Carole Simpson-Hadley

They look well, Peter. Must say the grey does suit. We have barley in our S and cream in our XK; not a lover of black upholstery. And like yourself and Ron, prefer the traditional maple wood effect. How old school are we all?! As always, happy growling

That looks well, Joe. Hopefully, look forward to seeing it at a future Breakfast Club Meet. We are happy with our polished wood effect, but everybody has their own choice. Particularly good idea to keep the originals in case you sell. (Unlikely, methinks!). As always, happy growling

Hi Steve My partner and I are not mechanical experts, and certainly way behind the likes of Joe-Dot-Com with knowledge. However, we have a low mileage '07 S-type 2.7D with all the EGR gubbins, and when we took it on (at 53K miles) in July last year, it had been mostly used for shortish commute. Within a few weeks the DPF Full warning came on, and each time we carried out the regeneration. We visited a local Independent Specialist who diagnosed that one of the EGR valves was sticking and blocked beyond the point of redemption. Firstly, changing the O/S EGR is not too bad, although patience is required due to inaccessibility. The N/S EGR can be a nightmare, as others on the forum will attest. Steve, we are very like you........we like to keep both our S and XK X150 as they left the factory, so remaps etc would not be for us. That's not to say that it's wrong, we all have our own views. More importantly, we don't particularly go down the route of additives etc either, BUT even after having the offending EGR changed, we still (in 2500 miles or so) had the DPF amber warning come on again. **Up to that point, we had always used supermarket fuel, basing our decision on cost. However, although we were a little cynical, we did note a few folk on the forum singing the praises of Shell V-Power diesel (Shell's top-price diesel). We gave it a go, and since changing over (we are now on our 5th tank of V-Power), we haven't had a problem, even though a fair bit of our motoring has been local. A friendly local HMC&E fellow indicated that there is quite a difference between such as the V-Power and the bargain basement supermarket fuel. You pays your pennies and takes your choice! It may not work for everybody, but it was a fuss-free and comparatively cheap exercise for us, with very much the desired result. Good luck in any case

Here's one to think about......repo usually means lack of funds, which can (and usually is) reflected in the standard of upkeep/maintenance etc. Also, an owner always knows when repo is approaching...it doesn't happen overnight and there can often be a consequent lack of care for the soon to be gone vehicle. Whatever happens, remember that an Experian and/or HPI clear report is essential in order to avoid any lien on the vehicle from interested parties. My partner and I would not go anywhere near a repo car, although do understand that is our personal opinion. (Other opinions may be available!!). Entirely agree with tommac about going cheap on a Jag....there's always a reason. By the way, tommac, glad to learn that you finally sold your S - it looked a nice one, but we've already got one, and Aberdeenshire is a bit of a jaunt from South Staffordshire!! As always, happy growling, and good luck with your choice, TDF

Right on, Peter. We are very happy with the Dunlop Sport Maxx on our XK X150 but, yes, it will be a toss-up between Goodyear and Dunlop next time the S needs tyres. As stated previously, we shall update the thread when there is further to say.........we don't think Pirelli are doing themselves any favours; we'll leave out naming the supplier for now and see if they redeem themselves. We aren't holding our breath!

Well, as promised, here's an update........the following is part of an earlier post on the topic, from us...... The (very standard format) letter says that we have the option of having the tyre returned to the dealer for our collection and further independent analysis. We are going to do this, half expecting that the tyre will then have mysteriously disappeared. Watch this space! Well, well.....guess what. We are now 5 weeks further on and no communication, no sign of the offending tyre, and the supplying dealer still stating "what do you expect when you hit a pothole", when we know quite categorically that we haven't. We have now escalated the matter to Micheldever's Head Office but, as we have stated before, something smells fishy in Spittalfields. Whatever happens, looks like the supplying dealer is losing the business of both our Jaguars and the Citroen runabout, and as for Pirelli........NO SIR! Again, for interest, we shall update when anything occurs. Once again Pirelli

Just another quick thought, try the "Honest John" website - that has a good buyer's guide, as does the RAC website. Meanwhile, we'll see what we can find ref manual although Haynes definitely don't do one. Watch this space

Just a quick response for the moment, time beckons, but we have a '07 S. Are you looking at petrol V6, V8 or diesel? One point of note - there isn't a Haynes manual but elsewhere on the forum there is a link whereby you can download the complete Jaguar Workshop manual. Already supplied this to a fellow in Australia going under the pseudonym of Duchy....the link is on there. We'll have a good look when we have stopped being busy, although you should be able to find it. For the moment, good luck and happy searching

Incidentally, the Royal Visit was of HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh The owner/curator of the museum, at a place called Geraldine, which also had an enormous collection of tractors, did fire up the Daimler whilst we were there.........silky smooth and VERY quiet; no DPF systems, electronic readers etc. there then! No doubt this Daimler would be worth quite a bit should it find its way to UK, accompanied, one thinks, by a large container of chrome polish. As always, happy growling, or, in the case of the Daimler, happy purring

2 photos of a beautiful Daimler limousine used during the Royal Visit to New Zealand 1953/54; now residing in a small motor museum some way out of Christchurch, South Island, on the way to Lake Takapu. Very stately, and fortunately the museum was far enough away from Christchurch to not be affected by the earthquakes. Also, a beautful MkVIII and a Daimler Conquest, both for sale in a Christchurch museum/showroom........hopefully, these survived. Sadly, our suitcases weren't big enough to fit the MkVIII in. Grrr.

Our '07 S-type SE has Jaguar Voice which works well without having to be programmed in to either of our voices (which are very different). However, it doesn't particularly like background noise and can, as a consequence, do odd things if, for example, there is a good bit of traffic noise. We found it a good idea to be familiar with the prompts, as detailed in the Jaguar Voice handbook. Certainly works better than our own voice control over our 3 dogs; one word from us and they do as they please, although they do respond well to an Acme whistle! As always, happy growling

Enjoy, nice colour scheme, and hello to the Humber Bridge in the background. Walked over there several times in the past, b..... long way when it becomes wet and windy! Happy growling

Go for it, Knut Are! Although we have our pride and joy XK X150, we love our S-type, a very nice place to be. With regard to the Clanger speak.........we have a kettle which speaks it fluently. It's a new one, as the previous one was dropped from a great height and sustained terminal damage. What you might call "Dropping a clanger". Doh. Happy (future) growling

Wonderful, my partner says "who'd have thought that there was somebody else out there who loved The Clangers, doesn't like SUVs but does like Mk2s, XKs and S-types. What an exclusive club. What's Clanger-speak for aluminium doesn't rust (as in our XK!)? Happy growling, as always, even if you haven't got one

Like everybody else, neither my partner nor I are convinced about all this "dump fossil fuel cars" malarky. Sadly, it looks like the governments are, with some pretty stringent regs due to come in places like Paris etc. Sacra bleu. Entirely agree about the Formula E........we watched a few times and felt all that was missing was the trigger controller in the right hand. Shades of Scalextric and Minic Motorways! Like Laz, we have experienced the going backwards phenomenon, much akin to sitting in a train in a station, when the next-door chain moves and you are convinced that its your train that is on the move. Happened to my partner once in a retail park car park, and he almost put the brake pedal through the bulkhead trying to stop his car, which wasn't actually moving. The argument will run and run, and we shall all have our point of view, but good luck to GaryE with the Nissan. (Will resist all jokes about extension leads, shocking, and Duracell bunnies etc etc) Whatever happens, like Leo, don't think we'll be giving up on the XK until we can't get in or out of it! Happy growling, as always

My partner and I agree, that's not three bad at all. Our S 2.7D, on a run, usually returns around 43 to 44. Needless to say, cold starts and short trips locally it drops down to around 34 to 35 which is to be expected, although still acceptable for a car of the size and weight. Our XK X150, when we take her out, returns around 24......but then you don't have an XK for economy runs! We use Shell V-Power in both; we were a little cynical at first, but the S, in particular, seems happier. Definitely better than my partner's one-time 3.9 V8 Range Rover which always developed a pull to the left when approaching a fuel station! As always, happy growling

Happy growling commences. Good news abut the tyres. With regard to the headlight lenses......Mequairs kit it is, we commented recently. Results achievable are excellent, although it does take some time and the masking around the area is important, as you can get a bit of scatter from the buffer (attached to your electric drill). Well worth the effort though. As with others, you will now find, as my partner and I do, that the Jaguar facial grin is a fixture!! As always, happy growling

Aha Ron, we shall henceforth call you "The Man with no Name". Apologies to Mr Eastwood. Pass the cheroots. The ORC on our XK hadn't escaped us, particularly as my partner went on an Orca research boat off the coast of Vancouver Island; originally, we were looking at a particular private plate when we bought the XK, but the ORC plus CA (Carole Ann) had to remain. We hadn't noted the KLeptomaniAc element of the plate on our S. Meanwhile, we'll just go back and have another look at that big pile of sparkly items which we seem to have amassed whilst out and about. As always, happy growling

Blimey, both, particularly Ron, not only are you petrolheads (for the S), but also, if we may, stringheads (for the guitars). That is some knowledge! Neither my partner nor I can claim any ability with the stringed instruments (other than a following of Hank Marvin in the '60s and '70s, and some (to us) fancy guitar work by Runrig more recently); my partner does play piano,usually trying to emulate Stephanie Detre from the Andre Rieu Orchestra, although not quite to the same standard! With regard to names, well, our XK X150 is named "Myfannwy" (famous Welsh name) on account of my partner is Welsh, we like to go for outings into the Welsh Marches and Mid-Wales where there are plenty of relatively empty A and B roads to enjoy the potential of the XK, and like most things Welsh (like rugby, pointed hats and sheep (leave it!)). Our S is named "Daphne", or "Daffers" ....sort of very British, jam and Jerusalem WI, where such names as Daphne, Doris etc seem to fit. At the time my partner owned a 1950 Wolseley 6/80 and a 3.9 V8 Range Rover, the pair were named Wallace and Gromitt, for no apparent reason although he was partial to a nice Wensleydale sandwich. Perhaps it's time for a lie down and some tablets, so, as always, happy growling

Just some additional info - the "Supercar Reborn" series on the Jaguar Classic XK SS, currently available on All4 - the Channel 4 i-player, are very entertaining mini-programmes; each of the 8 programmes is about 15 minutes but covers the birth to reveal of the XK SS very well. British engineering at its best.

My partner says that is absolutely right. When the V-12 first came out, he had a friend who was a marketing exec for BL, and he had a V-12 company car (!). That is exactly how things work, L, of course, being Low gear hold. What a beautiful looking E, and a great colour. On the subject of parts, SNG Barrett are excellent, as are BritParts, and there is also a smaller outfit called Growler Parts (on-line) who, although not having such a large range of bits, does charge very reasonable prices for genuine Jaguar parts. Good luck with the E - extremely happy growling!