How Do You Drive Your Jag?
#1
How Do You Drive Your Jag?
Whenever I drive the Jag I always feel more cautious than when I drive another car. When in my bimmer, I drive quite spiritedly and I feel quite laid-back. In the Jag, though, I am VERY gentle when shifting into different gears, acceleration, warm up, etc. For some reason I feel like it is very fragile and delicate. I'm afraid to get the engine into the upper revs and I never floor it out of fear something will bust. Am I just paranoid or is there some truth to my instinct? How do you drive your Jag?
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#7
How do you drive your Jag?
The 05 XJR that is... I'm still working on the 98 XJ8. I would definitely not say that Jags are by any means a fragile car. They are actually pretty rugged and can withstand a beating. You just have to watch for their Achille's heels
Last edited by JagScott; 04-07-2011 at 10:49 PM.
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#8
This is the reasoning I had and this might be where you're coming from...
The car has higher running costs than I'm used to, there are many less Jags in this area and if anything breaks, parts are more expensive with only one dealer in the entire state. BMW's and Audi's are much more common and have larger support.
But you have to remember, it's just a car. Contrary to what the forums lead you to believe, the engineers did design the car to allow some "fun". I have read posts saying, "I never floor my car, it wouldn't be good for it." Really? Why do you think Jag spent all those years quality testing and engineering the car?
The car has higher running costs than I'm used to, there are many less Jags in this area and if anything breaks, parts are more expensive with only one dealer in the entire state. BMW's and Audi's are much more common and have larger support.
But you have to remember, it's just a car. Contrary to what the forums lead you to believe, the engineers did design the car to allow some "fun". I have read posts saying, "I never floor my car, it wouldn't be good for it." Really? Why do you think Jag spent all those years quality testing and engineering the car?
#10
As a young development engineer when I was at Jaguar Whitley some of you guys would probably hate me if you knew what we did to Jags back then. Although it probably ultimately resulted in a more robust product!
I had a Jaguar X300 V12 once, and we used to rev it at idle to high rpm and then just chuck it into gear!
The thing would squirm and shake as the driveline took up the abuse. That development prototype went through a few GM 400 gearboxes.
I had taken it down to the new Forest in the south and I rememeber the engine revs going up to 5000 rpm but the car was baarely moving. This was accompanied by an aweful squealing noise.
I had to drive up 200 miles on the motorway but the car was only getting about 10 mpg average long distance!! The rear auto trans fluid was black.
Back at base it was established that the clutch packs were fried. On the X308 XJR a limiter is built in where the torque and rpm are restricted at idle so that similar antics and abuse cant be perpetrated! With my own Jag I always treat it gingerly and with the respect it deserves
I had a Jaguar X300 V12 once, and we used to rev it at idle to high rpm and then just chuck it into gear!
The thing would squirm and shake as the driveline took up the abuse. That development prototype went through a few GM 400 gearboxes.
I had taken it down to the new Forest in the south and I rememeber the engine revs going up to 5000 rpm but the car was baarely moving. This was accompanied by an aweful squealing noise.
I had to drive up 200 miles on the motorway but the car was only getting about 10 mpg average long distance!! The rear auto trans fluid was black.
Back at base it was established that the clutch packs were fried. On the X308 XJR a limiter is built in where the torque and rpm are restricted at idle so that similar antics and abuse cant be perpetrated! With my own Jag I always treat it gingerly and with the respect it deserves
#11
Whenever I drive the Jag I always feel more cautious than when I drive another car. When in my bimmer, I drive quite spiritedly and I feel quite laid-back. In the Jag, though, I am VERY gentle when shifting into different gears, acceleration, warm up, etc. For some reason I feel like it is very fragile and delicate. I'm afraid to get the engine into the upper revs and I never floor it out of fear something will bust. Am I just paranoid or is there some truth to my instinct? How do you drive your Jag?
I drove my car just somewhat hard around a twisty road and was rewarded with valve cover gaskets that began to leak oil on to my exhaust manifold and smoking.
#12
#13
I drive it relaxed... with my head back... listening to classical music... thinking all sorts of "all-is-right-with-the-world" thoughts and let the harried masses rush in a panic to where they are going.
I drive in luxury, surrounded by finely polished walnut burl and Connolly leather.
I enjoy every moment... watching my gleaming chrome leaper in front of me cutting through the air... swooshing past other motorists--the hoi polloi, if you will--and leaving them with the image of my VDP trunk badge and what I consider to be one of the most expensive-looking rear-ends of any car on the road today. The car connotes "robust financial portfolio." Good God I love this car.
Somebody stop me!
SirJag
I drive in luxury, surrounded by finely polished walnut burl and Connolly leather.
I enjoy every moment... watching my gleaming chrome leaper in front of me cutting through the air... swooshing past other motorists--the hoi polloi, if you will--and leaving them with the image of my VDP trunk badge and what I consider to be one of the most expensive-looking rear-ends of any car on the road today. The car connotes "robust financial portfolio." Good God I love this car.
Somebody stop me!
SirJag
Last edited by SirJag; 04-08-2011 at 02:42 PM.
#14
I don't think *any* of those things fail as a result of the car be driven hard nor necessarily last longer if driven gently. For instance, I've had to replace three headlamps on my car, all of which were broken while blissfullly cruising down the highway ...under the speed limit with the cruise control on :-). And I had wheel damage as well....after hitting a grapefruit-sized rock that I simply couldn't see while rounding a blind corner <shrug>. Suspension bushings do generally wear more qucikly on Jags than on other cars, I agree....but not due to driving habits. It's due to the material chosen by Jaguar for NVH supression.
I drove my car just somewhat hard around a twisty road and was rewarded with valve cover gaskets that began to leak oil on to my exhaust manifold and smoking.
And you're sure that one is related to the other, and that the leak wouldn't have occured *unless* you pushed it a bit around a twisty road? Be honest, now :-)
I think the things you've mentioned speak more towards the general foibles and repair expenses associated with Jags rather than rather than how well they stand up to hard driving.
Cheers
DD
#15
I don't think *any* of those things fail as a result of the car be driven hard nor necessarily last longer if driven gently. For instance, I've had to replace three headlamps on my car, all of which were broken while blissfullly cruising down the highway ...under the speed limit with the cruise control on :-). And I had wheel damage as well....after hitting a grapefruit-sized rock that I simply couldn't see while rounding a blind corner <shrug>. Suspension bushings do generally wear more qucikly on Jags than on other cars, I agree....but not due to driving habits. It's due to the material chosen by Jaguar for NVH supression.
And you're sure that one is related to the other, and that the leak wouldn't have occured *unless* you pushed it a bit around a twisty road? Be honest, now :-)
I think the things you've mentioned speak more towards the general foibles and repair expenses associated with Jags rather than rather than how well they stand up to hard driving.
Cheers
DD
And you're sure that one is related to the other, and that the leak wouldn't have occured *unless* you pushed it a bit around a twisty road? Be honest, now :-)
I think the things you've mentioned speak more towards the general foibles and repair expenses associated with Jags rather than rather than how well they stand up to hard driving.
Cheers
DD
#18
I own 2 Jaguars both love to be driven. I can hear them in the house saying drive me. We drive both our cars as daily drivers and I love driving them. They respond each and every time I push them each time I drive and I believe the car truly wants to be driven that way. My recommendation to anyone is to have fun driving your car but do not break the law or cause harm to anyone. Life is short, enjoy in now!
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#20
Jaguar could not sell cars into the new market without leather.
Even if it was a desirable long term characteristic. Which it is.
The Rover Sterling 825/827 had great upholstery done in a very durable velour. Cool in summer, warm in winter. Sadly, not an option in a Jaguar. Or, at least not commonly found.
Leather may be great for first owners of new vehicles ... not so much for subsequent owners.
Even if it was a desirable long term characteristic. Which it is.
The Rover Sterling 825/827 had great upholstery done in a very durable velour. Cool in summer, warm in winter. Sadly, not an option in a Jaguar. Or, at least not commonly found.
Leather may be great for first owners of new vehicles ... not so much for subsequent owners.