2001 Jaguar S-Type V8 SE review from Australia and New Zealand

Immobilizer has failed 3 times. Have been stranded with the car refusing to start. Needed to be towed to Jaguar (luckily still under warranty!)

Remote Central Locking failed, not letting me into the car. NRMA came out to help, but could not get the alarm to switch off after he "broke" in.

Car alarm will go off if I close the boot too harshly at times, but never at the dealer.

Electric seat motor which drives the seat back when you remove the key broke down in the back position meaning I had to drive around for a week with a pillow behind me to reach the steering wheel and pedals! $5000 to replace (ouch!)

High mounted rear brake light has come off mounting and lies on rear parcel shelf.

Many of the storage compartments around the car no longer open.

Automatic headlight sensor failed, haven't bothered to fix out of warranty.

I like driving this car. The 4.0 litre V8 gives excellent forward propulsion, and for a large and heavy car it corners quite well. An excellent cruising vehicle.

Fuel economy is terrible. In the city I am sometimes lucky to get 18 l / 100km however on the freeway up to Newcastle I can get close to 10 l / 100 km which is fine.

The paint is wearing quite badly despite the fact it is garaged undercover both at home and at work. It is the lovely metallic dark green with a purple hue in the sunlight (one of my favourite features).

The interior is wearing badly as well. I have the cream leather which really shows the dirt, and the drivers seat was looking really bad until I had to replace the unit thanks to the electric seat motor dying. The back of the seats is plastic which I think looks really cheap. I think the dash is very low quality plastic as well, especially compared to the Audi I had previously and my wife's Subaru Liberty.

Servicing and maintenance costs are scary as well. I thought Audi dealers were expensive, but the last service (70k) was over $7000! That included the seat, but I almost fainted when they gave me the bill! I could buy a 1986 Jaguar XJ6 Series III for that! And it would probably be more reliable...