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I went to the Everton match on Sunday and as I was getting out of my '82 XJ6 S3, a 2017 XJL pulled up and reversed into the space next to me. As I walked away across the car park, three people stopped me and commented on the differences between the generations. Chiefly they mentioned the size of the respective cars but also how much prettier the older car is. I couldn't disagree.
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Not only is it interesting to see them next to the newer XJ’s, it’s interesting to see them next to a new Mini…
Last edited by Ken Cantor; 09-20-2022 at 09:28 AM.
Not much new to report on the XJR front - or the VDP front - since weekend before last.
I did manage to pick up a set of locally sourced Pentas on Friday which is no mean feat living where I do. They will get shod with dedicated winter tires - likely Michelin X-Ice3 - if the rims check out although even if the rims check out, they will likely need at least two new centre caps unless I just reset the existing ones in mastic or??? as the pot metal tabs are pretty much gone or on their last legs.
I was going to finish cleaning them up on the weekend and drop them off this week to find out how big the second mortgage will have to be for those tires but, as it turns out, I also picked up Covid with them so things will be on hold for the next week or 10 days. I am fully vaccinated with two boosters so my symptoms are still pretty mild, and will hopefully they'll stay that way, other than being REALLY tired.
In my experience with the Pentas, I’d have them put on a tire balance machine and have them checked for runout prior to any work done on them (out of round) because they are a cast aluminum rim with a small sidewall tire that were very prone to bending. My 98’ XJR I bought back in 14’ had 4 of the 5 wheels bent. Numerous other customers cars also had bent Pentas on them.
In my experience with the Pentas, I’d have them put on a tire balance machine and have them checked for runout prior to any work done on them (out of round) because they are a cast aluminum rim with a small sidewall tire that were very prone to bending. My 98’ XJR I bought back in 14’ had 4 of the 5 wheels bent. Numerous other customers cars also had bent Pentas on them.
Thanks for the heads up confirmation of the need to check them out before before committing to use them. I’ve been using the same locally owned tire shop for more than 20 years and won’t have an issue relying on their assessment/recommendations.
I've been following along since you started this. It is interesting that the north American cars got chrome around the windows. Down here ours are black. See below:
Pictured with my XJ6 (recently having had an engine re-build after sitting for 16 years).
But congratulations on the new wheels, I am sure they will look splendid in the Winter months!
Thanks Chris… so far it’s stayed mild for both of us (my wife’s tests turned positive yesterday) other than being REALLY tired. I never knew you could wake up from a three hour nap so tired you needed another three hour nap!
I’m not sure about splendid as they don’t quite have the same elegant aggressiveness of the Asteroids but, like its predecessor, it will be like two different cars. Its predecessor ran Pepperpots in the summer and Kent’s in the winter.
Hopefully I can get them dropped off in the next couple of days if I can find the energy to finish cleaning them to see if they’re decent enough to use. I’ve always been a Michelin X-Ice fan (which is what her predecessor rode on) but with the wider/lower profile the run flat Blizzaks might be a safer choice. Will have to see what “my tire guy” says on both fronts
Also forget to mention - blame it on the Covid fog - that she did get in for a complete rust proofing treatment and a complete Ziebart undercoating. Will post some photos once I figure out how to take them (maybe when she’s back on a lift for tires) but in the meantime the garage still has that wonderful kerosene off gassing aroma.
I've been following along since you started this. It is interesting that the north American cars got chrome around the windows. Down here ours are black. See below:
Pictured with my XJ6 (recently having had an engine re-build after sitting for 16 years).
Lyndon
Lynden, I’m glad you enjoyed my random ramblings and musings. Thanks for sharing that lovely photo of your stablemates.
My first Series 3 was a black on black car with bolt on Dayton wire wheels like that - perhaps the last saloon that could really wear them well. We lived in Vancouver at the time so could get away them but our roads here would destroy them in no time. Interestingly enough, I also think the Series 3 cars are one of the few cars that’s capable of wearing white well
As for the blacked out vs stainless windows trim, I personally like how the stainless provides that little bit of bright work to complement/show off the car just as the stainless blades on the bumper surrounds do and not asking the wheels to do that on their own as you steer back from the car (which moves the focus from the car to the wheels).
Lots of personal nit picking being expressed here that shouldn’t be taken as judgemental. All of these beasts are gorgeous in their own right and the key is that owner’s feel that way and drive than the way they were built to be driven.
Last edited by Ken Cantor; 09-29-2022 at 10:52 PM.
That's a really interesting observation, the sporty XJR and Sport models in the UK tend to have black trims too; with the chrome ones only being fitted to the more sedate Sovereign and Daimler models like mine.
I actually quite like the Chrome trims; particularly on a deep red car - I guess the Canadian market was thought to need a different type of approach.
Spoiler alert for sov211 - Gregory, you may not want to continue reading but it's all progress in my books.
The used Penta rims were cleaned up and dropped off at the tire shop at the beginning of the week to see what kind of shape they were in and - happily - while they weren't perfect they were decent. Two of them were perfectly round/straight and two of them had a small "wobble" on the balancer but not enough to be overly concerned with and we set those aside to be used at the rear. We stuck with my first choice of Michelin X-Ice rather than the Bridgestone Blizzaks I was also contemplating as they're run-flats. As the car has a full size spare and I have a Gold AAA membership (don't all Jaguar owners have Gold AAA memberships?) we decided the run flat feature didn't warrant the nominally poorer performance and the considerable extra weight.
I left the Pentas for mounting and balancing the tires pending their delivery and returned this morning to have them replace the Continental clad Asteroids with them. While the beast was on the hoist, I also took the opportunity to take a few photos of the job that was done with the undercoating last week:
I agree on the wheels and also prefer the Asteroids but the Pentas do look better than I thought they might. They do suit the car and vice versa, they’re just not quite as unique a wheel or quite as elegantly aggressive as the Asteroids. The Pentas seem just a touch more “boy racer” to my eye.
As well as the underside treatment, she got a complete “rust proofing” as well - one way to find out if all the drainage channels and openings are still open!
She also appropriately marked her place in the garage as she didn’t get washed for almost two weeks to allow everything to disburse as much as possible. As she doesn’t leak any fluids at all - other than ac condensate - this was the first chance she’s had to do that.
Last edited by Ken Cantor; 10-10-2022 at 10:37 AM.
Every year we know it’s coming but every year it holds off until November 2 is a good year…
The Penta’s with their Michelin X-Ice Snow so far seem to do what they’re supposed to.
But the leaper doesn’t seem enamoured with the new view.
The XJR herself still seems quite content attending her first winter on-site meeting.
She wasn’t, however, the hardest working one there.
Something about the look of a car like this in the snow...like its not supposed to be there but it just looks great to me. I'm looking forward to gtting my snows on and getting the leaper encased in ice...its going to be a blast!
09-20-2022 | 08:02 AM
