IF you want a car that makes you feel like a celebrity every time you get in but won’t break the bank, take a look at the Jaguar S-type.
It’s a marvellous car to drive if you can live with the low economy of the petrol models and the high insurance premiums.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every model over the years and the best for performance and economy is the V6 diesel.
They all have the same special feel and will give very good to superb performance, along with a wonderfully cosseting ride and excellent road-holding.
The lovely retro feel is matched by some clever design flair and those classic looks will never date.
There are 2.5 and 3.0-litre V6 engines with 201 or 240bhp, 4.0 and 4.2-litre V8s with 280, 300 or 400bhp and a 2.7 V6 turbo diesel with 206bhp.
All apart from the 2.5 have a five or six-speed automatic gearbox and are the better for it. Don’t buy without full service history - but do buy.
Interior
They come with all mod cons together with quite a few you never thought of. Jag’s sat nav is one of the very best but it was not standard.
Marvellous leather and wood is the perfect ambience for any great car and no-one does it better than Jaguar.
FAST FACTS
Jaguar S-Type
Price: Pay around £6,000 for an ‘04 04-reg S, £12,400 for an ’07 07-reg SE
Mechanical: 206bhp, 2,720cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 143mph
0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
Combined mpg: 36
Insurance group: 37
CO2 emissions: 179g/km
Marks: 9/10
Main rival: BMW 5-Series