Discussion
Hi guys..
Always liked the XJ series jags and am seriously considering getting one to use as my daily drive. But i'd want to either buy one with LPG fitted or have one converted.
I've read up on all the websites www.go-lpg.co.uk for example and am quite keen on it but thought i'd drop a note on here to see if anyone had already done this and could share some personal insights?
Always liked the XJ series jags and am seriously considering getting one to use as my daily drive. But i'd want to either buy one with LPG fitted or have one converted.
I've read up on all the websites www.go-lpg.co.uk for example and am quite keen on it but thought i'd drop a note on here to see if anyone had already done this and could share some personal insights?
The only thing I would add is the following:
I did this, had an LPG conversion done, thinking I would be making a real saving a few years ago when I owned a large US 4x4.
I had it done by a 'supposedly reputable' company who were based in Norfolk. (They used to sponsor a lot of the shows etc run by Classic American magazine).
It was a nightmare from start to finish. I had ruunning problems, the car had to be back there a few times to be 'adjusted' and it was a genuine pain in the ass!
Before considering LPG, factor in the following:
The cost of the conversion (whether you get it done or a previous owner did - no Jag runs on LPG from the factory)
The lower than usual tank range as the LPG tank is generally smaller than the petrol tank (depending on where it was situated) and this is very prevolent in a saloon car!!
Potential servicing issues, as some LPG conversions can mess up the ECU mapping, etc. Main delaers will often say there are no problems servicing them, but watch out for 'hidden' costs!
Finally, total it all up look at how many miles you could have driven if you had spent the same amount on petrol and decide is it really worth it?
My conversion plus all the running around/loan cars etc etc cost in total around £4k!!!! I would have to have done a lot of miles to get through £4k of petrol (even in a Jag)
I just think it is a waste of time UNLESS you are doing interstellar mileage and someone else is paying for the conversion!
Dont ruin your Jag!!!!!
Cerby4.5
I did this, had an LPG conversion done, thinking I would be making a real saving a few years ago when I owned a large US 4x4.
I had it done by a 'supposedly reputable' company who were based in Norfolk. (They used to sponsor a lot of the shows etc run by Classic American magazine).
It was a nightmare from start to finish. I had ruunning problems, the car had to be back there a few times to be 'adjusted' and it was a genuine pain in the ass!
Before considering LPG, factor in the following:
The cost of the conversion (whether you get it done or a previous owner did - no Jag runs on LPG from the factory)
The lower than usual tank range as the LPG tank is generally smaller than the petrol tank (depending on where it was situated) and this is very prevolent in a saloon car!!
Potential servicing issues, as some LPG conversions can mess up the ECU mapping, etc. Main delaers will often say there are no problems servicing them, but watch out for 'hidden' costs!
Finally, total it all up look at how many miles you could have driven if you had spent the same amount on petrol and decide is it really worth it?
My conversion plus all the running around/loan cars etc etc cost in total around £4k!!!! I would have to have done a lot of miles to get through £4k of petrol (even in a Jag)
I just think it is a waste of time UNLESS you are doing interstellar mileage and someone else is paying for the conversion!
Dont ruin your Jag!!!!!
Cerby4.5
Slurms said:
Well i do reasonable mileages and am tempted to get one thats already been converted. Although it would have to have the installation certificate etc.
Especially as a diesel for similar money is going to be really boring..
All I would say is factor in the additional costs! Especially as a diesel for similar money is going to be really boring..
How many miles do you do PA? (I do around 15,000 private miles and around 7,000 business miles p.a)
Would you REALLY save a lot over and above what you would have spent on petrol over your annual mileage?
Yes LPG is cheaper than petrol but you get through a lot more of it!
Diesel is more expensive than petrol anyway (as well as diesel cars being smokey and noisy)
Plus: My LPG conversion/installation was fully certificated/inspected/tested and done to correct standards, it was just the fact that it was RUBBISH!
You don't say what XJ6 you are going to be buying and what your overall budget is (both for buying the car and set aside for running costs)? If it is the 3.2 then these are not too bad on fuel anyway? Also think also about when you come to re-sell, as a converted car will be a lot more difficult to get rid of than a std car.
Trying to make a big thirsty car (whatever it is) an 'affordable' everyday car simply by running it on LPG is (IMHO) sheer folly! You will also have the cars servicing costs, break pads and discs and all the other consumables that you will be going through at a rate of knots if the mileage is high! This will NOT be cheap and would certainly not be covered by the cost saving going from petrol to LPG!
I also looked at LPG for a long time before going down that route, my honest advice to you after the whole exercise would be DON'T BOTHER!!
If you are that concerned about reducing fuel costs, or keeping them as low as possible, I would suggest you may want to re-think a Jag or indeed anything with a 'larger' engine?
Don't mean this to sound negative, but I am certain that if you so go down this route you will (unfortunately) find me to be correct!
Good luck with whatever you decide!!!
and if you do go for a Jag.....ENJOY IT!!! They are great cars!!
Cerby4.5
Edited by Cerby4.5 on Friday 1st June 11:59
I'm not concerned with general car running costs.. They are a factor in buying any car of this type if you buy something like a Jag you have to expect a certain level of expense when doing so.
When it was actually working did you find a significant loss in vehicle performance when running on LPG rather than petrol..?
When it was actually working did you find a significant loss in vehicle performance when running on LPG rather than petrol..?
Hi Slurms. Like yourself I was interested in buying a Gas fuelled XJ6, so decided to check with the local Jaguar Franchise. Advice I was given was to steer clear as at that time they had 3 (V6 models) waiting for new engines due to bore wear. All were gas fuelled. Although no one had any hard evidence the coincidence was enough to put me off! Now have straight 6 X300 Xj6 Exec. - very nice vehicle!!
Regards - Gottajag.
Regards - Gottajag.
Just my tuppence worth, I have not had a car that has been converted, but I do know several people who have, mostly Range Rovers. Without exception all have had problems, some serious and very expensive. I used to do approx 100 miles a day in Range Rovers and did look into the option, but decided against it. A friend who deals in Range Rovers won't touch conversions.
Don't forget that the whole basis for an LPG conversion is to reduce running costs. If the theiving Cotch Stunt in Downing Street decides to increase the duty on LPG / restrict availability / tax conversions or come up with any other cunning plan to extract more cash from LPG drivers then you're stuffed.
I can't comment on an LPG jag specifically but I've only ever known of bad experiences with LPG. We had LPG powered Ford Fiestas as police panda cars about 5 years ago. Much trumpeting of the green credentials. Load of crap, they handled badly (extra tank in boot) and ruined the cyclinder heads and we were then instructed to run them on unleaded only!
Colleague has a hearse, I mean PT Cruiser converted to LPG. Similar story - problems with poor running and power delivery.
If you're doing big miles, buy a diesel and keep the Jag for pleasure. If you want one car and do sensible mileage keep the Jag as it was intended and live with the mpg. There's no such thing as a free lunch!
Colleague has a hearse, I mean PT Cruiser converted to LPG. Similar story - problems with poor running and power delivery.
If you're doing big miles, buy a diesel and keep the Jag for pleasure. If you want one car and do sensible mileage keep the Jag as it was intended and live with the mpg. There's no such thing as a free lunch!
Yes silimalr sotries, from those who know sod all about it.
I have run LPG cars from 1995 onwards, not bought a dropof petrol scince 2002.
3 Rover sterlings (Mk1 825, Mk1 827 and a 2.7 coupe)
3 XJ40 jaguars
And currently a Citroen 2.0 TCT XM
and about 450K miles of driveing on LPG
Properly set up and working correctly LPG rocks, and knocks Diesel into a crooked hat in terms of running costs. It DOUBLES the life of your engine. You really need a stopwatch and a standing 1/4 to noticne the differance. On turbo cars its even better as the 110 RON octain means you can overboots quiet a lot before detonation occours
Unfortunaly LPGA certification does not mean they know how to fit or adjust the systems correctly.Cant actually say I do, but as a tallented amature have managed pretty well so far. One thing I will say LPG is hard on the ignition system, best to fit new plugs with the gap reduced by 1 thou. Any ignition fault will show up on LPG way before it does on petrol often leading to ppl thinking its the LPG system at fault when in fact its not
Setwart
I have run LPG cars from 1995 onwards, not bought a dropof petrol scince 2002.
3 Rover sterlings (Mk1 825, Mk1 827 and a 2.7 coupe)
3 XJ40 jaguars
And currently a Citroen 2.0 TCT XM
and about 450K miles of driveing on LPG
Properly set up and working correctly LPG rocks, and knocks Diesel into a crooked hat in terms of running costs. It DOUBLES the life of your engine. You really need a stopwatch and a standing 1/4 to noticne the differance. On turbo cars its even better as the 110 RON octain means you can overboots quiet a lot before detonation occours
Unfortunaly LPGA certification does not mean they know how to fit or adjust the systems correctly.Cant actually say I do, but as a tallented amature have managed pretty well so far. One thing I will say LPG is hard on the ignition system, best to fit new plugs with the gap reduced by 1 thou. Any ignition fault will show up on LPG way before it does on petrol often leading to ppl thinking its the LPG system at fault when in fact its not
Setwart
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