Most people buy their XJS, and then never drive it farther than 50 miles from home for various reasons (mostly fear of breakdown) - what a F)&^#%ing sin.

And I eat my own dog food. I'm on the lookout for a 3rd XJS (must be 89.5 but pre facelift, black on black), and a 928 and 456. Best believe If I don't find them locally that I will fly out and drive them home. And yes I will document the trip(s) for posterity

 

I think this should really be a simple, basic decision. You don't know detailed mechanical/electrical status of this car, plus, driving segments are long and solitary and parts will be 2 to 4 days from whoever may have them.

Have it shipped to you, then perform a full inspection, do all necessary maintenance and repairs and THEN take a nice long trip in your reliable machine; never before.

Cheers,

 

Eh. I know the detailed history of my car and it's just as likely to crap out too.

He's getting his car checked out by a British Car Specialist who happened to service the car previously.

The fluids will be changed.

What else will he know after owning the car for a year? Something not broken can break at any time. There's no way to tell when anything will go.

I'd drive it back. Looks like your taking all the right precautions. Your advice would be valid for ANY drive through remote parts of the country.

Say yes to adventure!

 

I would ship it.

Driving a large distance in a car I am not familiar with is not something I would do. As a matter of fact even with cars I am familiar with. All my nearby road trips like Austin or New Orleans are done in rentals so I don't have to worry about towing/mechanics/road rash hitting my bumper, etc.

Whatever you do good luck

 

You have an XJS and would take a rental on a road trip? What's the point in owning the XJS? Get it reliable and DRIVE it.

 

I appreciate your point but I think you missed mine. My Jaguars are very reliable and driven all around the 4th largest city in the country. I don't need or want my cars in highways full of pebbles. Windshields are NLA and paint jobs are not cheap....that's proper paint jobs are not cheap. My XJS or E type don't even see rain much less a gravel filled highway

 

I agree with previous posters that the answer is simple. You are either this guy:

"Most people buy their XJS, and then never drive it farther than 50 miles from home for various reasons (mostly fear of breakdown) - what a F)&^#%ing sin."

or you subscribe to this point of view:

"Driving a large distance in a car I am not familiar with is not something I would do. As a matter of fact even with cars I am familiar with. All my nearby road trips like Austin or New Orleans are done in rentals so I don't have to worry about towing/mechanics/road rash hitting my bumper, etc."

I bought my car to drive it. It is as predictable a car as the one you will have once it is checked out. Can something catastrophic happen while driving across the country. Absolutely. But the fact that you have no personal history with the car makes that irrelevant.

The shop will look for obvious signs of potential failure. Leaks, structural issues, condition of hoses and belts, and fluids. After that all checks out (assuming it does) you're no better off in my car as you are in the one you are buying.

So the bottom line is, what kind of person are you? There is no wrong answer here. Some people are a bit more conservative, and others a bit riskier. Don't get bamboozled into becoming the guy you are not because of what someone else recommends.

 

The issue of driving across country in a older car does in many cases come down to the person driving. There is no right or wrong answer here. Some owners want and enjoy the adventure while others would not and do not care for it. Life is a gamble and some of us enjoy rolling the dice more then others. Just think of events like the big motorcycle gathering in Sturgis, WY. For many riders half or more of the experience getting there is the ride and for others trailing their bikes is the only way for them. Just comes down to personal choice. I also would point out that many XJS owners are very handy and capable of fixing just about anything on their cars( and love working on their cars ) but others are not so much. So to break down to some would not seem so over whelming but to others would not be a good situation at all.

If you are willing to take a 25 to 30 year old car on a 2000 mile trip all the checking out of the car is great but in the end it may be the fuel pump or starter etc that leaves you stranded. I agree with those that say whether you have had the car for years or just picking it up it you are still rolling the dice.

For many future XJS buyers this situation will continue to come up as many are having to buy the car they want out side their local area or region. I know for me I would not hand over the cash until I have looked at the car in person so then you have to decide if you are spending the money to get to the car to look it over, should you go ahead and drive it home? For many this will not be about driving across a few States but across the country and then you will be looking at time of year etc. to factor into the situation. Like I said in my previous post " if you are prepared for the worse case situation and can live with it then go for it ". Chances are you will be just fine and in the event something happens you already made the decision you could live with it so that is all that matters. Just remember you are not driving a Chevy Impala or Toyota Camry type car so if you need a part chances are most places will not have the part you need and then there is the access issue. Most cars are fairly accessible to get at things under the hood. THE XJS is low and if you have the V12 can take some time and proper tools to get at what you need to. Working on a XJS in the best of conditions can be a challenge at times so trying to work on one out on the side of the road can truly be a daunting task.

 

Agree there is no wrong or right answer. Do what you would enjoy the most. I would never do it because I would be paranoid about my paint, my glass etc, and be miserable for the whole trip.... I like to drive my cars but I like them to look as garage queens as much as I can. That's just me

If I could just offer some unsolicited advise, if your car is in concours condition and you are driving it back, I would take some of that clear protective sheet coating (clear bras) and install it in the front of the bonnet, front fenders and other parts where gravel may hit

 

I wasn't expecting this to be quite so polarizing of an issue, but Vee said it best in that there are basically 2 camps here when discussing the long road trip.

I tend to consider myself more of the "I bought my car to drive it" kind of person. But its all relative. If I get there, and the paint is absolutely perfect, I would have second thoughts about the long drive.

But I'm betting that, although the car seems to be in great condition, she's not show car material. She's been well taken care of and pampered, but driven.

Also, this will most likely be the only time I'll have the chance to take such a trip in such a car.

So, since I'm not in a major rush to get it home, I'll fly out there intending to drive it home. If, upon inspection, I find its either not mechanically fit to traverse half of the country OR in such perfect cosmetic condition that I'd be worried the whole time, I'll enlist a shipping company to pick it up at a later date.

I'll keep y'all updated, and thanks for all of the discussion!

 

AMEN!

If anybody believes that a 1K miles (+) of highway driving will leave no marks on the front of the car, be it paint, glass or chrome, must be dreaming. It was the self-inflicted highway damage (I chose to drive it on the highway) that finally forced me to spend a few pennies on a paint job/finish deserving of an XJS.

And, yes, "I like to drive my cars but I like them to look as garage queens as much as I can". That's me, too. In fact, I'm considering buying a custom XJS bra, because whenever I have to drive it on a freeway to get to a show site, I try to do it very early to avoid cars/trucks in front of me, or I'm constantly correcting my position in reference to the traffic (especially from big trucks at 10 to 2 o'clock). Once there, I just remove the bra, put it back upon return; well worth it, I think.

Of course, this whole scenario has a lot to do with the condition of the car being purchased. If the car is nearly concourse looks the new chips will be a real shame and make a heck of a difference. If, conversely, the paint/glass is not really that great, then the perceived "additional" damage is less important.

Cheers,

 

(Disclaimer: I may have been irresponsible)

I bought my 96 XJS (with 80k miles on it) in New Mexico and drove it to San Francisco by way of Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Route 66, Las Vegas and LA.
The carfax report was showing a properly maintained car.
Before buying it, I got it inspected/refilled for $120 by a Jaguar dealer (I believe the guy was not necessarily a specialist of older Jaguars), took an AAA membership, got a temporary registration at the DMV in New Mexico, drove it, and had a blast!

 

Well, my 1995 XJS Convert 2+2 was purchased locally in 2007. It has been driven less than 6000 miles since I bought it. I had it trucked from NY to Florida and back for several years. Last month I decided to invest in the car and after mechanical and interior upgrades the car is showroom condition. The service center is staffed by old Jaguar service people who were overjoyed to work on the beauty. $4500 later I can drive the car anywhere anytime. But, the things that WERE wrong were all hidden! Several bushings were close to failing. Motor mounts dried and needed replacement. The six catalytics had deteriorated internally and needed replacement. Only four of the six could be found. #5 and 6 had to be opened, emptied and resealed without cat material. Imagine waiting for these parts in the wilderness of Colorado! The heater blowers are virtually impossible to replace, imagine desert driving without AC. If your plan is to keep the car either have a major renovation as needed before the drive. If not put the cat on the truck!

 

Um, I have seen cars that had been fitted with bras, and while it's true there were no rock chips on the front, there WERE scars in the paint from the edges buffeting because of the road wind. If it was clear coat it was way worse.

Some people tried making the edges tighter by several means, thinking they could hold the them down better but the outlines of the bra still show as if you took a pot scrubber around it. After a couple long trips it looked Terrible!


(';')

 

You do have a point, LnrB, and I have wondered about this, myself. Nevertheless, the bra would be on the car only during the drive, which never exceeds one hour (only that I'm not sure how much of a PITA it will be doing this before and after every show). I wonder if lining the bra's critical contact edges with some super soft material, such as velvet, or soft cotton, etc. would be less damaging. The clear coat is pretty hard, anyway, and whatever marks the bra may induce would be very superficial, i.e. easily polished off. I will investigate this a little more before I shell out the few hundred bucks.

But, as a substantial reference here, in spite of the fact that the car hasn't been driven much since the re-spray, there already is one sore nick on the hood (bonnet), about 5" from the front edge moulding, a real pisser. Since the paint job wasn't exactly cheap, it is the reason why I appear so adamant about the subjet of doing whatever one can to protect and to preserve an otherwise nice paint.

Cheers,

 

Heh, lots of silly things will split the XJS forum in two: Lump vs Original drivetrain (my favorite), V12 vs I6 (no really this has to be my all time favorite), Facelift vs Original body style (OK also my favorite ), Euro vs Quad headlamps (OK also my favorite), Convertible vs Coupe even!!! Cupholders vs Ashtrays!! It's great!!!


Now that's a shame - you should find time if at all possible. I still marvel at how such an old design compares favorably in its intended role vs modern cars. A BMW 7 series is a cruise missile to devour some highway miles in, and supremely competent to boot. Yet whenever the opportunity presents itself, I'm always reaching for the XJS keys on a road trip. It ticks all the right boxes for me. Unique, classic, sleek, understated style. I never tire of looking down the hood. The smell of leather. The wood. The beautiful chrome ashtrays (I have never seen any ashtrays more beautiful). The intimate cabin, especially in black. Barrel gauges. The occasional click and whir of relays and the AC system. How poised it feels at speed. How refreshed I feel upon arrival.

Yeah, this is the perfectly rational thing to do. Really can't argue with you there. Just make some time in the future to do at least a 4 hour run. Post pics!!!

 

"Driving a large distance in a car I am not familiar with is not something I would do. As a matter of fact even with cars I am familiar with. All my nearby road trips like Austin or New Orleans are done in rentals so I don't have to worry about towing/mechanics/road rash hitting my bumper, etc."

Damn, put me in the ground if I would rather drive an Escort the 3 hours to Austin rather than a Jaguar, Porsche, BMW, or Ferrari. But hey, maybe you are renting a high line GT. I'd rather drive my own. No wrong answers here folks, only individual preferences.

And no doubt we place different priorities on the appearance of our vehicles. None of mine came with a concourse shine, but they do look damn pretty when polished up

When the nicks and swirls become unbearable, I'll paint them, then drive the snot out of them again.

Winter Is Coming.

 

I too would enjoy driving the three hour trip if I could drive the car in a bubble or if someone else was paying the over 3-4k it would take just to repaint the bumper and the bonnet properly....

Like I said earlier I try to walk the fine line between using the cars and also keeping them as perfect as I can. The XJS has new leather seats, I thought about putting a seat cover on the drivers side to avoid too much wear and tear on the new leather, but then I figured , why even buy new seats?...so instead I just have a piece of fabric I unroll over the seat and 1/2 the backrest if I am wearing jeans or rougher materials.

I understand that if (God forbid!) a bunch of bricks falls on me tomorrow then it would be someone else enjoying my car........but new leather and paint isn't cheap either!!!

 

The issue of where and how to drive my XJS was solved by buying a second one that is nicer then my driver. It was the cheapest therapy I could get to stop me from worrying about the what if's-LOL!
Now when I am out enjoying my red XJS and that little voice in the back of my head says : " what if someone hits you or you hit a deer etc.? "- I remind myself that I have a nicer one in the garage ready to go.

In the end we are all just caretakers of these things and in the short time we have them we should do our best to enjoy the journey. They are cars after all which were meant to be driven and enjoyed for what they are. To me a rock chip here and there is just a reminder that you were out enjoying your car when it happened so embrace those little chips and marks as a badge of honor. Oh, and if it drives you nuts to think about it like it can just by a nicer one like I did and tell your wife you bought Her the color she always wanted-LOL!!!!

 

LuvmyXJS' has solved the problem. Have one XJS for each day of the week! /sets off to plan invasion of Brunei...