Cat, or Dog? Cheapo 1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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....
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....
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.
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.
"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 pleasure
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 pleasure
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