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My Jag XJR

Introduction

My Jaguar XJR V8

Got it in 2008 to replace the 1966 S-Type I`d just sold & after a long line of XJ6`s.

I`d always wanted an XJR in black with Ivory leather since they came out (I was working at Jaguar then), one of my friends was looking for a salvage car to do up for his misses, he called me from the salvage yard up north & told me he`d seen something I`d like, told me about it, sent me a few pics from his mobile & I decided to get it unseen.

When it arrived I couldnt believe my luck, the damage was limited to the bonnet, grille, intercooler, bumper, bumper mounts (fibreglass & snapped) & the washer bottle. The headlights & mounts (a weak point in frontals) were unbroken, as were the lights in the bumper, thats how light the damage was.

The interior was mint, as was the rest of the bodywork, the (P-Zero) tyres looked almost new, it even had its service history in the glove box (unusual for a salvage car) & a Parrot hands free kit fitted!

The parts from Jaguar were obviously steep which is why it had been written off as a cat D, bonnet £700, bumper £800, grille £300, intercooler £300 etc. I managed to get the lot over the next 6 weeks for about £600.

Took me about another 2 weeks working here & there to get it finished, there were no hidden suprises & it went straight through its MOT with no advisories when I`d finished.

About 18 months on its still running perfectly, still hits 60 in 5 seconds & is perfectly comfortable well into 3 figure speeds! & even though I hardly use it these days, it still always starts straight away without even a jump start!

Pics as I got her:

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& now:

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& the downside!

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The last 2 pictures are the reason why I dont use her much! most of my journeys are in London on my own, not the best place for MPG... so I use the Uno 95% of the time. I only use the XJR for the odd motorway trip with my kids now(I wouldnt take the kids on the motorway in the Uno for safety reason), the average mpg has gone up to about 19mpg because of that, but I`ve only done 4-500 miles in her since the last MOT 7 months ago....
Jaguar managed to get the Interiors just right back in the 90's. Its a same they dont quite manage to do it so well today.
She looks lovely. That kind of car will last for ever with the treatment you seem to give it. Keep her and have your occasional pleasure out of her. I know i would.
 
Thanks volxstu,

I`ve had 12 XJ`s, Jaguar SIII`s & Daimler XJ40`s, the insides are always a nice place to be, much nicer than anything Germany can churn out IMHO, plus theres that beautiful ride quality combined with excellent handling, a combination no one else pulls off quite as well as Jaguar. The steel bodied XJ`s are also built like tanks, the only stronger car are Rollers.

I`ve also never broke down in an XJ, the closest I came was when I lost all the coolant instantaniously @ over 100mph when a hose split lengthways, it destroyed the (all ally) engine, but unbelievably it still got me home! (y)

I love em, although I am considering selling her due to lack of use, if I do she definately wont be my last :)
 
Ah but if you love her then the occasional cruise makes it all the more special surely?
My dad has had a porsche since 56 and its done something like 2500 miles lol. Now thats not using a car often enough.
 
Has your Dad got a 356?

I`ve done under a 1000 miles in my Boxster in the last 3 years too!

My brother has done a rediculous 200 miles since Oct 08 in his 944 which is why we`ve decided to sell the 944 & share the Boxster.

I`ve done about 2000 miles in my XJR since Oct 2008 as well.

It is nice to have them for the occasional drive, but I havent got the room & I`m fed up of paying a grand in tax every year on cars I mostly dont use (& the roads a are still knackered!).

I`ve got 4 road taxes & 2 MOT`s to do on my cars in the next 3 weeks! (n)

I need to live in a caravan in the middle of a car park really...lol

Heres a video of the XJR doing 0-70:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QSKUk_Hvvk"]YouTube- Acceleration Jaguar XJR V8 0-60mph[/nomedia]
 

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Cheers JFL

Yeah, the new XJ`s interior is lush, but then what Jag saloons interior isnt!

Dont like the new ones lard arse though...

Still, its gonna be 1 hell of a car to drive, especially with the 510bhp supercharged 5.0 lump in it! (y)

have you not seen the new jags interior.... now that is lush :yum:

you really wouldnt be able to tell now what had happened... good work (y):)
 
I was pretty disappointed with the Boxster when I first got it, just felt like a Golf to drive, so I got Janspeed stainless sports exhaust, de-cat kit, K&N panel filter (had the full inlet kit but it blew 3 AFM`s @ £650 a pop :mad:), its chipped (but I want to get round to having it rolling roaded), Porsche tekhart shocks + springs & genuine quickshift. It totally transformed it.

Handles beautifully now, & sounds absolutely mental, especially in tunnels! :cool:

This is what it sounds like:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2iLIp8hurE"]YouTube- Porsche Boxster idling[/nomedia]

No standard 2.7. Its pretty nippy for what it is. I think he does regret not geting the S though.
 
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Now that is a peach! I'm very jealous lol I've always ha a soft spot for a lack XJR on Ivory and ive said that one day i will have one...

I know exactly what you mean abou haveing lots to tax MOT andinsure yearly, i'm on 5 now plus bikes and it's such a pain but it's worth it for the smile on my face when i get to drive them :D

If I had a few less and were better financially i'd probably make an offer but alas the timing is bad :(

anyway it's a lovely looking car and hope you enjoy the rest of your time with it
 
Hey! Fab looking car! I love that interiour.
I was thinking about geting one of these next year as a seciond car (y)
I love big saloons, i had a 1985 volvo 740 for abit and loved it.

But it has to be bright red (solid). but i think iv only ever seen one XJ in that color! :bang:
 
Thanks Fordy & tenpast!

Its very much a second car, theres a tide mark on the road where I park it! although I have done about 100 miles in the last couple of weeks in her ferrying family about (my Uno hasnt got AC!).

Bright red is rare, I dont think I`ve ever seen a bright red XJ8 & I`ve only seen 1 red XK, its not a popular colour on a modern Jag!

I`ve had loads of big saloons, mainly Vauxhalls (about 40 including Victors & FE`s, Senators, Carltons), I`ve also had some weird ones like Fiat Argenta, Lancia Thema, Pug 505, Alfa 164`s etc, but Jags are my favorite. ;)

I`ve put her 1/2 up for sale... I`m kinda hoping no one makes me a good offer...lol
 
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