First car: an XJ6 manual

First car: an XJ6 manual

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YoungRestorer

Original Poster:

206 posts

150 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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So...

I finally bought myself a car! I initially wanted something that had character, class and was a classic. I started on an XJS, as I don't think there is a car for less than £10k which is more beautiful or offers more of the performance I was after. The main killer was that, for my budget, I could only really afford a V12 auto: I appreciate that this is considered by many to be "the" XJS to get, but I really wanted a manual gearbox, and the fuel bills of the V12 auto scared me.

As a 19 year old, the highest cost is insurance. I therefore had to travel the less trodden path. I opted for the Jaguar XJ6 X300, and found the insurance to be very reasonable. I did some homework (probably nowhere near enough!) and, as the manuals are so rare, I settled on getting an auto.

I went to go and see a pristine one, which was very enjoyable and I was ready to return and buy it, but the guy emailed me later to say that he didn't want to sell it. It was very disappointing, as the car was truly immaculate and I had fallen in love with it.
Then, I spied a manual XJ6 near me for sale... one thing lead to another, and I eventually bought it.

She is a 1997 Jaguar XJ6 3.2 Sport with a rare manual transmission in Carnival Red with an Oatmeal Leather interior. She is, to be fair to her, a shabby lady. I know that she is a bit battered, both inside and out, and that it costs me a fortune every hour I spend with her, but I just love being inside her, and using her... as a result, I have named her Roxy. The drivers bolster is shagged, the radio has lost its code (help with unlocking this would be gratefully received), she has lacquer peeling on the boot, bubbling around the fuel tank and a slightly sagging headlining (again, please help!)... cosmetically, she is far from perfect. Mechanically, she appears to be alright. Only time will tell how sound she actually is, but the coolant warning light popped up just as I got her home rolleyes

In comparison to the VW Polo I have been driving up until now, she starts slowly, but pulls like a train as you pop her into her preferred RPM band of 3.5-4k. Alternatively, she is perfectly capable of just effortlessly wafting around in whatever gear I choose... I can honestly say that I am in love. I love that I can select whatever gear I like, I love the versatility that she offers me, I love that I can't see anything at any given junction due to the ludicrously long bonnet, and I love that I can't yet park her as she is too long for any parking space... most importantly though, I love that she takes up the entire width of the road, without being so wide as to be cumbersome.

On thing that is a little upsetting is the noise. She whirrs, and the transmission is more noisy that the engine unless you really push her beyond her comfortable limits. Also, quick gear changes at speed are a challenge: I have only tried one, and I was very close to submitting a whiplash claim! I am unsure as to whether my injury was caused by a clumsy gearshift, or if the box is not engineered to do quick gear changes, but I am sure with practise I will perfect it...

In short she is unbelievable. I am driving to Scotland on Saturday, and hopefully she will make it the entire way. If not, the AA can always step in laugh most important, urgent jobs at the moment are to sort out the coolant level, fix the radio and relacquer the boot lid... after that, a new seat and headlinging are in order, and then a good, proper clean.

Any questions or help, fire away!

EDIT: Photos added, apologies for the appalling quality









Edited by YoungRestorer on Thursday 31st July 20:59


Edited by YoungRestorer on Thursday 31st July 21:00

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Carnival red with oatmeal is by far the best colour combo for these cars - get some pics up!

Jimmy No Hands

5,007 posts

155 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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I've just recently got rid of a red X300, also with the oatmeal. 17 stamps in the book, 77,000 miles, it really was a lovely thing. With the right maintenance the engines go on forever, though they can go few suspension bushes and other consumables like pads fairly fast. I never got better than 20 mpg either, but that wasn't really the point of it. For sheer comfort it made modern executive saloons look practically agricultural. Good choice.

wolfy1988

1,426 posts

162 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Hi

I enjoyed reading that but this thread is seriously lacking in photos!

biggrin

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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I loved my 4.0 Sovereign XJ6. Think of the engine as a diesel without the horrible racket in terms of where it likes to do it's work and you won't go far wrong. Genuinely interested to know your average economy in a 3.2 manual. My 4.0 auto had a lifetime average of 20mpg in my hands and never managed more than about 24mpg. Calculated figures not from the on board computer.

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Nice choice and so much cooler than the usual stuff. Never knew these had a manual option.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Carnival Red and Oatmeal is the right choice biggrin



Those are my last and current V8 and my previous X300 was the same combo too.

Right, coolant warning light is possibly a weak connection between the level sensor and wiring plug. With the engine stone cold take the filler cap off the header tank. If it's more than half full then feel down the front of the tank, locate the connection to the level sensor and unplug and reconnect it to clean the contacts on the sensor.

Transmission noise is a bit of a worry. The Getrag 265 'box in the 3.2 manual is bit crude but shouldn't make a noise. Check the oil levels in the gearbox and 'diff as soon as you can. Clean oil might help and you can go to a EP 125 or 250 in the 'diff to quieten it down a bit but if it's the gearbox then you may have a problem looming. Don't try the same in the box - you'll never be able to change gear.

Sagging head linings are a common XJ problem. You can either patch up the one you have with glue and pins or replace it.

Try Eurojag for a new radio and maybe a seat too. Other option is to buy a dye kit and recolour it.

If it's a keeper change all the fluids and get busy with some Waxoil.

LewG

1,357 posts

145 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Top work mate! Doesn't look too bad at all, I hope you get the niggles sorted and she doesn't try to burn a hole in your wallet too soon biggrin

Enjoy!

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Fantastic first car. I'm not a fan of the colour, but you can't really quibble for such a fantastic motor.

As it happens, I'm planning on getting either an X308 XJ8 or LS400 later in the year. A delicious dilemma.

Geekman

2,863 posts

145 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Hi from another 19 year old Jag owner tongue out

Car looks great - I've always wanted to try out a manual one as I can't imagine what it would feel like. Hope the car treats you well - other than the gearbox all the other issues seem fairly minor.

YoungRestorer

Original Poster:

206 posts

150 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Right, just got off the phone with Jaguar, who have provided me with the Radio Code I needed. As I turned on the radio, what should come on but "Stairway to Heaven"... a good sign I like to think!

I will see if the gearbox continues to make a noise, or whether it is something else in the car, and many thanks again to Jaguar Steve for all his tips beer

I will aim to keep this updated with new photos and average fuel economy when I go to Scotland tomorrow: if I make it!

kamilb1998

2,220 posts

176 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Fantastic choice! Very jealous as I was hoping to run my Jag as a first car, albeit at 17, but the insurance would be 4x as much as it would be on a little city car.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Brilliant work OP.

8bit

4,845 posts

154 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Well done!

FRA53R

1,077 posts

167 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Whereabouts in Scotland? If it's anywhere near Aviemore I'll keep an eye out smile Looks to be a lovely bit of kit. Hope she treats you well.

dbdb

4,311 posts

172 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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What an excellent first car! So rare with the manual gearbox too.

YoungRestorer

Original Poster:

206 posts

150 months

Saturday 2nd August 2014
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I wasn't expecting such a positive response! All I have had here at home are comments like:

"How much did you pay?"
"What's the MPG?" ( over the last couple of days, readout says 16)
"How much is insurance?"

If anyone else wondered if a jag as a first car was a good idea, I would say don't hesitate! She has shrunk around me, and I feel entirely comfortable driving her after just 2 days. She has that glorious "jaguar smell" as well, and when the chrome is shining, god she looks good... Every trip is now an event, and I wouldn't have it any other way

I'm going to Edinburgh today, for the fringe festival. If anyone is around, I can heartily self-recommend: search for "Voices of Lions" in the programme!

Dramatic Scotland and car shots when I return

Humper

946 posts

161 months

Saturday 2nd August 2014
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Looks good to me, but as it's the same colour as mine was i may be prejudiced wink

YoungRestorer

Original Poster:

206 posts

150 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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So I have returned from Scotland: she missed only one, minor/terrifying beat... but more on that later.
MPG on the way back was 27.2, calculated from litres and distance, not the trip computer. In her defence, Roxy was driven pretty hard for that journey. We achieved about 32mpg on the trip up, but it also took 7 hours at 70, so pros and cons to be considered

I can't believe how smooth the ride is. At the end of the 7 hour trip, I stepped out of the car almost completely refreshed: had I done the same journey in my Polo, I would have been knackered. As it was, I could get ready preparing my voice for Edinburgh with a beer or four drink

I left her in a car park sat underneath a security camera for 10 days, and expected her to be drained when I got back. She started on the dot, which was a pleasant surprise. The drive back to the borders was quiet, with plenty of smooth jazz, and the dreaded hill upon which my house rests (normally a killer for underpowered cars) only affected fuel economy a little, as the jag could waft up it in 3rd... never has the drive been so relaxing.

I drove my friend to Carlisle station, and up until now Roxy had not missed a beat: there is a clutch clunk when changing from 2nd to 3rd, and the wheel judders a bit when breaking, but otherwise no problems at all. I stop in the middle of the road, ready to turn right, and then proceed to turn right. Halfway through the turn, the car falters, the steering becomes heavy, the brakes appear to jam on, and the car stalls, despite the clutch being on the floor. I wait 3 seconds, and turn her back on, whereupon she splutters, and dies again, with the oil and battery warning lights illuminated. I wait another 30 seconds, then start her up: no problem at all from then on. I would have written it off, but I remember a similar thing happen when I was turning right to park on the road when I first got her, and almost killing my dad, hence why I mention it. Any ideas chaps?

All in all, other than the stalling rubbish, we have no problems. Sometimes, when I start her from cold, she produces a mechanical whine when put into gear which goes after 20 secs, so I am monitoring that to see if it gets any worse. Other than my bank balance from 3 weeks in Scotland, everything else is great. Here are some "arty" photos that I took while up there:







Edited by YoungRestorer on Wednesday 20th August 17:01


Edited by YoungRestorer on Wednesday 20th August 17:03

timolloyd

229 posts

159 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
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Might be the fuel pump? I had similar symptoms when a fuel pump on my old BMW started packing up.