Owning a 1996 Jaguar XJR at 18 years old
Discussion
I thought it would be a long time before I could insure anything like this, but it was unbelievably cheap even at my age.
Fantastic paint, hardly any rust, plenty of tread in the tyres. Approaching starship miles at 120k, but it wears them well with just a few scuffs on the seats and some loose trim. Because the previous owner was only a year older than me, the car already had two scaffolding poles for exhausts. In the boot I found a spare set of plates, a pair of his old sunglasses, a single wiper blade, an empty box of lower arm bushes for an XJ40 and a packet of Nestle Munchies.
[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/i2CXToY2.jpg
Of course, it's not all good news:
- The windscreen wipers won't turn off.
- It's automatic.
These are just little nitpicks of course. It's perfect really.
Fantastic paint, hardly any rust, plenty of tread in the tyres. Approaching starship miles at 120k, but it wears them well with just a few scuffs on the seats and some loose trim. Because the previous owner was only a year older than me, the car already had two scaffolding poles for exhausts. In the boot I found a spare set of plates, a pair of his old sunglasses, a single wiper blade, an empty box of lower arm bushes for an XJ40 and a packet of Nestle Munchies.
[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/i2CXToY2.jpg
Of course, it's not all good news:
- The windscreen wipers won't turn off.
- It's automatic.
These are just little nitpicks of course. It's perfect really.
Edited by Lord E38 on Thursday 31st August 16:36
Love these, and you've done it now. You are on the 'old jags' list for life now! 
I bought my first Jaaaggg when I was 21/22, a Series III 4.2 back in about 1989. I've had very few years since where I've not had at least one Jag in the drive whether it be and XJ, XJS or XK.
Over the years I've had 3 XJs, 3 XJRs, an XJC, an XJS, an XKR100 and currently have my XKR150 Convertible.
Love the Antigua Blue, my first XJR was this model but in signal red, I think there's a photo of it on my profile still. Might as well have a distinctive colour if you're going to have an XJR.
You'll probably find you get a few irritating problems with yours, try not to worry too much about them, these aren't massively complicated cars by modern standards. If you can't have a go at fixing things yourself find a decent local Jag indie, or just a decent local 'proper' mechanic/garage. There are also lots of lots of online forums where almost ANY issue you come across will have been done before and how to fix it described in great detail.
ETA: If you're finding the gearbox a bit sluggish it might be worth getting the fluid checked/replaced. It's a Merc box in these, supposedly 'sealed for life', but life in this case is about 100k miles in reality. Replacing the box was the one big job I had to do on mine after it went bang at about 110k miles. Replacing the fluid should stave off the failure and improve the quality of changes. Get your head around the J-gate, it works well considering the age of the 'box, but really it shouldn't be needed if you have the car in sport mode. I can remember inducing wheelspin, in third, a few times on damp dual-carriageways.
Never be tempted to turn off the TCM on public roads, it WILL save you ass if you're going to enjoy the car!
ETA 2: Just realised it's the straight six version , not V8, so ignore gearbox comments above, have a read through some of the forums to see what they advise.
I bought my first Jaaaggg when I was 21/22, a Series III 4.2 back in about 1989. I've had very few years since where I've not had at least one Jag in the drive whether it be and XJ, XJS or XK.
Over the years I've had 3 XJs, 3 XJRs, an XJC, an XJS, an XKR100 and currently have my XKR150 Convertible.
Love the Antigua Blue, my first XJR was this model but in signal red, I think there's a photo of it on my profile still. Might as well have a distinctive colour if you're going to have an XJR.
You'll probably find you get a few irritating problems with yours, try not to worry too much about them, these aren't massively complicated cars by modern standards. If you can't have a go at fixing things yourself find a decent local Jag indie, or just a decent local 'proper' mechanic/garage. There are also lots of lots of online forums where almost ANY issue you come across will have been done before and how to fix it described in great detail.
ETA: If you're finding the gearbox a bit sluggish it might be worth getting the fluid checked/replaced. It's a Merc box in these, supposedly 'sealed for life', but life in this case is about 100k miles in reality. Replacing the box was the one big job I had to do on mine after it went bang at about 110k miles. Replacing the fluid should stave off the failure and improve the quality of changes. Get your head around the J-gate, it works well considering the age of the 'box, but really it shouldn't be needed if you have the car in sport mode. I can remember inducing wheelspin, in third, a few times on damp dual-carriageways.
Never be tempted to turn off the TCM on public roads, it WILL save you ass if you're going to enjoy the car!
ETA 2: Just realised it's the straight six version , not V8, so ignore gearbox comments above, have a read through some of the forums to see what they advise.
Edited by Piersman2 on Tuesday 13th July 08:51
Awesome,
I have been bobbing back and forth to work in a fiat 500 for the last 3 years, after my eldest learnt to drive in it. Her little brother is 17 this summer and so we just kept it on the basis that insurance would be reasonable (it hasnt got a black box)
but now, I will be spending the morning trawling the internet for old jags - I am sure he would prefer a Jaag' and more appealing for my commute on occasion
I have been bobbing back and forth to work in a fiat 500 for the last 3 years, after my eldest learnt to drive in it. Her little brother is 17 this summer and so we just kept it on the basis that insurance would be reasonable (it hasnt got a black box)
but now, I will be spending the morning trawling the internet for old jags - I am sure he would prefer a Jaag' and more appealing for my commute on occasion
Well done that man - what a superb thing to own & drive at 18!
OP your post takes me back - when I started driving at 17 in 1988 (yes you would call me old), my first car for a year was a Rover P6 (you may need to look it up!). It was only 13 years old at the time but it was from a different era and I loved it, I felt 'cool' driving around in such a car when all my mates had old Fiestas and such like.
I hope this cars gives you many memorable journeys and is a wonderful ownership experience - enjoy!
OP your post takes me back - when I started driving at 17 in 1988 (yes you would call me old), my first car for a year was a Rover P6 (you may need to look it up!). It was only 13 years old at the time but it was from a different era and I loved it, I felt 'cool' driving around in such a car when all my mates had old Fiestas and such like.
I hope this cars gives you many memorable journeys and is a wonderful ownership experience - enjoy!
Fantastic car and best of luck with it. Keep us all updated! I've lusted after one of these on and off. I don't do a great deal of driving now so something far less economical is much more viable.
My sensible head would like to give you some advice though. This is a relatively powerful car and RWD. You're not Lewis Hamilton and the car isn't an F1 car. Please be careful and don't start throwing the back end out at every roundabout. Your post says to me you have a head on your shoulders so I probably didn't need to say that but none of us want to see you in hospital.
My sensible head would like to give you some advice though. This is a relatively powerful car and RWD. You're not Lewis Hamilton and the car isn't an F1 car. Please be careful and don't start throwing the back end out at every roundabout. Your post says to me you have a head on your shoulders so I probably didn't need to say that but none of us want to see you in hospital.
but huge congrats for buying and sharing the journey 
Excellent work, congratulations.
At 18 I had an E30 318is with less than half the power of that thing.
I thought I was Walter Rorhl, and it took an over-close interaction with a wall following a slip-grip-slip-BIG GRIP event (front end, and shortly afterwards, the back end too) to teach me that I wasn't.
Go steady...
(God, I've turned into my dad.)
At 18 I had an E30 318is with less than half the power of that thing.
I thought I was Walter Rorhl, and it took an over-close interaction with a wall following a slip-grip-slip-BIG GRIP event (front end, and shortly afterwards, the back end too) to teach me that I wasn't.
Go steady...
(God, I've turned into my dad.)
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