Rare Fun Stick: 2003 Jaguar S-Type
The Jaguar S-Type is an executive class cruiser that was built from 2000 through 2008 on a platform shared with the Lincoln LS. If you see an S-Type in Europe, there is a good chance that it has a small V6 and a 5-speed manual gearbox, but on this side of the pond most were equipped with Ford semi-automatic slushbox. A few lucky buyers walked away with a manual gearbox S-Type and you can pick them up for pennies today. Find this 2003 Jaguar S-Type offered for $4,995 in Santa Barbara, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean.
The Ford DEW platform was used for the 2000-2008 S-Type, 2000-2006 Lincoln LS and 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird — and to some extent, it continued to be used by Jaguar’s new parent Tata Motors under the Jaguar XF from 2008-2015. It isn’t a bad platform at all and combines a longitudinal front engine with an independent rear end in a package that is very similar in approach to BMW’s 5-series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Under the hood is a 3.0 liter AJ30 DOHC V6 that is rated at 235 horsepower and 216 ft-lbs of torque — but don’t let the Jaguar designation fool you, this is just a version of Ford’s Duratec V6. However it does have variable valve timing in its 4-valve aluminum head, forged powder metal con rods, and a one-piece cast camshaft to make it special for the Jag.
See another manual shifted executive class cruiser for cheap? tips@dailyturismo.com
An engine photo would have been nice.
cheers….JeffH
Wow. Quite the unicorn. I didn't even realize they ever sold the manual S-type in the US.
And it's an '03, so it has the nice interior, instead of the Giant Gray Vulva dash of the '00-02 cars.
I took over a lease of a 2002 S-Type V8 w/ auto for a family member in 2003. What I remember the most is:
1. Decent power and handling
2. Rear seats with legroom of a coupe
3. Think A-pillars blocking vision in the front
4. Gun-turret window in the back forced me to take full use of those rear proximity sensors
5. HVAC controls directly from a Ford parts bin
6. Had various dash rattles addressed by the dealer gluing foam
2. Yeah, Jag went for the snug interior, the similarly-platformed Lincoln LS had a bunch more room.
3. and 4. Nothing remotely so bad as what's come since.
5. and 6. Yeah, the '00-02 were cheesy inside.
Now if you could get a S type R with a manual, so rad.
The supercharger noise on those cars is great.
Well, at least the 6HP26 automatic is a pretty good box, but to put a good limited-slip in it (or any '03-up LS or S-type) you have to backdate the diff case to an '00-02 model and use a Ford 8.8 Truetrac.
Cool information. I don't understand why this would have a manual box and not in the xk8?
Probably due to the fact that FoMoCo never developed a manual for the AJ v8. And they wouldn't have wanted to put the Duratec v6 in the XK8 and devalue that model. Besides, the take rate for such a car would likely have been vanishingly small.
Still would've been cool though.
I think the XK got the V6 in Jolly Olde but not sure.
They really wouldn't have had to DEVELOP a manual for the V8, it would have taken one phone call to Getrag followed by an email with the bellhousing bolt pattern, et voila.
Did Ford make the LS w/ a stick?
Yes! Although I believe it was only for the V6 as well.
I know nothing about them, but this Jag looks like a great car. So many things I look for in a daily car: Manual, good exterior color, dark leather, uncommon model, and heavy depreciation.
Hate to say it, but this thing looks very Ford Taurus-esque if you ignore the grille. It's especially so in that rear 3/4 view photo. I like Jags, but these have never done much for me.
I really don't get that at all.
Okay, the S-type and the third-gen Taurus were both kind of rounded.
But…otherwise there was nothing similar.
The first thing I always look at in any car is the position of the wheels.
The S-type had classic RWD proportions, the front wheels were well forward, while the third-gen Taurus had vast amounts of front-end overhang.