Jim Elston

I was at the open mic session at our local pub when a good friend of mine took me to one side and asked, "What's it like, driving a Jag?" I had to stop and think for a minute. There is something undefinable about it. My S type does not have many of the "toys" that a friends Fiesta has, but the fiesta is just a car, a very good one, but just a car. The Jaguar isn't just a car! How would you have answered him?

The Cobbles are cold and slippery! I am lucky in having an excellent independent Jaguar Specialist nearby (St Helens Service Station) so I try not to get underneath too often..(Knees, back...)

Very nice looking car. There were some kits to make the bars on the original grille chrome but I couldn't find any so went with the mesh. The important thing is that these are our own cars so if we are happy then that is all that matters!

Well, the accidently ordered bits arrived...Firstly the leaper. I don't think I have ever come across such a divisive issue. I guess it is about 50/50 for and against. At first I was inclined to be "leave it as it left Castle Bromwich..." My own research though was that the S type obtained type approval without the leaper because it is not compliant in some markets. It was offered as a dealer fit option in the UK and the leaper I bought was a genuine Jaguar part. On the cars the pre 2003(?) bonnet was pre drilled for the leaper. It was a factory option for the U.S. The spring loaded leaper complies with all legislation at the time of the car's registration. Do I like it on my car? Yes! It is perfectly feasible that my car could have been supplied from the dealer with this fitted. The Grille. This is not standard and could not have been supplied new. This grille was supplied by Adamesh. Brilliant product, great service. I succumbed. I was knocked out by the picture of Peter's S type (We had the same AA badge!) Peter's is a later model and would have had the mesh grille, but I really liked the look I am thrilled with the difference it has made to the appearance of my S type.

Oh dear, I may have accidentally ordered a mesh grill and leaper...I was going to leave her absolutely standard but the previous owner added chrome headlight and rear light trims and after seeing Peter's car...

Thank you Lazlo, I was told it had to come out through the front screen...

Gorgeous looking car Peter, thinking of the mesh grill as well....

The Leapers I have seen seem to have a guide pin as well as the threaded fitting, does the hole for that need drilling or is it already there? Thanks for the help! Jim.

You've got me thinking there....

My S Type at Carisbrooke Castle. My other half got me the reproduction AA badge, which I think looks lovely and sets the car off nicely. The car herself is proving to be absolutely wonderful, we have done quite a bit and all that is left is a sensible solution to the droopy headlining...We all know how good the S type is, so I won't belabour the point, but this is everything I wanted! Love it to pieces!

I am finding excuses to go to London (From the Isle of Wight) just to drive my S type. Mine is a 2001 3.0 Litre and is just so good on an A Road, a motorway, a B Road..anywhere really. I love this car. Glad you do too. People do not know what they are missing. Especially a friend of mine who constantly refers to it as a "Ford Jaguar"...Enjoy!

Hi Dave, Just back from Holiday, are bits still available? I have to be on the mainland over the next couple of weeks can we arrange something? Can you let me know what price you are looking for? Cheers Jim

Hi Dave, Sorry for the delay in replying, we are on the Isle of wight but would probably drive over to collect and give her a nice run onto the bargain! We are off on holiday for two weeks, we return on 27th Sept, so shortly after that we could have a drive up to collect? Would that be possible? Thank you Jim

Thanks Joe

Where has the time gone? Had the stereo fitted by Safe and Sound in Lake. Absolutely top job and great value. I don't think it looks too out of character and bluetooth, DAB+ USB and aux inputs and hands free for the phone, plus voice calling is well worth it. I have the old unit if I ever want to put her back to original. The heating took a little longer. The garage replaced the heater valve and boy did I have heat, nothing but heat! The compressor was faulty as well so they ordered that and replaced it. That was great but the control module had burnt out, which I gather is quite common. Got one from a well known auction site for £30.00 and they fitted that. System now works perfectly. The knocking from the front which so eluded the garage I bought it from, the MOT station and my usual local guy was diagnosed in 5 seconds flat by The garage. This is why it pays to take things to experts. It is the bottom shock absorber bushes which are under £40.00 each.They are on order and will be fitted this coming Tuesday. This is being done by St Helens service Station, who were recommended to me on here. That will mean that she is pretty well sorted. Just a better solution to the headlining than the push pins that are holding it up at the mo. I will speak to some of the boat trimmers we have on the island. In the meantime I have managed almost 1000 miles just on the Island and one trip to London... One thing I have noticed though is that the transmission sometimes has a slight "vibration" in 5th at low speed, almost as though it needs to change up and is "under load" in that gear. It is the 5R55N gearbox which I know does not have the greatest reputation. Does anyone have any thoughts? Should I get an oil and filter change done? The vibration is low pitched and reminiscent of the type of noise and feel you can sometimes get on certain road surfaces. Thanks and I will post again soon...If you can get me out of the driving seat!

If the trim is sable I could do with a front passenger door card and the electric windows/mirrors switch on the drivers door...

Double DIN is being fitted on Wednesday, I have chosen the Kenwood DPX 7000. It is DAB, Bluetooth, aux in and USB an smartphone compatible. The illumination is colour adjustable so I can get it to match the rest of the dashboard. I will post some pics. Yes, it is St Helen's, they seem to know exactly what they are talking about, they seem to be a great find!

Took her in to a Jaguar specialist recommended on here and the heater problem is a flap actuation motor, so nothing serious! The motor is being ordered and they will fit week after next. Going to London next week so can't wait to take her down either the M3 or A3 depending on the crossing we take. The A3 is nicer I think... Next is the double din head unit....

Hi, I did a quick check as advised and both pipes leading from the DCCV were hot with the temp setting to hi, I assume this means that the DCCV is working and that the issue I have is something else? Is there anything else that is easy to check? Thanks for any help!

Ron. Fender do make a Jaguar model so it is almost related. Unfortunately I can't get a 4 x 12 in the Jaguar...

First problem! Had the a/c re-gassed. There was no refrigerant in the system at all, refilled OK, no discernible leaks and icy cool air...Just one problem, no hot air. It is the same both sides. I am guessing the system might have been drained to prevent the cold air only problem. Would this be the infamous DCCV (?) heater valve? There is absolutely no difference in temperature regardless of settings, both sides are the same.

Ahh Ron, I play a Custom Shop Flying V Custom, 1 piece mahogany body, 1 piece mahogany neck, Les Paul Ebony fingerboard, Les Paul Custom binding and finished in Jeff Becks Ox Blood making it unique. I have an Ibanez AS93 to which I fitted a Blues Engine and Dirty Torque pick up combination, my main acoustic is a 1983 Washburn Festival EA series a few serial numbers away from the one played by Nuno Bettencourt on "More than words" and JImmy Page also plays one. I play through a Marshall JVM410H and 1960A Cab, very few pedals, just wah, Chorus, Phase and delay...WE'l have to organise a Jag/Jam! 70's is my favourite era. Really interesting on the names...Love "Daffers" Hopefully get some more pics today!

I will take some more pics tomorrow! She is in for an A/C Re-gas tomorrow at a garage recommended on here, then next week for a double din head unit...I am using any excuse to drive her, like R2e I now have more milk than Asda...Other than the stereo all is remaining standard, just as she left the factory. Has anyone else named their Jaguar? Care to share? Mine is called Belinda May. Convoluted reason why but I christened my Fathers Ford Anglia "Belinda" in 1965 when he bought her from Raymond Way in Kilburn. A Midnight Blue 997cc Deluxe, reg FYL167C. As a child I loved that car and made up stories about her. Calling a car "Belinda" became a mark of how much I liked a car, it has been the ultimate accolade that I could give. Here's where it gets complicated! I play in a band, we cover some T-Rex material, we do a version of "Jeepster", where Jaguar is mentioned (Just like a car/you're pleasing to behold/I'll call you Jaguar, if I may make so bold...) We then segue that into "I love to Boogie" which opens with "Belinda May's Fender has a Cadillac bone" So Belinda May she has become! (Although I play a Gibson and not a Fender...)

Still grinning! Every time I park her, I have to give a backward glance, keep looking out of the kitchen window to see her, I seem to have it bad....

Thanks for the replies, and I completely agree with Carole! The thing for me is how a car makes me feel. Way back when I had a Cortina Mk111 GXL automatic, Metallic green with a cream vinyl roof. I loved it and felt really special driving it for some indefinable reason. A few years later I bought a Mk11 1600E which should have been just as involving, but sadly no although I had four different Granadas and out of all of them my Mk1 estate is the one I would have kept, it got stolen alas. Jobs and company cars then came and a succession of Mk V Cortinas, Sierras, Mondeos and so on never did it. After I moved to the Island I had a Daihatsu 4 Track that "did it" but succumbed to rot. I had an oddball Chrysler Neon which was horrid. I bought an Escort Van which I need for my musical gear and have kept it paid silly money for it nd it keeps going. It means I don't need an estate or shogun or similar, it's great for the dog, moving, doing gigs picking up white goods, clearing garden rubbish and it means I don't have to compromise on the car I have. I bought a Mk 1 MX5 which I really thought would have that illusive "something". It didn't really so in my quest I had seats made in colour coordinated leather, chrome dashboard accents, additional instrumentation, coil overs, Poly bushes, custom exhaust and so on. After all that all I had was a vague feeling of disappointment and a large hole in my wallet. A lot of fun on a B road miserable on a motorway and a risk of sunburn with the roof down.. I have some good memories of it but it wasn't IT, whatever "it" is! Following ill health and a few issues I had a small budget. I could have stretched to a high mileage early XF but fell in love ith the S Type. I drove an XJ V8 which while undeniably nice just wasn't me. I looked across autotrader and then on a dealer forecourt 100 yards from my house, this S Type turned up. It's MOT history was good, she is in lovely condition and was way under my budget, my feeling is that if I have a good base then I can afford to have her brought up to scratch. There is almost nothing I want to change (Unusual for me) Perhaps a mesh grill and a leaper, although I am undecided on that. I will have a Kenwood double din stereo fitted so I have DAB and can easily use my phone. Although I am going to keep the original to return to the original look. That is all I plan apart from making sure she is mechanically as good as she can be.I love driving her, I love the view over the bonnet, the shapes and contours, rather than the flat anodyne bonnets of some more modern cars. Whatever "IT" is, this car has it!