I seem to have become an XK-R owner. Happened so fast...
#1
03-30-2012, 01:28 AM
I seem to have become an XK-R owner. Happened so fast...
Morning.
My first post. A friend from a shared collectables hobby pointed me here after a casual chat about Jaguar. I'd mentioned in passing my longtime appreciation for the XK-8, he mentioned he had one... and the conversation proceeded.
So, this long post with a bunch of photos is the tale ( A Jaguar Tale) of how i recently came to be an owner of a pretty green cat, one 12 years old, after 15 years of admiring the critter. The car to me (yeah, my bias) is a bit special, but it appealed to my collector instincts.
The story...
Hi,
I preface the happy find of my "dream car" with the claims that in general I am not a car guy and am only modestly a stuff guy, my one collectables hobby notwithstanding.
I've had a few cars over the years that I've enjoyed quite well. A Mazda Millennia S or two (sleepers back in the day IMO), and my current 8 year old, 120k miles loaded Honda Accord V6 EX coupe all have... satisfied. I used to read the car mags assiduously. Not so much these days. I do no repairs. Certainly I care about the aesthetics, ride quality, reliability and so forth, but at modest level of interest.
But, since the day it appeared, I've had an intense yen for the Jaguar XK-8. It was back around 1997; I was a couple years into my medical practice. Had my first Mazda Millennia S (in a grand dark green). Saw the reviews and photos of the XK-8 and was... stunned. Visceral sympathetic reaction. Along with its sibling Aston Martin this first coupe under Ford ownership was about the most beautiful modern car I'd ever seen. I certainly was not a Jaguar guy. I knew the standard lore--- "make sure you have 2 Jags, one for use and the other for the repairman's garage"-- though rumor had it that Ford was working wonders on the reliability front. I had seen images of a couple E-types. I knew the XJ-6 sedan (liked it) and the XJS coupe/convertible (not so much). The XK-8 seemed to have modern engineering, but the look of the E-type.
But, I wasn't going to splurge. I did grab a model (could find only the convertible, not the coupe I prefer) and for 15 years or so I've had a foot-long XK8 on my shelf.
For the last couple years I found myself grazing Ebay Motors and Autotraders. I had no intent to buy a car, certainly not a second car at time I was living primarily in Manhattan. I was, just curious... perhaps wistful. Lots of nice eye candy to see. Over time I developed an set of criteria for an imaginary purchase:
Coupe (not convertible). Maybe <50% of production was of the coupe. I preferred the structural rigidity of the hard top and the extra trunks space of the coupe and didn't favor the slight hassle of the convertible (which was automatic, but whose tonneau cover had to be placed by hand each time).
During a couple years of browsing the websites, I saw couple hundred cars at least, though as expected most were convertibles. Few to none hit all the criteria and, hey, I was looking just for fun. In all that time I never sent a single email and never made a single call. Learned a bit about the quirks of the early XK-8 (and supercharged version, XKR). The earliest engines (1997-8) failed due to nikisil cylinder liners. Pre 2001 (or so) engines needed the plastic chain tensioners replaced by metal at cost of $1000 or so. Even with increased reliability brought by Ford, maintenance remained... significant. Tires were pricey.
Then, this month, a dream car popped up on Ebay Motors. Year 2000 XK-R (the XK-8 with supercharged 380hp 0-60 in 5.1 second variant), the first year for XKR. Coupe. British Racing Green. Not only near home (< 90 minutes from NYC near north-east Philly at the NJ boarder), but it was in fact a mere ten minutes out of the way from my planned drive home from the Baltimore Pen Show. Oh yeah... one owner, garaged, perfect Carfax, 92 Ebay Experion rating and... 18,000 miles on it. Yes, 18,000 miles on a 12+ year old car, about 1500 miles per year, 125 miles per month all that time.
I will continue the story of this grand find after the first set of photos, to allow the images to be viewed in reasonable fashion...
Photo Set 1: Having dumped the car in my parents garage in NJ while they were in Florida all Winter, they were surprised to find it upon their return home. We did a meet and greet with the new baby Jag. Dad's always had a certain fondness for the brand, though never owned one.
As to the tale of the acquisition: As per above, I spotted the car for sale on ebay. After years of peeking at sales offerings and having never contacted a seller, as I was browsing just for fun, I found myself calling the seller. We had a nice chat. He agreed to let me meet the car and to discuss its sales; a wholesaler of autos, he noted he'd received a huge number of contacts about this XKR and did not plan to stop the auction. A day or so after I contacted him, I drove to the warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia nd met him and the car. Had a nice chat with the mechanic who had detailed it and had checked it out. While I'd been told politely that the auction likely would run (despite some offers to close it), there was a hint that deals could be made. A number mumbled in fact was a bit less than I thought I'd be willing to pay for what sounded like a nearly pristine car. I'd done research. I knew the range in which these traded. But, to grab an essentially mint car for a couple-few thousand dollars more than a well worn car with 100,000 miles on it? Ahhh. temptation.
Then... I met the car. Inside the warehouse, after a full detailing... it glowed. It probably does not speak well for me that I had frank tachycardia and weakness of of knees for a mechanical critter, but this cat was a monster. I decided it was time to buy a spare car, one which I had no place to house. I was not going to pay for a second parking spot in Manhattan, and even if I were willing to do so, to place it in a garage where attendants park-by-braille seemed suboptimal in the setting of paying a big bonus for an unhinged car.
Even though other customers reportedly had left the shop with "call me if anyone makes another offer so I can match it", my offer was... good enough.
After3 years browsing for cars I had no intention to buy, and after having never called or emailed about any of them, I found myself within about a day of spotting this car, the happy new owner of a year 2000 (12+ year old), 18,000 mile, British Racing Green, supercharged XK-R couple. Happy David indeed. Gives run for money with my finding last year the ultimate Parker Vacumatic. But, that's a tale for another day.
After placing cash deposit (I had some green left after the Baltimore Pen Show), I drove back to NYC in my trusty Honda. The next day I obtained cashier's check for the balance, took Amtrak down from Manhattan to Trenton, then took cab to the warehouse. Signed remaining papers. Took possession of the nearly new Jag. Darn thing still had new car smell.
There were risks. Old Jags even with low mileage, can have issues. I figured that besides the tensioners, the eventual inspection by Jaguar dealer would turn up couple thousand dollars in other repairs. I took my chance on this one.
Story to continue after next photo cluster:
Photo Set 2: Eye Candy. My year 2000 Jag XKR. Nearly new. My 15 year old XK-8 convertible micro model resting happily on the hood of its much larger sibling. I also liked the 18" rims, a pattern I'd not seen before on other XK I'd viewed.
So, I drove the car to my family home in NJ and left it in my parents' garage. With travel and already scheduled plans, I could not visit my new kitty for three weeks. In the meantime, I managed to get the NY registration done, had the plates in hand, called a good Jaguar dealer in NJ to schedule a top to bottom inspection. I wanted this car safe and reliable. I drove down to NJ this week and arrived a few minutes after my folks had made it back from Florida only to find the XKR occupying a space in the garage. Had some fun showing off the car and going on test drives.
Family is unfamiliar with current Jaguar models, though Dad-- again-- always had fondness for the brand. I was asked if I finally had gone crazy and splurged for a year old dealer demo car, or if the thing was maybe a 2008, after all it had so few miles on it. I was met by bit of initial disbelief when I mentioned the car was nearly 13 model years old, and had averaged about 1500 miles per year of use. After couple rides, the family comments centered on... it looks new.
Yeah, that was the kicker. The car was discounted (so to speak) 75% or more from original sales price. Yet it looked, felt... smelled... mint. That was the final cocktail that appealed to my well honed collector instincts. Used but in gem condition, for a fraction of a new item. Sounds like my approach to fountain pen collecting .
Story continues after next photo cluster:
Photo 3: Some details.
Story continues after next photo cluster:
Photo 4: More details. Service records, radio codes, perfect floor mats... all found in the trunk Incredible Alpine radio system (CD changer in trunk, no MP3 of course). Memory seats and mirrors. Heated everything. Front and rear fog lamps, wood... everywhere.
This was the sort of car that people would travel to purchase. Dealer told me (yeah, I know, go prove it) in follow up that he had numerous cranky calls about having closed the auction. So it goes. I was really content to be the new owner of this kitty.
Of course, I still had no idea what might turn up on the full Jaguar dealership inspection. I brought the car in two days ago for a full day review by the experts. The chain tensioners were replaced as planned (ouch!). I was charmed that some of the younger techs came by to chat about the car. I mentioned they see lots of Jags, so what was the big deal. Seems though not so many coupes this old in this condition turn up at their doorstep. Excellent.
But, while I expected (this being a 12 year old Jaguar) about a couple thousand dollars or more in other problems, the physical proved benign. A single $200 line repair was indicated, but all else was just grand. The tires are good a few thousand more miles (good thing. Pirellis for the Jag are not inexpensive). The engine on inspection during the tensioner exchange was described to me as being mint. Cool.
This final photo cluster (save for first shot in the driveway) was done in the hanger at the Jaguar dealership north of my home town. Shows the impact of lighting on photography. Of course, British Racing Green always has seemed to be a lighting-sensitive color. I like the indoor shots. Yes, it really is the same car.
The sixty mile round trip to the Jag dealership was a pleasure. The car hugs the road. The stereo is killer. Handling was great. Gobs of power on acceleration.
I did not seek an XK-R. I'd long been fond of the XK-8 but the upgraded supercharged engine was not on my list of must-haves even to consider turning three years of browsing for fun (and 15 years of admiring the car) into actual purchase consideration. But... the extra horses came with the car, so who am I to complain?
Photo cluster 5: Last shot of car in driveway, then shots indoors while car was being checked at a well known Jaguar dealership.
Well, my new old Jag is safely back at the family's home in NJ. Plan to use it quite a bit, though still with some gentility. Figure 3000-4000 miles/year, far more than it has received to date. I cannot get over the charm of climbing into a 12 year old car-- one I'd rather dreamed of owning for 15 years-- and having it in as-mint condition right down to smell. The car has no dings. The wheels have no curb rash. Color is great. Radio is great. Only tweak I might do is make stab at getting satellite and mp-3 inputs into the radio. Whether we replace (monster intervention on this car, it seems) the radio head unit, or try a more modest adapter to allow an external input (which would allow satellite and i-pod use)... time will tell.
I don't collect cars. Don't have urge for new car each couple years. I very likely will keep this car the rest of my life, enjoying keeping it working well, and striving to keep it in nice cosmetic shape... even while driving and enjoying it. As a long time collector of certain old items, I harbor few illusions about modern items becoming collectable. Still... I'm told only a few thousand Jaguar coupes have made it to the USA since 1997 (most XK-8/XK-R have been convertible), this one is a "first year" XKR (the supercharged engine was released in the XK-8 in 2000), and this is in grand condition. Who knows... maybe someday this will at least not depreciate.
Thanks for peeking
regards
david
My first post. A friend from a shared collectables hobby pointed me here after a casual chat about Jaguar. I'd mentioned in passing my longtime appreciation for the XK-8, he mentioned he had one... and the conversation proceeded.
So, this long post with a bunch of photos is the tale ( A Jaguar Tale) of how i recently came to be an owner of a pretty green cat, one 12 years old, after 15 years of admiring the critter. The car to me (yeah, my bias) is a bit special, but it appealed to my collector instincts.
The story...
Hi,
I preface the happy find of my "dream car" with the claims that in general I am not a car guy and am only modestly a stuff guy, my one collectables hobby notwithstanding.
I've had a few cars over the years that I've enjoyed quite well. A Mazda Millennia S or two (sleepers back in the day IMO), and my current 8 year old, 120k miles loaded Honda Accord V6 EX coupe all have... satisfied. I used to read the car mags assiduously. Not so much these days. I do no repairs. Certainly I care about the aesthetics, ride quality, reliability and so forth, but at modest level of interest.
But, since the day it appeared, I've had an intense yen for the Jaguar XK-8. It was back around 1997; I was a couple years into my medical practice. Had my first Mazda Millennia S (in a grand dark green). Saw the reviews and photos of the XK-8 and was... stunned. Visceral sympathetic reaction. Along with its sibling Aston Martin this first coupe under Ford ownership was about the most beautiful modern car I'd ever seen. I certainly was not a Jaguar guy. I knew the standard lore--- "make sure you have 2 Jags, one for use and the other for the repairman's garage"-- though rumor had it that Ford was working wonders on the reliability front. I had seen images of a couple E-types. I knew the XJ-6 sedan (liked it) and the XJS coupe/convertible (not so much). The XK-8 seemed to have modern engineering, but the look of the E-type.
But, I wasn't going to splurge. I did grab a model (could find only the convertible, not the coupe I prefer) and for 15 years or so I've had a foot-long XK8 on my shelf.
For the last couple years I found myself grazing Ebay Motors and Autotraders. I had no intent to buy a car, certainly not a second car at time I was living primarily in Manhattan. I was, just curious... perhaps wistful. Lots of nice eye candy to see. Over time I developed an set of criteria for an imaginary purchase:
Coupe (not convertible). Maybe <50% of production was of the coupe. I preferred the structural rigidity of the hard top and the extra trunks space of the coupe and didn't favor the slight hassle of the convertible (which was automatic, but whose tonneau cover had to be placed by hand each time).
- Color- British Racing Green (really the only color for a Jag) or perhaps Black.
- Condition- low mileage and great condition
- Location- nearby. I didn't plan to fly to Arizona to inspect a car.
- Pre-2007 car. I liked the look of the 1997-2006 cars far more than the current XK variant
During a couple years of browsing the websites, I saw couple hundred cars at least, though as expected most were convertibles. Few to none hit all the criteria and, hey, I was looking just for fun. In all that time I never sent a single email and never made a single call. Learned a bit about the quirks of the early XK-8 (and supercharged version, XKR). The earliest engines (1997-8) failed due to nikisil cylinder liners. Pre 2001 (or so) engines needed the plastic chain tensioners replaced by metal at cost of $1000 or so. Even with increased reliability brought by Ford, maintenance remained... significant. Tires were pricey.
Then, this month, a dream car popped up on Ebay Motors. Year 2000 XK-R (the XK-8 with supercharged 380hp 0-60 in 5.1 second variant), the first year for XKR. Coupe. British Racing Green. Not only near home (< 90 minutes from NYC near north-east Philly at the NJ boarder), but it was in fact a mere ten minutes out of the way from my planned drive home from the Baltimore Pen Show. Oh yeah... one owner, garaged, perfect Carfax, 92 Ebay Experion rating and... 18,000 miles on it. Yes, 18,000 miles on a 12+ year old car, about 1500 miles per year, 125 miles per month all that time.
I will continue the story of this grand find after the first set of photos, to allow the images to be viewed in reasonable fashion...
Photo Set 1: Having dumped the car in my parents garage in NJ while they were in Florida all Winter, they were surprised to find it upon their return home. We did a meet and greet with the new baby Jag. Dad's always had a certain fondness for the brand, though never owned one.
As to the tale of the acquisition: As per above, I spotted the car for sale on ebay. After years of peeking at sales offerings and having never contacted a seller, as I was browsing just for fun, I found myself calling the seller. We had a nice chat. He agreed to let me meet the car and to discuss its sales; a wholesaler of autos, he noted he'd received a huge number of contacts about this XKR and did not plan to stop the auction. A day or so after I contacted him, I drove to the warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia nd met him and the car. Had a nice chat with the mechanic who had detailed it and had checked it out. While I'd been told politely that the auction likely would run (despite some offers to close it), there was a hint that deals could be made. A number mumbled in fact was a bit less than I thought I'd be willing to pay for what sounded like a nearly pristine car. I'd done research. I knew the range in which these traded. But, to grab an essentially mint car for a couple-few thousand dollars more than a well worn car with 100,000 miles on it? Ahhh. temptation.
Then... I met the car. Inside the warehouse, after a full detailing... it glowed. It probably does not speak well for me that I had frank tachycardia and weakness of of knees for a mechanical critter, but this cat was a monster. I decided it was time to buy a spare car, one which I had no place to house. I was not going to pay for a second parking spot in Manhattan, and even if I were willing to do so, to place it in a garage where attendants park-by-braille seemed suboptimal in the setting of paying a big bonus for an unhinged car.
Even though other customers reportedly had left the shop with "call me if anyone makes another offer so I can match it", my offer was... good enough.
After3 years browsing for cars I had no intention to buy, and after having never called or emailed about any of them, I found myself within about a day of spotting this car, the happy new owner of a year 2000 (12+ year old), 18,000 mile, British Racing Green, supercharged XK-R couple. Happy David indeed. Gives run for money with my finding last year the ultimate Parker Vacumatic. But, that's a tale for another day.
After placing cash deposit (I had some green left after the Baltimore Pen Show), I drove back to NYC in my trusty Honda. The next day I obtained cashier's check for the balance, took Amtrak down from Manhattan to Trenton, then took cab to the warehouse. Signed remaining papers. Took possession of the nearly new Jag. Darn thing still had new car smell.
There were risks. Old Jags even with low mileage, can have issues. I figured that besides the tensioners, the eventual inspection by Jaguar dealer would turn up couple thousand dollars in other repairs. I took my chance on this one.
Story to continue after next photo cluster:
Photo Set 2: Eye Candy. My year 2000 Jag XKR. Nearly new. My 15 year old XK-8 convertible micro model resting happily on the hood of its much larger sibling. I also liked the 18" rims, a pattern I'd not seen before on other XK I'd viewed.
So, I drove the car to my family home in NJ and left it in my parents' garage. With travel and already scheduled plans, I could not visit my new kitty for three weeks. In the meantime, I managed to get the NY registration done, had the plates in hand, called a good Jaguar dealer in NJ to schedule a top to bottom inspection. I wanted this car safe and reliable. I drove down to NJ this week and arrived a few minutes after my folks had made it back from Florida only to find the XKR occupying a space in the garage. Had some fun showing off the car and going on test drives.
Family is unfamiliar with current Jaguar models, though Dad-- again-- always had fondness for the brand. I was asked if I finally had gone crazy and splurged for a year old dealer demo car, or if the thing was maybe a 2008, after all it had so few miles on it. I was met by bit of initial disbelief when I mentioned the car was nearly 13 model years old, and had averaged about 1500 miles per year of use. After couple rides, the family comments centered on... it looks new.
Yeah, that was the kicker. The car was discounted (so to speak) 75% or more from original sales price. Yet it looked, felt... smelled... mint. That was the final cocktail that appealed to my well honed collector instincts. Used but in gem condition, for a fraction of a new item. Sounds like my approach to fountain pen collecting .
Story continues after next photo cluster:
Photo 3: Some details.
Story continues after next photo cluster:
Photo 4: More details. Service records, radio codes, perfect floor mats... all found in the trunk Incredible Alpine radio system (CD changer in trunk, no MP3 of course). Memory seats and mirrors. Heated everything. Front and rear fog lamps, wood... everywhere.
This was the sort of car that people would travel to purchase. Dealer told me (yeah, I know, go prove it) in follow up that he had numerous cranky calls about having closed the auction. So it goes. I was really content to be the new owner of this kitty.
Of course, I still had no idea what might turn up on the full Jaguar dealership inspection. I brought the car in two days ago for a full day review by the experts. The chain tensioners were replaced as planned (ouch!). I was charmed that some of the younger techs came by to chat about the car. I mentioned they see lots of Jags, so what was the big deal. Seems though not so many coupes this old in this condition turn up at their doorstep. Excellent.
But, while I expected (this being a 12 year old Jaguar) about a couple thousand dollars or more in other problems, the physical proved benign. A single $200 line repair was indicated, but all else was just grand. The tires are good a few thousand more miles (good thing. Pirellis for the Jag are not inexpensive). The engine on inspection during the tensioner exchange was described to me as being mint. Cool.
This final photo cluster (save for first shot in the driveway) was done in the hanger at the Jaguar dealership north of my home town. Shows the impact of lighting on photography. Of course, British Racing Green always has seemed to be a lighting-sensitive color. I like the indoor shots. Yes, it really is the same car.
The sixty mile round trip to the Jag dealership was a pleasure. The car hugs the road. The stereo is killer. Handling was great. Gobs of power on acceleration.
I did not seek an XK-R. I'd long been fond of the XK-8 but the upgraded supercharged engine was not on my list of must-haves even to consider turning three years of browsing for fun (and 15 years of admiring the car) into actual purchase consideration. But... the extra horses came with the car, so who am I to complain?
Photo cluster 5: Last shot of car in driveway, then shots indoors while car was being checked at a well known Jaguar dealership.
Well, my new old Jag is safely back at the family's home in NJ. Plan to use it quite a bit, though still with some gentility. Figure 3000-4000 miles/year, far more than it has received to date. I cannot get over the charm of climbing into a 12 year old car-- one I'd rather dreamed of owning for 15 years-- and having it in as-mint condition right down to smell. The car has no dings. The wheels have no curb rash. Color is great. Radio is great. Only tweak I might do is make stab at getting satellite and mp-3 inputs into the radio. Whether we replace (monster intervention on this car, it seems) the radio head unit, or try a more modest adapter to allow an external input (which would allow satellite and i-pod use)... time will tell.
I don't collect cars. Don't have urge for new car each couple years. I very likely will keep this car the rest of my life, enjoying keeping it working well, and striving to keep it in nice cosmetic shape... even while driving and enjoying it. As a long time collector of certain old items, I harbor few illusions about modern items becoming collectable. Still... I'm told only a few thousand Jaguar coupes have made it to the USA since 1997 (most XK-8/XK-R have been convertible), this one is a "first year" XKR (the supercharged engine was released in the XK-8 in 2000), and this is in grand condition. Who knows... maybe someday this will at least not depreciate.
Thanks for peeking
regards
david
Last edited by david i; 06-09-2012 at 10:11 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by david i:
Orthodixie (07-12-2017),
wcnesta (06-09-2012)
#3
03-30-2012, 07:07 AM
Congrats on your new cat!
You have found a great resource in this forum.
Don't get freaked out by the little issues that will come up. Check here and often you will find simple solutions to many problems.
Unless you are pretty well off you might want to stay away from the dealers service shops and their NY prices. I live on Long Island and all I can say about the local Jag dealer prices is HOLY COW!
This car is not made for snow and ice. I also have read (on this forum) about some disturbing rust issues so my XK8 (also racing green) never sees bad weather.
Good luck you are gonna love it!
You have found a great resource in this forum.
Don't get freaked out by the little issues that will come up. Check here and often you will find simple solutions to many problems.
Unless you are pretty well off you might want to stay away from the dealers service shops and their NY prices. I live on Long Island and all I can say about the local Jag dealer prices is HOLY COW!
This car is not made for snow and ice. I also have read (on this forum) about some disturbing rust issues so my XK8 (also racing green) never sees bad weather.
Good luck you are gonna love it!
#4
03-30-2012, 07:39 AM
Veteran Member
Welcome to a very friendly and incredibly helpful forum.
I've just put the top down and am off to hammer through the French byways on this beatiful spring day.
I think the production figures for the XKR are 9,600 coupés and 13,900 convertibles or thereabouts.
Obviously I'm a flophead droopy fan - I actually think they're prettier than the tin top but each to his own. Well done for finding BRG - not a common colour in the UK anymore, sadly.
I've just put the top down and am off to hammer through the French byways on this beatiful spring day.
I think the production figures for the XKR are 9,600 coupés and 13,900 convertibles or thereabouts.
Obviously I'm a flophead droopy fan - I actually think they're prettier than the tin top but each to his own. Well done for finding BRG - not a common colour in the UK anymore, sadly.
#6
03-30-2012, 09:37 AM
Senior Member
Congrats! there is nothing like it, these are wonderful cars that, if you can believe it, grow on you the longer you own them. It's almost like raising kids, you love them, you nurture them, give them what they need, take them for checkups, bathe them, and sometimes they get sick, or do stupid things, but it all makes you love them even more.
#7
03-30-2012, 09:43 AM
Trending Topics
#10
03-30-2012, 10:39 AM
Congrats, enjoy, looks like it was a perfect match of car and owner. You will (after treating her gingerly) find yourself stepping on it more often because, its just so much fun.
Just remember when something does go wrong (it will sadly, its still a Jag, LOL) come here and ask before taking it to anyone, just so you have an idea of what it might be. This forum and another Jaguar forum out there are great (this one is much better for XK owners though).
Just remember when something does go wrong (it will sadly, its still a Jag, LOL) come here and ask before taking it to anyone, just so you have an idea of what it might be. This forum and another Jaguar forum out there are great (this one is much better for XK owners though).
#11
03-30-2012, 10:54 AM
Veteran Member
Great car and great story! Your car is basically what I started looking for, British Racing Green, XKR Coupe, no navigation. I ended up with an XK8 Convertible, but it was mint, much like yours, and popped up practically in my back yard. This forum is great and full of good information and people to help with maintenance and mods. I never thought I'd do much with mods, but I knew I wanted to change the exhaust, and then little things began to pop up. All of my mods are subtle, but do quite a bit to enhance the look. I got thought the center stack looked a bit to plasticy, so I added some more wood, I didn't like the "alien beacon" antenna, boom, somebody pioneered a mod to add a switch to keep the antenna down. Now I'm thinking of some stereo upgrades, a new shift knob, and possibly the remote controlled convertible top mod.
#12
03-30-2012, 11:09 AM
With your antenna down, the radio reception (particularly a.m.) must be terrible, no?
regards
david
#14
03-30-2012, 11:26 AM
#16
03-30-2012, 11:37 AM
I very much admire your taste in cars, sir 
Milwaukee? How weird. I'm going to be flying into Milwaukee from NYC once a week for the next six months. Too bad will not be driving out there. Would be... wild... to have two yr-2000, BRG XKR couple next to each other. Might bring some interesting stares in the mall parking lot...
regards
-d
Milwaukee? How weird. I'm going to be flying into Milwaukee from NYC once a week for the next six months. Too bad will not be driving out there. Would be... wild... to have two yr-2000, BRG XKR couple next to each other. Might bring some interesting stares in the mall parking lot...
regards
-d
#17
03-30-2012, 11:39 AM
#18
03-30-2012, 12:18 PM
Veteran Member
I'd be interested to hear about adding wood to the interior (thought there was a thread somewhere around here) in reversible fashion (not destroying original inserts to keep them for future switch back if necessary).
With your antenna down, the radio reception (particularly a.m.) must be terrible, no?
regards
david
With your antenna down, the radio reception (particularly a.m.) must be terrible, no?
regards
david
Here is a quick write up I did on it: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-do-%3B-51779/
If you want real wood, or to go crazy with it like this (Brian2000XKR's car)
You will have to go to a place like Myrtle Productions
With the antenna down, I can pick up strong stations and that is about it, but most of the time I listen to CDs anyway. The nice thing is the mod is switchable, with the switch "on" the antenna behaves like normal, going up with the radio on, and collapsing when the radio or car is shut off. One flip of the switch to "off" and the antenna retracts and stays down until I turn the switch back "on"
Here are the instructions for that mod: Disconnecting the power antenna / Remote Switch Install - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum
Oh, if you haven't already, check out this thread, it has tons of good stuff: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ts-data-29800/
Last edited by K.Westra; 03-30-2012 at 04:24 PM.
#20
03-30-2012, 02:57 PM
Veteran Member
