2005 Jaguar S-Type Review Burton MI

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Introduction

Jaguar S-Type -- Review: Ah, to be young, rich and beautiful on a limpid summer day in Southern California. Or to pretend to be at least one of the three, courtesy of a job that allows you to drive expensive cars that you could otherwise never afford.

Click here to find out more! We were feeling quite pleased with ourselves while driving a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 around Los Angeles, having been the recipients of the obvious perks that come with driving a luxury vehicle, such as prominent front-and-center placement in the valet parking line of the Cheesecake Factory. Or knowing that passersby subtly check out the car, then glance inside to see if the driver's aesthetic endowment matches the vehicle she's piloting. (Quick tip - large sunglasses and a hat help keep the reverie alive.)

The 2005 S-Type, like most other Jaguars, is indeed a beautiful car, even six years into its product cycle. At its introduction for the 2000 model year, critics reached a nearly universal consensus about its distinctive exterior styling, which managed to be both modern and classically retro at the same time. Back then, the Jaguar S-Type stood out as the belle of the excellent, but sometimes staid, group of European and Japanese cars that comprise the midsize luxury sedan coterie. Though some reviewers gave it a good drubbing for sharing too many bits and pieces with its corporate cousin, the downmarket Lincoln LS, its unique flavor helped double Jaguar's worldwide sales during its first year on the market.

What's New

Fast-forward five years. To keep finicky consumers intrigued by the S-Type, Jaguar gives its aging sedan a minor facelift and a new option package chock-full of the traditional luxuries that have come to symbolize the brand.

A new aluminum hood and slightly modified front styling add definition while retaining the S-Type's distinctive appearance. In back, the tail end of the 2005 Jaguar S-Type sports more obvious modifications that include new rear lights, tweaks to the bumper, and a revised trunk lid that provides added cargo capacity. Overall, the updates are not so dramatic as to alter the character of the Jaguar, and we still find it to be pleasing to the eye.

But to what degree can mere good looks sustain a career as a luxury sedan? We test-drove the refreshed 2005 Jaguar S-Type to see if its beauty is only skin deep, or if there is substance behind its fair face.

Continue to 2005 Jaguar S-Type Review Review from MyRide.com

Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
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Bend, OK
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The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.