Took her out today for an hour drive. It was nice enough, no snow or salt, so what the hell. I just love driving this car. Takes all my cares away like riding my motorcycle or golfing. Love it. Just sayin.

 

Know what you mean, even driving to work doesn't seem so bad.

 

Could not agree more. Have owned mine for only four months and am under the spell. It's a 5th vehicle--will not have it out on salted/cindered north PA winter roads. Am wondering what's the minimum these beauties should be driven to help keep systems intact?

 

+1 here. My first winter with my XK8 so only take her out on dry days. Not cold enough here yet for salt but that will keep her off the road more often.
I like to drive enough to:-
Remove any tarnish on the brake discs (she lives outside)
Top up the battery, but it has to be long enough journey to compensate for the startup! Otherwise it's the CTEK charger.
Moisten the A/C seals, stop them drying out.
Dehumidify and warm the interior.
I've heard that the fuel pump doesn't like inactivity but not sure about that.
Expel any condensation from under the bonnet.
Stop 'square tyre' syndrome
I do a minimum of perhaps 30miles a week if possible - not much but enough to get things hot. It's never a chore

 

I contacted my insurer on Nov.23 to remove liability coverage until Spring arrives. Both the Jag and the Miata are resting in our heated garage, each with its own trickle-charger, conditioner in the full fuel tanks, all tires inflated to 41 psi, and liberally sprinkled with anti-static laundry softening dryer sheets. Also, three different types of mousetrap are on the floor between the cars. This is my second winter for the Jaguar, and last year I chose to start it occasionally and back it out of the garage to rotate the tires, letting it run up to operating temperature before returning it to its place in the garage. I may or may not choose to do that again this year if presented with a nice enough sunny warm day.

 

Glad you got to enjoy her for a bit! Thankful I don't have to deal with locking her up for the winter.

 

Its interesting reading about others "putting away for the winter".

Mines a daily driver. I only leave it on the drive when the snow is deep enough to stop the gritter on my main road and that's probably less than 20 days in 5 years.

Only mods needed are a retrofitted heated screen and under seal.

Nothing wakes you up better on a work day than than the top down on a crisp cold morning.

The owner before me was a dry sundays only driver and it took 2 years to get the car back in shape after that lack of use and in his case lack of required maintenance.

So drive it as much as you can, life's too short as it is without wasting winters.😊

 

I won't lock her up but I won't take her out in snow or salt. Had her out yesterday.

 

My daily is an AWD Astro van. I'm a locksmith. Nothing better in the snow. My wife has had many 4WD cars including a Jeep Grand Cherokee non can hold a candle against the might Astro. The one I have is my fourth and its time to find another.

 

Can not relate. My dilemma today was finding a tree-shaded spot at the local mall parking lot so that the car interior wouldn't be 100+ degrees when I got back in.

 

It wont work. I won't feel sorry for you.😢

 

Had my XKR for three months and it's my daily driver(13 straight miles each way). My minivan has now been passed on to my son to drive. I had to put the roof up on my Kitty for the first time since Halloween today-Damn rain!!

 

Interesting Pete.
We seem to be on parallel paths.
I gave my GMC to my 16yo son,
so I bought my XKR convert in September,
and is now my daily driver up here in East TX.
Cheers.

 

Dang, you're that good of a golfer?

 

My xkr is a daily driver from when the Sally is washed away in the spring until it's applied in winter. My a8 is a joy to drive, but the spring, summer and fall are the time the xkr shines!

I keep debating the merits of moving to a 07+ XKR, an r230 Mercedes SL600/SL65 or waiting for the 2010 XKRs to come down. I keep not doing anything because my 2000 XKR had and is good to me and it's not like I need a newer toy car. I keep eyeing Bentley Continental GTs but I want to buy in at mid 30s, so ill be waiting a while, or by the time they get there, I might be so in love with the newer xkrs that I won't care. First world problems...