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I'm not sure everyone will appreciate what follows. But I'm sure at least some will.
Up here in the PNW some wintery weather is setting in. Cold, wet, blustery. Hail and rain. Not pleasant.
But.....and this happens every fall....I am reminded of how comforting the old Jag is. Snug, quiet, and cozy cabin; that planted-on-the-ground road holding and built-like-a-tank solidness; assuring steering and brakes. Great ventilation system (no foggy windows!). There's a sense of well being and security while driving; a sense of "This car will take care of me". It's there year-round ....but especially apparent in bad weather.
I may have to discover this for myself this winter, Doug. Although there will be flooding in all the usual places after 2.25 inches of rain *today*, courtesy of the Bomb Cyclone just off shore and we have been advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
But.
Trucklet has failed me and has to go for some Serious repairs. This only leaves me Nix, the most consistently reliable vehicle on the place. I suppose it's about time she got her feet wet.
(';')
Doug,
I may have had the first small evidence of what you are saying. The first drive of my Jag was only a few miles around a subdivision and a bit of lonely borough (county) road. Even with no front bumper, no bonnet, parking light bulbs dangling from the front fenders, no back seat, no electric seat frame under drivers seat, ski slope missing, window switches wadded up where the console box should be, no carpet, etc. I think I have nearly finished rebuilding the best car I've ever had.
The thousands of Kilometres I have traveled in my Jags, and in all sorts of weather, terrain, roads, or lack of in most cases in the early days, I have never had a better feeling.
Never wondered if I would get home, or "to her place" when a teenager now make sense at 71.
They do not mind wet, only salt - which is to our Jaguars what kryptonite is to Superman.
Well, upon your recommendation, Greg, I did treat all the cavities I could reach with that Cavity Coater you posted back when, and I put enough in so that it started running out on the shop floor.
I also need to adjust my true attitude toward this car and take my own advice that I give to others. It's not some precious object of of historical or religious significance to be Saved at all cost. It should be Used and enjoyed. IT'S JUST AN OLD CAR WITH A NICE PAINT JOB!!
And I do So enjoy driving it!
I may have to do battle with husband as he thinks the car will Melt if it gets wet, but I'm thinking she'll outlast him (she's certainly in better shape)!
Thanks, Fellas, for this encouragement and Attitude Adjustment.
(';')
Greg nailed the culprit on the head....salt. I have never thought of France as having a freezing climate in the winter, but the use of salt on the highways is the destroyer of all things metal here in Alaska. If you think you'll visit the car wash every few days to wash it off, you will have a car encapsulated in ice, and still get a salt coating.
Elinor, down grading your attitude toward your Jag should not feel necessary. Most of us here have spent an inordinate amount of time and $$$$ taking care of these vehicles and they are part of us. The "old car with a nice paint job" didn't get that way by itself (well, the "old" part did) and to mistreat that process should have a legal penalty. Unless your shop is on fire, keep it inside when the sun isn't shining.
...Elinor, down grading your attitude toward your Jag should not feel necessary.
Not so much "Downgrading," Dave, as a Lateral Adjustment to a more practical and realistic viewpoint.
Most of us here have spent an inordinate amount of time and $$$$ taking care of these vehicles and they are part of us.
That's certainly true of this car. Otherwise *she* would have neither such a special Name nor her own private room with Northern exposure and tunes.
The "old car with a nice paint job" didn't get that way by itself (well, the "old" part did) and to mistreat that process should have a legal penalty. Unless your shop is on fire, keep it inside when the sun isn't shining.
I'll weigh in on this one as well. I saw a few earlier posts on putting the car away for the winter and was a bit astonished that such a notion was contemplated. Winter is the best. I enjoy weather that I can see much more than the odd clear day we experience here in the Pacific North West. There is nothing better than a drive in a solid and tight car in driving rain at night with great european headlights stabbing the dark and rear fog lights. Wipers flipping and the heater and defroster blowing, stereo on Sibelius and your girl (or guy) in the passenger seat. Very nice. When I rebuilt the XJ6 S3 I paid particular attention to door seals, window seals, lighting everything needed for that kind of driving. I wouldn't dream of putting it away for the wonderful inclement weather we see. I wish I had been able to drive over to the coast this past weekend, it was pounded by the storm.
I don't have a picture of the XJ6 in weather, but I offer another Jaguar that doesn't get put away in weather. Mount the hard top and this car is good to go in any weather.....
So. Build the car for all weather and enjoy it in all weather. My notion.
You guys are a Riot, ya know that?
So, as I usually do when faced with deeply held convictions that are diametrically opposed, I'll do what I want to when I want to do it.
I'll weigh in on this one as well. I saw a few earlier posts on putting the car away for the winter and was a bit astonished that such a notion was contemplated..
Much depends on where you are and what sort of winter you get. I'd never consider driving one of my "good" Jaguars in the winter. between the salt that corrodes everything, the gravel that is put down to aid traction, plus I'd never drive a RWD car again the winter all works against driving a nice car in the winter.
I had an X300 a while ago and it was hopeless in the winter. Even with proper winter tires and I changed out the diff for a limited slip one I still had to change my route to work when it snowed, as the car simply couldn't make it up a hill. Plus the heater was totally inadequate, in cold weather I froze. I had occasion to take the heater box apart in one in the junkyard and the heater core is 1/3 the size of a one in a Ford. No wonder it couldn't keep the windshield clear of frost on the inside!
The gravel they put on the road means that windshields last about two years maximum before they are too broken up to see out of, plus that is hard on the paint too; the front end of mine is pitted with rockchips and missing paint. Would I put a cherished car through that? No way!
Jagboi64,
You have expressed exactly why I won't drive this Jag in the winter. Almost as dangerous to sheet metal are the hoards of new comers in the State who are scared silly at the first suspicion of slick road. My wife and I have three other "Alaskan cars" that take us anywhere we want to go in any kind of weather. They aren't as pretty as the Jag, but that's because they are driven year around. I want better for this car.
Very interesting discussion and I appreciate both points of view. I feel cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed but on the other hand these cars are historically significant and are works of art. Just imagine where you car will be 50 years from now and how that makes you feel. Being driven on a fun road by someone that appreciates and cares for it; or recycled into a washing machine? One approach is that due to all your efforts your car is getting better no mater how much, when or when you drive it – then go for it. I worry about the windshield and back window seals. There is a little rust there now which means water is getting in there and it’s only going to get worse if it gets wet. Bottom line is I drive my vintage cars year round as long as the roads are dry.
The obvious easy answer would be to have two Jags. One for summer, one for winter
Or three, or four...
I did that actually, I have an X Type for the winter, the AWD is great. A convertible XJS isn't really suitable for driving in a Canadian winter.
Right. I very much like the Jaguars and don't hesitate in whatever weather takes place around town and in the valley, but I confess I do revert to 4WD when going across the Cascades in the dead of winter. But not so much the Jeep. I've had to pull the Jeep thru snow with the P38 Range Rover. That is the "snow and terrain be damned" vehicle. To reiterate, There is nothing better than a drive in a solid and tight car in driving rain at night with great european headlights stabbing the dark and rear fog lights. Wipers flipping and the heater and defroster blowing, stereo on Sibelius and your girl (or guy) in the passenger seat. Very nice.
Or am I being tedious.
Winter, Well Being, and Old Jags
and has to go for some Serious repairs. This only leaves me Nix, the most consistently reliable vehicle on the place. I suppose it's about time she got her feet wet.
