2008 Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Petrol

With Midnight Black Metallic coachwork and a Barley leather interior fitted out to Sovereign specification, we think ‘LE08 KLU’ is one of the nicest S-Types we’ve ever seen.

How so? Well, it’s been imported from Japan for a start – and y’all know how we feel about Japanese curation by now. It’s also only got 53,000 miles on the clock, has had just two previous owners, and is in pretty much rust-free condition.

Fresh from a major service and wearing four new matching tyres, its three-litre petrol engine and automatic gearbox delivers sparkling performance and decent fuel economy while still being ULEZ/CAZ compliant.

It’s also one from the last year of production, so Jaguar had ironed out any early teething problems. So, if you’re in the market for a luxurious Big Cat then read on because we don’t think you’ll be able to find a nicer one for the money.

No other colour highlights imperfections as ruthlessly as black, so when a car looks as clean and straight as this you know it’s because the underlying panels are straight and true because no amount of detailing and polishing will ever be enough to hide defects, no matter how small.

Not that they’ve stinted on the valeting because this one really does gleam. Of course, the (very good and extensive) chrome trim helps but quality will always out, and this one is right up there with the very best we’ve seen after a professional machine polish to bring out its full glory.

Other nice details include a boot spoiler and Powerfold mirrors. 

The 18-inch alloy wheels are in an excellent condition and have been fitted with a matching set of ZR-rated Powertrac Racing Pro tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

There are a few flaws but only a couple. There’s a chip in the offside front wing just underneath the windscreen and another in the windscreen.

The electrically operated and heated front seats are in a lovely condition. The driver’s seat is very gently rumpled, but the rest are virtually unmarked and all, both front and rear, have retained their shape and are as comfortable and supportive as they’ve ever been.

The full Barley leather extends to the steering wheel, door cards, and dashboard and there’s lashing of (very good) wood too, which is only to be expected. 

The carpets and overmats are all excellent, including those in the boot.

Toys include electrically powered steering wheel adjustment, a split-fold rear seat, automatic climate control, cruise control, a switchable gearbox, and a touchscreen satellite navigation system.

Oh, and there’s a factory Minidisc headunit in the dashboard for the full retro experience! (There’s also a CD multichanger in the boot so you can actually listen to something.)

Because the seller does things properly it has a UK-spec speedometer and sat-nav/radio system plus a brand-new headlining. 

The boot contains the factory fit warning triangle, tool kit, jack and space-saver spare wheel.

As for faults, there’s a small amount of wear on the lower outer section of the driver’s backrest. That’s it.

The seller has been importing Jaguars from Japan for a while now, so knows his stuff. He reports that this one “runs and drives as good as new. I drove the 80 miles to Oxford and have no faults to report. The steering brakes, suspension and transmission are all A1, and the car just had a major service that included new front and rear brake discs and pads, suspension bushes, coil packs, spark plugs plus the usual air, oil, and pollen filter and fresh oil. It runs and drives to perfection and its performance is near silent.”

Our short test drive didn’t reveal any reason to question this, and the video demonstrates the three-litre, 243bhp V6 engine starts on the button and idles and revs as it should. It’s got almost half a tank of fuel too, which isn’t to be sniffed at these days.

Just like everything else, the engine bay is very clean and beautifully presented.

One of the best reasons for buying a car from Japan is that they don’t use salt on their roads in winter, and while we take the associated rust and corrosion on UK cars for granted, this one shows you how well vehicles can last when they aren’t doused in the stuff every year. 

The S Type’s MoT certificate, which is valid until September 2024, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the S-Type comes with the V5 registration document and paperwork from the DVLA that confirms its registration and SORN status.

If you’re in the market for one of Jaguar’s most underrated cars we can’t see a single reason not to bid on this one. Carefully sourced from Japan, few S-Types will have been pampered and curated to this extent.

Despite its many virtues and recent expenditure to get it just so, we estimate it’ll only fetch somewhere between £8,000 and £10,000 – and because the seller has faith in it, he’s offering it with no reserve.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.