Metro or XJS ?
Discussion
Upon reading a forum elsewhere I was reminded of a situation I had some years ago.
BL wanted to borrow my Mazda RX-7 for a week to carry out some evaluative stuff. [Being their closest dealer this was not uncommon]
They offered me in exchange either a Metro Turbo or a Jaguar XJS V12.
Which car would you have chosen for the week?
BL wanted to borrow my Mazda RX-7 for a week to carry out some evaluative stuff. [Being their closest dealer this was not uncommon]
They offered me in exchange either a Metro Turbo or a Jaguar XJS V12.
Which car would you have chosen for the week?
Having driven both - they are both great in the right conditions.
In my current financial situation it would have to be the Metro, I can remember watching the instant fuel consumption readout in the XJS drop to 2m.p.g. (yes, two) when I floored it to overtake a line of cars on some New Forest back road... what a car tho', a sense of drama and occasion sadly lacking in most cars that have come since. The Metro on the other hand was just sheer fun - could never understand why all the Max Power kiddies craved the Nova at the time.
In my current financial situation it would have to be the Metro, I can remember watching the instant fuel consumption readout in the XJS drop to 2m.p.g. (yes, two) when I floored it to overtake a line of cars on some New Forest back road... what a car tho', a sense of drama and occasion sadly lacking in most cars that have come since. The Metro on the other hand was just sheer fun - could never understand why all the Max Power kiddies craved the Nova at the time.
Had an XJS ( in fact, several of the buggers, even though I always said "Never again!" ) and got the fuel read out to 1 quite easily!
Now have a Metro in mint condition stored away in the garage, used occasionally, but unfortunately, not an MG or a Turbo, just a bog basic 1.0 City.I absolutely love the little horror and for such a basic car it;s a riot to drive.
Now have a Metro in mint condition stored away in the garage, used occasionally, but unfortunately, not an MG or a Turbo, just a bog basic 1.0 City.I absolutely love the little horror and for such a basic car it;s a riot to drive.
Xtriple129 said:
Had an XJS ( in fact, several of the buggers, even though I always said "Never again!" ) and got the fuel read out to 1 quite easily!
Now have a Metro in mint condition stored away in the garage, used occasionally, but unfortunately, not an MG or a Turbo, just a bog basic 1.0 City.I absolutely love the little horror and for such a basic car it;s a riot to drive.
Mmmm. Quite possibly the worst car I have ever driven. Mine had horrible plastic seats, a hugely long gear lever, no rear wash/wipe although the sodding thing would never go quick enough to get the rear screen wet.....Now have a Metro in mint condition stored away in the garage, used occasionally, but unfortunately, not an MG or a Turbo, just a bog basic 1.0 City.I absolutely love the little horror and for such a basic car it;s a riot to drive.
Also hated the fact that the seats could not be adjusted (apart from being able to be moved backwards or forwards) so they were set in the same upright position whether you were five foot tall or six foot tall.
Just a horrid little car - quite the opposite to the MG Metro Turbo or the 6R4.
I wonder what happened to A999 UOX?
How is this even a question to ponder?
A boring looking box on wheels or a a sublime luxury coupe?

If it goes wrong you contact BL and they supply another car!
Even the fuel bill wouldn't have been that much of an issue back in the days when BL existed!
A boring looking box on wheels or a a sublime luxury coupe?
shouldbworking said:
Having owned both a metro and a v12 xjs, I would go for the metro and avoid the hassle of having to file for bankruptcy.
Just how is a borrowed XJS going to bankrupt you in a week? 
If it goes wrong you contact BL and they supply another car!
Even the fuel bill wouldn't have been that much of an issue back in the days when BL existed!
spoodler said:
The Metro on the other hand was just sheer fun - could never understand why all the Max Power kiddies craved the Nova at the time.
I know why, I had 2 mates back in my youth, one who had a Metro Turbo and the other with a Nova SR. They each tried out each others car on a little circuit of good country roads near home. I had to take the other car and follow them and then swap so got to try both. The metro was fun, but rough and old fashioned, and I struggled to keep up with the Nova. The SR on the other hand was smooth, fast, and handled sweetly and felt a lot more grown up (which of course when you are in your teens probably counted for a lot!).
Now, of course, the metro might be more 'fun' because it is so raw in comparison.
fatboy69 said:
Mmmm. Quite possibly the worst car I have ever driven. Mine had horrible plastic seats, a hugely long gear lever, no rear wash/wipe although the sodding thing would never go quick enough to get the rear screen wet.....
Also hated the fact that the seats could not be adjusted (apart from being able to be moved backwards or forwards) so they were set in the same upright position whether you were five foot tall or six foot tall.
Just a horrid little car - quite the opposite to the MG Metro Turbo or the 6R4.
I wonder what happened to A999 UOX?
Services provided by DVLA:Also hated the fact that the seats could not be adjusted (apart from being able to be moved backwards or forwards) so they were set in the same upright position whether you were five foot tall or six foot tall.
Just a horrid little car - quite the opposite to the MG Metro Turbo or the 6R4.
I wonder what happened to A999 UOX?
Vehicle enquiry
The enquiry is complete.The vehicle details for A999 UOX are:
Date of Liability
01 12 1999
Date of First Registration
18 08 1983
Year of Manufacture
1983
Cylinder Capacity (cc)
998cc
CO2 Emissions
Not Available
Fuel Type
PETROL
Export Marker
N
Vehicle Status
Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour
WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval
Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate
£74.25
12 Months Rate £135.00
Novelty value the Metro is cool, the whine of the gearbox and upright driving position is almost go kart like. But, for a week,the XJS.
Drop it into D, powerslide around the corners in leather and walnut, I'd have the mirrors set so I could admire those lovely rear buttresses.. with 'the saint' theme tune on the CD player. Or maybe James Last Seduction. Quality...
Drop it into D, powerslide around the corners in leather and walnut, I'd have the mirrors set so I could admire those lovely rear buttresses.. with 'the saint' theme tune on the CD player. Or maybe James Last Seduction. Quality...
Would be a Jag all the way for me, I'd even rather put up with it breaking down all the time than drive a Metro!
It used to be a standing joke of mine, it seemed whenever I got stuck in a line of traffic in the late 80's early 90's, there would be a Metro at the front causing the queue. I even remember snaking in a long line of slow moving traffic once and seeing a milk float at the front and thinking that was why it was slow. But no, next right hand bend I could actually see a Metro in front of the milk float holding that and the rest of us up!
Hateful things in my opinion!
It used to be a standing joke of mine, it seemed whenever I got stuck in a line of traffic in the late 80's early 90's, there would be a Metro at the front causing the queue. I even remember snaking in a long line of slow moving traffic once and seeing a milk float at the front and thinking that was why it was slow. But no, next right hand bend I could actually see a Metro in front of the milk float holding that and the rest of us up!
Hateful things in my opinion!
Definately the Jag. I learned to drive in a N/A MG Metro - it was good to drive; easy and fun. It made the VW Golf my mother had at that time feel like a tractor.
The XJ-S is a wonderful thing though. It wouldn't break down but the rust it would inevitably have would bankrupt someone else.
The XJ-S is a wonderful thing though. It wouldn't break down but the rust it would inevitably have would bankrupt someone else.
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