To anyone and everyone who is interested, I just drove this gorgeous monster from Ottawa, Canada to San Francisco, California. That’s about 3,000 miles. And…………

HOLY SMOKES!!! I AM STILL ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY!!! This vehicle just glides so effortlessly and then whenever I want to punch it, WOWWWWW!!!!! UNREAL!!!!! I AM ECSTATIC BEYOND DESCRIPTION.

I just got it cleaned thoroughly, which was much needed after driving such a great distance. It looks just like it did when I was handed the keys.

 

Yes I drove my 2014 XJR from Texas to Oregon and back about 2500 miles each way and was VERY impressed! I was doing about 700-750 miles a day and still felt great at the end of the day! No car has ever felt this comfortable.

Mine is tuned with a pulley and the upgraded IC the big surprise was the excellent fuel mileage. Over the entire 5000+ miles I averaged 27.5 mpg and the average speed was 78 mph including fuel stops and in town driving when I arrived in Oregon. It just flies on the open highway and even on some 100+ mph sections in the wilds of Wyoming it was just effortless.

Funny story? I use cruise most of the time and got some moron who decided to hang on my bumper in the middle of nowhere. After 20 or 30 miles of that I decided to engage the booster rockets and left him so far in the rear view mirror that I laughed for at least 5 minutes.

It seems the car was just built for this kind of travel too.

Thanks for the pictures but I don't envy you keeping a black car clean!!
How many miles on yours?
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Nice ride!! Welcome aboard. I have a 2018 XJR 575 in my stable which is a newer version of what you have. Great road car and drives "much smaller and lighter" than it is.

 

The X351 is certainly built to be driven.
And no need to look for a charge station.

 

Welcome! Glad you posted the feeling! I felt the same joy driving cross country when I brought mine home. Suggestion: since you have to put a license plate on the nose of that gorgeous monster get a STO N SHO bracket. It will mount low and be less obtrusive. Put a black frame around the plate to minimize it. The look won't be as pleasing as no plate at all but the esthetics won't be as bad as a factory bracket.

 

And I’m in Ottawa and typically find my rides elsewhere. Go figure.
Not sure I’d be up for a 3000 mile road trip though…

Well done!

 

Off topic but I hate the look of the front license plate and when I purchased my XJ it did not come with one.
I actually was pulled over and given a ticket for just that!
Then I had to install the stock one but that STO N SHO bracket looks like the way to go. Much nicer!
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Sounds like a great trip. Car looks awesome, but all black is too much work to keep clean. Had a '94 NorthStar Cadillac Seville all black also. Quite the car in it's day. Big sedans are great for long comfortable road trips, too bad everyone thinks a big truck is the answer to everything.

 

Well for many. it is. And to each their own...
We X351 owners generally have our shared preference though.
... but there are many nice trucks too.

But come to think of it, we've taken more long-distance trips in my Range Rover (my wife's XJ's sibling) - and that is rather comfortable.

 

To clubairth1, it's AMAZING how many similarities there are when I compare my trip to yours!!! The surprisingly high gas mileage, the effortless cruising, the sheer comfort, and the notion that these products are simply masterpieces of engineering..... So, I was originally planning on driving approximately 750 miles each day, which would have had me rolling into the Bay Area on Saturday. However, it was JUST SO ENJOYABLE AND EXCITING that I kept going and going and going. I ended up driving 3,000 miles in three days of driving, which is pretty wild to think about!!! That's fantastic that you took your vehicle on a trip of about 5,000 miles. I didn't have anyone tailing me, but I did leave a couple of cars and one Rivian in the dust. =) I was genuinely smiling and laughing to myself at how much joy I was feeling during the majority of my trip, and I'm not exaggerating. Mine has a little over 66,000 miles, as it was right around 63,000 when I was handed the keys. How many miles are on yours? I'm sorry that you got a ticket for not having a front plate. =/

To ralphwg, that's awesome!!! I bet you love your 575. Did you own an XJ, of any trim, at any point in time prior to acquiring this 575? At nearly a thousand pounds lighter than multiple vehicles in its class, it really does handle SO WELL and SO SMOOTHLY!

To 12jagmark, you are right on both accounts. These vehicles are built to be DRIVEN and no need for charging stations, just some gasoline stations at about $7.00 a gallon. LOL!

To Freddy J, I am actually not going to putting a front plate on. In recent weeks, I've been observing how many cars in Northern California are rolling around these freeways and streets without a front plate. I also know someone who hasn't had one for years and hasn't gotten pulled over one time. So, it seems that the California enforcement in this regard has really faded back, which is great for my new purchase! Where did you drive your car from and where did you drive it to?

To guy, that's funny! Which Jaguar vehicle did you purchase most recently?

To Rivguy, I am absolutely a car person. I don't really like trucks, and I don't even really like SUVs. I always have felt most comfortable in a car and I agree that sedans are terrific for road trips.

I hope all of you are doing great!!! Safe travels out there, lots of bad drivers everywhere. It's very, very cool to be a part of these JAGUAR FORUMS!!!!! =) I still find it hard to believe that I have an XJR now!!!

 

What does tuned with a "pulley and IC" mean?

 

Hey jschimmels! The pulley refers to a crankshaft pulley, and some individuals replace the stock pulleys with larger parts. Some replace just the front piece of the crankshaft pulley, coupling that with an ECU tune. All of this stuff, when done in tandem, produces more power. The IC refers to Inter-Cooler, which is probably upgraded in most scenarios where a driver is looking to bump up the vehicle's power with the aforementioned adjustments.

 

2015 XJR L Not to drag out the license plate discussion but the STO N SHO bracket has a receiver that mounts under the bumper and is designed to remove the plate assembly easily with a spring pin leaving the car completely clean. So, you could keep the plate in your trunk for insurance and if stopped in some other part of CA, simply tell the officer you forgot and snap it into place.

I was looking for a pristine XJ Certified Pre Owned in my particular color and interior. When the JLR dealer in Huntsville, AL told me he just took in an immaculate low mileage XJ previously leased by an elderly couple, I flew there to see it, loved it, and drove it home to Annapolis, MD. Not nearly the long haul you did, However, I averaged 29.8 mpg with stops including a construction standstill going over Ohio River and urban city slow downs. I was unfazed by the inconveniences simply listening to Sirius XM and loving the comfort the entire trip.





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I got mine at 20K miles and now have 53K+ miles. Very little repairs. Water pump and front plastic pipes under warranty and an 02 sensor on my dime.

It's funny you mention the large number of cars driving around WITHOUT the front plate too! Many in Texas without the front plate including my previous car which I drove for 7 years without getting stopped. Believe it or not the guy that pulled me over only writes tickets for the missing front plate. When he came back to my car to give me the ticket I said "In the time it took for you to issue me a ticket I have counted over 25 cars driving by without front plates?" He said yes I am very busy!
They did drop the ticket after I sent a picture to the court showing the front plate installed.

Yes I currently only have the lower crankshaft pulley. The upper pulley has now been released with the nice "Griptec" treatment from VAP. I am considering that along with a port of the blower and snout. All diminishing returns at this point. If you want the best bang for your buck. Get the lower pulley and a tune. It literally is a 30 minute install and you won't believe the improvement!

I found the XJR to be a shocking competent car and all around great performer. Maybe a bit large in size but it sure does not drive "Big"! But it is by far the largest car I have ever owned.

Glad to hear yours is operating great too. These forums are mainly for fixing problems so if you only read them you will think man what a piece of crap that car is!
But all cars have their issues and this forum has been invaluable keeping me up to date on what to look for. I currently have the SC snout clunk and do have another snout to install when I am ready.

Oh do consider adding the trunk (boot) remote close. That should have been stock!
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I have been driving Jaguars since 1974. Having owned and driven as daily drivers a series of 12 and 6 cylinder XJ's and an XJS before starting in on XKs in 2008. As time has gone on; particularly after Ford acquired Jaguar in the early 90's the quality and reliability has improved by leaps and bounds. I owned both a 2000 XJR and a 2004 XJR, both of which were driven all over the eastern United States and Canada. Also have driven the XKs all over the Western part of the country. All have been great road cars.

Have not hit the road in the 575 yet, but looking forward to it next fall.

 

To Freddy J, I appreciate your information and I will keep that in mind. Thank you! Also, that’s awesome that you were able to acquire the vehicle that you developed a high interest in. Your exterior color looks very nice! Also, I AGREE in that essentially nothing can mess up my day, or my drive, in this car!!! =) I overshot an exit and “had to” drive another five miles before I could turn around. WHO CARES?! Not me, I’ll tell you that. I got to thoroughly enjoy an additional ten miles! =)

To clubairth1, that’s awesome. How many owners? Yeah, from perusing these forums and other various sources, it seems that newer models are drastically different from older models when it comes to daily driving and reliability. WHAT A JOKE, regarding that officer. Like, come on, what’s the point? I’m glad you got the ticket dropped. Thank you for sharing your insights and opinions! I tried clicking on your eBay link in your original post about the remote trunk close, but it no longer exists. Although I likely won’t get it, I’ll probably search for it just out of curiosity. Anyway, yes, the boat handles like a dream!

To ralphwg, thank you for describing your lengthy, varied experiences! That’s incredible that you’ve been driving Jag-u-ars for nearly FIFTY years!!! Wow, that’s so cool. I cannot believe that you haven’t hit the SoCal freeways in your 575!!! There is absolutely NO CHANCE that I would be able to refrain from climbing in the cockpit……. I see that it’s a 2018. When did you acquire it? How many miles are on it? How many owners? Are there any sort of major issues that have prevented you from driving it? Since you are being unfathomably patient, what is your plan for its debut? Hopefully you aren’t annoyed by all of these questions, I’m just so curious! =)

 

I am the second owner of the 575. I bought it sight unseen from a dealer in the Seattle area in late January. It arrived with 27k+ miles on it shortly before my better half had major back surgery (she has recovered quite well). I have made several short road trips around SoCal and won best in class at the local JCNA Concours in May. Given my age (closer to 90 than 80) This will probably be the last car I will acquire, but, I've said that twice before.

FYI I take my 2013 XKR Vert into the hills around here no less then every other week for a one to two hour jaunt. What is amazing about where we live is I can drive 20-30 minutes on the Pacific Coast Highway to any one of five great drives in the Santa Monica mountains which is more fun than a road trip and I never am bored with the scenery.The XJR is an entirely different ride and drive, but I appreciate both.

 

Hey ralphwg! I thought I responded to your response, but clearly I never did. I recall reading it several months ago and remember what you had shared.

Have you hit the road in the 575 yet????? =) That's funny that you've told yourself that twice when acquiring previous vehicles. XD

The wife and I are going to drive to Disneyland in a couple of weekends, so that should be a fun trip.

 

Since my better half's surgery she is afraid to go on road trips in excess of 3 hours. Since I had the same type of surgery over twenty years ago, I understand where she is coming from. So the "best" we an do right now is to go to Santa Barbara, San Diego, Palm Springs or Death Valley. When traffic allows the XJR is just a dream on the Interstates.

 

I see. Well, I’m glad she’s doing all right! And I’m glad you’re doing all right!

That’s terrific that you get to enjoy your amazing vehicles on various routes. =) Long trips definitely aren’t necessary to have a blast. =)