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Update. Frame is in perfect shape, they just measured it with lasers. Driver's side door arrived and it is in as new condition. Now, the painter (which is the best according to everybody) got covid (Christmas eve party I supposed).
Update. I decided to respray all the car. Initially the repairs would had been just a passenger side front fender and the corner of the front bumper. When the car fell from the lift it scratched the two rear doors (not big scratches), hood (just a corner), two side skirts, and driver's front door (to be replaced with a spotless "new" one bought on eBay). I also decided to fix a tiny oxidation spot (about the size of a U.S. dime) on the rear window frame, and for that they will have to paint the whole roof ($371 dollars). So, there will be only the two rear fenders, bumper and trunk left. The body shop owner, who took this project as if the car were its own, made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I took it. It is not much more money and they guaranteed the car will look as new. Paint was matched already, based on the paint color of the interior door frames and not on the 15 year old battered body panels paint. They will bring the painter from the Collection dealer (Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati, Aston...) of Coral Gables, FL to do the job. Starting today and finishing it this Monday. I was supposed to fly our for business this Monday but changed it to next Thursday, want to leave the car in storage before leaving. Happy New Year everybody. Paint matching guy. Spent three hours back and forth mumbling painter jargon.
When I was looking for a newer sedan, I was looking for '08 or '09, and this was my favorite if I couldn't find it in red. Unfortunately, the Covid era used car market problem made the search even harder. I had a line on an '08 in this color, the NED interior i wanted, but it sold in 2 days, before I could even arrange to have it inspected. Lucky you. Except for the lift part, I mean.
Pete, good to hear you have a new VDP, beautiful car. I was looking for a 06-07 Zircon VDP with a light color interior for a while. Right now I`m abroad for business, will be back next week. Body shop will put the car in storage, after a thorough interior detailing, until I get there. New tires will be installed on Jan 17th. Then I`ll put in in the garage for a week until I get back from another business trip. Next steps are the interior restoring ($400) and removing the silly "aftermarket" Sirius unit to install a conventional wood console. Mechanically we will change all the fluids. I`m thinking about changing transmission fluid, but scared it will mess the ZF which is shifting smooth at this moment. Last item will be the floor mats, the original lambwools are AWOL.
A new set of Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 and a new battery from Costco.
I'll be out of town all next, the mechanic (same one that let the car fell from the lift) will keep it: change trans oil and pan (I'm still waiting for your advise guys, I'm not sure if it is safe), new spark plugs, filters, etc. He will also restore the engine splash shield.
Should we replace the timing belt and tensioner?
By the way two guys from the body shop have omicron, and they are still working.
No pics today. Jinxie (Kitty for me) is on the lift (the good one), they put new spark plugs, took out cheap worn out sparks, replaced the transmission pan with filter, oil came out in good condition, well used but clean, no sludge. My mechanic's son, the one working on the car, has covid (Jinxie), tomorrow we will detail the car and take it back to the mechanic to install a repaired engine lower skirt, or whatever it's called, the plastic pan under the engine. I can't wait for the moment I'll put the wheel center caps (Greens) to officially finish (for now) this project. Paint job is great, the car looks great. This project does not make sense in a monetary way, but I really do not like any of the 2022 saloons.
Owned (some):
-1984 Lada 2105.
-1989 Olds Cutlass Ciera.
-1989 Dodge Ram Charger.
-1991 Dodge Ram Charger.
-1996 Chevrolet Silverado.
-1991 Mercury Gran Marquis.
-Several Ford F-150s.
-Several Dodge Ram trucks.
-1998, 2000, 2001 Mercedes E-320s.
-2003 Mercedes E-320 Designo (a troublesome beauty).
-2004 Mercedes E-500 B4 (armored)
-2004 Jaguar XJ8.
-Etc. etc. etc.
Hey, cars are super expensive in today's economy so i think you made a good decision. I love owning older cars without car payments. Plus, these are easier to work on and fix.
Our family owns a 1999, 2005, 2006 & 2007 of various brands. None have payments and little maintenance costs. I still complain about fuel costs though. LOL.
Thank you Aceler8. I was supposed to pick the car today but found a small defect on the clear spray on the bottom of the driver side door, they will fix it and detail the car afterwards. I'll post some pics soon. Regarding new cars, I travel a LOT and most of my yearly driving is in rental cars, even though rentals lately are not as brand new as they used to be I've had the chance to drive many newer E-Class, BMWs, Alfa Romeos, and all sort of Japanese and Korean made cars (which all look like if an angry child designed them). Intrusive safety features, overworked little turbo engines, fake leather.... and that iPad sitting on the middle of the dashboard, I can't stand it. Back home I only drive around 3,000 miles a year using four vehicles, the 2010 RAM R/T just got 45k miles (most made during covid lock down), wife's 2012 Jeep GC only has 38k, old 1996 Roadmaster "Woody" has "only" 89k, mostly due to transcon road trips, 2009 Maserati Quattroporte has 15k miles (I don't like its character so I'll sell it to my business partner soon). I'm planning to keep the VP until gasoline gets prohibited by the woke generation. You can spend weeks without seeing another XJ8 in your way, V8, real leather, a cockpit that fits your body like in a Spitfire fighter, a real rear seat and that beautiful Zircon long body... a keeper, no matter what its past had been.
Well, I don't want to bother you guys. I'll will finally receive the car tomorrow, looks good, I saw it today, it's being detailing tonight and will be finished tomorrow morning. The mechanic paid around $6k for body work and paint, I paid $2.5k for the original bodywork and paint of roof and rear fenders and trunk (boot). We changed the oil, fixed an oil leak on the engine pan, replaced transmission oil pan gasket (OEM), 8 quarters of transmission fluid (not flush), 6 spark plugs, replace rear differential fluid (why Jaguar didn't put a drain plug?), rebuilt the splash shield, pressure cleaned the bottom, the car seems legit and well cared. Paint job is great, bushing should fix the small errors on the clear spray (will tell tomorrow). Mechanic work cost me $1,500, paint $2,400, detailing (including head lights) $150. I want to get rid of the "aftermarket" Sirius antenna on the rear roof, I will get rid of the console Sirius unit soon, already bought an original wood console that match the wood trim on the car. Total cost so far = $ 9,621.00 for a rebuilt titled 2006 Jaguar VDP, including new Michelin Pilot tires, a new battery, new fender repeaters, etc. The car looks as new, but it is not, but I'm planning to enjoy every mile out of it. Only thing missing are the lambwool mats, if anybody have an original set let me know.
Keep bothering us! Well done and congratulations- looks like you've really come out well on the deal and looks great so far. Post up some final pics when you've got them. You're all in about the same or less than a comparably normal VDP I think. That's quite impressive, especially if you're going to keep it and enjoy it for a long while. But I'm keeping my lambswool mats, sorry...
Season 1 continues, I found some paint issues on the front of the hood. They will fix them next Monday. Mechanically the cat is great, runs like a velvet. Took out the Sirius antenna, radio works normally. Few other small glitches to fix but nothing important. Welsh Enterprises wheel caps are a perfect fix (I returned the cheap Chinese crap I first bought in ebay). Welsh’s are perfect, I choose the green ones. Transmission shifts smoothly after oil refill 🙏🙏🙏👍.
12-31-2021, 08:51 AM
