The age barrier
Discussion
I'm 29yrs old and I've had my Blue X308 for 4mths now, it's the exact polar opposite of my super-sports bike and frankly I love it to bits. However from the very first moment that I mentioned to my friends/wife etc, that I might consider employing a Jaguar as my daily chariot of choice I've been met with resistance ranging from honest disbelief to out right horror.
I've been in the engineering and motorsport industry's all of my working life so my family and friends tend to trust my automotive opinion implicitly, but seemingly not in this case. I'm consistently told "your not old enough" or "is it an old mans car?", my responses making the case for the cars solid engineering or design integrity inevitably fall on deaf ears.
So I wonder, at what age do you think will it become "OK" for me to own my Jaguar?
I've been in the engineering and motorsport industry's all of my working life so my family and friends tend to trust my automotive opinion implicitly, but seemingly not in this case. I'm consistently told "your not old enough" or "is it an old mans car?", my responses making the case for the cars solid engineering or design integrity inevitably fall on deaf ears.
So I wonder, at what age do you think will it become "OK" for me to own my Jaguar?
ks. It's a statement of style quality and performance. You just need a bit of panache to carry it off. Think of Pete Doherty. Start by not bothering to make excuses. None are required.
Blimey, I'm not alone 
Good to know, I find that most people who either get in my Jag or people that I throw the keys to quickly admit to liking it, it seems to only be the external overall image that's clogged up with fuddy duddy-ness.
That said I did just the other day see an X350 being overtaken on a long straight section of dual carriage way by a speed limited lorry!... so come on now people, that kind of behavior can't help the cause
Good to know, I find that most people who either get in my Jag or people that I throw the keys to quickly admit to liking it, it seems to only be the external overall image that's clogged up with fuddy duddy-ness.
That said I did just the other day see an X350 being overtaken on a long straight section of dual carriage way by a speed limited lorry!... so come on now people, that kind of behavior can't help the cause
Edited by SamBorgman on Tuesday 24th November 09:52
My first car was a 1983 Series 3 XJ6 3.4 litre. I was 21... and I got the same responses "old mans car.." etc. usually from the hot hatch owners in college at the same time as me. Not that I was bothered too much... as at the end of most nights out if I was the designated driver most of my female college friends would be going home in my car rather than a poky little hatchback. Also the XJ6 was quite good at carrying rather large amounts of alcohol, tents and people in relative comfort and speed.
I used it as a daily driver. The fuel cost was immense, but the insurance was very cheap for a 21 year old.
I'm 27 now. The series 3 has gone, but a series 1 has replaced it, still used as a daily driver. Still doing occasional duty at the end of a night out, though not college girls any more.
My little brother held the record though; he had a 3.6 XJS at 17 years old. He was approached by the JEC at one point when they were doing a search for the youngest Jag owner/driver.
Regards
Ric
I used it as a daily driver. The fuel cost was immense, but the insurance was very cheap for a 21 year old.
I'm 27 now. The series 3 has gone, but a series 1 has replaced it, still used as a daily driver. Still doing occasional duty at the end of a night out, though not college girls any more.
My little brother held the record though; he had a 3.6 XJS at 17 years old. He was approached by the JEC at one point when they were doing a search for the youngest Jag owner/driver.
Regards
Ric
Okay...
1983 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Cobalt Blue
1983 XJ6 S3 3.4 in Tudor White
1984 XJ6 S3 3.4 in Clarendon Blue
1984 XJS V12 HE in Tungsten Grey (still got this one!)
1989 XJ40 3.6 in a maroon kinda colour...
1991 XJ40 4.0 Sovereign in blue
1986 XJS V12 HE in black
1985 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Damson Red
1976 XJ6C 4.2 in Squadron Blue
1977 XJ6 S2 3.4 in Greensand (my favourite. waiting for a new engine.)
1989 XJS 3.6 Sports in Solent Blue
1979 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Red and primer (was my daily. Sadly missed, big MOT fail.)
1984 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Sage Green
1988 XJS V12 in Solent Blue. (Stolen, never recovered.)
1979 XJ12 S3 pre HE in White (fastest Jag I've ever had... but my God could it drink!)
1973 XJ6 S1 2.8 in Old English White (new daily toy!!)
Think that about covers all the Jags.. I've been looking for a cheap XJR-6 engine to go in the Greensand S2, and have been hanging my nose over a couple of local 420G's. I'm having lots of fun with the S1, including the other kind of 'fun' it gave me when the heater matrix sprang a leak.
I'm not ashamed to say I've got the bug really bad!
Regards,
Ric
1983 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Cobalt Blue
1983 XJ6 S3 3.4 in Tudor White
1984 XJ6 S3 3.4 in Clarendon Blue
1984 XJS V12 HE in Tungsten Grey (still got this one!)
1989 XJ40 3.6 in a maroon kinda colour...
1991 XJ40 4.0 Sovereign in blue
1986 XJS V12 HE in black
1985 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Damson Red
1976 XJ6C 4.2 in Squadron Blue
1977 XJ6 S2 3.4 in Greensand (my favourite. waiting for a new engine.)
1989 XJS 3.6 Sports in Solent Blue
1979 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Red and primer (was my daily. Sadly missed, big MOT fail.)
1984 XJ6 S3 4.2 in Sage Green
1988 XJS V12 in Solent Blue. (Stolen, never recovered.)
1979 XJ12 S3 pre HE in White (fastest Jag I've ever had... but my God could it drink!)
1973 XJ6 S1 2.8 in Old English White (new daily toy!!)
Think that about covers all the Jags.. I've been looking for a cheap XJR-6 engine to go in the Greensand S2, and have been hanging my nose over a couple of local 420G's. I'm having lots of fun with the S1, including the other kind of 'fun' it gave me when the heater matrix sprang a leak.
I'm not ashamed to say I've got the bug really bad!
Regards,
Ric
I bought my first Jag when I was in my low 30s and I still have it 13 and a half years later.
At the time various friends and colleagues made comments about it, mostly about their unreliability, rust and the ruinous depreciation. Well I've seen none of that. My cars an X300. I hasn't ever rusted. It's been the most reliable car I've ever owned. And at no point in my ownership has it depreciated at the rate of their German "exec" toys.
The servicing has been on a par with the Toyota GT4 I had previously and a fraction of the cost of the Audi before that.
They've mostly gone through 4 or 5 cars in the time I've had my Jag.
I still love the car, I still enjoy driving it, It is still quieter, rides better and handles better than their cars.
And above all at the end of the day I've still got a Jag and they're still driving around in boys toys.
I wouldn't swap it for the world.
It still makes good impressions where ever I take it, people still love the looks, I still get let into the flow of traffic. I still feel totally relaxed when I get behind the wheel. What more can you ask for.
BTW. Jag drivers think that BMWs are old men's cars. Since the long departed days of the MkIX all Jaguars have been far too low slung for old men to get into, and even if they did manage to get in, their knees would give way before they managed to get back out again. When at last your knees can't cope with Jaguardom any longer you are forced to go and buy something German. An uncle of mine had been a long time Jaguar driver, Mk10s, XJ6 and then XJ12 or Double Sixes as soon as the V12 came out. When later in life he collected a friend from the airport in a 540, his friend looked at and said "You too? my knees gave out last year as well and the Jagwaaaaaaaa had to go... these Beemers just ain't the same).
At the time various friends and colleagues made comments about it, mostly about their unreliability, rust and the ruinous depreciation. Well I've seen none of that. My cars an X300. I hasn't ever rusted. It's been the most reliable car I've ever owned. And at no point in my ownership has it depreciated at the rate of their German "exec" toys.
The servicing has been on a par with the Toyota GT4 I had previously and a fraction of the cost of the Audi before that.
They've mostly gone through 4 or 5 cars in the time I've had my Jag.
I still love the car, I still enjoy driving it, It is still quieter, rides better and handles better than their cars.
And above all at the end of the day I've still got a Jag and they're still driving around in boys toys.
I wouldn't swap it for the world.
It still makes good impressions where ever I take it, people still love the looks, I still get let into the flow of traffic. I still feel totally relaxed when I get behind the wheel. What more can you ask for.
BTW. Jag drivers think that BMWs are old men's cars. Since the long departed days of the MkIX all Jaguars have been far too low slung for old men to get into, and even if they did manage to get in, their knees would give way before they managed to get back out again. When at last your knees can't cope with Jaguardom any longer you are forced to go and buy something German. An uncle of mine had been a long time Jaguar driver, Mk10s, XJ6 and then XJ12 or Double Sixes as soon as the V12 came out. When later in life he collected a friend from the airport in a 540, his friend looked at and said "You too? my knees gave out last year as well and the Jagwaaaaaaaa had to go... these Beemers just ain't the same).
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff