Beginning in the mid 1990s, the sports sedan really started to take off in popularity, especially at the European car shows. Virtually every European automaker that produced luxury cars had one on its offering list by the late 1990s, with models like the BMW M5, the Audi S6, and the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG being offered. Every brand was trying to out-gun one another at the same time, and each had its own, unique way of trying to do so.Come the early 2000s, the sports sedan segment had expanded even further into smaller models. Take the Jaguar S-Type R, for example. It was introduced as a supercharged mid-sized luxury car bred to compete with the likes of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. It was to serve underneath Jag's flagship sports sedan, the XJR, and offered the same exact engine seen in the big boy. However, the S-Type R had a large, and unfortunate, achilles heel: its looks. Here's What It Offers JaguarJaguar made sure not to skimp on the luxuries inside the S-Type R's cabin. For starters, both front seats sport 16-way power adjustment, along with heating. A driver's memory function is hooked into the seat that also controls the side mirrors and steering wheel position. Its dashboard is trimmed with gray birds-eye maple wood, and a unique metal gear selector knob with leather trim. Dual-zone climate control is featured in the front row, with HVAC vents in place for rear seat passengers.Jaguar A 320-watt, 10-speaker sound system comes as standard fare. A seven-inch navigation screen was seen as optional kit throughout the S-Type R's model run. In addition, adaptive cruise control was also offered as an option, along with front and rear parking sensors while a power-sliding moonroof was also available. A luxury package, consisting of two-tone leather seats, burl walnut veneers, and a power rear sunshade was offered between the 2004 and 2008 model years. Current Pricing JaguarShould you be reading this article and thinking, "Man, one of these S-Type Rs would look pretty good in my garage", you're in luck. That's because they're not all that expensive, and it's also not too hard to find decent examples. According to Kelley Blue Book, the latest 2008 model-year S-Type R carries an average used price of around $6,025. Of course, being an older, specialty luxury car, prices can vary widely depending on condition, mileage, and even geographical location.For a better idea of how much an S-Type R actually costs, here are a couple of examples for sale right now: A 2003 model in Colorado for sale at $8,500 with 84,000 miles A 2003 model in Massachusetts for sale at $10,500 with 63,500 miles Is It Worth It? JaguarThe best reason to buy one of these over something like the E55 AMG or the M5 is its cheap-to-maintain nature. There aren't many luxury cars – save for some Lexus and Acura models – that sport below-average yearly repair costs. The Jag, surprisingly, managed to achieve this feat, despite the rest of the brand's average yearly maintenance cost being north of $1,100. The S-Type R is also experiencing a surge in popularity these days, no doubt partially owing to its ugly ducking looks.In the end, we think a used S-Type R is a good buy. Jag's Retro-Futuristic Fever Dream JaguarThe initial idea for the S-Type was somewhere within Jaguar's collective consciousness since the late 1980s. At the time, the British brand was looking for a mid-size model to complement the full-size XJ. However, the preliminary plans for the new models were canned once Ford bought a controlling stake in Jag in 1989.Come 1995, interest in a smaller XJ companion was renewed, and a concept was drawn up by Geoff Lawson, Jaguar's director of design, that same year.Jaguar By the end of 1998, the now-coined Jaguar S-Type was ready to be shown to the public. It debuted at the Birmingham International Motor Show in Birmingham, England, in October 1998, and went on sale shortly after.Its styling – consisting of an elliptical grille reminiscent of the original Jaguar S-Types of the 1960s, paired with a bulbous roofline and modern, quad headlights – was heavily criticized upon its release, with some lamenting it was "the ugliest Jaguar of all time". However, there were also those who loved the old-school look, commenting that it was a well-penned homage to the Jaguars of yesteryear.Just a few years after its controversial release, Jaguar decided to up the S-Type's ante a bit. Sensing a vacuum in the mid-size luxury sedan market, Jag engineers decided to shoehorn a 400-horsepower, supercharged V8 out of the Jaguar XJR into the S-Type's engine bay. In addition, some other performance-enhancing upgrades were installed, turning the S-Type into a proper sports sedan. The new model debuted in 2003, and carried the model name "S-Type R". What Goes On Under The Hood JaguarProviding the S-Type R with its 400 hp is a supercharged version of Jaguar's AJ V8. The AJ engine was introduced to replace both the iconic Jaguar straight-six engine and the Jag V12. The S-Type R's mill itself carries the internal node name of AJ133S, with the "S" standing for supercharged. It employs the use of things like a two-stage variable valve timing system meant to help maximize efficiency and power, along with a pair of water-to-air intercoolers feeding a 1.9-liter Eaton TVS1900 supercharger.In order to help the supercharged iteration of the AJ133 V8 be as reliable — as well as powerful — as possible, Jaguar's engineers reduced its compression ratio from 11.5:1 to 9.5:1 in the supercharged version by using special, flat-topped pistons. It also lost its camshaft-switching capabilities, as the system controlling it was likely unable to keep up with the instantaneous demand thrust upon the engine whenever the AJ133S' supercharger spooled up under load.Jaguar As for the rest of the S-Type R's mechanical make-up, Jaguar offered a single six-speed automatic transmission, courtesy of German gearbox manufacturer ZF. It employed rear-wheel drive as standard, too. Its suspension was tuned and sharpened over the standard S-Type, with things like stiffer springs and shock absorbers, and it also takes advantage of Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) active dampening system. It's also lower than the standard S-Type, and thicker sway bars are seen, as well.When it comes to how it stacks up to some of its competitors, the prognosis is good. Let's compare some of the S-Type R's specs above with those of the E39 BMW M5 and the W211 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG... Reliability Facebook MarketplaceAs with any mid-2000s European luxury car, the S-Type R doesn't exactly shine when it comes to reliability. However, it's not as bad as you might think. According to RepairPal.com, the S-Type as a whole boasts an average annual maintenance cost of roughly $675 per year.This is lower than RepairPal.com's reported average annual maintenance cost of $739 per year for all mid-size luxury sedans. The Jag's reliability is mainly due to its AJ V8, which is regarded as above-average when it comes to durability. Not to mention the fact that its six-speed ZF transmission and drivetrain components are also well-known for being near-bulletproof.