History
Business was doing OK so I treated myself to a car I'd always loved. I looked at for sale adverts for quite a while. I wanted a Sovereign in Bordeaux or Gold with Magnolia interior for quite a while. This one came up at a dealer in Brisbane who specialised in these cars. I went and saw and wrote the cheque. It wasn't long and it lived up to the Jaguar reputation. Tilt tray home. Over the next 6 months it was tilt trayed home a further 4 times, every time for a different reason. RACQ called me and said I should have it repaired as they could not promise to keep responding. I had already had a Jaguar specialist check it over and he replaced so many bits. My Citroen based brakes then failed and I rear ended a car (I didn't dare call RACQ) The fuel pump failed (RACQ did come again) I went to replace te front brake pads. It took all day to remove one wheel as it had "grown" to the studs. Memo - don't use that acid based wheel cleaning stuff on alloys! After a service I was driving home and noticed the steering was "wooly" and I could hear a scraping sound. It almost failed to take the corner into our street. I stopped and looked under the front. The steering rack was now only hanging by one side of the clamp on one side of the rack. I was happily cruising on the M1 up to then at 110 kph.
I started driving it less and less but at least when I did go out it ran well and got me home. I realised I was anxious when I drove it and this took away some of the enjoyment. I was never game to go long distances. I sold her to a fellow Jag enthusiast who promptly hopped in and drove her to Adelaide and back with only a flat tyre to repair. It was one of the front ones and with so much NEVASIEZE on it, came off so easily.
I loved the times she was going well as I do not think I have ever had a car that gave so much as a driving experience. More than adequate power, lovely transmission with that fabulous J gate feature, ride that was quiet and so compliant, handling that would not shame a sports car and that feeling of polished wood and soft compliant leather. And that shape. I know that many say it was not as shapely as the previous models but I look at it as a "grown up" XJ Series 3. It has the cat look and shape plus the best headlights I experienced in a standard car.
Yes I sold it for a Mercedes but I'm sure I'll have another one. I read Carsales.com a lot looking at Jaguar XJ 40s. Maybe a 4 litre this time.
Modifications
Alloy snowflake spoke wheels, chrome wheel arch eyebrows.
