Old Peter

Hi Trevor, Some models of cars seem to get stone chips more than others, and whiles it is not how they are driven but often how the cars coming towards them are being driven. I have had in the past two smashed windscreens caused by cars coming towards me throwing up stones on roads that had been recently surfaces. Slightly off topic, our roads are a bit less busy -- it often takes 30 minutes to get into the town centre - just two miles - between 8.00am and 9.00am. But wheile they are all down in the West Country it is much easier. I am always up early, Trevor. Every month I have a day more of life than those who don't get up early. Regards, Peter.

Interesting discussion. Stone chips are a bit more than an nuisance to drivers who like to keep their their car bodywork in good order. I have also got a car with Indigo metallic paint and also get annoyed with the white undercoats. They use white for all cars as the paint experts think that they should have a lighter colour than the paint finish. My car has had paint protection applied expensively by the dealer, and fair to say, does a good job, but does not want to allow chips to be repaired with a paint pencil. Maybe, Amanda, you car has also had that application done in the past. Regards Peter.

Nice car, Michael. I am pleased you have got the car you want. Now enjoy it, Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Stephen. The jaguar experience is quite unique, isn't it? Keep enjoying and any help or advice just ask as there are lots of knowledgeable members. Regards, Peter.

Hi Amanda, The car seats look good. They are the same colour as my x type, so ​ I think I will try the same product. Peter.

Good post, Richard. I am hoping that an understanding will build up concerning the good towers and the once a year ones, [with a badly loaded caravan, towing with an inadequate car and no idea of road etiquette] and the problems that the bad drivers who drive in a belligerent manner cause to both caravans and lorries. Regards Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Steve. You will enjoy your S Type. I know Buckley quite well, having worked at Shotton in its heyday when there were 13,000 employees. We lived in Shotton before I emigrated to Derbyshire in 1971, and then here is the West Midlands in 1982. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Darrell. I am no engineer, but from what you say it could well be a sensor telling the ECU the wrong information. I am also curious as to why someone would want an LPG conversion on a fairly economical Jaguar, and wonder if something has been disturbed when it was done. If the conversion has a warranty I would be inclined to check with the company who did the conversion if all is well. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Andrew. Squirt a bit of WD40 down there -- always worth trying and quite cheap. Regards, Peter.

A test is a good idea, Trevor. There are towing courses run by both Caravan clubs. Peter.

There are drivers who are frustrated by caravans, and similarly Caravan owners who are frustrated by some other drivers, so I am inviting some measured comments which I hope will assist all drivers to understand both groups of drivers. I towed a caravan for 20 years, until my wife decided that I was too old to still be doing the fetching and carrying that goes on with a caravan holiday. I will start with what most caravanners know. which is the fact that the caravan you want to tow should not exceed 85% of the kerb weight of the car you are using to tow the caravan, and also the craven should be loaded with heavy items over the axle, and the downward pressure on the tow bar must not exceed the manufacturers specifications. A specific check of this can be done with ordinary bathroom scales. Failure to do this will cause the caravan not to handle properly, and cause accidents, possibly overturning when driven too quickly. An overturned caravan has been known to frustrate some drivers. Also a car towing a caravan that is too heavy for it will not go up steep hills, and will not go down them either in one piece. Then there is the speed at which caravans travel. Caravans are usually limited to the same speeds as lorries. On a motorway, 60 mph is their limit, and on motorways they are not allowed to use the third lane. Country lanes do cause a problem, and the discerning caravanner will avoid them whenever possible, and a half hour's perusal of a map will always produce the best route which not necessarily will be the shortest. There is also the time of travel. Starting your holiday on a Tuesday or a Thursday are usually the best days, and starting between 10.00 am and 11.00 am are the best times as the motorways are at their quietest on those days. There are some caravanners who do not appear to know these basis items. There are also some drives who don't either. Usually these drivers have a mindset that compels them to try to overtake a caravan whatever the circumstances, overtaking, then cutting in, and then turning left [or right on a lane] causing the caravan to brake and often starting a jam which is blamed on the caravan driver. I hope that these few comments will generate a good discussion, and I look forward to caravnners and drivers who don't tow to fully particate. Regards, Peter.

Hi Trevor, I have like the XK ever since it was built, with the only drawback for me being the limited seating in the rear. As a Sports car, its looks and performance are absolutely superb, and in my opinion, the XK is a real successor to the E type. As for the problems in Devon, and probably other areas similar in the holiday period, I have started a topic in "The Lounge" which I hope will serve as possibly an avenue for non caravan drivers to specify the problems they can have with Caravans, overladen vans and lorries, and horse boxes, and also for caravan owners who find the Jaguar a very good car with which to tow a caravan to express their towing experiences. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Nigel. If the battery is OK, I would be inclined to check the fuses and the connections. The easiest to get to first are the best options. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Lance. Jaguar might have stopped building the XK, but I think that this future classic will be around for some years years for people to enjoy both driving and admiring. Regards, Peter.

Hi Alan, I had an EGR valve problem which got cured with a blast up the A38. You have exchanged yours, so that is not the problem. I had my 2.7D engine terra cleaned and it improved the performance and economy. That might be the solution and with a 2.2 D engine should cost about £95. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Bob. Your Jaguar experience will be of help to many members. Regards, Peter. [Former steelworker at Shotton Steelworks]

I use a small trolley jack I have had for years. They are not very expensive and will usually lift two tons. They are in the bottle jack style and about 6" high so will get under cars very easily. Peter.

This pensioner was in the garden, with a bottle or three of Budweiser, watching two a my grandchildren playing with water pistols. My sister wrote on Facebook that this weather reminder her of dystopia. I commented that "They talk of little else round here."

Check a post today, Kevin, from a new member. His name is Jonathan, and his a breaking an S Type of similar age to yours. It could be exactly what you need. Peter.

Charlie, I loved going up to Scotland to work. One of my big mates worked at Clydebridge, and I went up there when he retired for his retirement party. The next morning he and his wife turned up where we had our caravan and took us out for a great day. He died just a year later. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Jonathan. I am sure that there will be some interest as there are some S type owners who might need some parts from that era. Regards, Peter.

Hi all, The 5th of October Meet at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon near Coventry is still lacking a few names. It should be an interesting day, and I understand that there are 7 Jaguars on display. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Darren. I am looking forward to seeing some pictures when your XK8 is out on a sunny day. Regards, Peter.

Good advice, Ian. Often the little annoying things are hard to solve. They used to say that Austin used to employ a man to put in a small pebble or a ball bearing into the inside of a sill. Peter.

Try Steve Barnes [Admin]. Regards, Peter.