Heh guys.

Is it just me or do you drive your classic around "on edge" ?

I'm constantly listening for any bump, squeak, vibration that doesn't seem normal. Any gear change that didn't "feel" right. Half the time I think it is all in my head! I have no justification for this as so far it has been reliable and not broke down on me. (Just some minor things) Half the time I don't know whether I am just imagining something or I'm ultra sensitive to how my car "normally" drives. I get in our 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander and I dont give two hoots how it drives.

I have become bloody paranoid!! I constantly run "what if's" through my head. What if she broke down here on this strip of highway. What if I couldn't start it here?

What are your guys experience? I just wanna drive and relax! Tell me it's ok. Help me!!

 

There's more to worry about from the surrounding loose nuts driving SUV's at
high velocity with phone in hand.

One minor smack and the car is an insurance statistic.

 

Paul,

Its a V12, be BRAVE, let it do what it does so well.

That Goose is so reliable, and I would drive it around OZ in a heartbeat.

That Mitsi will give you more grief than the Jag, and sooner than later, coz they are a throw away car.

Clean air, Clean fuel, Clean oil, and coolant up to snuf, and it will go anywhere.

 

You are not alone Bro!

I am just the same!

Every squeak, every rattle, every little bang drives me insane and I have got first hand experience, of just what it feels like when something decides to go

wrong, as last year I lost all the Brakes on a dual carriageway.

Heading straight for the back of a Truck doing 70 mph, I thought 'I'd bought the Farm' I really did!

But Hey, that's what handbrakes are for!

After that was sorted out, which no doubt disappointed all my Relatives who thought that I had left them something in my Will.

She started bouncing on Wimbledon Week, like a Tennis Ball!

All I can say to that Bro, is coincidence or what!

It turned out to be the 'Shocks', they never bothered checking when I took Her for an MOT and seemed far more interested in making sure the Windscreen Washer Worked.

Which and here is my Tip of the Week! You don't want to use with the Top Down!

Then She Wore out a 'Brand New Tyre' in about 5 minutes because the Tracking was out and as Summer Starts this Friday according to the Forecast.

I bet by now that they will have sold out of Suntan Cream...The List goes on!

So No 'Bro' you are Certainly not on your own!

 

Grant you have a way of soothing the soul. I might cut and paste those words and hang them on my sun shade visor. Ha ha cheers

OB sounds like we are peas in a pod mate!

Ha ha yes I would imagine you would have those issues with a convertible ha ha ha funny bugger!

Well, I guess I should mention I am renowned as being a "highly strung" person so I guess it figures.

It's funny cause the paranoia stops when the car stops. I don't have any qualms leaving her at the shops or next to other cars cause when I am home (from sea) I drive her all the time.

I pick up the kids from school in her somedays. I get to their classroom and they ask: Did you bring the Blue Goose?

Alright. When I get home.....no fear!

 

There is one pet paranoia that I have in any vehicle out on a highway.

Any sign of a loose wheel, be it a change in tire noise, a slight wiggle,
a wandering mind, is reason to pull over and check the lug nuts.

This cycle can repeat itself every 20 minutes or so. When it starts
happening it can put a real crimp in the average speed for the trip.

Yes, I check tire pressures, lug nuts, oil and coolant before long
trips. Doesn't matter on some days.

Must have something to do with the time a front wheel started wobbling
on the highway one fine summer evening. Did the brakes the previous
winter in the snow, left final tightening for after a coffee break to
warm up. Whoops. Fortunately, none had come off entirely and a
very nice older mechanic at the next off ramp lent the kid a breaker
bar and socket to fix it.

++

 

Just drive the bloody thing Paul, you made it to my place in Brisbane and home again both times! I've only floored your car in reverse up my drive, seems fine to me.
My car makes plenty of noises, it just sounds alike well run in car to me.
In the second pic (my daughter took) you don't look too paranoid.

 

i do listen to every noise on every vehicle i drive not really in a paranoid way. as far as being paranoid in the jag im more paranoid about my fresh paint. if there is a wet spot on the road or drive over some sand or gravel on the road makes me cringe.

 

Its just a car. Get in, start it and drive.

 

Give it a good drive and you will have some confidence. I used to drive mine gingerly and then attempted an italian tune up one day. It didn't work, because the gears are so long that I get way above the speed limit before I spend any time at the rev limiter, but boy did it give me confidence in the car. It loves to rev, and doesn't seem to be screaming for help like more cars do, it wants more!

Driving at 100+ will do the same thing for you, maybe you just need to own it longer?

I'll admit I keep an eye on the gauges more than I should, but after owning it for 5 years and driving it daily, it feels almost like a work truck, you just get in and go wherever you need to.

I probably wouldn't take it on a long drive without getting another radiator and fixing the front suspension (bad tire wear), but I'd trust the engine to take me anywhere.

 

I wouldn't say I was Paranoid but sometimes I freak out so much at every

rattle and squeak that if it wasn't for the GF

I would have installed a Flush Toilet, in place of a Passenger Seat!

 

Bro

I just can't tell if you're Smiling, or sitting there Grinding your Teeth at the prospect of having to reverse, all the way down Clarkes driveway!

 

Oh no that was me driving outta Clarke's hood after we had got the new radiator installed and she was running like a champ. (Awesome stay over!)

It's funny. The first car I ever really drove around was a 1984 Mazda 626 84 model. Now that thing was a heap of **** and WAS falling apart. Would break down heaps. But....I dont recall being paranoid about driving it. Probably cause I didnt care much for the car.

Now the Blue Goose and XJS in general.....I think I am in love lol!

 

I feel exactly the same Bro, if I could get Her in my Bedroom, then I would sleep with Her!

 

Short Answer: The only way to know that your car is completely tip-top is to drive the everloving-****-out-of-it and then fix anything that breaks. Only then do you really know it's 100%!



Long Answer: Hell no!

 

You were that keen to get out of my hood?....I guess so going by the grin 5 km further down the road! or was just you trying to outrun Fireball?

We don't have fun when Paul comes to town.

 

I tend to be the same about mine. I've found that short trips, especially in the summer heat with the a/c on, tend to help me trust it more. I had an overheating problem one time, desert 115*, but I've got a handle on that. Smog pump froze up once, 150 miles from home, but I just cut the belt and went on my way. That's it for problems, but I still have trust issues. Damn!!


I have found that putting the top down and turning up the radio helps with the weird noises!!


I'm also paranoid about parking my cars. I tell myself, "it's just a car", but that doesn't always work.

 

I guess I am in good company. I hear strange noises, or maybe I just think they are strange. I scan my instrument panel more than in any other car I've had. This really stems from knowing if it breaks it will cost you big time for those hard to find replacement parts. But the worst part is knowing you are going to have down time and have to settle on driving your distant 2nd choice. I have resorted to turning up the volume on my radio to drown out the perceived noises and any possible paranoia setting in and ruining a great drive. I also watch out for other drivers more. The insurance companies don't want to rebuild a car, they would rather give you a check and send you on your way.





Come to think of it we have plenty of good reasons to be paranoid.





I guess we are normal in our love affair with the most beautiful body we have ever put our body into, well there are a few exceptions.

 

Now I do have something to get Paranoid about!

I was going to Tax (road tax) my XJS for March 1st (On-Line)

But because the Weather has been so bad, decided to hang on to the Cash until the Sun came out.

And To-day was that day!

So I went to Tax my Car On-Line using the Registration Document V5C instead of the SORN (statutory offroad notice) as I laid her up for the Winter.

But when I went to do this, it said my details had not been recognised.

I even tried doing it over the Phone but it wouldn't accept that either!

Any Ideas?

Never had this kind of problem before.

 

Have you tried to go to agents office and let them deal with it?