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Remembering my first Jaguar...

ALEJANDRO BOVONE
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A distinctive car but impossible to mantain at those times. Year 2000 in Argentina, where parts were non existent and online commerce was just beginning.

XJ6 1989 original bordeaux vanden plas majestic. Interiors were leather and walnut, years from any local car finish and detailing.

Those cars entered my country only through diplomatic channels, so when i bought it i was very excited.

I see this picture every day in my office and memories come to mind.

Wanted to share as I suspect there are many Jaguar enthusiasts around!
PHOTO-2022-06-01-18-00-49.jpg
 
vbrad26
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They aren't here on OF at the moment. They are all at the mechanic with their Jags.
 
sleepyastronaut
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I have a friend who once went to a used car lot to look at a very pretty Jag. 'It's a beautiful car, you're going to love it, can't go wrong with this vintage Jag,' the salesman tells her. 'By the way, what do you do for work?' he asks. 'Attorney? Let me show you a very nice American car we have over there on the other side of the lot.'
 
Faz
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My uncle once said…”In a round trip to Quebec City , it caught fire but only twice”
 
STANDY
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Had a mate go to look at one (used) in the 90s on a car lot.
Against all he was sure it would be better than the perceived reputation they had. Wouldn't listen to anyone.

Haggling over, agreed on price.

Test drive was all that was needed for him to part with his money.....20 minutes later 3 mechanics couldn't get it going.

Saved by the Jaguar God's
 
Archer
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Here's my first...and last Jag:





1987 XJ12 Vanden Plas. Grace, space, pace. Loved the car, burl walnut dash, Connolly leather (I can still smell the hide food I used to put on it), 5.3 l V12 and it would fly. But also...inboard brakes, Lucas electrics, and many, many repairs. Had it for about 7 years, only because I became very good friends with a Jag master technician.

Few years ago I was looking for something spicy to drive, and we went to the Jag dealer to try the F-Types. First appointment the car wouldn't start for our test drive. Rescheduled and we drove two version, coupe and convertible. The convertible's tire sensors had failed, so the salesman told me there would be a warning light on, but not to worry as they had checked the pressures and it was good. 2 out of 3 ain't good...

Coupe had horrible visibility out the back - convertible was much better in that regard, Very fun to drive, but just couldn't do it...as I sat there looking at all the buttons on the dash I was adding up repair bills in my head.

After the VDP I bought a BMW and haven't driven anything else since. Have looked at and driven many others, but keep going back to BMW. All but one have been super reliable of the 10 my wife and I have owned over the years.
 
BlackTalon
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Archer Archer
...I bought a BMW and haven't driven anything else since. Have looked at and driven many others...
Al, which is it? 😉

A friend of my parents owned a had-wash business back in the mid '80s. I went to help out for a day when they were short staffed. My job was to drive the cars in and out of the building. All but 2 or 3 of the cars I drove that day were '80s XJ6s and XJ12s. Like Al said, the interiors were very nice. The ride was nice to (only experienced parking lot speeds). Why so many Jags? One of the owner's circle of friends was a car salesman, and he went to work at a Jaguar dealership for a couple years. He talked many other in the circle into buying or leasing Jaguars. Shortly after he moved on to a different brand all the friends quickly sold or turned in their Jaguars. I only remember hearing one XJ12 owner who really loved the car and had mixed feeling about parting with it.

I didn't realize the F series was still plagued with issues. They have had decades to overcome the quality problems. They make nice looking cars, and it would be great if they were reliable.
 
padders
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Here in the UK Jaguar have a reputation for OK reliability, now much better than the dark days of the the 1970 and 1980s. Nowhere near as good as the Japanese but on a par with VW (who in fact are no where near as reliable as their advertising would suggest). Ironically Jag are now under an umbrella with Land Rover who still have a reputation for producing some of the least reliable lemons out there. Not so much the agricultural Defender (which rot from the chassis upwards), but all flavours of Range Rover are prone to an interesting diversion to the hard shoulder and a long chat with the tow truck driver. It is laughable how bad they are.

I live about a mile form the LR plant in Solihull and within ~10 miles of 2 Jaguar factories.

I drive a BMW and Porsche...

IMG_6933.PNG
Edited:
 
Waltesefalcon
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I worked on too many Jags as a youngster to want to buy one I can afford. I have a lady friend who owns a late 90s XK8 and I wind up doing much of her service on it. It's a nice little car but I prefer my NA Miata.
 
MRC
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padders padders
Not so much the agricultural Defender (which rot from the chassis upwards)

I had to drive a brand new predecessor of the Defender from Birmingham to Thurso on the north coast of Scotland. Once the tyre pressures had been corrected it made it in 25 hours of driving (in 1970 there were few motorways in England and none at all in Scotland). After driving it the next day I pulled the handle that should cut off the fuel to stop the engine and the whole thing comes off in my hand, leaving the engine idling on the street in Thurso and giving me a bonnet-open search for what the cable had been attached to.

It didn't rot at all despite living in the salt spray from the ocean -- it was destroyed in six months by dragging loads around weighing more than four times than it was designed for.
 
Alpha
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First and last for no other reason that I was young and enjoyed trying other makers 😀

File0529.jpeg File0528.jpeg
 
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