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How do you feel about your XJS?

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tk421

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Hi everyone.

A couple of months or so ago, I posted here looking for ideas to write an English research paper on. I eventually settled on "Cars are mirrors of the cultures that build them."

So, I return to the birthplace of my idea for something new. One thing I mention in the introduction and conclusion of my paper is the fact that people see cars with nostalgic eyes. When we look back upon a time, like when we were 16, we remember our cars or cars from then. I now want to put in a section with personal experiences and emotions in the paper, to flesh out the nostalgia factor.

I'm looking for stories and memories about XJSs, because the XJS is an example of how a culture produced a car. The other car is the ZIL - 111, so I doubt any of those 112 cars are owned by anyone here. But if you do own, or have seen one, let me know. I am ONLY looking for XJS stories, because I don't want to explain any other car.

I'd like to keep the stories verbatim. Also, if you shout out some words, that'd be great too.
 
So where do we get a look at the last paper, TK?
 
It's the same paper, this is just going to be about one page of the original "cars are mirrors of their cultures."

Well if I do put in some responses from here, I'll throw the paper up on here for "reviews" and so no one is misquoted or misinterpreted.

When it's completed and graded, I'll put the final piece up on here too. I also intend to send a copy with a letter to Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Dan Neil.
 
I like my XJS just fine. And the cabriolet version I had, and I recently bought a 92 coupe. (facelift version) The 92 is not currently running, but hopefully I will get to fixing it soon. Great cars, and by far the cheapest way into V12 ownership out there.
 
jessebogan said:
I like my XJS just fine. And the cabriolet version I had, and I recently bought a 92 coupe. (facelift version) The 92 is not currently running, but hopefully I will get to fixing it soon. Great cars, and by far the cheapest way into V12 ownership out there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. So to get this straight, you own (owned) 3? Just want to make sure I have all the information down correctly.
 
I have owned 4 not counting parts cars. Currently own 2, plus 1 parts car. The 89 since new, now with 155K on it. It has gotten a bit rusty, so it is resting at the moment while I decide if I want to fix it. The cabriolet was a 3.6, 5 speed car, very rare in the US. The other one was an 82, and it just was not a happy car, so I sold it on.
 
I'm on my second XJS. I love the car. It is hard to explain, but the feeling that I get when I drive it is almost as good as sex.
 
maynard said:
I'm on my second XJS. I love the car. It is hard to explain, but the feeling that I get when I drive it is almost as good as sex.
Click to expand...

Wow. Pretty good. I'll definitelty add that in, because there isn't anything better than that.
 
maynard said:
I'm on my second XJS. I love the car. It is hard to explain, but the feeling that I get when I drive it is almost as good as sex.
Click to expand...

I once borrowed a buddy's XJS...

I once borrowed a buddy's girlfriend...

I prefer the girlfriend. :whistle: :wink:
 
tk421 said:
Hi everyone.

A couple of months or so ago, I posted here looking for ideas to write an English research paper on. I eventually settled on <span style="text-decoration: underline">"Cars are mirrors of the cultures that build them."</span>
Click to expand...

I don't know, my ancestors were British and I don't recall any of them leaking! :rolleyes:-- :devilgrin:

Ok, Ok, not funny I know. Your research on English history sounds very interesting and I would love to read your papers. I did basically the same thing, hmmm, we'll just say a few years ago and let it go at that. My papers date line started when the Saxtons and Normans were in York and readings on British royalty and how they came into power. I hope you enjoy doing yours as I did doing mine. PJ
 
I like writing in general, but when you throw cars, especially a Jag into the mix, it works great. Like I said, I'll throw a copy up here after I get more stuff to put in from here.

What was your "thesis"? I know some stuff about William the Bastard's England, but I don't know alot when it comes to William Rufus.

And, since the XJS was built with such "quality" and the work force was so "motivated", it represents the era. The buttresses are a good example, because the car was going to be mid-engined, but that was canceled. No one took the buttresses out...
 
I was heading for a degree in agricultural chemicals and along the way I got to reading on the politics in old British Government, came across the "Two Treatises of Government" and my interest increased. Been too many years to recall, but I did find this, for what it's worth. Way to involved to go further though. PJ

 
My fondest memeories of my XJS is that thank God I never bought it. The two XJ40's a had scared me off :laugh:
 
Oh come on now. Jags are great cars, as long as you do your due dilgence before purchase. No 88 or 89 XJ40s unless you know exactly what you are doing. No pre HE XJSs unless you want a new hobby. My 93 XJ40, my daily driver, has racked up 35K commuting, with no unscheduled stops or suprises in my ownership so far. I did get T boned by an illegal immigrant, but even with that, the car has been trouble free.
The XJS has not exactly trouble free, but driving it has always been such a pleasure, that I never felt like giving it up.
 
PAUL161 said:
I was heading for a degree in agricultural chemicals and along the way I got to reading on the politics in old British Government, came across the "Two Treatises of Government" and my interest increased. Been too many years to recall, but I did find this, for what it's worth. Way to involved to go further though. PJ
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into that. I did a massive paper on Oliver Cromwell in high school, so 1690's idea of government would be pretty interesting.

Thanks jessebogan, I think I have all the stuff I need to put in. And yeah, I bet pre-Ford Jaguars are going to become an obsession with looking for parts and repairs. I found out that Jaguar dosen't make parts for my model.

So if 1996 is too old, when do they stop making/selling parts? I thought the cut-off was 15 years unless the company dies (Saab).
 
DrEntropy said:
So where do we get a look at the last paper, TK?
Click to expand...

I don't think I can post the paper on here. It's a word document, and its 375KB (the limit is 100). It's 14 pages so I don't want to just copy & paste the text into a thread.

The rough draft is 90% complete. All I want to add in is about one more large paragraph about the KGB and the duality of Soviet society; equal but not "free" in the American sense.
 
ummm... PDF it and offer it up to Basil as an article?


..jus'a thought.
 
Mine is a '96 and his name is Onslow A Jaguar. You just have to love your car if you give it a name and gender identification. :banana:
 
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