New UK member - 2007 XK convertible
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 5
From: The Marches, UK
New UK member - 2007 XK convertible
Hello all!
I bought my first Jaguar back in March, though years ago I had considerable professional involvement with the marque, via my job as a vehicle fleet manager for a major UK plc, now defunct.
It started with Series 3 XJ's in the early 80's and moved onto XJ40's in the mid 90's - until the 'Buy British' policy was canned and BMW's, Mercedes-Benz and Audis muscled in.
Suffice it to say I've always had a soft spot for Jaguars - being asked at the tender age of 22 to deliver the Regional Chairmans' brand-new Series 3 XJ (a 3.4...) from the fleet workshop to Regional Office was a good start. More on this in a later post....maybe!
So why has it taken me so long to own a Jaguar?
Mainly a diet of fairly prosaic company-provided cars from 1989 to 2013, of which the highlights were a couple of (six-cylinder) BMW 3-series, run successively in the late 90's - both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
So at the end of 2013 when I had to buy a daily driver again, I chose a 3-series BMW, perhaps trying to re-capture those enjoyable days. Successful? Partly.
However....having never owned a convertible, it was an itch that had to be scratched - but not as a daily driver, it wouldn't meet our needs. But as a second car....yes.
My wife isn't at all keen on the default German offerings (or a Mazda MX-5) and as I was favouring a folding hardtop, I hadn't even considered an XK, so we had reached a stalemate position.
My position was 'well - if none of those suit, what would?!'
It wasn't until we were driving some distance from home in a wealthier area of the UK that a black XK coupe drove past on the inside lane in slow moving traffic....
'I'd be happy with one of those', she said.
And so the internet trawl took place immediately on arriving at our destination - and there was an XK convertible, in a colour combination that took me straight back to that first Series 3.
50,000 miles....one owner....full Jaguar history, stamped each year....in fact, good enough to be retailed by a Jaguar franchise.
The interior quality isn't where it ought to be and the touchscreen flawed at best - but the ride, even on 20's, is remarkably good. It's fast, refined, yet exhaust-noisy, leaving bystanders in no doubt that it's a V8 (almost too noisy at low speeds). It's entirely possible to 'waft' - very relaxing to drive, I don't feel the need to hurry....and 30mpg is in reach. Amazing. Flick the selector to the left and floor it - and suddenly I'm behind the wheel of a CanAm racer! A Jekyll and Hyde character.
I love it! And here I am!
I bought my first Jaguar back in March, though years ago I had considerable professional involvement with the marque, via my job as a vehicle fleet manager for a major UK plc, now defunct.
It started with Series 3 XJ's in the early 80's and moved onto XJ40's in the mid 90's - until the 'Buy British' policy was canned and BMW's, Mercedes-Benz and Audis muscled in.
Suffice it to say I've always had a soft spot for Jaguars - being asked at the tender age of 22 to deliver the Regional Chairmans' brand-new Series 3 XJ (a 3.4...) from the fleet workshop to Regional Office was a good start. More on this in a later post....maybe!
So why has it taken me so long to own a Jaguar?
Mainly a diet of fairly prosaic company-provided cars from 1989 to 2013, of which the highlights were a couple of (six-cylinder) BMW 3-series, run successively in the late 90's - both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
So at the end of 2013 when I had to buy a daily driver again, I chose a 3-series BMW, perhaps trying to re-capture those enjoyable days. Successful? Partly.
However....having never owned a convertible, it was an itch that had to be scratched - but not as a daily driver, it wouldn't meet our needs. But as a second car....yes.
My wife isn't at all keen on the default German offerings (or a Mazda MX-5) and as I was favouring a folding hardtop, I hadn't even considered an XK, so we had reached a stalemate position.
My position was 'well - if none of those suit, what would?!'
It wasn't until we were driving some distance from home in a wealthier area of the UK that a black XK coupe drove past on the inside lane in slow moving traffic....
'I'd be happy with one of those', she said.
And so the internet trawl took place immediately on arriving at our destination - and there was an XK convertible, in a colour combination that took me straight back to that first Series 3.
50,000 miles....one owner....full Jaguar history, stamped each year....in fact, good enough to be retailed by a Jaguar franchise.
The interior quality isn't where it ought to be and the touchscreen flawed at best - but the ride, even on 20's, is remarkably good. It's fast, refined, yet exhaust-noisy, leaving bystanders in no doubt that it's a V8 (almost too noisy at low speeds). It's entirely possible to 'waft' - very relaxing to drive, I don't feel the need to hurry....and 30mpg is in reach. Amazing. Flick the selector to the left and floor it - and suddenly I'm behind the wheel of a CanAm racer! A Jekyll and Hyde character.
I love it! And here I am!
Last edited by Routemaster; Jun 29, 2017 at 04:48 PM. Reason: Tidying up....
Veteran Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 26,776
Likes: 10,318
From: Tehama County, California, USA
Congratulations on your First Jaguar -- Finally!
Although you don't mention it here, I assume your wife is in love with it too. You Must let her drive it, ya know, and if her hair is a worry, then get her a cute hat of scarf to keep it in line.
Welcome to the forums from ElinorB.
(';')
Although you don't mention it here, I assume your wife is in love with it too. You Must let her drive it, ya know, and if her hair is a worry, then get her a cute hat of scarf to keep it in line.
Welcome to the forums from ElinorB.
(';')
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120,439
Likes: 17,014
From: Durham, UK
Welcome to the forum Routemaster,
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. A splendid Intro.
I can see you've already found your way to the X150 forum so there's no need for a link to it from me.
You can also visit the UK & Eire Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/uk-eire-68/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. A splendid Intro.
I can see you've already found your way to the X150 forum so there's no need for a link to it from me.
You can also visit the UK & Eire Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/uk-eire-68/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 121,135
Likes: 6,653
From: PHX some of the time
Welcome to Jaguar Forums Routemaster,
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
