Old Man's car ?

[paulguitar]

I like Jags, and I have never really cared about whether anyone else’s views about what I am driving.

I bought the XJ6 when I was 36:



And 11 years later I got an XK which is my current car:





I really have enjoyed them both.

[Jaguar steve]

I'll take the old man Jaguar image too if it means I can have a relaxing and very quiet and very comfortable and reasonably quick car with a lush V8 petrol engine that you can buy and insure for buttons.

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods dashing to their next regional sales meeting then I'm definitely in.

[anonymous-user]

Jaguar steve said:

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods

I don't think German cars are for image and status because there's too many of the poxy things, I think image and status is more of the big three Italian sports car marques or an Aston Martin.

[Jaguar steve]

Raygun said:

Jaguar steve said:

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods

I don't think German cars are for image and status because there's too many of the poxy things, I think image and status is more of the big three Italian sports car marques or an Aston Martin.

No you're right. There's actually not much image or status at all about just being able to scrape together £200 a month to put a wheezy four pot Tutonic Uberdiesel sporting a Chav numberplate and a sprinkling of M badges from ebay on the drive for the neighbours to admire

Lots of people still it do though - and that's what counts.

[JamesRR]

TarpaTow said:

You're 36 and DON'T consider yourself old. And you drive an E class Merc.

That Merc just spells 'OLD', like Jags going to the golf club or out for Sunday Lunch, complete with blazer and silk hankie in the breast pocket.

That's why I'm in a BM, a very strong message that I'm a successful young entrepreneur and a real go-getter and going places.

That's the image people will subconsciously have of me and why I couldn't drive a Jag, although some of my really old customers do have Jags so I'm happy to play them along when they go on about Jag's racing history. YAWN

You ARE the BMW man from A-B Tales of Modern Motoring, and I claim my five pounds.

https://youtu.be/CQsMFQZa8os

[DoubleD]

Jaguar steve said:

Raygun said:

Jaguar steve said:

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods

I don't think German cars are for image and status because there's too many of the poxy things, I think image and status is more of the big three Italian sports car marques or an Aston Martin.

No you're right. There's actually not much image or status at all about just being able to scrape together £200 a month to put a wheezy four pot Tutonic Uberdiesel sporting a Chav numberplate and a sprinkling of M badges from ebay on the drive for the neighbours to admire

Lots of people still it do though - and that's what counts.

I think its a shame when people cant drive whatever car they like without someone jumping to conclusions about them.

[craigjm]

DoubleD said:

I think its a shame when people cant drive whatever car they like without someone jumping to conclusions about them.

Happens the other way round too. I posted about the new BMW M340 on a Jaguar Facebook page the other day saying that Jaguar really need to catch up if all they have to compete with that is an XE300. People were writing things like “a jaguar gives you class” “a Jaguar makes you a gentleman” etc etc. Total crap. A car does not make you anything and anyone that thinks a £500 jaguar Xtype makes you lord of the manor is just as deluded as the person who buys the German lease to impress. Who cares what car people drive. Not me I’m too busy enjoying my own life

[anonymous-user]

The thing about cars is you can buy any brand at any age, from an armchair on wheels to a stripped out racing car for the road like an atom or a Caterham.

But how do feel about driving them day to day, and are you happy with that image ?

I find the more raw a driving experience, (with no sound proofing / rock hard suspension, whatever), is a harsh experience indeed but keeps you sharp and alert, makes you feel alive. An armchair on wheels with zero road noise or handling is basically a coffin on wheels, preparing you for death, and lulling you to sleep, and who wants to drive one of those... ?

[alec.e]

Schmed said:

The thing about cars is you can buy any brand at any age, from an armchair on wheels to a stripped out racing car for the road like an atom or a Caterham.

But how do feel about driving them day to day, and are you happy with that image ?

I find the more raw a driving experience, (with no sound proofing / rock hard suspension, whatever), is a harsh experience indeed but keeps you sharp and alert, makes you feel alive. An armchair on wheels with zero road noise or handling is basically a coffin on wheels, preparing you for death, and lulling you to sleep, and who wants to drive one of those... ?

I feel more alert/safer driving 6+ hours non stop in my luxury (old man) cars, than I do driving 3 hours in my Transit van.

I do love proper sports cars and the raw experence, but wouldn't want to drive it that much of a distance.

[Vanordinaire]

Davie said:

TarpaTow said:

That's why I'm in a BM, a very strong message that I'm a successful young entrepreneur and a real go-getter and going places.

That's the image people will subconsciously have of me and why I couldn't drive a Jag, although some of my really old customers do have Jags so I'm happy to play them along when they go on about Jag's racing history. YAWN

I can't decide if this is a wind up or not... sadly, I suspect it may not be.

Have you tried reading his name backwards? Definitely a wind up.

[Baldchap]

DoubleD said:

I think its a shame when people cant drive whatever car they like without someone jumping to conclusions about them.

Try owning a Golf R and being on PH. You'd think I was a paedophile or an MP. Wouldn't be so bad, but I actually bought it proper!

[457892345]

Schmed said:

The thing about cars is you can buy any brand at any age, from an armchair on wheels to a stripped out racing car for the road like an atom or a Caterham.

But how do feel about driving them day to day, and are you happy with that image ?

I find the more raw a driving experience, (with no sound proofing / rock hard suspension, whatever), is a harsh experience indeed but keeps you sharp and alert, makes you feel alive. An armchair on wheels with zero road noise or handling is basically a coffin on wheels, preparing you for death, and lulling you to sleep, and who wants to drive one of those... ?

The armchair choice makes sense if you are going to do stuff once finished driving, like work. (Though id sooner get something inbetween the two extremes myself)

[DoubleD]

That totally depends on the length of your commute!

[Jaguar steve]

DoubleD said:

Jaguar steve said:

Raygun said:

Jaguar steve said:

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods

I don't think German cars are for image and status because there's too many of the poxy things, I think image and status is more of the big three Italian sports car marques or an Aston Martin.

No you're right. There's actually not much image or status at all about just being able to scrape together £200 a month to put a wheezy four pot Tutonic Uberdiesel sporting a Chav numberplate and a sprinkling of M badges from ebay on the drive for the neighbours to admire

Lots of people still it do though - and that's what counts.

I think its a shame when people cant drive whatever car they like without someone jumping to conclusions about them.

Stereotypes exist for a reason and probably nowhere more visibly so than the home of pretentious aspiration and materialistic vulgarity here in the Essex Badlands so you cant reasonably expect to enter a discussion about Jaguar being old mans cars for example without encountering them.

All you can do is cultivate a stoical mindset and not give a toss about what anybody else thinks about your choices. That gets so much easier as you get older because you learn to be happy with what you do have rather than unhappy about what you don't have.
Once you've achieved that level of contentment there's no longer any need to try to impress or prove anything to anybody so you can do exactly what you like because it genuinely doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

[DoubleD]

Jaguar steve said:

DoubleD said:

Jaguar steve said:

Raygun said:

Jaguar steve said:

When nobody ever gives a old XJ a second glance and it comes without the distinct Whiff of Cock that all too frequently accompanies its more aspirational German rivals favoured by image and status and money obsessed Driving Gods

I don't think German cars are for image and status because there's too many of the poxy things, I think image and status is more of the big three Italian sports car marques or an Aston Martin.

No you're right. There's actually not much image or status at all about just being able to scrape together £200 a month to put a wheezy four pot Tutonic Uberdiesel sporting a Chav numberplate and a sprinkling of M badges from ebay on the drive for the neighbours to admire

Lots of people still it do though - and that's what counts.

I think its a shame when people cant drive whatever car they like without someone jumping to conclusions about them.

Stereotypes exist for a reason and probably nowhere more visibly so than the home of pretentious aspiration and materialistic vulgarity here in the Essex Badlands so you cant reasonably expect to enter a discussion about Jaguar being old mans cars for example without encountering them.

All you can do is cultivate a stoical mindset and not give a toss about what anybody else thinks about your choices. That gets so much easier as you get older because you learn to be happy with what you do have rather than unhappy about what you don't have.
Once you've achieved that level of contentment there's no longer any need to try to impress or prove anything to anybody so you can do exactly what you like because it genuinely doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

It doesnt sound like you have that mindset

[300bhp/ton]

thatjagbloke said:

As is implied by my user name I'm a bit of a Jaguar fan and currently own 3, all V8s.
My son has always said Jaguars are an old man's car, that is until I let him have a drive in my XK and after 5 minutes at the wheel he said " I want one ! "
I asked him why he thought you had to be old to drive a Jaguar, but the best he could come up with was that " they are usually driven by older blokes "
I'll admit I'm old but I don't think of Jaguars as an old man's car.
So, this begs the question, is there any such thing as an old man's car and if so can you give examples and reasons why ?

Have no idea why they are seen as old mans cars either. I guess they were perhaps often associated with landed gentry and the upper country class, so maybe that is why.

I owned my first Jag at 19, a V12 XJ-S.


I guess most "old" people, pensioners drive compact hatchbacks. If going by a purely numbers thing.

[Genuine Barn Find]

Before number one son arrived in 2016 I owned 3 XJ's. ..... How do you like those Apples, Prescott?!

89' XJ40 Sovereign with 45,000 miles on the clock
93' Series 3 Daimler Double Six with 40,000 miles (one of the very last off the line on an L plate)
98' X308 XJR (which was, loosely, the daily)

I had a unit and parked them next to each other in a line. When the doors opened it was a lovely sight - in various incarnations I think the XJ's are some of the best looking saloons ever made (albeit the twin tanker was my favourite and is a car I still miss greatly)

I am in my early 40's and do not consider myself old by any stretch. I love big Jags and enjoyed the time I owned them. I'd have another if I had space....and funds, but I am down to 1 garage car now and that's probably how it's going.

My mate used to tool around in a blue rinse metallic S-Type with cream interior. Properly used to get double takes when a 20 something got our of the car with his baseball cap on the wrong way round.

[craigjm]

My restomod project due in March. I’m 43 and this is my third and oldest Jag. Ignore the wheels. New ones end of month in hooligan 18 inch

[moktabe]

65 here and have had a Clio V6 for 18 months now.

Oh how I yearn for somewhere to put my insulated coffee mug and my multi-pack of Werthers.

No such thing as an old mans car, that is unless said old man has no interest in cars.

[lukeharding]

I'm 23 and own far too many XJS and XJs, and have plenty of fun. Not always an old man's car but they do have that image