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31C is usually an occasional August temperature in Edmonton, not late afternoon on the 1st of May.
Having said that, it’s not a complaint - it’s still cooling down quite nicely overnight and I’m much happier with a rake and garden clippers than a snow shovel and ice melt.
Last edited by Ken Cantor; 05-01-2023 at 11:03 PM.
For what it’s worth, the XJR’s jack is a nice improvement over the ones in the Series III’s I’m used to using. Inserting its bar into the jacking points is easier and seems more stable than the Series III’s jack with its “nipple” connection. The ratchet is also a bit easier to use, doesn’t need as much room as the Series III’s rotating swivel bar, and can be used with one hand from any angle.
The Series III lug wrench with its swivel feature however is better and easier to use - as well as providing better leverage - than the fixed angle of the X308’s (even using its handle extension, the angle seems to allow it to slip off the lug nut too readily, particularly with the locking nut’s extension). I may keep one of my extra ones in the XJR as additional insurance against its ever being needed on the road.
I agree completely with your jack review, Ken, with one important proviso: the standard X308 jack is worthless if your jacking points have crumbled into a rusty pile of dust (ask me how I know). 😢
Came out earlier and found this Jaguar “shooting brake” parked next to the XJR:
They’re not very common here from any of the European marques so thought it was worth a couple of photos.
We had an ’85 Cutlass station wagon in an earlier life that was similar in size and always thought them a better/ more practical solution 90% of the time than the mini-vans and SUV’s that seem to have replaced them.
Even though its an X-Type that wagon is awesome! I agree that wagons are the ultimate in practicality and usability, wish there were more of them around. My father always had Olds wagons when we were kids, you could fit way more in one of those than any of those mini SUVs that are everywhere these days. I actually looked at Regal wagons when we bought my wife's '16 Regal GS. Unfortunately they were actually marking them up around here and I refused to pay a premium. If we really needed it maybe, but the sedan was fine.
I did see a really neat looking racing green metallic modern Jag wagon with an R badge a month or so ago. Maybe an XFR Wagon? Does that even exist?
The X-type wagon, although rare, is a more common sight around the DC area. It's too small for my taste. I have a Prius, an X-308 and a disabled, height-challenged spouse who can't climb up into an SUV. She only rides in the Prius as it's what she can enter and exit easily. I've been pondering a wagon as a replacement for the Prius at some point. It's easier to load a wheel chair into. Problem is, manufacturers have pretty much given up on them. 60 years ago I started out driving Volvos, but they've bailed. Buick ceased its wagon, etc. I think the only thing out there at the moment is an (overpriced to my way of thinking) Audi. Maybe a Golf wagon? I did run into a XF shooting brake owner who said he was happy with his beast. But all this raises the related issue of folks like me wanting both a wagon and the newest technology to take the edge off aging, and that's like chasing the ring on the merry-go-round ... you never get there!
'Nuff said: - the X-Type Sportwagon was/is a wonderful car (as was the sedan - much under-rated): comfortable, perfect on the highway, lots of room, beautifully finished:
Leather and Sapele wood trim:
Compartment under the floor, rear seat folds flat:
What a treat for me to catchup on this thread - there are some lovely photos.
To add to some of the discussions:
X308/X350 - I have owned four different X308's and one X350 and two X358's. I have to say they are all great in different ways but I think the X308 is the "real Jag" of the bunch. It's the air suspension that lets the X350/X358 down, and is very harsh next to the X358, or German equivalents of the era with similar air suspension setups. I also prefer the sleek lines of the X308.... however I actually love the X358 in long wheel base (I think its a bit awkward in short wheel base) and I used to get loads of compliments when I drove mine. Most people mistook it for a Bentley though...
Oh and like many others on here, I am not a fan of the X351. I think it marked the demise of what Jaguar used to be, and I worry it's never coming back.
Parking - I too tend to find a remote space to park in, but the spaces are rather narrow in the UK. I remember in Australia there were larger spaces for big cars. So we could pay extra to keep our nice big car safe - do you have that in Canada?
I agree. The X308 is the best of breed. I have tried the X 350/8 and was not impressed.
The overall design, comfort and body style of the X308 wins every time.
As far as a station wagon is concerned, if more cargo space was required, get a van.
I am certainly not a fan of the Jaguar station wagon.
If those are Bradford Pears, nice. But don’t park anywhere near them. They snap in a heartbeat, especially as they get older, and are defined as an invasive species in some quarters. It’s the most brittle tree I’ve ever seen.
They’re a non-fruit beating crab apple (Russian or Spring Snow - I can’t quite remember after 20 years).
They were maybe 5-6 feet tall and we picked them, brought them home from the nursery in the Series 3, and planted them where they are because they were supposed to be dwarf trees.
As it turns out, south facing in a raised bed too close to the house must be their happy place because these “dwarf trees” get pruned back to just below the second floor windows regularly (the last time was just last fall) so you can see how enthusiastic they are reaching the eave already this spring.
They’re a nice tree for our climate because they leaf early and quickly and they hold their leaves late in the fall. They blossom early but not for long much like the Japanese cherry trees and they have a lovely but not overpowering scent.
Our weather has been unseasonably hot for May and June. Some things have been suffering with the heat (as does the gardener but we wait seven months for sunshine and warmth so I’m not complaining) but some are holding their own.
Yesterday was pretty smoky from the forest fires so it was mostly an “indoor day”. The XJR got a good wash and a fresh coat of Meguiar’s Gold Class liquid carnauba.
Next up some interior time with some Autoglym leather care and some shop time as soon as they can fit her in (regular maintenance only but there’s been some discussion about a chip and pulley change).
Our weather has cooled off quite a bit in the last few days - 30C to 12C this morning - and we’ve gone from clear skies with lots of smoke to overcast and some much needed rain.
Still waiting for some shop time - nothing untoward, just annual maintenance and a preventative going over by the independent Jag mechanic who’s been keeping my Jags on the road for 16 plus years now.
I did have a low beam burn out a couple of weeks ago so picked up a pair of H7 LED conversions from Canadian Tire because their website said they would fit. They didn’t so ended up returning them the next day for some replacement Sylvania xZe H7 halogens.
I’m pretty happy with them but if course now will have to see how long it takes before I replace the high beam and daylight lamps to the same output and colour…
The retractable aerial has been starting to make some most un-Jaguar like noises at the end of its extension and retraction cycles so - inspired by Mark Peters’ successful experience with his - decided to see if I could do something about it this afternoon. I was going to do it this morning but the basement sump pump failed its monthly test so picking up and installing a replacement before it was actually needed took priority.
Other than never having the right socket, screw driver, wrench etc. at hand (they’re always in the basement when needed in the garage and vice versa) with the help of Mark’s photos and the “How To” Antenna Mast Replacement things went quite smoothly.
The insides weren’t as bad as Mark’s but the drain was almost completely blocked (below the grommet of course so you couldn’t see it until it was pulled out).
The mast didn’t want to be fully removed even when pulled (albeit not too aggressively) at the same time as feeding the plastic cable so decided not to push my luck and didn’t fully remove it and everything else went as planned.
After reassembly, it fully extended and retracted on the second cycle and then got reinstalled. For the time being at least, it is extending and retracted as it should and no longer getting second looks other than from those who are too young to remember retractable aerials.
Last edited by Ken Cantor; 07-16-2023 at 05:52 PM.
05-01-2023, 06:19 PM
