Discussion
I haven't done a reader's car thread for my current car so here it is!
This time last year my fleet consisted of of the following...
2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0 Tdci - Absolutely brilliant car. Big, comfy and versatile. Used it for work, slept in it, tip runs....the list goes on, it was a proper work horse.
2006 Z4 3.0 - I had owned this since 2010 and had been a pleasure. It had the pace, handling and reliability. Highly recommendedeven more so now with the prices that they are at.
..and last but certainly not least my MEV Exocet Turbo. The blood and sweat that i had put into building this thing made me feel like i'd never part with it. Despite convincing myself that it would kill me one day! Ridiculous handling, ridiculous acceleration, ridiculously uncompromising.
I did a thread dedicated to that car here... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=136...
I love each car in it's own little way but with work being hectic and me being away from home for weeks on end i wasnt getting the use out of them, apart from tha Galaxy, that i would have liked. So, the hunt was on for something to replace the lot.
From 2006 - 2010 i owned this Supra
I always regretted selling that but knew my next car had to be something similar. A grand tourer with a V6 or bigger.
I looked at 6 series BMW's, SL Mercs and numerous other cars which had the potential to lead me into financial ruin. Then one quiet day in work i stumbled across this image on a google image search for V8's....made a change from the usual searches...
First thoughts were 'bloody hell that's a good looking car!'...second thoughts were....'out of my price range'. Regardless, off to the classifieds i went...it was a very quiet day in work.
One thing i have learned over the years of buying cars is always stick to the spec you want and dont compromise, you'll regret it. The cars that were the spec i wanted (Grey, 20's, black leather, NO WOOD on the dash!) were all above my price range. I contacted a seller that was trying to shift a silver one on 18's. This was not the spec i wanted but it didnt have woood!...this was almost enough to convince me to buy it despite deep down knowing i'd regret it. A few phone calls later and the sale was almost done....almost. A Gunmetal Grey had just come up on Ebay from a private seller fitted with 20's (the car, not the seller), less miles, full Jag service history and......no wood!
Some of the pics from the advert
...that back end did it for me. I had to have this car!
That was on a Tuesday and by the Saturday a price had been agreed. Early Saturday morning my mate Dave and myself jumped in the Z4 and headed 200 miles north to pick up the Jaaaaaaaag.
Upon arrival i had my first sighting of what was soon to be mine
While talking to the owner i couldnt stop thinking that this was actually happening. I knew the XK was a good looking car but to be stood next to one which i was about to buy brought on some weird feelings. Mainly excitement but also a strange nervousness that i was about to own such a car. Anyway, the cash was handed over, paper work signed and off i set back home with Dave following in the Z4.
The grin didnt leave my face all the way home!
Both back in one piece. That angle makes the Jag look quite small....it's not.
All of that was last July. So, what is ownership like?
For a start i wasnt expecting the attention it gets. Everywhere i seem to go someone makes a comment. From youngsters to old women....all positive. I thought the comfort in the Galaxy was good but this thing is next level, it just wafts about effortlessly. Then there's the performance. It's the first V8 ive had and bloody love it! Not the quickest car by any means but bloody hell it hits triple digits with ease....and keeps going!
Fuel economy isnt bad. It's returning 35mpg when its in cruise doing 70mph on the motorways. Put it into sport and use the paddle shift, which i seem to do every trip, and im averaging 18mpg...but hey, you dont buy a V8 for economy!
The antenna lets the looks down so ive removed the fuse for that. Surprisingly this hasnt effected the radio reception.
Some recent photos...
The only plans i have for it are to put some spacers on the wheels and lowered slightly to get rid of the monster truck-esque arch gap. A common combo seems to be 5mm rear, 15mm front spacers and a drop of 20mm. Hopefully get it sitting like this...
This time last year my fleet consisted of of the following...
2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0 Tdci - Absolutely brilliant car. Big, comfy and versatile. Used it for work, slept in it, tip runs....the list goes on, it was a proper work horse.
2006 Z4 3.0 - I had owned this since 2010 and had been a pleasure. It had the pace, handling and reliability. Highly recommendedeven more so now with the prices that they are at.
..and last but certainly not least my MEV Exocet Turbo. The blood and sweat that i had put into building this thing made me feel like i'd never part with it. Despite convincing myself that it would kill me one day! Ridiculous handling, ridiculous acceleration, ridiculously uncompromising.
I did a thread dedicated to that car here... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=136...
I love each car in it's own little way but with work being hectic and me being away from home for weeks on end i wasnt getting the use out of them, apart from tha Galaxy, that i would have liked. So, the hunt was on for something to replace the lot.
From 2006 - 2010 i owned this Supra
I always regretted selling that but knew my next car had to be something similar. A grand tourer with a V6 or bigger.
I looked at 6 series BMW's, SL Mercs and numerous other cars which had the potential to lead me into financial ruin. Then one quiet day in work i stumbled across this image on a google image search for V8's....made a change from the usual searches...
First thoughts were 'bloody hell that's a good looking car!'...second thoughts were....'out of my price range'. Regardless, off to the classifieds i went...it was a very quiet day in work.
One thing i have learned over the years of buying cars is always stick to the spec you want and dont compromise, you'll regret it. The cars that were the spec i wanted (Grey, 20's, black leather, NO WOOD on the dash!) were all above my price range. I contacted a seller that was trying to shift a silver one on 18's. This was not the spec i wanted but it didnt have woood!...this was almost enough to convince me to buy it despite deep down knowing i'd regret it. A few phone calls later and the sale was almost done....almost. A Gunmetal Grey had just come up on Ebay from a private seller fitted with 20's (the car, not the seller), less miles, full Jag service history and......no wood!
Some of the pics from the advert
...that back end did it for me. I had to have this car!
That was on a Tuesday and by the Saturday a price had been agreed. Early Saturday morning my mate Dave and myself jumped in the Z4 and headed 200 miles north to pick up the Jaaaaaaaag.
Upon arrival i had my first sighting of what was soon to be mine
While talking to the owner i couldnt stop thinking that this was actually happening. I knew the XK was a good looking car but to be stood next to one which i was about to buy brought on some weird feelings. Mainly excitement but also a strange nervousness that i was about to own such a car. Anyway, the cash was handed over, paper work signed and off i set back home with Dave following in the Z4.
The grin didnt leave my face all the way home!
Both back in one piece. That angle makes the Jag look quite small....it's not.
All of that was last July. So, what is ownership like?
For a start i wasnt expecting the attention it gets. Everywhere i seem to go someone makes a comment. From youngsters to old women....all positive. I thought the comfort in the Galaxy was good but this thing is next level, it just wafts about effortlessly. Then there's the performance. It's the first V8 ive had and bloody love it! Not the quickest car by any means but bloody hell it hits triple digits with ease....and keeps going!
Fuel economy isnt bad. It's returning 35mpg when its in cruise doing 70mph on the motorways. Put it into sport and use the paddle shift, which i seem to do every trip, and im averaging 18mpg...but hey, you dont buy a V8 for economy!
The antenna lets the looks down so ive removed the fuse for that. Surprisingly this hasnt effected the radio reception.
Some recent photos...
The only plans i have for it are to put some spacers on the wheels and lowered slightly to get rid of the monster truck-esque arch gap. A common combo seems to be 5mm rear, 15mm front spacers and a drop of 20mm. Hopefully get it sitting like this...
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