2001 Jaguar S-Type

We’ve got a real treat here for you here because ‘X322 BFT’, a 2001 Jaguar S-Type finished in Seafrost Metallic with a Cashmere leather interior, is being offered with no reserve and a ridiculously low guide price.

And it’s got a huge amount going for it apart from the price. Things like a 12-month, advisory free MoT. And the fact our chap came back from the test drive grinning – and trust us when we say it takes a lot to make him grin on a Monday.

It’s got decent bodywork too, is free of rattles and clunks, has had only two previous owners, shows just 73,000 miles on the odometer, comes with a decent service history, and has had £2,000 spent on its suspension less than 2,000 miles ago.

Taken in part-exchange by our local garage, folk we know well and have come to trust over the years, this is your opportunity to get your hands on one of the most underrated cars in the Jaguar lineage for not much more than pocket money.

We think the S-Type’s lines have aged well, giving the Big Cat an elegance many of us didn’t appreciate when it was new.

Of course, it helps when it’s survived the years as gracefully as this one has; sure, it’s had a little work here and there, but the Seafrost Metallic paintwork (colour code MDV) looks great, and the overall effect is still of a premium car.

And it bears even close inspection because the panels still fit well, and the shutlines are very nice indeed. The lamp lenses are also bright and free of damage, the window glazing is excellent, both numberplates are from Guy Salmon, and the chromed honeycomb radiator grille is shiny and straight.

Sure, the 16-inch alloy wheels all have minor kerbing damage but none of it is bad – and if it does bother you then having them refurbished would be straightforward.

They’re fitted with Cooper Zeon tyres on the front and Pirelli P6000 on the rear, and as you can see from the closeup photos, all still have good tread.

A sunroof offers light and air when the weather obliges – and it obliges by sliding fore and aft as it should. It also seals tightly within its aperture when it is closed.

As for flaws, we’ve noticed the following: scuff marks and damage to the nearside rear door; heavy marks to the lower front bumper; a scuff on both sides of the rear bumper plus some touch ups; a small touch up on the bonnet; paint bubbling on the inner rear wheel arches; and damage to the plastic case of the offside door mirror.

There is also evidence of the Jaguar having had some paintwork in the past as some of the panels are a slightly different shade to the others.

Finally, the rear door handles stay stuck out when you pull them and must be reset before closing. 

The Cashmere leather interior is complemented by light wood veneer, which we think might be elm?

Regardless of the actual species, it’s much lighter than the darker tones we’re used to seeing on old Jags and the shade helps make the cabin feel bright and airy. The veneer also extends past the dashboard and onto the leather-trimmed door cards and steering wheel.

The gearknob is a fine chunk of wood too, and more veneer is used on the trim panel around the gearlever. All the veneer is in a good condition.

The front seats, which are electrically adjustable and have a three-position memory, are in a good condition with only light creasing and a few fine cracks to their surface.

The rear seats are in an even better condition and, unusually for a saloon, they fold forward giving you huge luggage space.

The headlining is clean and taut too, and the carpets are very good with barely any visible wear. (The overmats that have protected them are shabby and stained, but they’ve done their bit and could be retired with honour.)

Other signs of careful curation include the continued presence of the factory headunit and the fact that the lettering on the controls and instruments is still bright white.

Goodies include an electrically heated windscreen, electric door mirrors and windows, central locking, cruise control, automatic lights, and remote releases for the boot and fuel filler cap.

We’ve prodded and pressed pretty much all the buttons we can find, and everything seems to work as it should. The air-conditioning blows nice and cold too, which is always reassuring.

The boot is a good size, and lifting the (very good carpets) reveals a full-size spare wheel along with the tool kit and what looks like a fairly recent battery.

As for flaws, there is the usual wear you’d expect to find on a car that’s coming up its quarter century plus a little general discolouration to the leather.

The Jaguar’s service history booklet and the invoices on file reveal the following routine maintenance:

• 01.05.2002 and 7,867 miles – service by Dutton Forshaw
• 24.06.2003 and 17,592 miles – service by Dutton Forshaw
• 24.03.2004 and 23,765 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 22.03.2005 and 29,866 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 25.03.2008 and 42,688 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 03.04.2009 and 44,946 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 12.04.2010 and 47,443 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 31.03.2011 and 50,836 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 22.03.2012 and 54,671 miles – service by Guy Salmon
• 14.03.2013 and 58,627 miles – service by Martin Gilbert
• 09.03.2016 and 63,891 miles – service by Martin Gilbert
• 10.03.2020 and 70,908 miles – service by Tune Rite Auto Services including front brake pads

April 2022 and 71,746 miles saw it receive nigh-on £2,000 of suspension work by Auto-Check Oxford. The invoice on file details the work but this investment contributes in no small way to our assessor’s report that it “drives really well.” The seller, our trusted local garage, adds that it is free of clunks and knocks too, and is a “nice quiet drive.”

As the video demonstrates, the three-litre V6 fires up readily, idles nicely, revs beautifully, and does it all with a lovely exhaust note. It is due a service though, so you might want to factor that into your bidding strategy.

Cosmetically, the engine bay shows the usual rusty fasteners and brackets but nothing worse; you could tidy it up if detailing is your thing but we imagine most folk would be very happy to leave it as it is.

As for the underside, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion to the floor or bodywork, which is probably your main concern. There is some surface rust there but a session with a wire brush and some rust killer would see that off, and a decent coat of something like Lanoguard would keep it away.

(The online MoT history does mention a rusty rear subframe. This was an advisory in 2009, 2011, and 2012 (not 2010) before it disappeared, which suggests it was either dealt with or it wasn’t the issue the tester thought it was.)

Oh, and the exhaust system looks to be a genuine Jaguar jobbie, which is another point in its favour.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2026, and it was issued, like the one before, with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two keys and key fobs, the Jaguar wallet and book pack, a well-stamped service history booklet, and a bunch of invoices for the work that’s been carried out on it over the years.

With a guide price of between £3,000 and £5,000 the Jaguar S-Type offers stunning value for money – and when you learn it’s being offered with no reserve, the deal gets even sweeter.

Yes, you could tidy it up as and when money and motivation align, but in the meantime you’d have a solid car that drives well and boasts a 12-month, advisory-free MoT.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.