Old Peter

Hi Trevor, Fast is not as important as style. The s type has style as well as fast. Towing a caravan tought me both patience and good driving techniques, and when I stopped towing when I was 77, I did enjoy driving for the pleasure it brought. Economy is the back pocket element of driving a car, but keeping young is the right foot and ask your wife for a pay rise is the other part. Enjoy both. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Michael. The XF is the successor to the S Type, and while the exterior design is different, my opinion, and I am completely biased, is that the earlier model is possible the better one is the earlier one. The best of the S type and the best of the XF. I could be wrong, but as I said, I am biased. Regards, Peter.

Graham, I have just had a look at my rear bumper, and it looks a bit tricky. I could be very wrong as there must be someone around who has done it. I am only any good with a lump hammer and a crowbar. Peter

I have thought that for years, even the years I was doing a big mileage. [i did eventually get the the magic plastic] The The company car was taxed initially for those earning over £5000 a year, and then lifted by Denis Healy to £8600 in the 1979 budget. It still stands at that figure. Anything to do with cars is a cash cow for whatever Government

Welcome to the Club, Michael. Your expertise will be welcomed on the Forum. I don't get oily hands any more, but I still like to know the problem and its cause so I can get someone to cure it. Regards, Peter.

Trevor, I used to get nearly the same mileage per gallon on a Mk 1 Ford Escort 1.3 L. It shows how much engines have improved over the years. On the 410 miles I have done in the last 3 days on very busy motorways, M25 included I have got 42 mpg. Like Mick, I would be tempted to give the right side pedal a bit of a firm push occasionally! Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Nigel. As Mick said, it is nice to have specialist knowledge amongst the membership of the club. Exchanging experiences teaches a lot. I am still a bit less wise when it comes to updating technical things, although I am mastering the art of the Compact Disc interchanger! The S Type 2.7 SE is a nice car to drive, and soon gets to know its way around, and I would bet it can now find its way to the Hawthorns. Regards, Peter.

I used to get somewhere round that if the motorway was reasonable when I had my x type AWD 2.5. Steady was the keyword. Peter,

I will get there probably around 11.00 to 11.30 am., Mick. My wife is coming with me, and as it will be sunny I will be wearing my white flat cap. Regards, Peter.

Paul, I think you must have got an ill used engine in your car. My preference for the diesel is the same as Mick's. A 3.0 litre petrol would have used far more fuel and would have cost more in Road Tax. I have had two diesel before this one, both Rover, one with a Peugeot engine and the other with a Rover engine. Both were good engines. Yesterday I went up to Irlam and back and got 42.7 mpg for the round trip. And when the E10 petrol comes in, fuel consumption will go up by approx 10%, which will cost at least another 10 p a litre. Peter.

Hi Trevor, I know Risca quite well. I was quite well known in Llanwern and Orb Works when I was gainfully employed. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Rob. I too always fancied owning an S type --- I started with fancying the Mk 2. Enjoy your Jaguar. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Jon. As you have found out already, there are some very helpful and knowledgeable members in the Club. Regards, Peter.

Mick has given you a very good comparison between the Jaguar and the Mondeo. I was involved in the Automotive Industry for quite a few years and it would surprise most people to know how many common parts there are across many cars. Rolls Royce used a Buick Engine for quite a time till BMW produced one that suited. The platform on which the X type was built was a Mondeo, and the S type platform was based on the one used by Ford in the Lincoln. Engines are often common between models, with Ford even prepared to make what they described as a "universal engine" that would be a state of the art 2 litre engine that could be used across many of the car produced in Europe. TATA seem to be going along the same route with their 4 cylinder engine being made in Wolverhampton. The diesel engine I had in my Rover 418 was a Peugeot, and the engine I have in my 2.7 litre Jaguar is one developed by jointly be Ford and Peugeot and used in the Land Rover also. When people say that the X type is a Mondeo, they should not forget that the Ford Motor Company source its parts from all over the place with the last car fully produced by Ford came from their integrated Steel plants in Dagenham and the USA, when Iron Ore was smelted at one end of the plant and cars came out at the other end. Very interesting! Peter.

No northerner would ever consider stealing anything made in Newport [south Wales one] --- only good steel from Sheffield! The reason the trial was unsuccessful was that the southerners kept opening the windows of their cars. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Chris. I have heard about ceramic coating, so it is interesting to hear from someone who has actually got it. We paid £349 [big City Price] for Supa Guard last june, which is not bad, but lasts for 3 years, allegedly. So it is wait and see, too. I am coming to Cumbria for my birthday in June, so look out for a shiny dark blue s type with an Jaguar Owners Club sticker from and rear. Regards, Peter.

Rumour has it that an enterprising Northerner is making a fortune by fitting snorkels to cars in the West Country. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Russell. It sound a nice car you have, so enjoy it! There are lot of friendly and helpful people in the club who will assist with any query. Regards, Peter.

That is probably the only thing I haven't tried. Fix ya I have seen before. Seems OK,

Hi Richard, I put my car in Park, disengaged the handbrake with my foot on the brake pedal, the handbrake light went out, but as soon as I removed the key, the handbrake light came on, and that was before I go out of the car. I think a second opinion would be good. Peter.

Hi Stewart, I don't think the gearbox is a service item, but rather a sealed for life unit. Some owners feel that an oil and filter change should be part of the automatic gearbox maintenance. Regards, Peter.

Hi Martin, My last Jaguar was a 2.5 AWD petrol, with a manual gearbox, which I had to get used to after 11 years driving an automatic. On the odd occasions I didn't change down at the right time I got a similar vibration at lower speeds ---- the car was telling me it was in the wrong gear. It sounds as if you have got the same problem coming from the opposite direction. The automatic gearbox is allegedly sealed for life but many owners, more expert than myself, have found that a change of oil at about 60k has worked wonders and given them a bit more reace of mind. The 6 speed auto is a very good gearbox and worth looking after. Regards, Peter.

Hi Richard, I have just gone to my car and tried taking the key out with the car in Park and the handbrake not engaged. What happened is that when I took the key out the brake immediately engaged. When I got the car the salesman told me that people mostly left the car in park and didn't bother with the handbrake, which is apparently not so. I locked the car, and then opened it and it showed the handbrake as engaged. Regards, Peter.

Hi Stan, The handbrake disengages automatically when you put the car into Reverse or Drive. When I know that I will be waiting a long time, such as Road Works with temporary traffic light, I usually put the car into neutral and engage the handbrake. Taking the battery off is not a bad idea, although you do have to reset a few things when you connect it again. When I laid up my caravan for the winter I used to take the battery off and keep it on trickle for every other week or so. Regards, Peter

Hi Neil, Jag Repairs, the David Manners group, and Rimmer Bros I have seen mentioned as good suppliers of Jag parts cheaper but just as good as the main dealers. Even ebay sometimes has the parts you need. Good luck Peter.