Jaguar XJ Series 1 - am I mad?

?Cee?view

Hi All,

I'm thinking of getting a Jag/Daimler XJ series 1 early 70s...to use as a daily runner.

Is this a crazy idea? I've never owned a classic before.

In my defence, my commute is a total of about 5 to 6 miles per day. I love the idea of the cheap tax and I presume insurance is cheap as chips too.

What think ye?

jca

I can't see insurance being cheap for everyday use. Fuel costs will be high as the journey is so short you'll be lucky to get better than the low 20's mpg. The novelty of old car everyday driving wears off very quickly. I did it for a few years but it just made me hate the car in the end.

afatbollix

Do it.

Ive allways wanted a sofa for a car.

?Cee?view

jca wrote: »

I can't see insurance being cheap for everyday use. Fuel costs will be high as the journey is so short you'll be lucky to get better than the low 20's mpg. The novelty of old car everyday driving wears off very quickly. I did it for a few years but it just made me hate the car in the end.

How would the daily use make insurance more expensive? I'd keep my current car so that would have "normal" insurance. Does classic insurance restrict the daily amount of use or is it just restricted by mileage?

Agreed on the mpg. I've kind of resigned myself to that. I currently drive a 3.2 so pretty used to that.

jca wrote: »

I did it for a few years but it just made me hate the car in the end.

That's what I'm kind of afraid of...

?Cee?view

afatbollix wrote: »

Do it.

Ive allways wanted a sofa for a car.

Love your name! If I get this Jag you should really give it to me to go with it

I'm thinking of the 4.2 so I think it would be a pretty nice sounding and relatively fast sofa.

john hanrahan

the xj is a great looking car i would be tempted to buy one myself but i have a mercedes 450se as a daily driver which is really reliable but you would always be doing a few jobs with it, and the biggest challenge can be finding mechanics willing to work on them.

running a classic as a daily driver is a challenge, its great fun but a challenge.
tax and ins are cheap, petrol is expensive

my advice, buy the best you can afford, it will save you money in the long run.
and if you buy well you could always sell if its not for you.

what could possibly go wrong

best of luck

SpitfireIV

?Cee?view wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm thinking of getting a Jag/Daimler XJ series 1 early 70s...to use as a daily runner.

Is this a crazy idea? I've never owned a classic before.

In my defence, my commute is a total of about 5 to 6 miles per day. I love the idea of the cheap tax and I presume insurance is cheap as chips too.

What think ye?

Are you handy around the garage or not afraid to get your hands dirty? Classics take a lot of car and attention, cars of that period crave (and demand?!) constant care, checks, and hands on maintenance, not to mention issues with rust etc, so, its important to keep them clean too.

?Cee?view

john hanrahan wrote: »

what could possibly go wrong

That's the kind of attitude that makes me think I'll go for this.

I'm going to have a look into the Club scene to see how active it is. Hopefully if it is, they could recommend mechanics and specialists.

?Cee?view

CroppyBoy1798 wrote: »

Are you handy around the garage or not afraid to get your hands dirty? Classics take a lot of car and attention, cars of that period crave (and demand?!) constant care, checks, and hands on maintenance, not to mention issues with rust etc, so, its important to keep them clean too.

Not handy but also not afraid. I like the idea of something older as it's got less electronics which do scare me.

Understood on the care. I'll keep it garaged.

macplaxton

Yes you are mad! Sounds like you've already made your mind up, so crack on and enjoy.

Agricola

Wholesale looney I'd say. Go for it!

unkel

Their reliability was terrible when they were brand new. And now they're over 40 years old. Will probably break your heart. Sure go for it :pac:

?Cee?view wrote: »

How would the daily use make insurance more expensive? I'd keep my current car so that would have "normal" insurance. Does classic insurance restrict the daily amount of use or is it just restricted by mileage?

Agreed on the mpg. I've kind of resigned myself to that. I currently drive a 3.2 so pretty used to that.

Classic insurance should be cheap as it's your second car. It does usually have a mileage limit thougyh. MPG is irrelevant if you only do a few thousand miles per year.

Bigus

More like 6- 8 mpg on that journey, although a mains block heater would do wonders for reliability comfort and mpg. There's a reason people go for Mecrs for dailys.

?Cee?view

unkel wrote: »

Their reliability was terrible when they were brand new. And now they're over 40 years old. Will probably break your heart. Sure go for it :pac:

Apparently the Series 1 is not bad. The rot apparently started with the Series 2 when British Leyland took over.

I think the heartbreak might be character building

?Cee?view

Bigus wrote: »

... although a mains block heater would do wonders for reliability comfort and mpg. There's a reason people go for Mecrs for dailys.

Showing my ignorance here...

What does all that mean? What's a mains block heater? Could I install one and what would it do? Do old Mercs have them or just not need them?

jca

?Cee?view wrote: »

Showing my ignorance here...

What does all that mean? What's a mains block heater? Could I install one and what would it do? Do old Mercs have them or just not need them?

I really think you should buy an 85 Micra if you want the cheap driving experience.

Bigus

?Cee?view wrote: »

Showing my ignorance here...

What does all that mean? What's a mains block heater? Could I install one and what would it do? Do old Mercs have them or just not need them?

Mains block heaters use electricity in cold climates to preheat engine block, engine oil, gearbox oil, and coolant.

Using one in Ireland in the morning if it was on a timer for 10 or 20 mins your car would start like it was just driven 20 miles and interior heater would also work instantly, with subsequent massive saving in Fuel consumption(?and might bring the mpg up from 6 to 16) , as no choke necessary or enrichment necessary.

My comment re Mecrs is unrelated and more to do with original reliability as well as 40 year old reliabity, together with parts availability and general superior and ahead of its time mechanics compared to dated British engineering.

Block heaters explained below,
http://ckom.com/article/189322/why-you-should-be-plugging-your-vehicles-block-heater

?Cee?view

jca wrote: »

I really think you should buy an 85 Micra if you want the cheap driving experience.

Where'd I say I'm looking for a cheap driving experience? I pay nearly 2 grand a year in tax and too much in insurance currently so another car with buckets of class and style but that costs a lot less to tax and insure is certainly attractive.

How does that mean I want a cheap driving experience?

You can keep your Micra. Sorry if my questions appear to offend your sensibilities. Thanks for your contribution.

?Cee?view

Bigus wrote: »

Mains block heaters use electricity in cold climates to preheat engine block, engine oil, gearbox oil, and coolant.

Using one in Ireland in the morning if it was on a timer for 10 or 20 mins your car would start like it was just driven 20 miles and interior heater would also work instantly, with subsequent massive saving in Fuel consumption(?and might bring the mpg up from 6 to 16) , as no choke necessary or enrichment necessary.

My comment re Mecrs is unrelated and more to do with original reliability as well as 40 year old reliabity, together with parts availability and general superior and ahead of its time mechanics compared to dated British engineering.

Block heaters explained below,
http://ckom.com/article/189322/why-you-should-be-plugging-your-vehicles-block-heater

Excellent. Many thanks. I'll look into that. A neighbour had a Series 2 when they came out. My recollection is that it spent most of its time being repaired!

jimgoose

Completely, certifiably, window-lickingly, dribbling-in-front-of-the-Vicar out of your mind to even consider such a thing. Do it. Do it now.

macplaxton

"mains block heater"

One that leaps to mind is the Kenlowe Hot Start. http://www.kenlowe.com/Heating.php

carchaeologist

Old XJs.. Hmm...
Rot - fuel consumption - Rear inboard disc brakes.
That's about it covered.
It should be remembered that series two XJs were built by British Leyland.
I like em, but wouldn't use one every day, unless you are good with the spanners and mechanical stuff in general.

Buy a 96 Corolla for cheap unburstable reliable every day motoring, and use the Jag on occasion then.

jimgoose

macplaxton wrote: »

"mains block heater"

One that leaps to mind is the Kenlowe Hot Start. http://www.kenlowe.com/Heating.php

I'd be inclined to invest in a good strong battery like a Yuasa Silver and 0W-40 synthetic oil instead.

saabsaab

Hi, I had one as a daily driver for a few years. Can't say anything too bad about it but it had stainless steel exhausts fitted and electronic ignition for greater reliability. Electronic fuel pumps are also a good idea. Don't use 0w30 oil or any light modern oils as the oil seals are not great an likely to leak.
What I hated about the series one was the headlight dip was a foot operated on the floor a pain in the city, series two have it on the column switch.

Probably use a good 20w50 or 15w50. Find a good one, an old style mechanic and go for it. I sold mine on for a bit more than I paid for it 4 years earlier.

jimgoose

saabsaab wrote: »

Hi, I had one as a daily driver for a few years. Can't say anything too bad about it but it had stainless steel exhausts fitted and electronic ignition for greater reliability. Electronic fuel pumps are also a good idea. Don't use 0w30 oil or any light modern oils as the oil seals are not great an likely to leak.
What I hated about the series one was the headlight dip was a foot operated on the floor a pain in the city, series two have it on the column switch.

Probably use a good 20w50 or 15w50. Find a good one, an old style mechanic and go for it. I sold mine on for a bit more than I paid for it 4 years earlier.

Anything to be said for an expensive 0W-50, you reckon?

Thinkingaboutit

There were British Leyland quality issues, but a car kept running and working will have long moved past them. Fuel consumption will be the killer. Classic insurance can be got, and a modest commute use will not breach the mileage limit, but most classics, even modest ones like any Farina, have a heavy fuel consumption compared to moderns. Now that can be resolved by careful driving, but those machines are big and heavy with large multi-cylinder engines. Personally, I'd go for something like a Toyota Crown with electric everything in the mid seventies, or a slightly more modest vehicle (compared to the Jag) like a 6/110. Practical Classics have a very good article now on the more modest exec cars of the mid seventies from 5 series BMW, Toyota Crown, Renault 20, to Wolseley 2200. The fuel use for me would be the killer.

Tzar Chasm

A compromise for those suggesting a micra

jca

?Cee?view wrote: »

Where'd I say I'm looking for a cheap driving experience? I pay nearly 2 grand a year in tax and too much in insurance currently so another car with buckets of class and style but that costs a lot less to tax and insure is certainly attractive.

How does that mean I want a cheap driving experience?

You can keep your Micra. Sorry if my questions appear to offend your sensibilities. Thanks for your contribution.

I was only pulling your leg but I forgot this is boards where humour doesn't exist. Twice in your opening post you mention cheap.... When I did the everyday classic experience commuting to work was not covered by my classic insurance policy so I had to cancel it and take out a full policy which cost the same if not a bit more than my standard car policy. Maybe classic insurance is different now but make sure to check first. All you need is a grumpy cop and you're screwed. Things I found most annoying besides the constant repairs which I could do myself luckily enough were misty windows and the fuel consumption.

?Cee?view

Thinkingaboutit wrote: »

There were British Leyland quality issues, but a car kept running and working will have long moved past them.

My Haynes buy and restore manual arrived this morning and that's pretty much exactly what it says.

Dades

Do it. Classy looking cars and only getting better looking with age.

A mate of mine ran an '89 as his daily for a few years before growing tired of the NCT failing it every year and paying €1,800 in tax. Now it sits in his garden rusting.

IF you can find a pre-80's one that has been maintained by someone who currently uses it a lot, then great. A garage queen might look pretty but subject her to a new life of commuting gremlins could manifest themselves.

I commuted into Dublin centre for years in a '72 Fiat and then a '72 Merc. Classics like to be used.

Go in with your eyes open and be prepared for the worst. But you might get some good years out of her and you might even find a life partner. At least you won't be one more shmuck in a Mondeo.

jca

?Cee?view wrote: »

My Haynes buy and restore manual arrived this morning and that's pretty much exactly what it says.

It really depends on how diligent (or not) the previous owners were.