1992 Jaguar XJR-S

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Thanks Bomma - it's always reassuring to see evidence that people are actually reading what I post and it isn't simply a personal vanity project!

The car is actually going really well. Everything works, bar the cruise control, and it's a car that's easy, comfortable and rewarding to drive.

So far, so very good!

[craigjm]

cruise control will probably just be a split bellows. Very common fault on the Jag cruise of the 80s

[dbdb]

The seats look very inviting. They're trimmed in Connolly Autolux leather - a lovely, soft unembossed leather. It was quite an expensive extra on lesser Jaguars like mine. They made do with the standard Connolly leather!

Edited by dbdb on Monday 8th August 12:15

[alec.e]

Looking very nice CdeG! Only a month away for Gaydon.
The seats are looking great!

Edited by alec.e on Monday 8th August 12:49

[bob-lad]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

The car has been running really nicely and now has another thousand or so miles on it.

I'd been bothered by the non-working radio, and that has now been addressed and fixed. The radio, cassette tape (I know, excitingly retro!), electric aerial and in-boot multi-CD changer all work perfectly. Even the little but important things, like the aerial retracting if you open the boot whilst the engine is running so as not to foul the antenna with the spoiler, all work. The in-car sound is pretty good too. My local garagiste fixed the wiring issue which was at the heart of the thing not-working, and commented that it's a nice system (Alpine).

[snip]
All in all, the car is running nicely and is an absolute pleasure to drive. I'm averaging a little under 17 mpg though which, even considering the addictive acceleration, seems-less-than-austerity, especially on Esso premium or whatever it's called.

Does it make a difference if you run these things on 'normal' premium fuel?

Glad to hear the stereo is finally working. Pun intended.

As for fuel, apparently they should be run on Super Unleaded.

http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/Octane.html

I found this after I'd just filled up with a tank of Regular Clearly, I'll have to spend the weekend removing it from the tank so I can fit some of the decent stuff in there

I like the details on how to give these the Italian Tune-up.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I'm not so sure about the need for Super Premium actually, although reading that American article I suppose it might be an issue for earlier engines. As a matter of fact though, I've just filled with Regular for the first time to see what, if any, difference there is. I'll report back.

[bob-lad]

Mine feels like it's hesitating under load now.
Can't hear anything other than wind noise, but wonder whether that's what pinking feels like on a V12.

I might just keep topping up with Super until I've done enough miles to flush the system will make a difference.

[craigjm]

You don't need to run it on premium. The handbook you are quoting is a 1980s US handbook and in those days US premium was 95RON which is the same as our standard unleaded. Standard fuel in the US at the time ranged from
89/93.

[anonymous-user]

At the risk of making CharlesdeGaulle very sad at selling it, I've started a new thread on the car here

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

For completeness, I should add that following the car's regretful sale, I will be replacing it with a purchase today, and will update this thread and start a new one on the latest purchase.

Thanks for reading and for the kind and useful comments.

[craigjm]

Interested to see what you replace it with CDG

[SebringMan]

After reading the entire thread I too am sorry to see that you sold it!

It has to be one of the cars I have loved right the way from when I saw the odd XJR-S amongst other Jags (and I mean literally the odd one!), and that was with me being at a school with one of Jaguar's designer's sons as well! So I ended up getting another car I have fancied. Maybe not to the same level but more practical. That said, I wonder even with the fuel, whether the XJR-S would have been cheaper to run!

It looks like you had great fun with it however! If you don't me asking (you can PM me if you wish) what did the car go for? I was looking at XJSs before but it seems good cars are now firmly in the 5 figure territories.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Thanks for the comments.

SebringMan - the price variation on these is wide. I thought I got a good deal when I bought this, and think I sold it at a fair price but not the maximum one (if that makes sense).

Unless you're going for something rare, such as a 12 cyl late convertible, 4 figs will still get you something really nice. How long that situation lasts remains to be seen, but I think prices are only going one way. They are wonderful cars and I'd unreservedly recommend them based on my experience, but buy cautiously; a bad one will drain your will to live.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

craigjm said:

Interested to see what you replace it with CDG

This is the replacement. A 1988 Mercedes 560 SEC.



Thread to follow in due course.

[craigjm]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

craigjm said:

Interested to see what you replace it with CDG

This is the replacement. A 1988 Mercedes 560 SEC.



Thread to follow in due course.

That looks so much like my old one! F436 something. Silver with brown leather

[CharlesdeGaulle]

To close this off, I started a thread on the SEC here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks again for all the kind and helpful comments.