My V12 Sized Gamble

[LewG]

Let me know if you chaps do a Norfolk trip or go somewhere in the cars, I'll come along in the Chimaera as I owe myself a bit of a road trip somewhere! Would be nice to do it in the company of some quality machinery

[GraemeV12]

A few days ago, in between crap weather, I took the Jag out for a long run driving aimlessly around the countryside of the home counties hour after hour. It had been many weeks since I drove it last and I had forgotten how much I liked the car, so I will have to make a regular effort to get out in between crap weather days.
I did bump (not literally) into my friend LanceRS and had a nice cup of tea at his house followed by many of the most delicious home made chocolate brownies that his wife made. Sorry James - I scoffed all of your brownies and probably several thousand calories.

On another note, the windscreen wiper squirty jets decided to pack up just as we have entered the soggy season, so I will have some tinkering to do. First analysis was with the fuse box - all good. Next was to make sure everything was connected, which it was. Being the mechanical numpty that I am, I will have to figure this one out somehow starting with a search on Google, of course.
Next year the shiny new radius arms will go on and then further investigation as to why the a/c doesn't work. My friend kindly offered to dismantle one of the compressors to find evidence of why it sparked and died after installation. Twice.
Oh, and since driving it in the dark, I have no idea what speed I'm doing as the the bulbs are so dim I couldn't actually see the dials, but my Garmin SatNav kindly read out my speed and told me where the cameras were. Thanks Garmin. But after a little research I have found a company that sells an LED kit for all interior bulbs. Tempting...

Apart from that, there's not much wrong with it which is amazing considering the 29 years that it has been rumbling around. I thank LewG for resurrecting this car and nurturing it back to health before passing it on to me so he could pursue other amazing cars such as an XJ-R - yummy.
Anyway, I'm sure I have more fun stories to write about next year, so I'll keep you all posted with its progress. Merry Christmas everyone.

[LanceRS]

The car still looks, sound and smells good. If you thought that the brownies were good, you should try the mince pies that she has just made

[LewG]

Good to hear you're still enjoying it! Can you hear the washer motor working when you press the button? We regularly get blocked or pinched hoses on the machines at work, carefully blowing through with compressed air or sending a piece of welding wire down the hose can work.
The dash lights were always particularly pants I must admit, as you say there is the LED upgrade. The adjuster switch underneath the dash I believe by your left knee can corrode and cause the lights to dim. Worth looking into as another option.

[GraemeV12]

Well, it's been a long time since my last update. Loads going on unrelated to cars which has sucked my finances and the Jag went without for a while. But now it has a sparkling new MoT, new rear radius arms and a wire. Yes, a wire. A wire to make the windscreen washers work which mysteriously failed after I changed a headlight bulb. You did read that correctly.
Anyway I will probably be driving the Jag more than before. My fairly juicy 3 Series beemer commuter car is being replaced by an EV - I hear gasps and can see the look of disgust on your faces! Let me explain.
Mr. Tight-wad is buying a plug and play car for the 15,000 stop-start monotonous miles I do a year commuting to work and back sipping on coffee as I sit in endless miles of traffic.
It seems somewhat hypocritical to have a tree-hugging hippy car and a V12 Jag, but it will allow me to burn more fossils in the right place, I.e. The Jag.
Now I'm not going to turn into an eco-preacher, although I'm a massive fan of renewables, storage and such technology. But there's something about a Toyota Prius that brings up some sick into my mouth, hence the all or nothing approach to reducing commuting costs. So no, it's not a hybrid electric car, but is a fun little BMW i3 and that's the only way to have an EV in my mind - make it fun. The i3's running costs will be pence per day for the boring commuting stuff. Why burn st loads of money to get to work and back? That's dull and costly (and that genuinely is the primary reason). So I'm going to do the dull bit for pence and then burn money enjoying the rumblings of the V12 more, when it's fun to do so. E.g. Everything but commuting.
But that's just me. Tight-wad first, car enthusiast second and eco-hermit third.

[LanceRS]

I'd do some commuting in the Jag. I'm sure it will fit in the generously proportioned spaces at work and must be cheaper to fuel than the Discovery was
On a serious note, looking forward to seeing it out and about again.

[GraemeV12]

It's a whole 5 - 7 mpg more efficient than my rusty old V8 Disco and 1000 % more comfortable especially as it has no sunrooves to shower me in melting ice. Unfortunately my insurance prohibits me from using it as a commuter car.
But I'm looking forward to getting it back out on the road once I've collected it from Den.

[fatboy b]

Lovely looking XJS Graeme. I'm lucky to have most of my commuting paid for, so don't need that 'other car'. But to sink as low as an EV if it keeps the Jag going then a good ploy.

[GraemeV12]

Thanks Fatboy b, much appreciated. I could have sunk lower with a Toyota Prius

[johnxjsc1985]

I wish I could find my post from a couple of years ago when I suggested a good XJS would go up in value considerably once the crap ones expired and only the good ones were left. I also wish I had taken my own advice as they are commanding really good prices now. If you have a good one don't do what I did and sell it.

[GraemeV12]

johnxjsc1985 said:

I wish I could find my post from a couple of years ago when I suggested a good XJS would go up in value considerably once the crap ones expired and only the good ones were left. I also wish I had taken my own advice as they are commanding really good prices now. If you have a good one don't do what I did and sell it.

Thanks for the advice. LanceRS knows that I'm a serial car changer, but the Jag is an exception that I plan to keep for a very long time.

[PH XKR]

Bodie037 said:

Hi Lance - a few pictures as requested.

[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/xUNPhDYH

The car looks stunning, and from this pic I can smell the waft factor. My friends dad was a Jag salesman back in the late 70s/early 80s and had one of these, he was the king of the village (Hollingworth if anyone cares!). the XJS is just a stunning classic.

[PH XKR]

GraemeV12 said:

johnxjsc1985 said:

I wish I could find my post from a couple of years ago when I suggested a good XJS would go up in value considerably once the crap ones expired and only the good ones were left. I also wish I had taken my own advice as they are commanding really good prices now. If you have a good one don't do what I did and sell it.

Thanks for the advice. LanceRS knows that I'm a serial car changer, but the Jag is an exception that I plan to keep for a very long time.

Like yourself I am a serial changer but unlike yourself my 2 classics are a 93 mini cooper (well its a classic to me) and an e39 m5. Both are cars I cannot ever see myself selling as once gone, never replaced. Your XJS looks perfect, the right engine and the colour is stunning.

[LanceRS]

I can vouch for just how stunning it looks. Having been in convoy to Goodwood in December, it looks even better on the move. The way it sits on the road, especially cornering looks amazing.

[GraemeV12]

I've been dreaming of owning an XJ-S since I was a child when my sisters friend took me out in a V12 (which was a long time ago now), so I think this is a keeper.
I do wish I had bought a proper old Mini Cooper (I say old, but the 90's ones are the best in my opinion), but my garage isn't big enough for any more cars, sadly. I did own a rusty beige Mini City once. If I had money and plenty of space, I think I would indulge in a fleet of interesting cars.

PH XKR said:

GraemeV12 said:

johnxjsc1985 said:

I wish I could find my post from a couple of years ago when I suggested a good XJS would go up in value considerably once the crap ones expired and only the good ones were left. I also wish I had taken my own advice as they are commanding really good prices now. If you have a good one don't do what I did and sell it.

Thanks for the advice. LanceRS knows that I'm a serial car changer, but the Jag is an exception that I plan to keep for a very long time.

Like yourself I am a serial changer but unlike yourself my 2 classics are a 93 mini cooper (well its a classic to me) and an e39 m5. Both are cars I cannot ever see myself selling as once gone, never replaced. Your XJS looks perfect, the right engine and the colour is stunning.

[GraemeV12]

I need some practise on getting it sideways in a slightly more controlled manner. Almost spun it out in Bovingdon on the way back from Wycombe after Goodwood

p.s. I got my i3 a bit sideways coming out of the gym the other day

LanceRS said:

I can vouch for just how stunning it looks. Having been in convoy to Goodwood in December, it looks even better on the move. The way it sits on the road, especially cornering looks amazing.

Edited by GraemeV12 on Saturday 7th January 17:24

Edited by GraemeV12 on Saturday 7th January 17:24

[GraemeV12]

Thanks. I can't take all the credit, LewG who owned the car before me did a lot of work on it. And I can confirm that it does have a beautiful man smell that permeates my clothes once i've driven it; old leather mixed with a feint whiff of oil and the heat from the mighty V12 to cook it all into a lovely fragrant broth. Proper smells.
There's nothing like a friends Dad with a flash car to set the dreams for the future. I can vouch for that.

PH XKR said:

The car looks stunning, and from this pic I can smell the waft factor. My friends dad was a Jag salesman back in the late 70s/early 80s and had one of these, he was the king of the village (Hollingworth if anyone cares!). the XJS is just a stunning classic.

[a8hex]

Does anyone know whether there's a good book detailing the history of the XJ-S/XJS. Something covering all the different variations there were over the years. I'm feeling itchy feet once more and perhaps I might swap the X150 for an XJS.

[GraemeV12]

Try: Jaguar XJ-S (Essential Buyer's Guide) (Essential Buyer's Guide Series) by Peter Crespin. It's on Amazon for £12.99

a8hex said:

Does anyone know whether there's a good book detailing the history of the XJ-S/XJS. Something covering all the different variations there were over the years. I'm feeling itchy feet once more and perhaps I might swap the X150 for an XJS.

[a8hex]

GraemeV12 said:

Try: Jaguar XJ-S (Essential Buyer's Guide) (Essential Buyer's Guide Series) by Peter Crespin. It's on Amazon for £12.99

a8hex said:

Does anyone know whether there's a good book detailing the history of the XJ-S/XJS. Something covering all the different variations there were over the years. I'm feeling itchy feet once more and perhaps I might swap the X150 for an XJS.

Thanks Graeme, I'd seen there were a few books about the XJS on Amazon, I just wasn't sure where was the best place to start.