Hi!
I just realized that no one in my immediate family reads any of my posts here in the XJS or the XJ8 forums.
I am also enrolled in the Facebook Jaguar Groups. Those I think may get read occasionally. I think accidentally.

So, how involved is your family in your passion for Jaguars? A lot? A little?
Or only when a transporter rolls up to your home with another addition to your collection?
Or when your significant other notices large expenditures for automobile parts or repairs not covered by insurance?

It does get lonely sometimes underneath a Jaguar you know.
I wonder how any of you fellow forum members get your family to be involved in a friendly way.

Regards,
Bob
POR - Press on Regardless
Happy Trails

 

My daughter charges me by the pump when helping me to bleed brakes. She hasn't collected yet after many attempts to collect.
My family all know how in to my car hobby I am. The driveway gets full of cars an I do hear about it in that respect. All in all, they are ok with it especially when they spot a car that they know I would either like or be interested in it in some way.

 

Yep. My oldest daughter had to borrow the XJS for a few weeks after her 2004 BMW decided
to spend a month or two at the repair shop.
She was amazed how quiet and powerful the 94 XJS 4.0L engine was on the freeway.
I normally don't drive with the top down. She did every chance she got.
Her BMW is a 4-door sedan. and after she got her car back she said she missed the XJS
convertible "feeling".
I got the car for my wife 14 years ago and she hardly drives it.

Well, more time for me or one of my 3 other daughters.

Regards and Happy Trails

 

My family is utterly disinterested in car stuff. They view my love affair with cars...Jaguars in particular...as a harmless and mildly amusing eccentricity.

Cheers
DD

 

Yeah I'm pretty much in the same boat. My wife showed interest early on. now that we have been married for 36+, I'm more of a lone wolf now, then I ever wanted to be.

 

Actually, in thinking about it, there was a time when family shared my enthusiasm.

A million years ago, before Jags, I owned a couple MGs. The kids were just tykes back then and loved those LBCs. I'd work the pedals and they'd take great delight in shifting the gears

Cheers
DD

 

I have loved cars since I was a little boy. I played with them as toys and looked at them every chance I could growing up. No wonder I still love a special car like the XJS. Just seems like it is in my DNA and always will be. To me a car like the XJS is a rolling piece of art combined with function. Funny how over the years we spend a great deal of time forgetting about all the average cars and remember the special ones. I remember as a young boy how special it was to see a Jaguar and how the Jag stood out compared to so many other cars of my childhood in the 60's and 70's.

Luckily my wife puts up with my love of cars. Not everyone shares the passion but at least I have a partner who is supportive of me living my passion and I am happy to report she is starting to appreciate the beauty and style even if she does not share the passion. My wife is at least getting use to having people comment on how beautiful our XJS is which happens almost every time we take it out. Who knows maybe after I am long gone she will keep one and take it out for a special drive and it will put a big smile on her face remembering how much fun we had doing that together. Then again she may not be able to find gas for it in the future and so she will be reminded how much space these big Jags have used up in our garage all these years-LOL!

 

My mother now wants an XJS and eyes my car every time she visits. It has been abit of work since the first day I got my car and her reaction was "Oh myyy gaaawwd" in reference to how gas thirsty and supposedly unreliable they are. (Hint: The XJS is reliable if maintained)

My brother is big into the old BMWs so its a constant arms race between us, my XJS still beats his 77' 7-series any day of the week.

 

I'm glad the Jag Forum and the Jag Lovers Forums are available.
Otherwise it would be a very exclusive passion or a very lonely hobby.
I'm a little peeved at these "Barn Finds" where a old rust bucket 1976/77 Mustang shows up and it is valued
at $100K to $700K. Same goes for those "barn finds" antiques where they are worth close to a million dollars
and sold in an absolutely rust bucket condition at auction for that amount.
I never knew rust was so valuable.

Regards and Happy Trails,
Bob

 

It is a pretty lonely life even on the forums, if you own an X305 XJ12! So few were made. So all the more special. But there's great company in the X300 section, where there is much that applies to the X305.

I owned all three Jags at the same time from 2012-2015. I didn't freely admit to it! Family were a little confused by it, and thought it was a bit too much for me. They were right. But it was fun to have such a variety of very similar cars, each with its own characteristics.

As my son came of age, he began to borrow the XJ6 now and then. Eventually he needed his own car for work and college, so it was an obvious choice. He's a big fan of the cars now, and a member of this Forum. He doesn't turn wrenches much like I do, but he's involved with his car, and so am I still! He knows what's up with me and my car, as he just has to read the X305 threads!

 

Always had Jags, I was deemed "different" in the 60's.

Current wife (34 years just ticking up), is passionate about her jag, and the others to a less degree.

Helps with whatever is needed, engines out, etc etc.

Kids:

Oh boy.

Son
Loved his jag, sort of, but getting grubby keeping it reliable, NAH.
Always there when I need help, no snide remarks etc.
His spouse is coming around. Her initial comment was that "Jags are for old people", to which I replied, HELLO, I AM old.

Daughter (17 at this time)
First car, S2 XJ6, 5cyl engine. Out with that, rebuilt Dads spare engine from under the bench (had NO idea she even know it was there), and duly fitted it and drove it. Tried "drifting" the S2, OOPS, major malfunctions, her brain, and car suspension. Stripped both cradles out, rebuilt both, refitted and carried on.
Assisted with anything V12 whenever she got wind I was up to something in the shed.

Wife
"Have as many Jags as you want dear, coz, 1) they be cheaper than a mistress, 2) I will know EXACTLY where you are at any given time".

And now I simply "go with the flow".

The V12's are all in other GOOD homes, BUT, A niiiiiiiice MKVIIM caught our eye last night.

 

It's lonely at the top.

 

Scarbro:

I have a distant family member, or did, in your town. A bit uppity according to others. Married a guy named Snell and thought that made her queen??? Apologies for the utter lack of Jaguar reference.

My dear departed thought the world of our XJ. She was enamored at first sight., When I rook her to the show room where the car was displayed. Although I coached her before, she could not keep the poker face. It hampered my negotiations!!

She delighted in showing it off and riding in it. her Jaguar, I, in charge of maintenance and driving... Although German born, she was delighted with things, English. Diana was her heroine...

I was afflicted early in life with things automotive. My own car at 16. It did not run when found. I managed to get it to run and drive. 23 T ford roadster pickup. many adventures with it. It left after my freshman year in college as a 27 fenderless "hot rod".

Son was afflicted at a similar age. From Renaults on up to full out racers. Now a talented mechanic, fabricator and machinist. Helps me with the Jaguar in my latter years..

Daughter is intrigued with felines. The "catrmobile" fits her loose description I have a cat bobble head on the rear parcel shelf.. One of her contributions.

Carl.

 

I'm sure that no one in my family reads my posts. My poor Wife has been long suffering with my car affliction. She doesn't have any interest in my old car hobby but she does think that my Jags are beautiful and special. I regularly post on several automotive blogs. I've produced my own blog for over four years.
I make it a point to never post something that I couldn't tell my family or friends face to face. If I relate a funny story about my family ( or myself) I do it sympathetically and respectfully. It's all about having fun with cars. I try to model my writing after my favorite automotive author, Peter Egan.

It can be lonely in this hobby but that's where clubs can help. In their place magazines and now forums can provide the camaraderie and support as well as bolster our enthusiasm. I'm very thankful for this forum in particular.

 

My family loves the cars, and my daughters would kill me if I ever sold the XJS; however, they have little interest in what makes them go as long as they go. If I'm lucky, I can get one to pump the brakes or hold a flashlight. Unless the forum was turned into a Netflix series, there is zero chance anyone is reading. Heh.