasn’t without merit, but it’s slab sided looks were at odds with its curvy profile (making it look like it was deeply compromised by the platform it was based on), it was dumpy from the rear and the radiator grille’s shape was too similar to a lavatory seat, though the headlamps were nice..
The XF, that followed, looked like a modern Aston Martin (not Asian) and despite having the same underpinnings, looked uncomprmised.
I remember going with my dad for a test drive but he went for a Volvo in the end. The Jag just didn't have the 'bite' you would expect from the brand. It'a a nice interior and it certainly isn't just rebadged Ford as some people make out but at the same time it's not a car that grabs cool attention and that's half of what you want from the brand. The S-Type was the car that Rover *should* have built and the should have been something sharper - then we'd have both around today perhaps - but it was head to head at this stage of who would survive.
@@creamwobbly The V6 version was offered with a manual, extremely rare though [assuming you live in US]
It's actually a classic car these days. And It's a head turner, especialy in countrys outside the UK. Most of the junger people don't know this rare car today and elder people have forgotten it after two decades. I like it since 23 years, since it was launched. 👌👌👍👍👍👍
I prefer it's styling to the bland offerings since.
"Classic" means "good", not just "old".
@@matthewlewis2072 Thats right.
The Jaguar S Type is the car that got me my job at the then Jaguar Cars. I am still there 22 plus years later! Many up and downs in that time..... We could not build enough of them in '99 and '00.
Then couldn't sell enough every year thereafter...
I don’t think it looks that bad. The front and side is elegant and ages well. I can’t speak for the reliability but I doubt Jaguar would be in a better place without the intervention of Ford.
Reliability is great I've got a supercharger s type with 171k miles and a v6 that just crossed 200k
I love my S-Type - as I just proved by spending over £1,800 on a new MOT. It's the best car I've ever owned, far better than the then-newer Rover 75 I had ten years ago and, with rear wheel drive, it's masses more fun, too.
Had S-Type Jaguars for twelve years. The first a 4ltr V8 that ate gearboxes but was otherwise reliable and the second in 2007 was the run out R version. They are quintessentially British and make driving a real pleasure. The STR was formidable and responded well to a bit of tweaking - on the rolling road she was putting out 570bhp and prodigious amounts of torque. It was in the mid range overtaking where she really excelled, so much so that you needed to pull out before flooring the throttle otherwise you’d park yourself in the boot of the car in front. I had her seven years and put 168,000 miles on her before retiring and moving on to an Aston.
Love my s type r , chose it over an e55, love the supercharger whine and real angry exhaust note with a big exhaust
I loved both of the S-types I've owned. A 2000 S-type 4.0 and a 2004 S-type R. Both were extremely enjoyable to drive, had very good amenities for the time and both drew questions and admiration when filling up at the petrol/gas station. And I personally loved the styling! I've also owned an XJ8, an XJ6, an XK8, an X-type 3.0 and an XFR. The X-type was also a really good car, the AWD worked very well, and the interior was really well executed, at least on my '05 VDP. It needed another 50-100BHP and it would have been an epic car.
Still drive my S type. Pretty solid vehicle with extremely nice interior and exterior. In my opinion the car was spot on but the expectations were too high and unrealistic. Jaguar never sold in such big numbers like BMW or Mercedes. And that is part of its uniqueness. Nowadays every third car is a BMW or Mercedes, or Audi. Jaguar, as a brand, adds a very special charm and feel to its cars. You don't get this from any other luxury car manufacturer.
Beautifully put and very true.
Ironically, at its demise the (excellent) Ford Mondeo was the 'niche' choice...
A friend of mine had a Jag S type 3.0V6, what a nice car, I liked the “Retro” looks of the car, even more so the all grey leather interior.
I guess the retro theme for a Jag wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but a nice car all the same.
Great review thanks Mr Big Car.
Correction :
Nothing in the history of the earth has ever been ruined by supercharger whine.
LOL !!! Thanks
Great! Again a very good and well documented documentary. I always get a smile on my face when I see a new Big Car episode online!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant film 🎥👍🏼
Love the S and X type development stories from that era.
Another great video ! Thanks Andy
Great video, brilliant as ever. Thanks!
Trivia: the S-Type R also raced in the Superstars series here in italy: a series that took cues from championships like DTM and the V8 Supercars championship
I remember the video game based on Superstars series...
@@tarransanders21 there were two of them
I loved my '06 S Type R. I was surprised to hear you discuss supercharger whine, as mine was as smooth and quiet as expected from Jaguar. Traded it in for a '11 XF Supercharged when the S Type's transmission started giving me fits. I've had more issues with the XF, especially in the beginning, but it is a hoot to drive. I've only decided to give it up due to how poorly the dealership experience has become. That is one thing that Jaguar has absolutely failed at.
Again another great documentary... Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Toine!
Thank you for another great video!!!
I recall that my brother-in-law had a 3.0 version in met green soon after they were launched. Although I guess many would now say this design hasn't dated very well and that in any case this type of retro styling is overly nostalgic, but the truth is there was a time when sight of a S Type would literally stop people in the street as they paused to admire it - attention grabbing wise I doubt a Ferrari would have turned more heads!
I love the look of the XF also the ZX spectrum behind you
Loves these Big Car uploads; the diligent research that goes into making them is certainly evident. Always find myself pausing on the stats and old images - just to take everything in. My friend had an S-Type R in around 2005. Cracking car - comfortable and smooth - yet demonic when requested!
Brilliant your best review yet, the Ford/Jaguar back story was absolutely spot on 👍👍
Writing from Denmark here, to me Jaguar always seemed like a more aristocratic brand than Mercedes and BMW and not really a competing brand, a brand for a different part of the market.
Hey Mr. Big Car, I love the videos you put out, and I have another fun car suggestion you can add to your ever-growing idea list: Nash Metropolitan.
It is a quirky, plucky British car with American styling, and sold under multiple brands (Austin, Nash, Hudson, etc.). I feel like it would be right up your alley, because I don't think anyone on RUclips has ever done a history of the Metropolitan! I also feel like a story on that car would be popular on your channel because it's a car that is familiar with us on both sides of the pond (American and British viewers alike).
Thanks for the suggestion Nathan. I tend to focus on cars people grew up with, as it tends to get the views that helps to pay for my time to make the video, but maybe in the future I could branch out and try something a little older.
Another great video, thanks. Very interesting and informative.
Great video.
I liked this generation of the S-Tyle. I liked the retro look. The commercial with Sting and the Stings music video featuring this car sold me.
Great video! I remember the launches of both Rover 75 and Jaguar S-type. I've always loved Jaguars, being born in the 70's, it was a car I aspired to own. So I really liked the styling of the S-Type, what I didn't like was the interior, mainly the switchgear - what a mess! Luckily I've never had enough money to buy a brand new one, so have been spared the depreciation! Love seeing the ZX Spectrum on your shelf, I had a ZX81, and then a Spectrum - when I first loaded Manic Miner, I was amazed at the loading screen - it was something we'd never seen before! Amazing! Ever thought if doing a video on the Sinclair history?? 👍🏻
There are lots of videos online about the history of Sinclair. I think I'll stick to cars, even though I'm into old home computers.
@@BigCar2 Wow!!, I see your point after searching! Looking forward to your next video and any surprises you may have on your shelf! 👍🏻
@@BigCar2 Renault had a ZX Spectrum promo, buy a Renault 9, get a free ZX Spectrum 48k, plus a cassette tape about the car, not aware of anyone on the Spectrum scene covering this to date. Would be interested in the background, if it was, or was not successful, what the Renault 9 was about, and what is exactly on the tapes. Nobody else can do this from the Spectrum scene.
The Spectrum in the background of this video (I was already a subscriber) was mentioned in at least one of the F/B Spectrum Groups I am a member of, so more than a few subscribers who are also Spectrum fans and can help with the composite mod!
Love a Spectrum, had all the good ones, and may have a few now as well!
A little more info: spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/23511/ZX-Spectrum/Renault_After_Sales
@@stevemayne9305 It's an interesting idea for a video. Nostalgia Nerd did a video on the Renault 19 (ruclips.net/video/PFRsc0ZtYho/видео.html) and mentioned this. That would work well on his channel, I'll mention it. If he's not interested, I might do it as it's a good "fun little bit" to do.
@@BigCar2 would be a fun bit to watch - do love a cheeky cross-over :) I am old enough to remember the advert in the papers at the time. Thank you for considering this for yourself or suggesting to Peter :)
To me, it's a Gorgeous car now and then 🥳🥳😍
Great video. Also I'm sitting here in my ZX Spectrum t-shirt on. Great to see one in prime place in the background.
Love the channell.
Great video. Thank you!
Wish to get a video with the Jaguar XJ Story...
Good episode. I rented an S type while on a field trip back in 2000 or “01. It was a fine car, but I remember the interior was much like the Lincoln Continentals I’d been renting. Funny you mentioned that.
I always respect of these cars and enjoy seeing them. I know they are nothing special but they had a charm that modern Jaguars simply don’t have. Fantastic analysis. Thank you for your time
Glad you liked it.
Excellent episode - as per usual! 👌🏻🤩👍🏻
Really enjoying your content fella as i grew up as a teen late 80s into 90s and worked in motor trade for over 20yrs.
Cracking video !
The S-Type seems beautiful to me.
Yay! Love getting these vids
Mum bought a 2001 S-Type 4.0 V8 brand-new in lovely Sapphire over Ivory…she was sparingly used over nine years until I inherited her in 2010.
I enjoyed her even more sparingly (no true problems) until 2016, when I sold her at a low 36,000 miles for an embarrassingly depreciaated price to a close friend of Mum’s who had always admired it. It felt right.
Happy endings: she is enjoying a relaxed, elegant retirement in beautiful Naples, Florida…where her classic Jag style will always get a wink and a nod.
Miss the millennium S-Type…I loved piloting it- always a special feeling of well-being.
(I also loved that she was born at Castle Bromwich…a historic factory for the Spitfire fighter aircraft so crucial to WW2 Allied victory!)
I always kind of figured that the point of the S-Type was similar to the point of the Spice Girls: They're not really meant to be, ahem, ridden, but rather looked at and admired. In my kitchy American eyes, both had nice curves and pretty faces, but there wasn't a possibility that I'd ever get one. Another wonderful take on motoring history, sir!
Fantastic job on this! I remember this era quite well. Jaguar nowadays seems even more clueless than the Ford era and don't know what to do other than build EV SUVs which hasn't done well for sales so far in the ill named i Pace
BIG CAR - Always delivering such a high standard of content - fabulous as usual. Derek
Glad you enjoyed it Derek!
@@BigCar2 A close friend had an S Type. He passed a few years ago so your post also brought back some fab memories. Thanks. D
Great car vlog as always! My father always wanted a Jaguar. Then he started to play golf and found out that there was no room in boot for a set of golf clubs, even less room for two! So then he bought a W126 500 SEL. Damn I miss that car!
Why? In an S Type you can put the back seats down and put a wardrobe in there!
I still think the S-Type is a beautiful car.
Like wise I had one for 8 years, and changed it for an XJ x358, the last of the classic styled Jaguar's, the S Type had all the classic lines of a classic Jaguar and while some would say it was dated looking when new it will always be a beautiful, elegant looking car, more than can be said about its replacement....
Agree
Of course the look is dated that’s the idea
I have a 2004 model & love it to bits
I like how it drove but I hate the styling. The S Type R could have beaten the BMW M5 if it looked modern
Just as bad as the rover 75
@@darrensdashcam4317 Me too.. Mines an '04 3.0SE, - converted to LPG, which at 52.7p/litre (Asda H'pool, Aug 2021) puts an even bigger smile on my face.
Brilliant video and explanation - thanks!...One picky point, you show all the BL logos at 1:33 but the Triumph logo you show is of Triumph Motorcycles at Meriden (1935 - 1990 logo pre Hinkley manufacture) not the Triumph word in a laurel ring that Triumph cars used at the end of production -Thanks again!
I'm glad you spotted my deliberate error! Have two points. 😉
I had a 2004 facelift 3.0 manual and it as lovely to drive and fault free.
Great video. Have owned a 2.5 V6 and a friend had the 4.2 V8. Great cars and would like a manual petrol one .
in my country, there is an old saying :
A man just fortune a wealth will buy a bmw 5 series
A man with his father's wealth will buy a merc e class
A man with his grandfather's wealth will buy a jaguar s type
Another sage saying is "The quickest way to make a small fortune is to start with a large one and buy an old Jaguar"
@@Error6503 well in my country it doesn't cost a fortune to maintain an old s type, it is more expensive than maintaining a 5 series or e class but still not that expensive 🤣🤣
I had a S-type for a few years. A great and vastly underated car. It's 3 Litre V6 was smooth and it was quite reliable. I still regret selling it. It was a car with character. The XF could have been an Audi, it had (and has) no style. I will never understand why people all want to drive something that looks like an Audi with no character at all...
I agree. I had two Stype sedans. Handled well and was very comfortable. I still miss how it drove. Much better than my current e-class sedan. Stype was reliable too.
As an XF owner and Audi hater I have to disagree. They needed to get away from the pipes and slippers image, and the XF and XE helped them do that. The XF is a elegant and sporty sedan IMO, you wouldn't mistake it for an Audi.
And it drives really well too.
@@eivindlunde7772 I do not hate Audi's, I only think that have no character. And that, to me, is the problem also with all modern Jags (and Volvos for that matter). I honestly believe all makes have made a mode towards the style of the German premium brands. And in doing so they lost their unique character. And, let's be honest, the XF and XE are not very successful cars, not when compared to the numbe of comparable cars sold by the German premium brands.
I bought my S Type just over a week ago and I look forward to many miles of motoring. Before that, I had an E Class, 2007, for a month. It was a cracking car, but felt so sterile inside. The Jaguar interior, although a throwback, has oodles of character and I love it as I have always loved that about Jaguar cars :-) Graet video mate, shame the British car market has been all but destroyed by bad management, and I really do hope that Rover can make a comeback, although unlikey. Even if they did, they would probably follow all the latest trends and end up being disappointing.
As usual, great analysis, your videos are simply the most informative and a pleasure to watch. S Type (and the Rover 75, since they were released quite at the same time) was an amazement when it was released. Yes it was retro, and 10x yes I loved that. The cabin materials were perhaps too US and not enough UK on the early releases but the relifted version was so much a better car. I would entirely buy one today, just fed-up with actual sporty or (falsely) green cars.
I completely disagree. The design of S-Type, as much as it was "backwards looking", was and still is, the more emblematic and infinitely better design than ANY of the current slew of bland and uninspired Indian Jaguars. Except the wonderful sport car F-Type, all of the current Jaguar designs are painfully generic, there is literally NOTHING inherently Jaguar in them and XF and XE could be the cars of ANY relevant manufacturer in the world, from Volvo, to Mazda or Hyundai, and it wouldn't make any difference. So, yes, S-Type had its share of troubles, and it was FAR from perfect car any way around, but at least from the outside - it was just and old, quirky Jag, just like its predecessor MK II, or even much maligned XJ Series III, both imperfect, but both destined to become classics. I don't know if S-Type will ever be considered a classic, but for me - it was the last TRUE Jaguar design, be it under American ownership or not. And that's why I'll always have a soft spot for it.
I agree. But the XF sold very well upon release even if it is bland looking. The new XJ is so so design to me but they make some real top of the line models with huge engines and beautiful interiors. So I don’t think Jaguar is dead under Tata but I don’t know of any good looking car in development at the moment
Agreed...not generic, classy, sporty in its own and the Most comfortable ride I've ever driven. I adore my Cat and will keep it as long as I'm around...not a college kid car, but perfect for me, loving the British old school aspect and feeling like a royal whenever in it. Crumpets anyone??
Great info thanks
Good Job in consolidating automotive facts and history.
The Jaguar S type was a beauty & it was a car with real presence 🇬🇧👍😊
I much preferred the ride in my x202 facelift over the e39 BMW, the Jag was more reliable as well!
My E39 535i was brutally reliable but the ride was surprisingly harsh! Lush car though.
Love that Speccy in the background!
Thank you for your excellent VIDEOS. I enjoy watching THEM. I have to say I do like the S-Type STYLING. I think it has aged very WELL.
Glad you like them!
Ford got their version of the XJ spot on. It was good looking inside and out, and was, for Jag, pretty reliable.
Not 'for a Jag'... it was just reliable.
In fact, the pre Ford stuff was pretty reliable too. But that doesn't make for a good Internet fairytale.
@@skylined5534 ...or sales.
@@skylined5534 yea Jaguar in 2009 had the best 10 year look back reliability of any European brand and Volvo was number 2. In 2019 they had fallen back into the pack.
The plastic timing components on the front of those early V8s were a complete disaster!
IMO, plastics should be allowed under the bonnet.
False economy IMO.
You save on £/unit but then spend ££££ in warranties and lose even more ££££ in bad reputation and los custom.
They get exposed to heat & sometimes water, which destroys them.
The thermostat housing was also plastil (Well, Zytol 30, I think) which absorbed water when it got hot, expanded and so lifted away from its seal.
@@lewis72 You mean ''shouldn't'' I guess...kinda changes the whole narrative
I had a S type Sport 2.7D 2005 (de Cromed and no wood)fantastic car.The most comfortable car and power for any drive.I drove this car around Germany,Austria in fact over 2000 miles on a trip in 2011 never blinked once.These Jags we’re so underated. I still regret selling it.
I had the 2003 S-type V8 in Metallic Red with Tan Interior...(after owning a 2000 Audi TT Quattro, which I would love to see you showcase)...I never had an ounce of mechanical trouble with the my S-type, except for having to replace the driver's side electric window's plastic winding spool that continually broke during my ownership...it was the only car my mother would get in...lol...My next car was the Nissan 350z which solved THAT problem.
The S-type was a fast, luxurious car that was an amazing GT mile cruncher and it miss the ease of ownership that Jaguar warranty at the time afforded...great video as always!!!
Enjoyable lecture, as always. Thanks!
I still fondly remember the real jags of the 70's.The xjs.The daimler double six and the famous xk engines with their magical sounds.
I had a Daimler Double-Six. Beautiful car in arctic blue. Needed twin fuel-tanks costing a fortune to fill up. 16-18mpg I recall. Shame I had to sell it. When I bought it, I took it to a customer/friend who was an automotive engineer. He wanted to check it had the recalls done. He called it 'a real fanny-magnet.' Old school!
Jaguar were still selling the XJ and XJS into the early 1990's though! Compared to more modern vehicles like the S Class, LS400, and Soarer that was possibly of their problem.
I remember them having twin tanks yes.No one would accept that kind of fuel consumption today.
@@glennpowell3444
It wasn't a case of consumption, it was for the extra 'legs' say over a transcontinental trip.
Why do you think the works Coopers had twin tanks? Different arena, still a lot of ground to cover.
@@skylined5534 Good point.Yes being an ex mini fan and owner of a few the rally coopers did have two tanks.Forgotten that.
Love the zx spectrum in the background!
Jaguar S types are one of my favourite models.
Not long after the S-Type release a work colleague gave me a lift in his company car S-Type. He was very pleased with it and gushing about how luxurious and comfortable it was. He still got very peeved when I pointed out the traction control button on the centre console was the same as the one in the Ford Focus hire car I was driving that week!
Does that matter?
No.
If he was upset, then he's a moron. Unless you're talking about truly low quality components, having parts bin equipment is a good thing. It becomes much easier and cheaper to fix or replace it later
Well, I have one of those S-types.... and I am happy that it is all Ford?Bosch and something, cause if it were Lucas electrics, I'm sure they'd be broken... 10 times... by now.
Instead all of it is still working... after 21 years. Excellent car, buy the best one you can find though - once they go wrong, they are sometimes expensive to put right.
Mine has server me 7 years now, never a problem (except for the battery... well... 17 years isn't bad...).
@@rob5944 yes - there’s a strata for everything. You devalue the original with lower value detail inserts.
The funny part about Ford's ownership of Jaguar was the Jaguar Formula One team, since Dearborn wanted it to be the British Ferrari, but allowed Nikki Lauda and Bobby Rahal to clash... although I really don't know why they didn't run the team under the blue oval of Ford
n the end no one cares but the buyer.
Lauda never should have been allowed in, brilliant F1 driver, less so of a manager. Rahal had a history of managing a winning team in CART/Indy.
Also, Jac Nasser apparently achieved his own demise by not being able to answer Henry Ford III's question "who has the highest salary at Ford?"
Nasser's reply was reportedly "Well, I guess I do" or something similar and Ford III's follow up was reportedly "Who is Edmund Irvine?"
My father had an 07 2.7d, in SE trim, it really was a wonderful car to travel in, and being one of the later cars, benefited from the less fussy design of the R model, and the redesigned interior, which I think was a drastic improvement from the early cars. The seats were excellent, and the six speed auto smooth.
Nice! a jaaaaag video. I was hoping you would cover more jags. While the S bodies were nice, and I liked their style - the x350 / XJ8 was one of the best looking modern jags imho.
A draft design of the x-type was sold to GM that used it for the Daewoo Leganza
They have nothing in common
I remember Jeremy Clarkson making fun of the mustache grill on Topgear 🤣😆
A neighbour of mine had a black one when they came out in 98,it looked stunning, got myself one 10 years ago and loved it. After watching this I'm looking for another one.
Still today lots of bits from the chassi on the S-type is used in New Jags.
Have a look on the rear suspension on a F-type for example.
7:02 That is not a PT Cruiser, it's a cool looking prototype tho.
The actual PT Cruiser is a sad sad embarrassment of a vehicle.
My old boss had one of these PT and liked it. Drove it for then years after there Citroën XM was rear-ended.
but very reliable ,as shown by the grand tour, if you want to break.
not as sad as the horrible Crossfire which seems to have been designed by someone on a bad acid trip.
@@georgebarnes8163 Yes! Lets get those who are on good acid trips to design cars. :D
A friend was obsessed and owned 3 PT Cruisers at once. I used to call the PiTy Cruisers. My well used ‘80 Pinto wagon went about 245,000 miles and outlasted all 3 Cruisers.
While Ford hardly reinvigorated Jaguar's fortunes I shudder to think what chaos GM would have wrought given what happened to Saab and Opel under their stewardship.
Luckily Jaguar escaped that one, it would be a nightmare.
@@Jay_Speed They never escaped at all, Ford came up with the rot bucket X type which rarely got past 50 K miles before ending up in the scrapyard due to rotted inner and outer sills, they were a lovely looking car but the floor pan and sills were made from biscuit tins, cheap and nasty Mondeo on steroids that ruined Jags reputation.
Just how did GM create chaos at Opel?
It owned the company for decades and during that time it sold millions of vehicles worldwide.
It also engineered and developed chassis and whole vehicles sold under other GM divisions which also sold in their millions.
It true GM didn't put in enough into R & D but several of it's models like the Corsa Astra Vectra and Insignia remained top sellers regardless.
GM ruins everything they acquire and have never innovated anything. Just derivatives of what others have done, only they do it worse.
@@strongereveryday2302 And unsurprisingly, today there's little left to ruin as GM is more and more fading into obscurity. What was once the world's biggest car company now is a sad shadow of its former self and their fate is oddly reminiscent of BMC/British Leyland/Austin Rover or whatever it was called that week.
Have looked at a few 2.7D S-types a few years ago, but the ones I looked at had both been hit bad by rust in the rear subframe. I guess they wasnt properly treated for salty winter roads. Nice video, thanks! Still waiting for the XJ video ;)
Great vid… again
The S-Type was a great car. Unfortunately it did not survive Germany's road salt, just as the X-Type. Ford seems to have cut some corners there, unlike with the XJ and XK.
Changing their styling language with the XF was a grave mistake however, by now they are nothing but an Audi's copy, rather than a unique car.
True but if I must be honest I drove both the bmw e46 and jaguar xtype and the jag by far gives a better drive... More power etc
@@veronpalani5525
No doubt, we had both the X- and the S-Type, and we'd do the same again in a heartbeat.
I love the smell of diesel in the morning
Serbia?
@@ofirs5830 no Yugoslavia
@@ofirs5830 SR Bosnia and Herzegovina probably
I love the Stell of patrol alltogether.
I thought the line was "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning!"
Great video - the sales numbers for all luxury brand saloons were very interesting. It looks like all luxury brand sales are hurting and declining - and was even happening before COVID. People want X5 or bigger SUVs now - and will be interesting to see how Jaguars SUVs sell! Loved seeing the Spectrum in the background.
All saloons are suffering from what I can see, with crossovers & SUVs ruling the roost. Even city cars are on the wane.
The S-Type of 1999 - 2007 was a case of Marmite - love or hate. Fortunately for me I loved it, particularly the the Ian Callum updated model (the coupe was never produced but was a beauty). I was at the '98 Motor Show and later got a Rover 75 2ltr Connie, then a 3ltr Mk1 S-Type and last an S-Type Mk2 4.2 V8 Sport that I adored.
i actually like the styling of the s type .
The design has aged well
My wife and I loved our 2000 S-Type V8. 7 years of fully reliable pleasure. Handled well, turbine smooth and good looking.
In the end the transmission couldn't be rebuilt as the alloy valve body recesses expanded from wear. Now it's an easy fix to press in brass bushings.
Hey Big Car, you are one of my favorite channels on RUclips. I was wondering if you could do a future video on the Jaguar XJS? The XJS seems like an interesting story because it went from being a controversial replacement for the beloved E Type to becoming a long running appreciated classic.
Maybe. I've been wanting to do more Jag videos, but there's so many fascinating subjects out there.