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I have recently spent 10 days in the UK. This was something of a swansong for me, at 74 years old, visiting old friends, niece's 50th etc ete. The Management signed off the fuel expense and ferry costs, which had to be removed from reserves. This was the last long trip I expect to do.
The car covered 1,370 miles, most of which were on motorways (dual carriageways). It ran faultlessly.
Fuel used: 70 gallons = about 695 UKP = 1,000 USD =1,200 Aussie dollars. This is not an expense I can bear or justify in the future.
The car averaged a real 19.4 MPG at an overall average speed of 53.3 MPH
Time driving car: 25 hours 35 mins.
Great fun, wonderfully fulfilling; but the end of using it frequently!
Pretty sure a good wheel place can 'diamond cut' and polish for you - there's a place near me that does but they then need to be lacquered and are high maintenance (or at least look it) - not sure I'd want to be detailing those wheels myself but I agree they look great - whole darn car does - we need a pic of yours now Greg ...
Here she is Zaino'd up, pre-trip. I am not much of a car cleaner, being obsessed only be mechanical perfection, so while there are dings all over the car, from afar not too bad.
And Robbo, the old car scene in France is pretty hopeless, sadly. The Management and I do miss the days out with the autojumbles, food stall and the general fun of them.
Difficult to know what to say - you did it, took the car to a place it was able to do what ultimately you asked of it, that it did so without fault is testament, it will always be an achievement no matter what.
...
Fuel used: 70 gallons = about 695 UKP = 1,000 USD =1,200 Aussie dollars. This is not an expense I can bear or justify in the future.
The car averaged a real 19.4 MPG at an overall average speed of 53.3 MPH
Time driving car: 25 hours 35 mins.
Great fun, wonderfully fulfilling; but the end of using it frequently!
Greg, I'm so glad you got to do this trip!
Mercans will Gasp when I tell them this works out to $14.29/gal. Most are still bitterly complaining about $6.xx/gallon, $7 in some places and that's putting great pressure on those required to commute for their livelihood, especially if they need more than one car.
I've had to calculate the upper limit of fuel cost before I shut down my business. In the past I have gone through 100 gallons of fuel in a week! I simply can't afford that now, nor can my customers afford to keep me when they're paying the same for their fuel.
I'm also sad for you that you must basically park your XJS. So sad.
(';')
Life is a Cup to be filled to the brim, its never over till its over and so enjoy every day!
As after all you've got plenty of 'Toys' to play with and like us lived through an era where we had some real fun, unlike the 2020's which really has to be the worst of all!
Where even in some of the most Crazy Situations, the GF and me always find a way of Laughing through it all and have stories we can dine out on forever
As in some of the darkest times that you can imagine, the GF always says to me, one day we will really miss having days like these!
And though it never feels like that, when Chaos reigns supreme, I have to say that She's is always right!
Congrats on the Road Trip, sounds like you had Fun!
I have to admit I don’t think I would undertake a road trip in my car not because it wouldn’t be up to it but the cost would be to great. I love to show my car and went to a local car show in Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast last weekend. They close the roads in the town and it fills up with classic cars. There were probably between 200 and 300 cars on display. People seem to love the XJS and I have never been to a show where there was so much interest in my car it was amazing with constant questions all day. Now this is a cheap day £5.00 entry and a bit of petrol to get there so this is what I do with my car. So glad you road trip went ok and you enjoyed it. I have never been to France so don’t know what the classic car show scene is like over there. If it’s as busy as here that will keep you out of trouble 😂 We have to keep these cars on the road people love seeing them and long may that continue. Here’s a picture from last week and yes I’m the old **** sitting at the back of the car.
Rob.
Hi OB.
Who needs an E type when we have these lovely ladies. The XJS is a nicer car in my opinion. My wheels are actually painted in the middle with a polished rim. I did this when I first got the car. I was going to have them powder coated but with my inherent tight fistedness I thought I would sort them myself. Once I finished the wheels I did have a new set of tyres fitted.
Rob.
Pretty sure a good wheel place can 'diamond cut' and polish for you - there's a place near me that does but they then need to be lacquered and are high maintenance (or at least look it) - not sure I'd want to be detailing those wheels myself but I agree they look great - whole darn car does - we need a pic of yours now Greg ...
My wheels aren’t lacquered just polished around the rim. Definitely higher maintenance than a lacquered wheel but not to bad I just re-polish once a year. I do use a ceramic spray on them when cleaning. To be honest I love detailing my car part of the pleasure of owning a classic. Yes come on Greg let’s a picture of your car.
Rob.
Pretty sure a good wheel place can 'diamond cut' and polish for you - there's a place near me that does but they then need to be lacquered and are high maintenance (or at least look it) - not sure I'd want to be detailing those wheels myself but I agree they look great - whole darn car does - we need a pic of yours now Greg ...
Here she is Zaino'd up, pre-trip. I am not much of a car cleaner, being obsessed only be mechanical perfection, so while there are dings all over the car, from afar not too bad.
And Robbo, the old car scene in France is pretty hopeless, sadly. The Management and I do miss the days out with the autojumbles, food stall and the general fun of them.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with what I'm seeing Greg, nothing wrong with a little patina either - not sure I'll ever be one of the 'concours' or detailing obsessed - though once upon a time I was but I figured out that doing so becomes self serving, to seek a perfection that is simply unobtainable - ya got to know when to stop - only thing I don't tolerate on mine is rust which presents its own challenges.
As we say in Norfolk well actually we don’t but Bernard Matthews thought we did. To both Greg and OB bootiful just bootiful. And if you guys don’t know who Bernard Matthews is https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=90kC--xjLaQ
I wish I’d known you were over Greg, I’d have gladly paid you to finnish a few jobs off on my car for me !
Oh to let the master give her the once over!
I have recently spent 10 days in the UK. This was something of a swansong for me, at 74 years old, visiting old friends, niece's 50th etc ete. The Management signed off the fuel expense and ferry costs, which had to be removed from reserves. This was the last long trip I expect to do.
The car covered 1,370 miles, most of which were on motorways (dual carriageways). It ran faultlessly.
Fuel used: 70 gallons = about 695 UKP = 1,000 USD =1,200 Aussie dollars. This is not an expense I can bear or justify in the future.
The car averaged a real 19.4 MPG at an overall average speed of 53.3 MPH
Time driving car: 25 hours 35 mins.
Great fun, wonderfully fulfilling; but the end of using it frequently!
Of course it's a load of money to pay for travelling, but would it have been cheaper in a new modern car using 30-50% of that fuel ?
Most people just look at what they pay at the fuel pump and forget about depreciation and service costs.
I run at close to same total cost per mile in my XJ-S as in my new(ish) Honda Jazz
I have just done 650 miles in Scotland in a rental C4 Cactus spending only around 115 GBP on fuel. Quite impressive, but when I then add the price for renting a car (and flying in): Not so much...
Another way to look at it could be to only do every second trip. Then annual XJ-S trip fuel cost is the same as before
I wish I’d known you were over Greg, I’d have gladly paid you to finnish a few jobs off on my car for me !
Oh to let the master give her the once over!
Brinny,
If we'd all known he was here, he'd have ended up covering 15,000 miles and working on 75 cars!
Fellows, I blush. Funnily enough, Brinny I would have been in Sheff if the rail strikes had been on, but my old mate came down to the Smoke. And Peter, I stayed in Plaxtol with some friends, and would have PM'd you, except that the lady of the House had a positive test. So lucky escape for you both!
The fun for me would have been to sit in the passenger seat while you both had a go in the car. You would have been amazed, I flatter myself!
Road trip costs
