Probably the best car in the world part 2

[1955DavidR]

Part 2 the long version

Time to share my experience of this wonderful car with fellow devotees.

It was a case of love at first sight, I saw the car on the internet at a local specialist Jag dealer and decided there and then it was going to be mine. A visit to my friendly salesman at the main Jag dealer enabled me to check the cars history before I went to see it, this showed that it was a good clean local car with full main dealer history, and the HPI check came up clean. Being a 2001 registered car I only had timing chain issues to worry about.

Once at the sellers it did not disappoint , on return from the test drive my wife asked how it went and was I going to buy it. I told her that the test drive was awful due to a front end shake but we had established that one of the directional tyres had been fitted back to front and that wheel was slightly out of true. The deal was done subject to a final test drive to be certain the fault had gone and this was not masking any other faults. What impressed me most was the airy sumptuous cabin, a long way removed from the claustrophobia of its predecessor a Boxster S.

For the first few months I did some minor cosmetic updates before getting down to more serious issues. Needless to say the window closure issue cropped up and the latch was replaced at the main dealer at a cost of some £300. A week later a new battery was called for, which did make we wonder whether the latch actually needed replacing. Then the drivers seat decided that it would only recline during a trip around the lake district, I managed, at great discomfort, to drive it to the local dealers Dobson’s of Leven. They could not fix it there and then but removed the seat and manually raised the back rest. The permanent fix by way of a new electronic module set me back another £300. Then the trim around the top of the door was corroding to the point of excessive wind noise, another £130 thank you very much. At this point I did start to wonder whether I was going to have to fork this sort of money out on a regular basis and seeing nothing for it, one look at the car told me that I could forgive it almost anything.

Early February saw a trip to Cheltenham with my son to collect his 5.5 litre V8 Mercedes roller skate. It shames me to admit but on our return to Manchester we went straight up to the Piccadilly Railway station underpasses, dropped the roof and spent the next half hour listening to the glorious V8 soundtrack. Needless to say that started me thinking that my V8 should sound like that. I think everyone agrees that the standard exhaust leaves a lot to be desired both from the sound and poor gas flow design. After a couple of weeks research on the internet I came to the conclusion that most aftermarket stainless systems were much the same but the prices were widely varying. In the end I plumped for a Blue Flame sports cat back system on the grounds that they are a supplier local to me and the cost was a very reasonable £615. The sports system misses out the front boxes and I did fear it could be too loud, on start up I was pleasantly surprised and did in fact think it could do to be a bit louder. The sound is absolutely spot on and I much prefer to follow the car rather than drive it now!!!. If you are ever near Piccadilly Railway station and fear Armageddon is coming, don’t worry its just me and my son out at play.

Next for attention came the wheels, the car came with 18” Centaurs, 8” at the front and 9” at the back. After a trip to Newby Hall for the Northern Jaguar show, lined up with another 107 XK8’s, I came back disgruntled with my wheels and immediately set about looking for some replacements. I finally realised where my problem lay with modern alloys, nowadays they are spoked from the front of the rim whereas I prefer them spoked from the back, showing acres of smooth shiny rim. This requirement effectively ruled out any OEM wheels and I just missed a glorious set of Arden Operas on e-bay. After a trip to DP motorsports in Ayr I settled on the 20” five spokes now fitted. These combined with a set of Arden 25mm lowering springs have improved the appearance no end and despite the lower profile tyres have not compromised the ride quality. Just waiting for the better weather to fit the 20” rear wheel arch extensions.

I haven’t mentioned timing chain tensioners yet have I. My own rule with cars I have always abided by and stressed to my Son is don’t spend money on cosmetics without making sure that the mechanics are all sound. Having read all of the articles on the tensioners, I missed the XK seminar last year due to going to Reims with the JEC, hope there will be another seminar this year, I had no excuse but despite my conscience keep telling me to do something about them I steadfastly maintained my Ostrich approach. I read with interest a post on this site a few weeks ago where an engine built in October 2001 had the latest tensioners fitted, my car was registered late November 2001 so could I have been worrying for nothing? No my engine was built in May 2001. Then again the JWM project XK8 had done 90,000 and showed no damage, mine was around 71,000. I had talked to a service manager at a main dealer and he told me not to worry if they were not noisy!. Just after Christmas I was driving along the A6 and spotted Preston Jag Centre at Barton and thought there would be no harm having a natter with someone who knew these things inside out. After a long talk with Arthur there I realised that they must be done and booked it in there and then. A week later it had been done and with a new steel impeller water pump set me back £1160, thank the lord for the reduction in vat. All of the infamous plastic bits were showing cracks and I reckon I would have been lucky to get another 5,000 miles before detonation.

The service and advice from Preston Jag Centre was exemplary and I am looking forward to a long relationship with them.

After 15 months and 14,000 miles I can now drive it without that constant fear of impending doom, a great relief and the already great driving experience can only be better now. Don’t be an Ostrich and get them done.

[mike020150]

The timing chain issue is akin to any insurance. If you pay the premium and don't claim, you begrudge the money. If you pay out just ahead of needing to claim, it all seems worthwhile! Glad you caught the problem in time. Mike.

[davidh]

Lovely to read, and I agree: only the Lea-Francis 1929 Hyper and maybe the current DB9 compete, but with the new 5 litre maybe even the Aston's a runner up?

David

[sahtas1]

Hi David,
Just checked out your photos in the gallery. Car looks even better with the new wheels.