New Member New Zealand
#1
12-03-2020, 02:42 AM
New Member New Zealand
About me:
I sold my last Bristol (1970 411-S1) after the factory closed in March 2020 and the company went into liquidation - getting parts is no longer a matter of ringing the sole dealer in the UK and having the parts sent. When I got into Bristols back in the 1990's, it was the only British car I would consider because every other one I had owned (Austin Healey 3000, MGB, Jags, etc) were just not reliable enough. However, when Ford took over Jag, I took a second look. I make a practice of buying cars when they have hit their bottom at the depreciation curve but before they begin to rise as classic or collectible. The Austin Healey now seems to sell for 250x what I paid for it a very long time ago. Even the Bristols returned 5X, which is how I justify my vices to my wife.
So a couple of years ago, when my daughter needed a replacement car for her Honda Accordion (that is a Honda Accord after she was stopped on the motorway and an idiot texting while driving failed to notice all the cars were stopped - shutted into the car ahead, reducing the Accord by a metre but no one was hurt), I found a 2001 S-Type Sport owned by an 80 year old who religiously maintained it. The drive back on two-lane curved roads from New Plymouth to Auckland was a joy as I had never driven a CATS before.
Our overseas trips are off the cards for at least two years. Time to start exploring our own backyard. New Zealand roads are mostly 2-lane with a wide variety of surfaces including bumpy and stone-chip rough, as well as the interim 20 km not marked on the map where they have not yet gotten around to paving - here it is called a metal road, in the US, gravel. I own a Mercedes B-class which is fine for around town driving, but longer distance on back roads the CVT transmission up long hills is annoying, and the short shocks can get tiresome.
Time to educate myself. I tried the X-class and hated it... actually my wife even hated it more than me. Too tight inside, even the wagon and the plastic finish just made it feel cheap. The S-class is OK, but the looks are a bit dated. Jaguar tried too hard, methinks. So then I started looking at the X350 XJ range. I had not been in an XJ6 since the Series Three that was lovely to look at, exquisite to drive but not the sort of car one keeps as long as a Bristol. The reports of the Ford era however suggest they kept the bits everyone loves, but fixed the stuff that drove buyers to Germany and Japan. The wonder of it is the depreciation. Really nice cars selling for peanuts. Often by widows or heirs after the old man died.
I've found a lovely 2004 which is interesting except it is the base unit, lacking the sunroof that every car I own has, and after reading numerous forums, I am unclear if a contemporary phone will work hands free. I still do have a Nokia 6822 that was made the same year as the car, but don't quite understand what is needed to hook up a phone. Hands-free is the law in NZ, and in my other cars, they have an AUX out that I plug into a bluetooth aftermarket transmitter. Any advice would be appreciated.
So that's me, looking to buy an X350 that will be used as a town car (I live on an island and keep a car in the city) and a grand touring car to explore our fair lands.
I sold my last Bristol (1970 411-S1) after the factory closed in March 2020 and the company went into liquidation - getting parts is no longer a matter of ringing the sole dealer in the UK and having the parts sent. When I got into Bristols back in the 1990's, it was the only British car I would consider because every other one I had owned (Austin Healey 3000, MGB, Jags, etc) were just not reliable enough. However, when Ford took over Jag, I took a second look. I make a practice of buying cars when they have hit their bottom at the depreciation curve but before they begin to rise as classic or collectible. The Austin Healey now seems to sell for 250x what I paid for it a very long time ago. Even the Bristols returned 5X, which is how I justify my vices to my wife.
So a couple of years ago, when my daughter needed a replacement car for her Honda Accordion (that is a Honda Accord after she was stopped on the motorway and an idiot texting while driving failed to notice all the cars were stopped - shutted into the car ahead, reducing the Accord by a metre but no one was hurt), I found a 2001 S-Type Sport owned by an 80 year old who religiously maintained it. The drive back on two-lane curved roads from New Plymouth to Auckland was a joy as I had never driven a CATS before.
Our overseas trips are off the cards for at least two years. Time to start exploring our own backyard. New Zealand roads are mostly 2-lane with a wide variety of surfaces including bumpy and stone-chip rough, as well as the interim 20 km not marked on the map where they have not yet gotten around to paving - here it is called a metal road, in the US, gravel. I own a Mercedes B-class which is fine for around town driving, but longer distance on back roads the CVT transmission up long hills is annoying, and the short shocks can get tiresome.
Time to educate myself. I tried the X-class and hated it... actually my wife even hated it more than me. Too tight inside, even the wagon and the plastic finish just made it feel cheap. The S-class is OK, but the looks are a bit dated. Jaguar tried too hard, methinks. So then I started looking at the X350 XJ range. I had not been in an XJ6 since the Series Three that was lovely to look at, exquisite to drive but not the sort of car one keeps as long as a Bristol. The reports of the Ford era however suggest they kept the bits everyone loves, but fixed the stuff that drove buyers to Germany and Japan. The wonder of it is the depreciation. Really nice cars selling for peanuts. Often by widows or heirs after the old man died.
I've found a lovely 2004 which is interesting except it is the base unit, lacking the sunroof that every car I own has, and after reading numerous forums, I am unclear if a contemporary phone will work hands free. I still do have a Nokia 6822 that was made the same year as the car, but don't quite understand what is needed to hook up a phone. Hands-free is the law in NZ, and in my other cars, they have an AUX out that I plug into a bluetooth aftermarket transmitter. Any advice would be appreciated.
So that's me, looking to buy an X350 that will be used as a town car (I live on an island and keep a car in the city) and a grand touring car to explore our fair lands.
#2
12-03-2020, 06:21 AM
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: PHX some of the time
Posts: 116,780
Received 6,256 Likes
on
5,456 Posts
Welcome to Jaguar Forums x350,
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
The following users liked this post:
SDCR_XK (12-03-2020)
#3
12-03-2020, 06:36 AM
The following users liked this post:
SDCR_XK (12-03-2020)
#5
12-03-2020, 07:48 AM
Welcome to the forums x350,
Good to have you with us.
Follow this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-x350-x358-28/ to the X350 forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues. You can also use the New Zealand Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/new-zealand-97/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums and the search for your Jaguar.
Graham
Good to have you with us.
Follow this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-x350-x358-28/ to the X350 forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues. You can also use the New Zealand Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/new-zealand-97/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums and the search for your Jaguar.
Graham
#6
12-03-2020, 08:35 AM
Veteran Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Tehama County, California, USA
Posts: 25,209
Received 8,992 Likes
on
5,309 Posts
Hello,
Congratulations on your new Jaguar!
You do have some Solid reasons for the cars you have owned, don't you. I like them.
The Third Rule of Acquisition plainly states. "Never pay more than you have to." Buying your cars as an "Investment" at the rock bottom of their value seems to follow that exactly.
Welcome to the forums from ElinorB.
(';')
Congratulations on your new Jaguar!
You do have some Solid reasons for the cars you have owned, don't you. I like them.
The Third Rule of Acquisition plainly states. "Never pay more than you have to." Buying your cars as an "Investment" at the rock bottom of their value seems to follow that exactly.
Welcome to the forums from ElinorB.
(';')
#7
12-03-2020, 01:30 PM
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Delaneys Creek,Qld. Australia
Posts: 28,378
Received 6,317 Likes
on
4,367 Posts
Trending Topics
#8
12-03-2020, 01:51 PM
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Dural, Northwest Sydney. Australia.
Posts: 38,987
Received 3,835 Likes
on
2,796 Posts
#9
12-04-2020, 02:57 PM
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Summerville, South Carolina
Posts: 24,378
Received 4,186 Likes
on
3,649 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Abby's Guy
New Member Area - Intro a MUST
9
03-26-2012 04:10 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)