Life with an XJ220
Discussion
TheLordJohn said:
When was that...? Would love to see/hear so many in one place!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...and
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
thegreenhell said:
TheLordJohn said:
When was that...? Would love to see/hear so many in one place!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...and
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
When I worked for JLR, I was fortunate enough to take the 220 from their heritage fleet (K994YUD) for a full-bore blast around the Gaydon proving ground.
To this date, it's by far the most exciting, raw automotive experience I've ever had. I've driven other supercars before and since, but none have given me the same feeling that the 220 did.
When I win the lottery, it's the first thing on my shopping list.
To this date, it's by far the most exciting, raw automotive experience I've ever had. I've driven other supercars before and since, but none have given me the same feeling that the 220 did.
When I win the lottery, it's the first thing on my shopping list.
TheLordJohn said:
But now Jaguar make 4 cylinder oil burning, motorway-repmobile, Euro-trash motors instead.
Sir William would be ashamed.
The XC75 was quite exciting.. if only they'd made a few moreSir William would be ashamed.
Also SVO are still making some very mad cars - if you've got the money, they'll make you anything you want.
TheLordJohn said:
But now Jaguar make 4 cylinder oil burning, motorway-repmobile, Euro-trash motors instead.
Sir William would be ashamed.
He'd probably be quite happy, considering those "Euro-trash motors" are the reason the company can afford to build super cars in the first place....Sir William would be ashamed.
Cneci said:
He'd probably be quite happy
Well as he almost sacked someone for even suggesting a diesel engined Jaguar, I very much doubt that to be the case.They managed a C type, D Type, XJ13, 80's XJR's and XJ220 without building rep-mobiles. If they aren't supercars then I don't know what is.
TheLordJohn said:
Well as he almost sacked someone for even suggesting a diesel engined Jaguar, I very much doubt that to be the case.
They managed a C type, D Type, XJ13, 80's XJR's and XJ220 without building rep-mobiles. If they aren't supercars then I don't know what is.
I think he would be happy that Jaguar has had a magnificent turnaround circa 2008.They managed a C type, D Type, XJ13, 80's XJR's and XJ220 without building rep-mobiles. If they aren't supercars then I don't know what is.
That would supersede the dismay towards a brief spell of diesel powered Jags (which let's be honest will be phased out in the next decade or so).
Rep-mobiles, like the supermini sector, are the bread and butter of the automotive industry.
If you crack that market (rep mobiles - like BMW with the 320d), then you have a solid platform to build more low-volume, enthusiast orientated models.
I have a lot of memories of this car as i used to live literally round the corner from Browns Lane Jag plant in Coventry. One of my mates was one of the test engineers and he drove one of these a few times. Sadly I never got to go in one but........a really funny story, which I am pretty damn sure is true.
Browns Lane used to have a delivery driver who went between the various sites in the area collecting bits for the test engineers and often to MIRA, who drove a Ford Transit. Now as the chapter on the XJ220 closed, there were I believe, a few engines left over and the delivery driver who was an old boy happened to remark, for a laugh that they should stick one of the spare engines in his transit. So apparently that's exactly what some of the engineering lads did....they mid-mounted it in a transit. I seem to recall that the old boy was called Ron.
To be fair I cannot corroborate this story but i'm pretty sure it's true. My best memory was pulling onto the ring road at the end of Allesley Village, where the Coundon Wedge road come down from the (now old Jag plant at Browns Lane) in my Opel Manta GTE (Circa 1992), and hearing the most almighty noise behind me. I looked in the mirror and there were not 1 but 4 XJ220's behind me coming round the roundabout. Needless to say I quickly shifted out of the way and watched as they blasted past me like I was parked at the side of the road. One image i will never forget. A true classic piece of British engineering. Of course you can see one as often as you like as there is one in Coventry Transport Museum, so go drool !
Browns Lane used to have a delivery driver who went between the various sites in the area collecting bits for the test engineers and often to MIRA, who drove a Ford Transit. Now as the chapter on the XJ220 closed, there were I believe, a few engines left over and the delivery driver who was an old boy happened to remark, for a laugh that they should stick one of the spare engines in his transit. So apparently that's exactly what some of the engineering lads did....they mid-mounted it in a transit. I seem to recall that the old boy was called Ron.
To be fair I cannot corroborate this story but i'm pretty sure it's true. My best memory was pulling onto the ring road at the end of Allesley Village, where the Coundon Wedge road come down from the (now old Jag plant at Browns Lane) in my Opel Manta GTE (Circa 1992), and hearing the most almighty noise behind me. I looked in the mirror and there were not 1 but 4 XJ220's behind me coming round the roundabout. Needless to say I quickly shifted out of the way and watched as they blasted past me like I was parked at the side of the road. One image i will never forget. A true classic piece of British engineering. Of course you can see one as often as you like as there is one in Coventry Transport Museum, so go drool !
99PBATR said:
Browns Lane used to have a delivery driver who went between the various sites in the area collecting bits for the test engineers and often to MIRA, who drove a Ford Transit. Now as the chapter on the XJ220 closed, there were I believe, a few engines left over and the delivery driver who was an old boy happened to remark, for a laugh that they should stick one of the spare engines in his transit. So apparently that's exactly what some of the engineering lads did....they mid-mounted it in a transit. I seem to recall that the old boy was called Ron. To be fair I cannot corroborate this story but i'm pretty sure it's true.
I suspect you're recalling this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChTUMNyjUHE : I've seen it at FoS a few times, & had a good look one year, it's a superb bit of kit 
It was a development vehicle rather than built for fun (the story is fairly well documented):
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a74...
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a74...
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