S-Type owner - new to the forum...

[Jim S-Type]

Hello everyone, and - coincidentally - Happy Christmas.

We bought a 2000 model year S-Type 4.0 a couple of months ago with a special project in mind... As I explain it, I hope it won't result in us being hunted down and put in chains for heresy!

We wanted to take an iconic design and turn it into something... unusual and head-turning; we run a car SMART repair franchise in the Cotswolds and decided to produce a car that showcases not just our skills at repairing, but also my wife's artistic abilities. So, we will be embellishing our dark metallic blue (Westminster or Pacific - I haven't checked) with flames and smoke in a hot-rod-esque manner.

Although we have no plans to put undue strain on the gearbox or other mechanicals by upping the power, we did want to unleash the sound of the V8, se we had a bespoke exhaust made and fitted that sounds rather nice. However, if you then press the button on the remote, it opens twin electronic valves and turns the exhaust into a (more or less) straight through affair that crackles and roars like a proper animal!

Underneath it all, there will still be a rather tired, 96,000-mile S-Type, with many of the associated gremlins. Hopefully, the Jaguar Owners' Club brains trust will be able to help us track down some of the faults and point us towards how to remedy them. I will post in the appropriate sections as and when we tackle the variour issues.

Hope the turkey and trimmings are going well,

Jim

[Guest]

Hey Jim and Welcome to the Club,

There may well be a few members who will take affront and initiate Search and Destroy actions but you should spot them first because they will wait until you exit the car - collateral damage to Jag of any marque would be anathema.

Whilst I am not at all militant - except in my quest for the next one in my collection - I am something of a traditionalist and, at this particular time of year, a Grinch. So if you spot a black S Type driver using hand semaphore to convey distaste its probably me. However, I am prepared to set aside my finer feelings for a guarantee that you will continue to save your Cat from the breakers and crushers. Fair enough?

Christmas?Humbug

[Jim S-Type]

Thanks Cubist, we'll try not to offend the traditionalists, but some may prefer to avert their eyes!

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Jim S-Type said:

we'll try not to offend the traditionalists, but some may prefer to avert their eyes!

That may be tougher than you think. A few years back I came across a behavioural phenomenon in which motorcyclists would unconsciously steer toward whatever they were looking at while trying hard to avoid it - theres an example on You Tube of couple of guys on high performance bikes on a race track, the one in front takes a tumble and the one behind seems to steer toward and ultimately hit his mate.

This same phenomenon has a parallel in Jag admirers it seems as on more than one occasion since acquiring my latest I have had to smartly move out of the way of someone who appears to like my side of the road too much. Or is that Jags just have a magnetic personality all their own?

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Well said Cubist...........it happened to my other half on one occasion during his Rover SD1 V8 racing days.......other half was the hittee rather than the hitter, but couldn't believe that the other fellow seemed to have zeroed in when there appeared to be plenty of room to avoid.   And this was production circuit racing, not short circuit contact sport!

As readers of previous threads of myself and my partner will recall,  we fall squarely in the traditionalist arena, subscribing clearly to the protocol "if it didn't leave the factory with it, it doesn't get it", although we have erred slightly with more powerful headlight bulbs in our '07 S. The XK stays as intended whilst the XJ8 hasn't sprouted any add-ons, although a set of mudflaps beckons.    All that said, Jim, each to his own and it would be a strange world if we all drove around in identical wheels.

In line with what Cubist says, better to be played with than consigned to the crusher, although we shan't be adding any go-faster stripes any time soon!  Good luck in promoting your business but we'll pass on the business card!       Fair does.

Is that the JOC company vehicle I see approaching? ......