Performance
A contemporary road test by Autosport magazine was typical in describing the 'on paper' performance of the 3.8 S-Type as slower than the 3.8-litre Mark 2 but its actual cross country performance as faster. Despite its extra weight, the S-Type’s independent rear suspension allowed it to corner faster than the Mark 2, especially on uneven surfaces. Other benefits ascribed to the rear suspension were better traction and a much smoother ride for rear seat passengers. Some enthusiasts rued the loss of the Mark 2’s “driftability” and noted that the S-Type suffered more body roll during high speed cornering but the consensus was that the S-Type provided significant improvements over the Mark 2 in roadholding, safety and ride comfort.
Ref. concluded its test report on a 3.8S with these words, "It can be a convenient family car, a businessman's express, a sports coupe, and a grand tourer. The latter two classifications come particularly clear to anyone who spends much time with the car in the wet, when the surefootedness of its all independent suspension and the Dunlop RS-5 tires makes its responsive handling an absolute revelation. The S-Type represents a great step forward for what has always been a fine automobile." The RS-5 cross-ply tyres were soon to be replaced by much better Dunlop SP41 radials, further enhancing the car's handling and grip.
Recorded performance figures obviously differed between testers and gearbox options but for the purposes of comparison, the following contemporary data are typical:
3.4 Mark 2 automatic
0–60 mph 10.0 sec
Max speed 118 mph (190 km/h)
3.4S manual/overdrive
0–60 mph 13.9 sec
Max speed 115 mph (185 km/h)
3.8S manual/overdrive
0–60 10.3 sec
Max speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
3.8S automatic
0–60 mph 11.5 sec
Max speed 116 mph (187 km/h)
Read more about this topic: Jaguar S-Type (1963)
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