2000 Jaguar S-Type 4.0 Engine, Handling, & Review Summary

Conversely, there was little to complain about in terms of driving dynamics. The new DOHC all-aluminum V-8 felt smooth, sophisticated, and powerful. Its 7.0-sec 0-60 time was appropriate for its competitive set, and the aggressive burble from its dual exhaust system sounded both lusty and upscale. We were less pleased with the five-speed automatic transmission and J-gate shifter, with its mushy detents and non-linear gates between gears. Not one of our behinds could tell the difference between the tranny's standard or Sport shift mode, and part-throttle shifts felt mushy. Overall, it worked well enough, but pales in comparison to Mercedes' TouchShift and BMW's outstanding Steptronic from a standpoint of sophistication.

Jaguars have always had a reputation for a luxurious sport ride/handling balance, and the S-Type is no exception. It's not as edgy as its German counterparts, nor is it intended to be. Most every staffer enjoyed driving it hard (when he felt like it) or just being coddled during a quiet commute home (when he didn't). The brakes served well and without complaint. We'd ask for a touch more steering feel, and the tires got noisy as they aged, although that's not unusual for soft-compound, high-stick rubber.

Some potential buyers are still concerned about Jaguar's reputation for quality and reliability problems. This test car wasn't perfect in that regard, though it didn't guzzle oil, fry its electronics, or refuse to start, as would Jags from decades ago. An annoying buzz from the stereo speakers turned out to be a faulty amplifier, which was replaced under warranty. There was a rattle in the dash, fixed by the addition of some foam behind the dash vents. A clunk in the front suspension went away with the tightening of the control-arm bolts, and near the end of the test period, the turn-signal control became balky. The leather on one spoke of the steering wheel pulled away from where it met up with the wood, but otherwise, the materials generally wore well. All the car needed was basic service and oil changes.

Our 2000 model S-Type proved to be a "To-Do-List" car. Jaguar must have been reading over our shoulder, however, as it has handily addressed our suggestions -- and many more -- with the substantively revised, expanded, and upgraded '03 S-Type lineup. It wasn't our List that did it; it's just that an all-new E-Class shows up this fall, with a fresh 5 Series coming about a year later. So the competition in this market segment will only get tougher.

We enjoyed this car, but given all the new stuff that shows up on the remodeled S-Type (not to mention the 400-hp S-Type R), we in some ways wish we could do this One-Year Test over again. But we already have a new Jag in the fleet, in the form of an X-Type 3.0 Sport five-speed.

Maybe next year?