RE: Shed Of The Week
Discussion
I recall back in the 1980's driving for the first time, a V12 '83 XJS HE, which had come into the central London garage I worked for, as a part exchange, the feeling of sheer power and smoothless left me with an aching jaw as I grinned all the way home that evening to show my Dad - wonderful memories.
I had a brand new XJS in that colour with doeskin hide in 1992. Mine was a 4.0, not the V12. It was a great long distance tourer. I was living near Oxford at the time and travelling to Gateshead most weeks and it was perfect for that.
I bought it from TWR Oxford and I had a couple of niggly problems which they didn't sort first time around. I b
hed and they said they would take the car in for a few days and sort everything out. I said that was fine but I had to go to Gateshead and I didn't want to drive up in a Mazda. They replied that they would sort me out with "something nice". The guy duly turned up at my house on the appointed morning in an all black 6.0 XJR-S. At the time it was the fastest thing I'd driven and seemed like a rocket ship. Needless to say we flew up to Gateshead with big grins...
I bought it from TWR Oxford and I had a couple of niggly problems which they didn't sort first time around. I b
hed and they said they would take the car in for a few days and sort everything out. I said that was fine but I had to go to Gateshead and I didn't want to drive up in a Mazda. They replied that they would sort me out with "something nice". The guy duly turned up at my house on the appointed morning in an all black 6.0 XJR-S. At the time it was the fastest thing I'd driven and seemed like a rocket ship. Needless to say we flew up to Gateshead with big grins...Just bought a 95 V12 coupe with 37k miles in Brooklands Green. Last year for it in the USA, and one of 50 V12 coupes. Very fun to drive, and one of my absolute favorite designs. The 6.0 V12 should be cheaper to maintain and more reliable than the 5.3, though I don't expect it to be as sound as my old 94 4.0 coupe. Sold that one with 119k miles and had no trouble at all with it in the one year/9k miles that I owned it, except for the hood (bonnet) not fitting right at all. Terrible fuel economy, but I'm not crazy enough to drive it daily - these cars really are awful in the wet.
As well as buying a bad one (earlier post) I was lent one by Frosts Jaguar in Portslade for three months for nothing - to tide me over as I was moving abroad (what great service eh!) and had just sold them my XJR. Anyway it was a delight even after my XJR and XK8 and though yes I sometimes wonder if I'd make it to the destination, the experience was great.
The passion started for me watching Walkinshaw at Donnington in the early 80's trounce everyone. He made his reputation then as a great developer of cars for racing and a bloody good driver too.
Watch this and then tell me you don't like them!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2j6yqZg0Q
The passion started for me watching Walkinshaw at Donnington in the early 80's trounce everyone. He made his reputation then as a great developer of cars for racing and a bloody good driver too.
Watch this and then tell me you don't like them!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2j6yqZg0Q
mrobin33 said:
The passion started for me watching Walkinshaw at Donnington in the early 80's trounce everyone. He made his reputation then as a great developer of cars for racing and a bloody good driver too.
Watch this and then tell me you don't like them!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2j6yqZg0Q
Bloody fantastic!!!Watch this and then tell me you don't like them!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2j6yqZg0Q
GEP said:
I adore these old tanks. I just know it would be a case of "never meet your hero" though!
Every XJS I have driven or been given a lift in has broken down badly, always a complete system - massive electrical failure, loss of hydraulics etc. I wouldn't buy one if you paid me TBH.Obviously there are owners out there who will have owned a faultless one for decades but I very much doubt it.
Twincam16 said:
GEP said:
I adore these old tanks. I just know it would be a case of "never meet your hero" though!
Every XJS I have driven or been given a lift in has broken down badly, always a complete system - massive electrical failure, loss of hydraulics etc. I wouldn't buy one if you paid me TBH.Obviously there are owners out there who will have owned a faultless one for decades but I very much doubt it.
rs48635 said:
get cheaper one from ebay for £360 with no MOT or TAX 
but no reserve either 
.
Car described "Jaguar XJS v12 5.3 1989 72000 miles, The vehicle is in very good condition hardly been used with no rust or dents."
Item number: 300200929724
Worth a gamble?
Operative word highlighted. but no reserve either . Car described "Jaguar XJS v12 5.3 1989 72000 miles, The vehicle is in very good condition hardly been used with no rust or dents."
Item number: 300200929724
Worth a gamble?
Oli.
i tried to buy an XJS once, very difficult!; first one i went to look at the guy wouldn't tell me his exact address after i drove from norwich to milton keynes to meet him. well correction, he first of all told me it was in his mates garage, locked and with no keys to get in! during one of many phone calls to sort this mess out, his wife said i wasn't the first one to have this trouble and she admitted he'd really need to buck his act up if he wanted any chance of selling the 'jaguar'! ahem!
second car i viewed, the 'owner' arranged to meet me at a car bodyshop where he worked, mmmmmmmmm, it turned up already overheating, had isopon throughout the lower sills and valances, and during the test drive while he told me all about the maseratis etc that he owned, i noticed 2 things; if the v12 was above 4000 rpm the oil pressure gauge finally picked up from zero, but alas no matter what rpm it had no power at all. some engine.
when we stopped I noticed about 8 feet of black rope hanging out of one of the tail pipes, No i had no idea either, funnily enough when it comes to buying old jags I then decided its best to buy an old mercedes instead.
second car i viewed, the 'owner' arranged to meet me at a car bodyshop where he worked, mmmmmmmmm, it turned up already overheating, had isopon throughout the lower sills and valances, and during the test drive while he told me all about the maseratis etc that he owned, i noticed 2 things; if the v12 was above 4000 rpm the oil pressure gauge finally picked up from zero, but alas no matter what rpm it had no power at all. some engine.
when we stopped I noticed about 8 feet of black rope hanging out of one of the tail pipes, No i had no idea either, funnily enough when it comes to buying old jags I then decided its best to buy an old mercedes instead.
Couldnt be arsed, unless it was a late and pristine one. My brother in law has a ropey V12 E-type and that overheats, he has tried all sorts to get it to run right (Fans, Sensors, relays, thermostats) but the bare facts are that its been topped up with tap water with no anti freeze in it so it throws out rusty water, i.e. the engine is buggered, even when it was ok the steering was too light, clutch too heavy, handlig woeful and brakes worse.
Old Jags, generally the dream is way better than the reality.
Old Jags, generally the dream is way better than the reality.
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