Straight through pipes?

[J_S_G]

Right. So, I pick the car up tomorrow, and I'm already planning on frittering money I don't have on upgrades I don't need (some things never change)! The first thing on my list is the noise - it's just NOT a TVR burble, even with the sports exhaust. And I'm not sure altering the size of the backbox is going to quite cut it. Which got me thinking...

Question: Has anybody done away with their back box entirely and gone for straight through pipes? Got any clips/insight into how fearsome this sounds? And any input on issues re. back pressure, etc. once that's done?

Cheers all.

[Bat21]

AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder

[Slikk]

Bat21 said:

AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder

Loud enough for you ?

[Bat21]

Slikk said:

Bat21 said: AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder Loud enough for you ?

Careful dear boy, your inadequacy is showing!

[triple7]

JSG, is this car gonna be doing a fair bit of driving? If so the 2500rpm drone might do your head in after a while.

PS Jags are supposed to be suave and sleek, not TVR-ish!

[jagman]

Hi James,

Your car is carrying a half exhaust system originally built by the company that made the exhausts for the MacLaren F1 Road Car. Be careful not to bugger it up with any cheap imitation kit!! If you send me the info requested, I will know exactly what to offer you ! I am just seeking confirmation that the system has not been modified since we built the car for the first owner. By the way, you will also need the latest Jaguar rear mounting brackets.

WBR Chas

[Griffithy]

Hi, James!

How are you?

Welcome to the R-Club.
Used to the TVR noise the Jags sound a bit dull now.
Otherwise I think to much TVR-noise would not really fit the elegance of the cat.

[Pettsie]

As a former TVR owner I say although its difficult its time to move on dear boy. Or buy a 400SE with a V8 Developments engine for toytime

[xkrman]

Bat21 said:

AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder

Careful you don't have that XJS too loud.

With all the corrosion undue resonance may shake it to pieces.

[J_S_G]

Right, first weekend of driving out of the way (shame the weather was lousy). So, now I'm £150 lighter of pocket following being relieved of numerous petrol tokens, and I'm far wiser (yet still nigh-on-incompetent) about what I want doing to the car...

The exhaust's actually fine. No, it's not as loud as the Tusc, but I don't need to compensate for poor quality of sound with sheer volume. It does sound lovely, and any louder would be a bit superfluous. So there's some money saved.

The straight line performance "isn't too shabby", either - was quite content (for now) with its overtaking ability.

Was even happy with the number of looks it got from people - wasn't expecting any at all, but got quite a few pointing fingers, etc. (although the 18 year old fillies appear to have been replaced by pearl-adorned 50-somethings )

Now, the gripes:

Given how many other things the car senses, why oh why can't the car sense the fact I'm taking a corner really hard and not decide to change gear for me when I'm already on the limits of available grip. That nearly sent me into a wall twice. Does anyone know if the F1-shift thingy lets you TOTALLY stop it from changing gear for you? That should also sort out the "I'm about to overtake someone, and you're in completely the wrong gear for me, and I KNOW this maneuver's s going to take me half a second longer than it should" scenario, too.

The handling. Hmmmm. With the sports springs and 20" wheels, I was expecting a bit more from it round the twisties, to be honest. It's not bad for a big car, but I needed the best that the gadgetry could provide to get me out of trouble a couple of times in corners I wouldn't have expected to prove so troublesome. Anyone got opinions on the uprated dampers to match? I REALLY need to be able to carry at least another 5mph into corners (if not more), or I'm going to be a very unhappy boy.

On the whole, I'm really liking it; it's only worries of it not coping too happily with the twisties bits of continental drives, etc. that's bothering me. So, anyone want to buy a 300BHP Rover for £1500... time I got rid of the runabout to fund some upgrades.

And, as ever, cheers for the input all

[Bat21]

xkrman said:

Bat21 said: AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder Careful you don't have that XJS too loud. With all the corrosion undue resonance may shake it to pieces.

With a V12 it is quality of sound rather than quantity, I personaly stick to the original as my corrosion free example exudes the ability to waft

[triple7]

JSG, in the twisties stick that gear leaver over the left side and use it as a manual. 3rd works very well in almost all cases, but becareful slipping into 2nd and flooring it out of corners, you'll be in a bent XKR in no time.
Enjoy

g

[xkrman]

Bat21 said:

xkrman said: Bat21 said: AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder Careful you don't have that XJS too loud. With all the corrosion undue resonance may shake it to pieces. With a V12 it is quality of sound rather than quantity, I personaly stick to the original as my corrosion free example exudes the ability to waft

Just teasing, I'm a bit jealous. Your XJS looks superb.

I owned 2 V12s myself, which unfortunately both corroded. I would gladly own another one someday.

[Bat21]

xkrman said:

Bat21 said: xkrman said: Bat21 said: AJ6 engineering do a kit for the V12 XJS that does exactly that, I cant believe a mere 8 pots would be any louder Careful you don't have that XJS too loud. With all the corrosion undue resonance may shake it to pieces. With a V12 it is quality of sound rather than quantity, I personaly stick to the original as my corrosion free example exudes the ability to waft Just teasing, I'm a bit jealous. Your XJS looks superb. I owned 2 V12s myself, which unfortunately both corroded. I would gladly own another one someday.

Thanks, I often forget what a wonderful car it is to drive and think about changing it. I then I take her out for a spin and fall in love all over again. I think she will be with me for some time to come, I do look at AJ6's catalogue every now and again pondering a rechipped ecu and larger throttle bodies but my aim is to keep her original and how fast do I realy need to go!

[NormanD]

Hi J S G

I have a XKR Coupe with the F1 shift, works GREAT.

It is just like a clutchless manual it will stay in the geat you put it in other that if you come to a standstill it will go to 2nd for safety reasons.

Many other goodies on the car to, ask Chas

[J_S_G]

NormanD said:

Hi J S G I have a XKR Coupe with the F1 shift, works GREAT. It is just like a clutchless manual it will stay in the geat you put it in other that if you come to a standstill it will go to 2nd for safety reasons. Many other goodies on the car to, ask Chas

Cheers. Chap should be paying up for buying the battle-barge off me tonight (hopefully). So that + insurance refund will be going Chas's way, no doubt!

[suggs]

having raced jags for 5 years they DO NOT HANDLE in standard trim and it annoys the hell out of me that they sell them like this. It is just dangerous and irresponsible.
They go tolerably quick but will bite you in the corners by their unpredictable handling.

I spend about a week sorting out each Jag I do and then they end up neutral in the corners oversteer on demand and let you know what is going on with plenty fo feedback. Now I wont drive a normal jag as thehandling is so are disapointing.

I got last XJS to even turn in without turning into an blancmange! amazing and lets you go miles quicker without spending loads o dosh.

So if you want to know about making jags and astons better then look at the handling and then look at the handling again. they are easy to get right so why can't this be done before they sell them to you us?

spout spout spout