Old Peter

The current figure in my trip computer for a lot of short runs [and I think the S button when my son borrowed my car for a couple of days] is 27.2 mpg. The car is having a "Terraclean" this morning and I am expecting mpg on a long run to be around 45mpg. I only use cruise control on motorways as being within the West Midlands huge urban conurbation I find that steady driving is impossible. Peter.

Only on tractors, Trevor. My s type has 18" wheels and I get a comfortable ride. The suspension has a lot to do with the ride. Peter.

I had a 'phone cll this afternoon telling me that the main dealer from whom I bought my car one year ago had booked it in for a service and MOT [without me asking] in the next few days. I politely declined telling them I had made other arrangements for both, and they had got the date wrong by three weeks. One thing I do know is that I will save £250 on the service and more if there is any work needed to pass the MOT, which I doubt. One day the message will get through to the main dealers. Peter.

Thanks Steve, I will be around most days until 4th June, when I am going to the Lake District for 5 days with the whole of my family as a Birthday present from my wife to celebrate my 80th Birthday. When you are around this area send me a PM and I will give you my mobile number and make arrangements. The Jaguar presence was really good and I am looking forward to the next meet. Regards, Peter.

Ho, Colin. Mayonnaise is usually caused when its cold and the car is not being used very much. If the oil is OK and not got water droplets in it, and if the coolant has not got oil in it it cannot be the head gasket. I have seen the result of a head gasket going on a Rover Sterling and the Chauffeur driving it was unable to diagnose it -- it was the Boss's car and he was very dischuffed with his chauffeur when the AA turned up and told him the head gasket had gone. I got a Brownie point and a better company car when they were changed. Ian is quite right. Peter

When I retired and the Company car [with all the perks] went I bought a Rover Sterling with every optional extra on it,that was only 8 months old and with 12 months warranty, Part of the negotiation was that the main dealer from whom I bought the car would do the first service at nil cost to me. Which they did. While I was there I noticed the price of the annual service for a Rover Sterling ---- £325 + Vat. I few weeks later I found a leaflet on my car with the Rover motif and offering a full service by a Rover Trained Mechanic for £75 including all fluids except engine oil and filter. When my service was due I rang him and he came, collected the car and brought it back the next day fully serviced and with a report on the car. That was in 2002 and he is still servicing/repairing my cars. The price is now £100. He has replaced exhausts 50% cheaper than the local companies -- plus brake pads, discs when needed etc. Jaguar charges for an engine oil and filter change are horrendous, but he did mine using Castrol magnetic and a Jaguar filter for £85 and brought two litres of oil back. Why do I use and independent mechanic? Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Graham. You will enjoy your Jaguar. I don't get oily hands any more, but it does not seem like a difficult fix. Regards, Peter.

Hi Karl, I think your car will have the same engine as my S Type -- 2.7D. There is a process that will clean up the engine called Terraclean and it has a lot of good reviews. It is worth looking at. My car which has quite a low mileage is going in on Friday to be done at a cost of £114. Just google Terraclean and you will see some reports. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Karl. Short journeys is the key. It could be either the EGR valves or the DPF, but I am surprised that there was not an engine malfunction warning light on. I would be inclined to look for a good independent garage to check it over, as you don't want a fire under the bonnet. A main dealer will want you to give them a lot of money to fix it. Trevor [from Devon] might be able to point out a good indy. Regards, Peter.

Well done, Adrian. Finding the right man is always good, and when key fobs go duff there might be a queue at the Stall in Cas market. Peter

There are three kinds of car that come out of the factory. The Friday night ones, as Mick has said. The ordinary well made car. The Foreman's friend. Getting the latter is the hardest job, but if you can find a main dealer who has used one as a demonstrator, odds on that the Foreman has watched it on the line. My Uncle was a Foreman at Halewood, and always had a very good car! Peter.

They used to make a lot of cars in Coventry, and there are going to be 6 Lightweight E Types built there soon. We live in Sutton Coldfield, and I hope to drive over to see them leaving the factory. I hope they go on display first, though. Any ideas, Margaret, as to when? Peter.

Welcome to the club, Si. I am not an expert, but I do believe that there is an override somewhere, but I don't know where. However, some suggestions are to get someone to rock the car [heavy job] while you press and release the brake pedal. If the solenoid is hot, I think it is suggesting replacement. Meanwhile, don't despair. You will get it working, and get the pleasure out of driving a Jaguar S Type. Regards, Peter.

Main Dealers seem to think that if you buy a car from them that they have total supervision over what you do with it. Unless they change their opinions the Indy's will take their business, and just assume that you are tied to them. You are not. Peter.

Got it in my diary. Simon. I will just have to make sure the weather is organised again! Peter.

I think you are right about it being a sensor problem, Alan. Before they had these sensors you just had to look at the coolant level and if it was OK then the car was OK. It can't be far away from the coolant reservoir, but my old technique would be to give it a thump with a lump hammer doesn't work with these modern things. Peter.

Hi Trevor, I was at the Charity car meet in Alfreton yesterday and there were three XK8's there, one silver, one dark blue and one in the same colour as the XK-R in which you will be going to lunch. The sun shone and there was a good turn out from the Club. Regards, Peter.

I did something quite daft yesterday. I took my camera intending to take quite a few photographs but completely forgot! I am looking forward to the next meet in September. I thought that there was a great display of Jaguars, but noticeably none of the newer models, which surprised me. There was one thing that was common to all cars there -- all the owners were proud of the cars they owned and all were well looked after, and for me, my first taste of a car meet was quite brilliant. It was just a pity I had to be back home for a commitment at 4.00 pm. Regards to you all, Peter.

Hi everyone, It was a great day and the sun shone on the righteous! A great amount of cash raised for a very good cause,too. My flat cap saved me from getting burnt, too! I am looking out for the next meet, and hope that the members of the Club from as far as St Helens and Scunthorpe --- coast to coast ---as well as those from the Midlands, are able to get there again. It was nice to put faces to names, too, and what a nice group of people you are! Thanks to Simon for his hard work and getting it all together, especially. Regards to you all. Peter,

Hi Margaret, Where can I go next is the right question. I spent yesterday washing and shampooing my car, and polishing it with micro fibre cloths, just to get it ready to go to the Charity Car meet [several Club members are going] in Alfreton near Derby. And I hope you get that two bar fitted ready for the heatwave. Peter. P.S. I had a letter from Stratstone offering a cam belt and tensioner change for £495 inc vat. The car is 7 years old with only 54k on the clock, although it did have a new engine when owned by Jaguar at 21K. I thought that cam belts should be changed at 105k.

I once saw a poem about a young lady from Exeter. Rhymes are difficult but not impossible. How many can you think of, Robin? Peter.

Being a bit philosophical today, being sealed for life means that it is sealed for as long as the manufacturer thinks its life is. Personally I would prefer to spend £250 on an oil change rather than spend a lot more than that on a new gearbox. I am unsure whether or not that is philosophical rather than economical. If you feel that your gearbox is not performing as it should, an oil change could be the answer. Peter.

Good choice of colour, Trevor, looks very like mine! Peter.

That's pretty good, Trevor, I must get an Ilfracombe address. Enjoy that car as much as you enjoyed the XJ Supersport.

Hi Gary, I have seen these wheels on several photographs of x type Jaguars. Whether they are an optional extra or purchased separately I do not know. However, there are many options for wheels available. If you google "X Type Jaguar wheels", or indeed "Images for X tripe Jaguar" you will come across a whole variation of wheels designed to fit Jaguar cars. What you have is down to personal choice, really. Peter