G'day guys.

I have a road trip coming up in March with the Queensland Jag Forum members. Going to be traveling about 5-6hrs each way.

It got me thinking, I know a few other guys on here have done a few road trips in their beasts (Grant around Oz?) so I am looking for some inspiration, share some stories (good or bad). Thought it might be fun!

 

London via Knebworth, Harwich, Hoek van Holland to Bremen... All without ever have driven the car before

I think something like 600 km in total...

 

Great idea. In my case 4000 miles on my honeymoon, right down from England to the toe of Italy and back. Car new to me, never missed a beat, ignorance was bliss. Since then loads of 2000 mile trips, England to Italy for holidays, 1500 mile round trips France to UK and back etc. These cars LOVE a decent run, it is only underuse and standing about that kills them.
Greg

 

Once my one is ready, I want to do a trip from Germany to Spain and back as well as a Germany-Denmark-Sweden-Norway trip...

 

I 'flew in, drove home' when I bought my XJS...a great and fast and fun 750 mile trek thru the Pacific Northwest in the dead of winter. The car never skipped a beat.

It was one of those spur-of-the-moment things; great fun. Agreed to buy the car, called a close friend (and fellow Jag lover), asking if he was up for a little adventure as co-driver. Three hours later we were on a plane. Three hours after that, armed with a load of cash, a bag of snacks, a roadmap, and a full tank, we were on the road and dodging snowstorms. That fellow just passed away five days ago so this story is bittersweet for me.

During my years of ownership I made numerous 500-700 mile weekend jaunts with no trouble....just enjoyable motoring. The XJS is a no-drama, very competent 'road car'; a real pleasure out on the open road. On each trip I tried to find a safe opportunity to go at least 100 mph at least once....and usually succeeded.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks for sharing guys. I am feeling inspired.

I would love to hear the story of the WoOz and his Red Devil. Legend has it he drove it around Australia...

 

Just like me Doug, my wife and I flew to Glasgow from London, fell hopelessly in love with the car and drove it home that day in the middle of winter! 400 miles I suppose, something like that. You never forget your first drive in an XJS! Always so sad to lose a real friend; ss Indiana Jones' friend said, sadly those of us who are 55+ are reaching the age when life stops giving us things and starts taking them away...
Greg

 

Longest single trip I have done is Albany WA to Sydney via Perth and Kalgoolie, then all the way around hugging the coast as much as possible. Not quite sure exactly how far but somewhere between 5000 and 6000km in 2 weeks.

This was done before the XJS was completely sorted so it overheated more than once, and killed 1A ignition lead, I only noticed this when were slowed coming into Eden on the NSW south coast, I disconnected 1A injector and completed the journey.

Maybe the later heads had a better fit in the valve seats because my V12 has overheated at least 10 times before being sorted, including once after when I forgot to put the fan fuses back on a 40° Sydney day and spat ALL of her coolant on the road.

 

Yep,

Went the coast road Anticlockwise, took 12 months, 25000kms round our coast track.

Averaged 11.2L/100kms for the trip.

Oil light switch started weeping just out of Bundaberg Qld, a Toyota switch sorted that, and a couple of oil changes as needed.

NEVER missed a beat, and after a week or so, never lifted the bonnet, why??????, it runs and runs HARD, so ENJOY.

The spine tingles of a V12 with a very mild exhaust note at 5500rpm hour after hour is PRICLESS. The current V6 monsters simply do not cut it.

Then 3 years later we did it again Clockwise, with MANY deviations. NO IDEA of Kms travelled, we just DROVE.

 

Now I'm a bit jealous of all those of you living on continents (or very nearby continents). Also nice to hear how smoothly the car runs for extended trips. The most I've managed (so far) is a 200 km round trip in a day. But once the weather gets better, and the school holidays start, I hope to make some longer ones....

 

I'm loving this! Thanks for sharing guys.

Curious, with some of your mis adventures like having to change out a switch, drop the oil, pull an injector etc, how did you guys mangage this whilst "on the road". Found the local parts wrecker? Had to stay in town longer?

Obviously you guys travelled with somewhat of a toolkit? Any essentials you brought along other than tools? Coolant concentrate? Brake fluid? Spare hoses or leads?

Love hearing these adventures!

 

Paul,

FAITH maaaaaaate, FAITH.

I had a SMALL tackle box with an assortment of spanners etc, water, duct tape, the OLD V belts (I knew they will fit if needed, coz I just took them off, ha), other odds and ends as I loaded the car.

Used bugga all.

The oil switch was simple, walked into Super Cheap, asked for an oil idiot light switch with 1/8BSP threads, and a spade terminal, Landcruiser was all he had, SOLD, and borrowed a spanner to do it the carpark, 10 minutes from memory.

I had 3 oil filters under the seat, and purchased oil in the town that fitted the schedule.

I really carried very little, and never thought much of it, I knew the car and it knew me, and I showed it the box of matches prior to starting off, so the Devil knew who was the Boss.

I just pounted that HUGE Leaper down the road and hit the loud pedal, and adjusted the "grin" as I went.

 

We do have it lucky.

We did just over 600kms the other day, just for lunch, SADLY not in a V12, the Black Beast had to muscle up.

I reckon you would run off the edge of your island if you got that V12 really wound up, haha.

 

Ha! Love it!

 

I can't come close to distances travelled by our hero Grant (or Greg).

Typically the maximum distance in a day would be 300 to 400 miles.

That said, my XJS V12 is my only car and hence is driven daily, irrespective of weather.

I had a six week period of enforced absence recently whilst it was away being worked on.

I've done just over 4000 miles in the five weeks since it returned.

I would trust it to jump into and drive anywhere without any special preparation beyond fluid level checks once per one to two weeks.

Have cruised a good few miles at 4,500rpm in fourth gear (6.0l with GM 4L80E trans)

Needless to say well impressed by Grant's 5,500 rpm blasts, bravo!

 

Well bloody done.

A TRUE V12 owner, drive the damn thing, spend LESS money on maintaining.

Mine was also the Daily car, and her S2 XJ12 "Sir Arthur" was the spare. Sir Arthur has now passed 550000kms and the engine is untouched.

 

Finally the closet drivers come out in the open and confess to putting on some miles. And there was I thinking you spent your entire time in the garage.

Great to read about ambitious and successful trips in your XJS's. Unfortunately I don't qualify for this one. My son had a 1989 XJS V12 Coupe but it's one of the Jaguar models I've never owned.

Graham

 

Never had to find out, never been let down apart from once when the injector harness shorted 600 yards from home
Nowadays, being older and stupider, I carry spare belts, a socket set, jump leads, a few open-ended spanners and screwdrivers, spare ignition amp, some wire and connectors, a few Jubilee clips, and a bottle of brake fluid. I packed all this after my rebuild being less than confident that I had it all together properly. Only uses up about 2 inches of the boot floor, never used any of it!
Greg

 

Lucky lucky sod. When mine was my DD it was just wonderful driving it every day, even the long train commute home was made bearable by the thought of the last 10 miles was going to be in my XJS. The XJS is the only car I have ever had which regardless of the length of the previous day's journey, I could not wait to get behind the wheel the next day. And exponentially the most comfortable car for long or short distances I have ever been in. As the WoOZ says, the more you use them the better they are.
Greg

 

My XJS was my daily driver up until 18 months ago when I semi-retred and moved to the country. I miss the daily commute in the XJS I only get to use it occasionally now. Although I do regular long trips up to 1100km in a day.