XJ40 Roll Call
#41
08-22-2013, 11:11 PM
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MidwestJag (08-23-2013)
#43
08-26-2013, 03:04 PM
3jags: thank you for your post and comments. I share your experiences! I do hope and trust there will be those of us who care about the XJ40 enough to keep things going for years come. Honestly, I think my car will last for decades more - it's that solid of a car. Whether or not I last that long...? I'm less solid. 
Matt: Great to have you with us. You've already been a great addition to our little 'club.' Yet, having followed your posts somewhat, I can see that you're a bit of an overall car fanatic - having owned quite a number of autos in your relatively young life. (Though I'm a bit older, I have been blamed for the same thing!) How long will you own your XJ40? I hope forever!
sharay: A similar thing happened to me. Earlier this year my '91 was the only "working" car and was taken out of weekend service into full-time use for a week or so. That was a great week. That also happened to me a couple of years earlier, shortly after my purchase of the '91. It ran for five days before quitting on me and needed to go to the shop. It ended up being something really simple, but because I was so green and not yet a member of the forum, I was in a panic. Our van was also in the shop, and for two days the ONLY working car I had was my '29 Ford. That was funny, but she did the job like a champ!
Cheers to all. Very grateful for such a great bunch of car guys...
Scott
Matt: Great to have you with us. You've already been a great addition to our little 'club.' Yet, having followed your posts somewhat, I can see that you're a bit of an overall car fanatic - having owned quite a number of autos in your relatively young life. (Though I'm a bit older, I have been blamed for the same thing!) How long will you own your XJ40? I hope forever!
sharay: A similar thing happened to me. Earlier this year my '91 was the only "working" car and was taken out of weekend service into full-time use for a week or so. That was a great week. That also happened to me a couple of years earlier, shortly after my purchase of the '91. It ran for five days before quitting on me and needed to go to the shop. It ended up being something really simple, but because I was so green and not yet a member of the forum, I was in a panic. Our van was also in the shop, and for two days the ONLY working car I had was my '29 Ford. That was funny, but she did the job like a champ!
Cheers to all. Very grateful for such a great bunch of car guys...
Scott
I would have enjoyed watching you complete your daily chores in your '29 Ford!
Ray
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MidwestJag (08-26-2013)
#44
08-26-2013, 07:18 PM
Ray:
Although not recently, a couple of years ago I was doing a bunch of yard work and had to haul a serious amount of brush and yard vegetation down to the city compost. Of course, the only vehicle I had to do the work was, you guessed it, my Model A. You've never seen such surprised looks at the compost as when the old pickup truck comes barreling around the corner loaded down with tree branches. But, the way I figure it, the truck is not a trailer queen, and it's just doing what it was designed to do. And part of me thinks, if cars have souls, there was one that day full of pride.
13 years of XJ40 ownership. I think you've got us all pretty much beat! But I think you're right. If you do the upkeep, it is a marvelously engineered car. The X300 folks, in my observation, like to think of theirs as the first truly "reliable" daily driver. I think it was the XJ40 - esp. the later ones.
cheers!
Scott
Although not recently, a couple of years ago I was doing a bunch of yard work and had to haul a serious amount of brush and yard vegetation down to the city compost. Of course, the only vehicle I had to do the work was, you guessed it, my Model A. You've never seen such surprised looks at the compost as when the old pickup truck comes barreling around the corner loaded down with tree branches. But, the way I figure it, the truck is not a trailer queen, and it's just doing what it was designed to do. And part of me thinks, if cars have souls, there was one that day full of pride.
13 years of XJ40 ownership. I think you've got us all pretty much beat! But I think you're right. If you do the upkeep, it is a marvelously engineered car. The X300 folks, in my observation, like to think of theirs as the first truly "reliable" daily driver. I think it was the XJ40 - esp. the later ones.
cheers!
Scott
#45
08-26-2013, 09:12 PM
Junior Member
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MidwestJag (08-26-2013)
#46
08-27-2013, 04:22 PM
Ray:
Although not recently, a couple of years ago I was doing a bunch of yard work and had to haul a serious amount of brush and yard vegetation down to the city compost. Of course, the only vehicle I had to do the work was, you guessed it, my Model A. You've never seen such surprised looks at the compost as when the old pickup truck comes barreling around the corner loaded down with tree branches. But, the way I figure it, the truck is not a trailer queen, and it's just doing what it was designed to do. And part of me thinks, if cars have souls, there was one that day full of pride.
13 years of XJ40 ownership. I think you've got us all pretty much beat! But I think you're right. If you do the upkeep, it is a marvelously engineered car. The X300 folks, in my observation, like to think of theirs as the first truly "reliable" daily driver. I think it was the XJ40 - esp. the later ones.
cheers!
Scott
Although not recently, a couple of years ago I was doing a bunch of yard work and had to haul a serious amount of brush and yard vegetation down to the city compost. Of course, the only vehicle I had to do the work was, you guessed it, my Model A. You've never seen such surprised looks at the compost as when the old pickup truck comes barreling around the corner loaded down with tree branches. But, the way I figure it, the truck is not a trailer queen, and it's just doing what it was designed to do. And part of me thinks, if cars have souls, there was one that day full of pride.
13 years of XJ40 ownership. I think you've got us all pretty much beat! But I think you're right. If you do the upkeep, it is a marvelously engineered car. The X300 folks, in my observation, like to think of theirs as the first truly "reliable" daily driver. I think it was the XJ40 - esp. the later ones.
cheers!
Scott
While the XJ40 has been reliable, I must admit that my X300 has out performed it, though not outlasted it. Maintenance on the X300 has been VERY minimal during the 6 years I've had it. And it now has 170,000 on the odo (compared to 140,000 on the XJ40). Either one rides and drives smoothly (better than either the BMW or the newly acquired XK8), and both remain a pleasure to drive concealing their respective ages.
Ray
#48
08-28-2013, 08:20 AM
So I'm thinking of holding on to it for another year or so and look for a newer one.
I've been very happy with the car the only real fault being the left blower fan and a little lack of power. As Clarkson said on Top Gear " a few of the horses have left the barn" or maybe its just a good excuse to get an XJR or maybe an XJS Coupe if I can find a nice one.
#49
08-29-2013, 01:47 PM
I really don't disagree with your assessment of the comparison. The XJ40 and is a stalwart performer, with excellent reliability. The X300 carries all that and perhaps improves a little (VERY little) on that.
Funny story about when I got the XJ40: First the background: I bought a BMW735i on ebay. I noticed, but didn't bid on, the XJ40 at the same dealership. When we arrived to pick up the BMW, I asked how much he got for the XJ. He showed me the email where the winning bidder backed out of the deal. So I offered him $1,000 less than the winning bid (if he would take my personal check) and he accepted. At home, we put the XJ in the empty garage bay, and the BMW in the driveway. The next morning, Wife gets in the XJ, & backing E X T R E M E L Y slow out of the garage didn't use the right side mirror, backing into the BMW.
Fortunately, she was so slow that the only damage was a broken rear fog light lens, at a total cost of less than $15. It still provides a source of humor to tell people that immediately after getting both a BMW & Jaguar, my wife backed the Jag into the Bimmer!
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MidwestJag (08-29-2013)
#50
08-29-2013, 01:54 PM
I have the same idea. My XJ is fine minus the paint, the SW is easy on the metal but hard on paint andI haven't had good luck getting cars repainted in the past.
So I'm thinking of holding on to it for another year or so and look for a newer one.
I've been very happy with the car the only real fault being the left blower fan and a little lack of power. As Clarkson said on Top Gear " a few of the horses have left the barn" or maybe its just a good excuse to get an XJR or maybe an XJS Coupe if I can find a nice one.
So I'm thinking of holding on to it for another year or so and look for a newer one.
I've been very happy with the car the only real fault being the left blower fan and a little lack of power. As Clarkson said on Top Gear " a few of the horses have left the barn" or maybe its just a good excuse to get an XJR or maybe an XJS Coupe if I can find a nice one.
With 3 drivers going in 3 different directions everyday, having reliability and a backup plan becomes important.
#51
08-30-2013, 01:06 PM
It's just me and the Mrs and between us we have 5 cars. So while my XJ is my DD if something happens I have 3-4 other vehicle to drive.
Your right though my XJ has been very reliable and aside from a hose and the Radiator it's never let me sit. I'm a fan of the vintage and would look at a similar vejoe but with better paint
Your right though my XJ has been very reliable and aside from a hose and the Radiator it's never let me sit. I'm a fan of the vintage and would look at a similar vejoe but with better paint
#52
09-03-2013, 12:18 PM
It's just me and the Mrs and between us we have 5 cars. So while my XJ is my DD if something happens I have 3-4 other vehicle to drive.
Your right though my XJ has been very reliable and aside from a hose and the Radiator it's never let me sit. I'm a fan of the vintage and would look at a similar vejoe but with better paint
Your right though my XJ has been very reliable and aside from a hose and the Radiator it's never let me sit. I'm a fan of the vintage and would look at a similar vejoe but with better paint
#53
10-08-2013, 02:48 PM
Junior Member
I recently joined your forum. It is good to see so many people keeping XJ40's on the road. I became the adopted owner of a v12 6 liter when a friend parked it in my driveway for repairs and decided to just buy a different car. Sadly it needs a lot of love, but since it was free I have plenty of room to get work done on it. Now I just need the time and money to get in line with the project. I have gone through all the information I can find in the past many months and have found so much that will hopefully lead to the improvement and restoration of the beast. Hopefully the engine will come along soon, then I just need to see if I can get someone to trade/buy the 20 inch rims so I can get much more realistic 16's under it. Interior has all the typical trouble with seats, arm rest cup holder is missing and the burl walnut is going to pieces. The body is rather rust free though and with the number of XJ6's that end up in junk yards here I shouldn't have too much trouble finding interior parts or panels if I need them. The trouble will be that lump under the hood. I got it to run a while ago. It hunted, sprayed water and started to get a bit hot. I shut it off and started working on finding all the leaks, there were several, and acquiring all the ignition parts I would need. Just need to get them all together at once and see if that resolves the issues. If not, and the hunting continues I'll chase out the MAFs and see how that goes. Someday I may be out at an event and even have pictures, or heaven forbid, a video of the thing running. With the sad state of the interior it may end up getting rather customized, but tastefully so, and some may think it blasphemy to replace the walnut with something else. Hopefully it won't offend people when done, but only time will tell.
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MidwestJag (10-09-2013)
#54
10-09-2013, 07:24 AM
Adam:
Welcome to the club. I'd worry first about getting the engine/mechanicals sorted. The interior and, especially the wheels, can wait. Hate to see you invest time into something that looks nice but doesn't go anywhere! I don't think anybody will be offended by your stylistic decisions, but depending on how wild you go with it, one should always be prepared for a few jeers. Mostly though, I think folks around here just love to see these old cars on the road doing what they were built to do - drive. So, enjoy it and best of luck!
Cheers,
Scott
Welcome to the club. I'd worry first about getting the engine/mechanicals sorted. The interior and, especially the wheels, can wait. Hate to see you invest time into something that looks nice but doesn't go anywhere!
I don't think anybody will be offended by your stylistic decisions, but depending on how wild you go with it, one should always be prepared for a few jeers. Mostly though, I think folks around here just love to see these old cars on the road doing what they were built to do - drive. So, enjoy it and best of luck!Cheers,
Scott
#55
10-10-2013, 05:53 PM
I recently joined your forum. It is good to see so many people keeping XJ40's on the road. I became the adopted owner of a v12 6 liter when a friend parked it in my driveway for repairs and decided to just buy a different car. Sadly it needs a lot of love, but since it was free I have plenty of room to get work done on it. Now I just need the time and money to get in line with the project. I have gone through all the information I can find in the past many months and have found so much that will hopefully lead to the improvement and restoration of the beast. Hopefully the engine will come along soon, then I just need to see if I can get someone to trade/buy the 20 inch rims so I can get much more realistic 16's under it. Interior has all the typical trouble with seats, arm rest cup holder is missing and the burl walnut is going to pieces. The body is rather rust free though and with the number of XJ6's that end up in junk yards here I shouldn't have too much trouble finding interior parts or panels if I need them. The trouble will be that lump under the hood. I got it to run a while ago. It hunted, sprayed water and started to get a bit hot. I shut it off and started working on finding all the leaks, there were several, and acquiring all the ignition parts I would need. Just need to get them all together at once and see if that resolves the issues. If not, and the hunting continues I'll chase out the MAFs and see how that goes. Someday I may be out at an event and even have pictures, or heaven forbid, a video of the thing running. With the sad state of the interior it may end up getting rather customized, but tastefully so, and some may think it blasphemy to replace the walnut with something else. Hopefully it won't offend people when done, but only time will tell.
Welcome to the group & don't be afraid to ask for help. I've always gotten it when needed.
#59
10-14-2013, 08:14 PM
Veteran Member
#60
10-14-2013, 09:05 PM
We've had 26 individual respondents: 1 of which is a former owner, 1 desiring to be an owner, and 1 whose car has been put out to pasture. That leaves 23 still on the road. Of the (non-exhaustive) 19 members I listed in my original post, only 9 reported in. Of course, the other 10 may have since posted on other threads, just not this one. Some I think I've seen since. Of course, others may have sold off their cars, and Lord knows that forum participation (not just here!) waxes and wanes as time goes by. All in all, it's not a huge list of devotees. It is, however, a privileged club!
Scott
Scott