On another thread someone mentioned that when they visited the UK at Thanksgiving they were surprised at how few XK8/XKRs they saw on the road even though the sun nearly came out on one occasion. I suspect many owners try not to use their cars on our winter roads as we put so much salt down that our cars dissolve. My own car has had to have major reconstruction courtesy of Paragon Design (if you look at their restoration page mine is the black one having new arches). Following all this work I had the entire underside waxoiled which should help protect it from the elements.


Despite all of this, these cars are designed to be used, which is why tomorrow I will driving 300 miles from Suffolk to visit my son in Cumbria, crossing the Lake District en-route. Looking at the weather forecast it looks like there will be rain for most of the route except for the high ground where it will be snow! The car is ready for the trip, lets just hope the roads are too!

 

I grew up in a part of the country where we had to salt our roads in the winter. Then, I moved to a part of the country where we only salt our Margarita glasses and chips year round. Much preferred. Would be curious to learn how the car handles in snow. So much torque on hand even at low rpms. Chains or no chains? Safe travel.

 

I went down to Lincoln and back yesterday (280 miles) and was surprised to pass another XK on the road. I can go for weeks without seeing an XK8 or an XK.

Graham

 

My XKR has done one Michigan winter and because of all seasons, it was miserable. Luckily I've had this car 6 years since, and had it on lifts many times and can confirm it looks like no harm no foul due to due diligence and it only being two months of torture.

My XJR ONLY gets driven once I put the XKR away for the year. Maybe 250-500 miles between winters. On excellent Michelin winter tires, it goes, but it's far from ideal having come from an A8L Quattro on Blizzaks. It's not rusted anywhere yet but it's been 3 years and I want to see it on a lift this spring to see.

 

Got home this evening. The car behaved perfectly there and back, but today's journey started with the car and roads covered in snow. Fortunately the car gripped ok on newly fallen snow and I used the gears manually to assist with the braking, took it carefully and had no dramas. Once on the main A66 I drove through blizzards and the road was reduced to a single lane, but remained open between Penrith and Scotch Corner. Once on the east side of the Pennines the weather was much drier. First job tomorrow is to wash all the salt off the car. I did stop once on the way home to clean the salt off the side windows and mirrors for visibility.

 

Good to hear you had no dramas. The A66 gets 'interesting' at times.

Graham

 

First job this morning was to give the car a good clean including a pressure wash underneath. Here are a couple of photos of the journey and the clean car.

 

How I miss those cold miserable winter days, and fighting with rusted nuts and bolts.

 

Sure you do, Norri....

No way either of our Jaguars venture out in weather like the above photos depict. That is what our Subaru lives for....

 

You left for home on the right day. Temperature dropped to 24 deg F last night in Durham and it will have been very bleak on the road between Penrith and Scotch Corner.

I had intended going out again last night and left the car out. Big mistake as the doors were frozen solid this morning. It took twenty minutes for the heated windscreen and rear screen to have any effect on the layer of ice.

Graham

 

I'll book you in the cottage for the Valentines Weekend.

BTW "rusted nuts" is the working title for my autobiography.

 

I'll run that by the memsahib.

Dumpy's Rusty Nuts used to be a regular at the TT. (Maybe still are)

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