Cat, or Dog? Cheapo 1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0

Cat, or Dog? Cheapo 1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0

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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Now that I am old enough to own a Rover, I must also be old enough to own a Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag. Naturally enough, this Jag should be some old knacker bought for a suspiciously low amount from some dude on the internet. Thanks to the wonders of crappy mobile phone photography, it can look good, but, of course, once you get close to the thing you can see the vile grot that lurks in arches and wings. Hence the low price (I hope so, anyway, and not lots of other stuff). The engine, autobox, electrics and interior all seem pretty good. Everything works. The headlining is a bit tat.

I did not want the complexity and OMG MPG of a V12, and am currently having a big thing for straight sixes, so this four litre version of Jag's smooth, relaxed six cylinder engine was the one I wanted. Delightfully low stressed most of the time, but it will roar a bit if you kick it. The car lopes along, a bit like it was some sort of, oh I don't know, some sort of large cat perhaps? Four speed autobox with working Sporty mode (hooligan button). Assorted modern devilry such as ABS, fuel injection and electronic blah of various kinds. Being a bloke from the land of carburettors and drum brakes, I iz AFEARED of such magickes, but I hope that they won't all conspire against me at once.

Plan: smoke about in it for a bit, then go on holiday and leave it with some bloke to tackle the worst of the rot. This could be ker-ching, and I may just have bought cheaply into a whole world of expensive trouble. But, hey, a life of peace is a life that's dull.

Gaga? Baby, when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun.













sshenton1975

752 posts

220 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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very nice! how cheap was "cheap"?

Doofus

25,732 posts

172 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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OK, I've finally sussed it!

You're a barrister, living in leafy Oxfordshire, you like to use idiosyncratic language, and you own a rapidly increasing number of quirky cars.

I suspect that every legal case you get is a murder, which you take it upon yourself to investigate, much to the annoyance (but ultimately the grudging gratitude) of the Thames Valley Police.

I fully expect to see several series of dramatised documentaries about your life appear on ITV on Sunday evenings once the summer nights start to close in again.

By the way, I think it would really help your cause if you were to have a busy-body wife, an idealistic pupil, a clerk who is a whizz on computers, and/or a three legged cat.

5potTurbo

12,482 posts

167 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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laugh @ Doofus!

LewG

1,357 posts

145 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Nicely done sir, they really are a special car. I was gutted to see mine go as it was a wonderful experience to own and got nothing but positive comments everywhere. Only downside was I gained the nickname 'Morse' at work.

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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How many cars do you now own Breadvan?

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Ha! I knew you couldn't resist. I'd like to take some credit (but none of the financial burden) for this after I mentioned an XJS in another of your enjoyable posts recently.

As you say, it looks lovely.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Cheap means well under 2500 quid. I expect to spaff a modest chunk sorting the rot, but hope it won't be a crazy bill.

I now have five old sheds (1975 Dolomite Sprint, 1976 Series 3 Landy 88, 1983 Rover 2600, 1983 Lotus Excel, 1992 Jag XJS, and also a 1977 Yamaha FS1e moped). I have no modern cars, but could borrow my wife's 2000 Pug 206 CC or my mum's 2009 Fiesta if I needed to.

NO more! (except maybe one more old motorbike, maybe).

Meanwhile, the two pics below show the ideal of XJS life, and the reality....





carinaman

21,222 posts

171 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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I've not seen that photo of Bryan Ferry and Jerry Hall before.

All those motors? I'm not a jealous guy.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Love is the Drug.

RicksAlfas

13,355 posts

243 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Are you opening a British Leyland museum/shrine/scrapyard?
biggrin

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
I like the fact you're doing it differently. I expect you could comfortably have an Aston or similar on the driveway but you'd rather have these. Thats cool.

carinaman

21,222 posts

171 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
It doesn't have a crunchy gravel drive in the intro does it?

I did mention your name in connection with that white manual XJC in Sweden for £4K.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
To be honest, I couldn't have an Aston or similar, and do not think that I would want one. I had a rather expensive divorce fairly recently, have school fees and what not to pay, and my practice, although fine, isn't as shiny as it used to be (I am old and lazy). Thus I have several fun and actually inexpensive (to buy) cars instead of one or two expensive newer cars. Tax and insurance costs for these old things are modest. I do have lots of maintenance and repair bills and spend a lot on petrol, but at least I don't get bored. I just find modern cars intensely tedious, and often ugly as well.

I like old Brit cars, partly because of my dad's career in BL etc (I grew up in the West Midlands in the 60s and 70s), and partly because many of the cars were great designs with often splendid engineering ideas (amongst the factory bodges and accountant/shareholder driven budget fixes), even though the cars were badly built sometimes. I also like old Italian cars a lot, and some old French ones. Old German and Japanese cars hardly ever press my buttons. I can see that many of them are good, but they don't often engage my interest.

LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Loving the collection, takes me back to my childhood. A friend of mine has just bought the 'V12 sized gamble' and loves it.

Anyway, I found this and I hope it reinforces the ideal rather than the reality.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Was there supposed to be a picture or a link there?

LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Sorry, it's been one of those days.

http://youtu.be/pIMQGk4xQqM

carinaman

21,222 posts

171 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
LanceRS said:
Sorry, it's been one of those days.

http://youtu.be/pIMQGk4xQqM
Thank you. smile

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
you.............. you bugger you! will you stop buying all my bucket list cars before I get the chance to try them.


HaylingJag

2,122 posts

147 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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"have school fees and what not to pay"

not being funny but you look to old to go to school!!

Well done on yer latest acquisition, no british fleet is complete without a Jaaag. My 1990 XJr is a superb pice of kit and so cumfy id rather sit in that than my own front room. The modern day gizmo's you speak of have never let me down in three years of tenure. Enjoy it and fix it when it needs fixing and you'll get years of pleasureclap