Is a Jag Mk 2, 3.8L manual gearbox (1965) difficult to drive?

[classicmorrisman]

We hired one for the day on Saturday from a Midlands firm.

I appreciate that it is a 52-year-old car and that it can take a while to acclimatise to any car which one is not used to driving, but I felt as though it was my first driving lesson! I regard myself as an experienced driver, having been behind the wheel of cars and vans of most shapes and sizes since I passed my test in the late 1970's. Even after 50 miles or so, I could still not balance the accellerator and clutch to my satisfaction (the accellerator felt very lumpy and the clutch very fierce) so I was either in danger of stalling or the pistons going through the bonnet. We also found that the overdrive was not working, so, at 50mph, the engine was going at a heck of a rate (and very noisy with tappet rattle), but I could not see how many revs it was doing as the rev counter was not working.

Various reasons (another story) meant that we could not discuss the above with the company when we returned the car.

I've never driven a Jag Mk 2 before, so really have no previous experience to draw from. All I can say is that the 1.2L Honda Jazz which I drove afterwards felt like luxury!

Any comments greatly appreciated.

[PPV]

Hi, I have 1961 Jag 3.8 mk2. It is very much different to drive than modern cars in that it does not feel so refined in the controls of the accelerator and clutch areas. The first one depends on the quite complicated mechanism being set up properly in the first place. The clutch I have found to be fairly heavy and has quite a long travel but does work well considering the torque of the engine. I was brought up on cars of this age so find it quite Ok to drive it. It gives me pleasure compared to the modern vehicles which I find are rather remote in 'feel' from such controls.
Mine also has the Moss gearbox which is a bit cruder than the later all synchro box and of course it has no synchromesh on first gear. Having said that it normally pulls away in second with no problems.
I am also surprised you made no comment about the steering but perhaps you had a power assisted car.
Mine is certainly different to driving my modern AMG's which have automatic 4 wheel drive gearboxes/drive trains.
Perhaps the example you drove needed some tuning?
Regards,

[classicmorrisman]

Many thanks, and I now realise that "accelerate" only has one "l".

I didn't mention the steering, which had rather a lot of play and, whilst power-assisted felt cumbersome, as I didn't want to swamp the post with too many details!

Regards

[piman]

Hello Clasicmorrisman,

it doesn't sound as if you had a very good example for your drive. Certainly the steering feels a bit slow as there are very many turns lock to lock but you should soon get used to that. The other points you make do seem to show that the car needs some remedial work.
I think that if you get the opportunity to drive a good example you will have a different opinion.

Alec

[classicmorrisman]

Thanks for that, Alec - what you say certainly makes sense.

John

[Tilleyjon]

Personally it sounds like the car is poorly maintained, and it is very poor to hire out a vehicle in that state.

It is a shame that you could not take this up with the company, they have taken your money, and as such should provide a vehicle that is in good order.

[Rictus]

I have driven a very similar sounding Mk2 from a hire company in the Midlands a few times, so it could well be the same car. It is exceptionally unrefined and noisy and not representative of a well-cared for example. But to be fair it is driven aggressively on a daily basis by incompetents and so must be a nightmare to keep well-maintained. One thing I must say though, I noticed the AED worked much better than on my own Mk2

[3.8etypephil]

That car seems to be a restoration project, or a spares source, not a driving example; Mk2s are still a credible daily driver, well able to keep up with, indeed leave behind, most modern cars.

[PatK]

Hi Classicmorrisman, I have only recently bought a Mk2,3.8 litre and went for my first decent drive in it on Sunday. This is my first Jaguar but not my first classic car. The things that I noticed like you was a rather long clutch travel and heavy, vague steering, which was not power assisted. I guess that the steering, being Burman type is always a little vague about the dead ahead position. I probably noticed it more as all my cars in recent years have had excellent rack and pinion steering ( Triumphs and Lotuses ).
The engine I love and it's ability to pull away at low speeds in 4th gear without a murmer, and I love the all synchro gearbox. It took me a few minutes to remember that this is a car with a 50 year old gearbox, but taking your time and double declutching and matching engine and gearbox revs makes a super smooth change and adds to the enjoyment. Sure its a little noisier than modern hush quiet saloons, but I'd rather listen to the exhaust note than the radio and matching engine speed by listening to it when gear changing.
One thing that i will do when i can afford it is to fit power assisted rack and pinion steering as I find it just too heavy at low speeds and in tight manoeuvres and I love the accuracy of rack and pinion steering.
Sorry that you had a bad experience but you obviously got a lemon!

Best Wishes. Patrick

[classicmorrisman]

Many thanks, Tilleyjon, Rictus, 3.8etypejag and PatK. Sorry not to have replied earlier but just back after a few days away.

Your comments would seem to reinforce my observations - I'm really looking forward to trying out another Mk 2 3.8 when the chance arises, as I find it hard to believe that what I had was a typical example!

Yes, the steering could be hard(ish) work until you got used to it, but I wasn't really that bothered about that.

Best wishes and thanks,

John