123d, 147 GTA, Jag X300 & Mk2 GTI 16v

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Hi Guys

I have been away for a while, and in that time I have added to my car collection through a dangerous addiction to Gumtree. So much so, I have been labelled a "Poor Man's Jay Kay".

Now it is made up of the following.

2009 BMW 123d M Sport 3 door in Space Grey



With the 17 inch "Style 44" wheels and Vredstein winter tyres on, in the McDonald's car park. Classy

I got this as a company car to replace my wife's company car, an Alfa 147 GTA. Unfortunately my company's rules were not so flexible



(SUCH a good car. Not the most reliable, mind, but you forgave it everything as soon as you turned the key. Q2 and Ragazzon exhaust enhanced it massively.)

The 123d has been a great car, nippy, good almost linear power delivery, handles well and is comfortable for long journeys. Also averages 40mpg no matter how hard you drive it, and has low emissions if that is your thing.

I got a set of 17 inch alloys with Vredstein Wintrack Extreme snow tyres on, as otherwise it was going nowhere in the Scottish winters.

The spec I ordered was Space Grey, black leather, xenons, cruise control, Professional Hi Fi, Hi Fi speakers and 18 inch wheels.

I would recommend it. They cost a fortune new, but seem to be coming down a bit in the used market.

1997 Jaguar X300 Sovereign 4.0 LWB in Sapphire Blue



Fresh from painting at Broughty Ferry Auto Services. Highly recommended if you are in the Dundee area.





A bit longer than the 123d.



Up in the Cairngorms

I owned a 3.2 X300 XJ Sport many moons ago and missed it every day. Spurred on by fellow member MDT who purchased an X308, we hit the classifieds looking for a suitable car.

I originally wanted an X300 XJR, but every one that we saw was a wreck.

So we cast the net wider and, on the way home from looking at another wrecked XJR I stumbled across this car for sale.

It is a 3 owner car and has just ticked over 100k miles. It is in absolutely lush condition with no rust at all, and the interior is like new. The added room with the LWB is great. It even has the original Jaguar phone.

I had to do some work to the car, including some paint, refurbished wheels, new tyres, new bumper chrome, new badges but now it looks factory fresh.

With MDT's help I serviced it too. I'll never sell this car.

1996 Jaguar X300 XJ Sport 3.2 Manual in Sapphire Blue



Some simple maintenance on the street



The finished article. We've since removed the small dent, and I've replaced the tax disc holder. The one in the pic almost took up the whole screen.


Now, I didn't intend to buy another Jaguar, but I was needing some parts for the Sovereign - a CD changer and a chrome strip for the back bumper.

I then found this complete car for sale, with 10 months MOT and 6 months Tax, for £380, and it had a CD changer.

The paintwork was poor but, with the help of MDT again, we added new front wings and did some other paintwork. We also added a new hub to the rear, and I got some better condition XJ Sport alloys.

The car has a cat back stainless exhaust and the engine sounds amazing. It has 114k miles on it and runs So sweetely.

If you have never driven a manual X300, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Such a joy.

The car also came with 4 good Michelin Alpin snow tyres, so that is handy in this weather.

1991 Mk2 Golf GTI 16v in Oak Green



This is the only picture I have of the Golf so far, as MDT and I picked it up in the cover of darkness. More will follow!

I have always loved these. I wasn't really in the market for one, but saw one on Gumtree so went to see it with MDT. In the dark. When it was raining.

The car hadn't run for a year due to an electrical fault, and I managed to get it for £240

It is in amazing original condition, with no accident damage and all the original handbooks and invoices, including the original bill of sale. It has just had a new clutch 2k miles ago too.

The intention is to return it to totally original condition, and I can't wait to drive it.

So far, the car has been very good!

I sold the CD player and 6x9 speakers for £60.

I also spotted the BBS RAs would need refurbished and that it would probably need new tyres as it had been sitting for so long. Gumtree came to the rescue, with a set of just refurbished BBS RAs with new Toyo Proxes on for £150. I then managed to sell the old wheels for £120 Happpy days.

I will keep you updated as to the progress of my "Scuderia", and will post some better pics as soon as the weather allows.

Cheers!

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Wednesday 8th December 17:13

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Wednesday 8th December 17:29

[Stedman]

Pictures please

[MDT]

ok ok not the best photos in the world. but way better than the one photo of the golf at the moment.

yep you can all guess whos garage this is sat in... while it is fixed

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Cheers buddy! What's that chequered flag reflecting on the Golf?

Here's a pic of MDT's X308 XJ8 and my Sovereign together in the local U-Pull-It car park. Poor cars - they must think they have hit rock bottom



And with MDT's Mk2 on the way to Le Mans:



And a pic of the Sovereign's interior. The air freshener has gone.

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Wednesday 8th December 19:06

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Here is a pic of the 123d parked in front of an M Coupe. Apologies for the quality.

Interesting to compare the sillhouettes.

[soad]

Good write up!

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Cheers.

It was a sad day yesterday - I sold the Jaguar XJ Sport. But it went to a good home - MDT.

[Jw Vw]

Love all the cars mate! Great colour choice on that Jag

[macp]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Cheers.

It was a sad day yesterday - I sold the Jaguar XJ Sport. But it went to a good home - MDT.

Yes I think I know who bought it and it definitely went to a good home.

[MDT]

aye the XJ6 is keeping the XJ8 company now

[macp]

MDT said:

aye the XJ6 is keeping the XJ8 company now

Nice one Matt you lucky bastid

[piefacemate]

Excellent collection you've got there, not that I'm biased when it comes to the Jag

Dad's got a 123d too, and despite the slating that I've given him for finally moving to a diesel, I must confess that it's an incredibly capable piece of kit even if it sounds like a bag of spanners.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Well, that's the LWB Jag just back from its first MOT in my stewardship, and it passed with no issues at all.

I'm so relieved

[robsco]

Special praise for the GTA here Ecurie Ecosse. That is one heavenly piece of kit.

[wackojacko]

147GTA - epicly awesome car and sound sensational !
123D - plan on owning one in a few years as a daily ( seen some pretty mad remaps on them)
love the Jags ber cool wafters.... and Gti's paintwork look pretty straight considering age etc

Top work chap

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Thanks Guys

Just had the 123d serviced and it is back on its summer rubber.

I have really warmed to its looks, and think it looks sharp and contemporary - kind of how the e60 looked better with age.

We are getting there with the Golf and it should be on the road soon. I'll keep you updated.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

I just got the Jaguar valeted and now it is hibernating for winter. Such a shame to lock it away, though



Any excuse to post a picture of the tool kit

[jke11y]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

I just got the Jaguar valeted and now it is hibernating for winter. Such a shame to lock it away, though


[/IMG]

Slightly O/T question - there is a new 500 Abarth 200yds from me, painted in the Ecurie Ecosse blue (must be special order / aftermarket paint as they only come in a few colours) with the same little wing shields like yours. Is there a link or just another enthusiast of the old team?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Sounds good - I haven't seen the FIAT.

Probably just an enthusiast of the team like me.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Was just looking at some pics of my Sovereign and thought I'd share. Drive it this morning, such a special machine.

On the way to the Le Mans Classic 2010 with MDT's Mk2



After a cheeky blast down the Mulsanne straight:


Nice early morning run:



Dawn patrol