Hello,
We are taking a road trip around Northern Italy into Southern France in August, will be doing around 3000 miles in 2 weeks. Does anyone have any thoughts on which basic spares (other than the usual bulbs, fuses, oil etc) that we should be taking with us.
The XJS is a 1990 and has done 70k but runs fine and has been to Le Mans a few times with no bother, it has been looked after well and has always ran faultlessy in 10 years of ownership but there's always a first time I suppose!!
Regards
Steve
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Moderators:davidr, BigCatXJS, dhdove
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Hi Steve
Sounds like a great trip.
Things to take? Anything which could immobilise the car if it broke; ignition components spring to mind, plus cooling hoses. Some wire and connectors, fuses, duct and insulating tape.
I asked the question of my local independant supplier before a trip in the 4.0 ltr to Sweden a while back and they promised to get any of their stock parts to me in 24 hours via a courier, if we broke down.
Don't forget the French have some even sillier laws than UK, now. (Not possible, I hear the cry.) Hi vis jackets, warning triangles, beam deflectors even if you only drive in daylight, advisory fire extinguishers (apparently putting someone else's fire out is obligatory now under some ridiculous 'good samaritan' law.)
Seriously though, hope the trip goes well.
Sounds like a great trip.
Things to take? Anything which could immobilise the car if it broke; ignition components spring to mind, plus cooling hoses. Some wire and connectors, fuses, duct and insulating tape.
I asked the question of my local independant supplier before a trip in the 4.0 ltr to Sweden a while back and they promised to get any of their stock parts to me in 24 hours via a courier, if we broke down.
Don't forget the French have some even sillier laws than UK, now. (Not possible, I hear the cry.) Hi vis jackets, warning triangles, beam deflectors even if you only drive in daylight, advisory fire extinguishers (apparently putting someone else's fire out is obligatory now under some ridiculous 'good samaritan' law.)
Seriously though, hope the trip goes well.
Al McL
'93 XJS 4.0 - '20 XF 2.0 Sportbrake
'93 XJS 4.0 - '20 XF 2.0 Sportbrake
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Hi there,
I've never taken a V-12 to Italy before but have enjoyed a Daimler AJ16 4.0L twice - once to Rome and once to Naples.
Disappointingly it did break down, both times and on the same 10km stretch of road!
Which way are you going? If you're going over the alps (and if you're after a scenic drive then you should!) then make sure that your brakes have newish brake pads / discs as you'll be eating them up at a fairly quick rate! Also, our Daimler didn't like the altitude at all (I think that's why it broke down) so once you're in France you might consider using Super unleaded fuel in an attempt to counteract this.
Otherwise, as above really, we carried a complete hose set with us both times and, of course, never needed it! Oh - and get the wheel bearings checked before you go as well.
Take some photos and let us all know how you get on...
I've never taken a V-12 to Italy before but have enjoyed a Daimler AJ16 4.0L twice - once to Rome and once to Naples.
Disappointingly it did break down, both times and on the same 10km stretch of road!
Which way are you going? If you're going over the alps (and if you're after a scenic drive then you should!) then make sure that your brakes have newish brake pads / discs as you'll be eating them up at a fairly quick rate! Also, our Daimler didn't like the altitude at all (I think that's why it broke down) so once you're in France you might consider using Super unleaded fuel in an attempt to counteract this.
Otherwise, as above really, we carried a complete hose set with us both times and, of course, never needed it! Oh - and get the wheel bearings checked before you go as well.
Take some photos and let us all know how you get on...
Current cars: [b]1989 XJ-S 3.6 Manual[/b] & [b]2003 XK8 4.2L
[/b]
Previously enjoyed cars: other 3.6 Manual XJ-Ss and Daimler 4.0L XJ40s
[/b]
Previously enjoyed cars: other 3.6 Manual XJ-Ss and Daimler 4.0L XJ40s
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Hi there,
Thanks for the positive replies, just had the rear wheel bearings done so will check fronts, also thanks for the advise on the bizarre french laws regarding fire extinguishers etc! Definatley will take advise on hoses and tape etc, so thanks again. Nice to have someone else's views and experiences on board.
We will be driving from Calais to Dusseldorf and then catching the autotrain to Alessandria so cheating a little I guess but this is only because of tight time scales and lack of sleep (and mostly petrol costs) because going to run it on superunleaded all the way, so we will be looking at the alps through the train window i guess! Then from there round Milan, Turin to Lake Garda (to drive the col du turini) onto Verona and Venice, across to Florence and Pisa around the coastline into Northern France to Monaco (to drive through the Grand Prix tunnel) leaving the coast at Nice up to Avignon, Lyon, Paris and Home.
Hopefully without any hiccups along the way but we know that is wishfull thinking although I hope you will all have your fingers crossed for us! We shall post photos and give you a report when we get back to let you know how the 'old girl' gets on; after all it's what she was built for, I hope she loves it.
If anyone is off to Silverstone this weekend we would love to meet up and share a few beers maybe??
Solent Blue XJS - Reg NEW80S, just give me a shout.
Regards
Steve Newbury
Thanks for the positive replies, just had the rear wheel bearings done so will check fronts, also thanks for the advise on the bizarre french laws regarding fire extinguishers etc! Definatley will take advise on hoses and tape etc, so thanks again. Nice to have someone else's views and experiences on board.
We will be driving from Calais to Dusseldorf and then catching the autotrain to Alessandria so cheating a little I guess but this is only because of tight time scales and lack of sleep (and mostly petrol costs) because going to run it on superunleaded all the way, so we will be looking at the alps through the train window i guess! Then from there round Milan, Turin to Lake Garda (to drive the col du turini) onto Verona and Venice, across to Florence and Pisa around the coastline into Northern France to Monaco (to drive through the Grand Prix tunnel) leaving the coast at Nice up to Avignon, Lyon, Paris and Home.
Hopefully without any hiccups along the way but we know that is wishfull thinking although I hope you will all have your fingers crossed for us! We shall post photos and give you a report when we get back to let you know how the 'old girl' gets on; after all it's what she was built for, I hope she loves it.
If anyone is off to Silverstone this weekend we would love to meet up and share a few beers maybe??
Solent Blue XJS - Reg NEW80S, just give me a shout.
Regards
Steve Newbury
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
That's an adventure! It sounds like you know your car, and maintain it well so its guesswork what, if anything could fail. I think I would do research on the web before leaving for Jaguar specialists/garages along the route just in case and of course I'm sure you have recovery in place in case of accident or serious breakdown.
Don't forget your own welfare. Driving that distance on strange roads can be tiring and stressful. Also check that your EHIC card is not out of date and any health repatriation insurance in place etc.
Lastly write quick notes at stops and at the end of each day and take plenty of photos with the car in shot. When you get home, compile it all into a story and submit it to Nigel Thorley for publication in the JEC magazine, if it's chosen you get paid as well
(but not much!)
Don't forget your own welfare. Driving that distance on strange roads can be tiring and stressful. Also check that your EHIC card is not out of date and any health repatriation insurance in place etc.
Lastly write quick notes at stops and at the end of each day and take plenty of photos with the car in shot. When you get home, compile it all into a story and submit it to Nigel Thorley for publication in the JEC magazine, if it's chosen you get paid as well
(but not much!) V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Steve,
Have a fantastic trip - it sounds like a great adventure! You seem to have put some good thought into what type of spares to take. As has been mentioned, you probably won't need 99% of them and it will be the one thing that you haven't brought which goes wrong! But at least being prepared will make you feel more confident as you drive along. Don't forget gaffer tape and tie-wraps - I'm a great believer that you can solve most problems with these!
As Pop says, it would be great if you could write an article for inclusion in the XJS Forum pages in the mag. If you do want to write anything, drop me a line when you get back. Tks. And please don't necessarily expect any money - we don't always do that! Pop, don't raise their expectations, it's only the select few that get some dosh!
Safe driving, Steve.
Paul Sinnott
Have a fantastic trip - it sounds like a great adventure! You seem to have put some good thought into what type of spares to take. As has been mentioned, you probably won't need 99% of them and it will be the one thing that you haven't brought which goes wrong! But at least being prepared will make you feel more confident as you drive along. Don't forget gaffer tape and tie-wraps - I'm a great believer that you can solve most problems with these!
As Pop says, it would be great if you could write an article for inclusion in the XJS Forum pages in the mag. If you do want to write anything, drop me a line when you get back. Tks. And please don't necessarily expect any money - we don't always do that! Pop, don't raise their expectations, it's only the select few that get some dosh!
Safe driving, Steve.
Paul Sinnott
1995 XJS 4.0 Convertible
1980 XJ-S Pre-HE
Jaguar 4.2 Supercharged engine (but not with a Jaguar body..)
1980 XJ-S Pre-HE
Jaguar 4.2 Supercharged engine (but not with a Jaguar body..)
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
I wondered why the note pinned to the fiver said 'Now please go away and stop writing all these damn letters which are boring everyone' 
Re: V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
I wondered why the note pinned to the fiver ...
You got a fiver out of Thorley? Wow! Well done indeed!
You got a fiver out of Thorley? Wow! Well done indeed!
Al McL
'93 XJS 4.0 - '20 XF 2.0 Sportbrake
'93 XJS 4.0 - '20 XF 2.0 Sportbrake
V12 to Northern Italy - Southern France
Went to Silverstone as planned; stopped at services for a quick cup of coffee. . . . . . . got back in turned the key and . . . . . nothing!!
Good job we had the 'trial run'! Turned out to be the solenoid on the starter motor, had cracked folowing all the years of heat and one of the terminals had fallen out. Once the fault was found I then had to manually reach under the car while my wife turned the key. This did not stop us though instead of turning round and coming home, off we headed to Silverstone and we had a great weekend!
It is now in pieces on the drive; I have managed to get it all off and I have the new parts ready to go back on so that next weekend's job, just hope it starts once its all back together!!
Now we have revised our spares list to include nearly everything that we can fit in the spare space. . . . . . will keep you informed of how we get on.
Cheers
Steve
Good job we had the 'trial run'! Turned out to be the solenoid on the starter motor, had cracked folowing all the years of heat and one of the terminals had fallen out. Once the fault was found I then had to manually reach under the car while my wife turned the key. This did not stop us though instead of turning round and coming home, off we headed to Silverstone and we had a great weekend!
It is now in pieces on the drive; I have managed to get it all off and I have the new parts ready to go back on so that next weekend's job, just hope it starts once its all back together!!
Now we have revised our spares list to include nearly everything that we can fit in the spare space. . . . . . will keep you informed of how we get on.
Cheers
Steve
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