I am just back from a two week trip to England to see my nieces and some old friends.
Bottom line: the car ran perfectly. As follows:
Mileage: 1,724
Fuel consumption: 21.4 mpg
Fuel consumed: 81 imperial gallons = 362 litres @ about £1.65 a litre = Fuel cost of £598 = US$789.
Average speed for the trip: 51.4 mph
Average speed on French autoroute: 71.2 mph

Incremental cost of using the XJS over the cost of taking our Ford Mondeo:
Fuel used would have been 49 imperial gallons = 221 litres @ about £1.65 a litre = expected Mondeo fuel cost of £364
Incremental cost of having fun in the XJS = £598 - £364 = £232 = US$306. And at my time of life this is the most fun that £232 will buy!

I was and am very pleased with the car's performance. The new starter motor and the AN fittings/PTFE braided hose that I made up to replace the failed aftermarket power steering high pressure hose performed faultlessly.

The one thing that did happen was as follows: on the final three days I had quite a strong fuel smell in the boot (trunk). Now because of the international petroleum situation, I always topped up the car to the very top every time I stopped. When I got home I emptied the boot and looked for the cause. There is an overspill drain in the fuel filler well that drains down and out through a spigot inside the rear LHS wing (fender) in the cavity outboard of the exhaust tunnel. The drain flexible hose is pushed over the spigot which drains out of a hole flush with the body. As shown in this diagram:
https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/



The hose had expanded and was no longer a tight fit on the spigot, so some of the fuel that drained from any spillage in the filler well could accumulate inside the cavity, instead of draining out. New hose fitted and tunnel carpet drying out. Worth checking on any XJS.

 

Hey, Greg, that sounds like it was a great trip, so nice to "stretch the legs" on the XJS. It is certainly no surprise to me or most people here on the forum that your car ran beautifully, it is a testament to your excellent maintenance! Fantastic!
John

 

Greetings Greg,

What a great post to brighten up our day. Amidst faults and hiccups threads, I love a positive story of enjoyment Thanks mate.

Cheers and best wishes,

 

Thanks very much CaT! And here are some photos to prove what fun it was!

Crepe Suzette!


Fine burgundy


Aged owner removes overalls and gets scrubbed up for the trip!


White cliffs of Dover as I drive off the ferry


Waiting at Calais for the ferry


Nieces at the end of their charity walk for Brain Tumour research.

Incidentally, a number of people, old and young, came up to me and said what a lovely car, and were very interested in it. But I saw no other classic Jaguar of any model at all in the entire journey.

 

The extra cost of the fuel is always worth it, in my opinion.

 

Greg,

Great to hear about the trip and see you looking so well! I'm sure the sense of enjoyment you got from bring the XJ-S over contributed to your happy demeanour!

Well done!

Paul