Handsome bastard, fighting me all the way...

[DirtyDaily]

That is pretty much what I'm doing.
You're bang-on about the longer trips too, anywhere beyond the Motor Museum and the Motability bin gets the job.  It isn't so much about the fuel, I mean I did take Huggy down to Portsmouth twice!
Those who have spotted the effect on my mental health, you are also bang-on.  I live in a town full of banger racers, some of whom I can call friends.  There's every chance it'll end up on the oval.  Got to have a worst-case fallback, right?

I think the oval is a kind exit for this thing. For me the only realistic way of diagnosing /fixing this would be to replace the aftermarket parts with good known second hand units. Individually testing each unit and smoke testing the system.
Alternatively replace all the struts with a coilover kit and air suspension emulators to kid the suspension, very costly. I don't think there's a way to fix this cheaply without doing a lot of the work DIY.
Prices for these are LOW.
I am on side avoid ANY more money being spent on this thing. It doesn't deserve it.

Sent from my SM-S926B using Tapatalk

[Dobloseven]

If you want to hang on till I'm up in Barrow in the summer,I can just take it for a spin and see if I  can spot the problem.....!

[SiC]

I mean it has to be leaking ... somewhere! How long is it before it starts sinking with the ignition off? Minutes/hours/days?

A noisy workshop might not be the best place to hear for leaks. Maybe a drive to somewhere quiet in the countryside and having a listen on each corner. 

[eddyramrod]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

I mean it has to be leaking ... somewhere! How long is it before it starts sinking with the ignition off? Minutes/hours/days?

A noisy workshop might not be the best place to hear for leaks. Maybe a drive to somewhere quiet in the countryside and having a listen on each corner. 

It's variable, but mostly, hours.

The garage did say they'd tested the system with smoke and failed to find a leak.  There clearly is one somewhere, but where?  Internally in one of the struts?  How many more new parts do I need to buy?  And pay someone to fit because I can't do this stuff any more?

Look after your health, kids.

[Dobloseven]

Doesn't seem to be much of a support network for Jaguars.Seem to be "Independent BMW / Mercedes etc.Specialists" under every railway arch and industrial estate.

[eddyramrod]

I knew an "Independent Jaguar Specialist" when I lived in Southport; he was a good friend.  Unfortunately he's no longer with us.  But you're right, they are thin on the ground.  

There may be a development later....

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, Dobloseven said:

Doesn't seem to be much of a support network for Jaguars.Seem to be "Independent BMW / Mercedes etc.Specialists" under every railway arch and industrial estate.

Which sadly in itself probably says a lot about the more recent reputation of Jaguar and it's product range. 

Given production has ground to a halt - any specialist will have a decreasing pool of cars to care for notwithstanding.

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

I knew an "Independent Jaguar Specialist" when I lived in Southport; he was a good friend.  Unfortunately he's no longer with us.  But you're right, they are thin on the ground.  

There may be a development later....

We are all rooting for you Eddy.

[eddyramrod]

12 hours ago, Crackers said:

1.9PD Polo .....  everything you need

I failed to spot this post before, sorry!  I agree in general.  However... anyone who's known me more than about 30 seconds knows that a diesel Polo is NEVER in any way going to do anything I need, never mind everything!

For new readers: I avoid diesels, they don't belong in cars.  I also avoid literally everything made by any arm of the VAG colossus, because I have considerable experience of using their commercials, and that's way more than enough to put me off for life.  Also, although I've had several - some directly from here - and appreciated many of their qualities... I just don't fit in a car that small.  They suit some people; to those people I say Good Luck.  But I'm not one of them.

I'm weighing options.

[Crackers]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

However... anyone who's known me more than about 30 seconds knows that a diesel Polo is NEVER in any way going to do anything I need, never mind everything!

OK, but it was just an example. There are always various cheap cars on here that might not be the most inspiring but will do a much better job of being non-disastrous transport. 

This jag is clearly crippling you mentally and financially, you need to get shot of it pronto. 

[Split_Pin]

Its easy for me to spend your money but any car that keeps you awake at night, so to speak, is not worth keeping.

I know you ruminated over getting rid of Huggy but ultimately that was the right decision, even although, crazily, some on here said you should keep it. The dangerous condition was highlighted by HMC when parking up and the rear window was moving 😳

As an example, the Audi A8 kept kicking me in the balls. 2 very pricey rear calipers and then it shat it's radiator , twice. No garage would touch it because Scotland,  so I had to do it all on the drive myself.  When the turbo actuator died and I was looking at 4 figures potentially to fix it right, I got rid. Dirty Daily seems happy with it which is great but as it weighed heavily on my mind, I got rid of it, even although I loved that car.

Up to you of course chap.

[eddyramrod]

Deep down, Iain, I know you're right about Huggy.  Objectively I know I did the right thing, because he'd gone way beyond anything I could deal with.

However... Handsome has cost me more money than I'll ever get back from him, and still isn't right.  Still demands more money, and more, and more.  Nobody can look into the future and see "oh this Jag is going to cost thousands, I'd do better spending it on the Cadillac" but I still beat myself up for exactly that.  When you simply don't have "thousands" or the income to reach it, it doesn't cross your mind ahead of the event.  If it did, you'd drive relatively-sensible small cars.  Or even, not own a car at all, which is a situation I'm very seriously looking at, because it's infinitely preferable to the "sensible" option.  We have a Motability car for "sensible;" it does everything except feed my mental health.  That is the sole point of me having a car of my own, these days.  Handsome is actively working against that.

Bloody hell, this is getting introspective!

I've made a decision in principle: I've done spending, Handsome has to go.  Method and timescale are yet to be confirmed.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Bit of a curveball... are you interested in classic motorbikes? If so, you could consider buying one just to tinker with. Don't have to ride it. Just enjoy working on it and cleaning it. 

[Split_Pin]

I know its not the same, but I sometimes get a model of a vehicle that I could never afford or that I know would ruin me. That way I don't need to fuel it, insure it or take it to the garage! That kind of offsets the fact I can't get in it and drive! I find the diecast stuff really therapeutic. 

[Rust Collector]

Not sure if this has been suggested before, but have you tried getting the car pumped up to the correct ride height, parking it up, turning it off and disconnecting the battery?

If the air suspension is similar to the Land Rover setup, then if there is a leak causing part of the suspension to sink, the self levelling will periodically check in when the car is off and lower the corners that haven’t sank down. Pulling the battery on the Land Rovers prevents that, and if it’s an air strut causing an issue then you will be able to observe it sinking whilst the others remain where they should be.

I agree with not chucking more money at it though, seeing as you have a reliable car to use as a daily. Sounds like the value of it isn’t going to fluctuate much in the next few months mine, so maybe don’t worry yourself too much about timing or the decision you ultimately make - I know it’s easier said than done, but had a similar ‘journey’ with my XM recently.

[eddyramrod]

6 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Bit of a curveball... are you interested in classic motorbikes? If so, you could consider buying one just to tinker with. Don't have to ride it. Just enjoy working on it and cleaning it. 

Like so much of life, motorbikes scare the living shit out of me.  Nice thought though, thank you.

1 minute ago, Split_Pin said:

I know its not the same, but I sometimes get a model of a vehicle that I could never afford or that I know would ruin me. That way I don't need to fuel it, insure it or take it to the garage! That kind of offsets the fact I can't get in it and drive! I find the diecast stuff really therapeutic. 

I've been doing exactly that for, oh.... conservatively, 60 years?  Therapeutic really is the key word there, and since I've been forced to retire, I have thrown myself into diecast restoration with some very pleasing results.  I've posted many on this very forum!  And yes, I could have classic-car shows at 1/18, 1/43 and 1/64 scale that would be the envy of even a Pebble Beach organiser.  If I had 1/1 examples of all the cars I have models of, I would in asset terms be richer than Elon Musk.

[SiC]

A key difference between this Jag and Huggy is that you could fix Huggy. This Jag you need to outsource for repair and that always is going to cost a lot more than DIY. 

The issue in replacing this Jag is that if it's a classic which you'll understand easily how to repair, it'll be quite expensive to buy. If it's a modern then you may struggle to figure how to fix. 

If you weren't so far away then the Princess that was/is for sale on here probably would have fitted the bill as a affordable classic that is both comfortable and easy to repair. 

[BorniteIdentity]

15 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

I failed to spot this post before, sorry!  I agree in general.  However... anyone who's known me more than about 30 seconds knows that a diesel Polo is NEVER in any way going to do anything I need, never mind everything!

For new readers: I avoid diesels, they don't belong in cars.  I also avoid literally everything made by any arm of the VAG colossus, because I have considerable experience of using their commercials, and that's way more than enough to put me off for life.  Also, although I've had several - some directly from here - and appreciated many of their qualities... I just don't fit in a car that small.  They suit some people; to those people I say Good Luck.  But I'm not one of them.

I'm weighing options.

You've mistakenly used the word need when you meant the word want.  

None of this is about the car you need.  You already own the car you need.  Modern, efficient, smart, it does it all.

You don't WANT a Polo.  That's fair enough, but the chap was just trying to help out and point out there are older cars available at a modest budget to drive away today from the forum.

[danthecapriman]

20 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

You've mistakenly used the word need when you meant the word want.  

None of this is about the car you need.  You already own the car you need.  Modern, efficient, smart, it does it all.

You don't WANT a Polo.  That's fair enough, but the chap was just trying to help out and point out there are older cars available at a modest budget to drive away today from the forum.

What’s the point though. It’d be a pointless waste of money and time. You might as well not bother with the Polo (or any other similar car) and just use the modern mobility car.

I think what Eddy probably meant by Needs is he needs something that can entertain him and be something he can enjoy and unwind by owning. That’s the whole point of things like classics, as they’re not generally used as tools to get from A to B anymore. 
Besides that, life’s miserable enough without having to drive a shit car!😆

 

[BorniteIdentity]

13 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I think what Eddy probably meant by Needs is he needs something that can entertain him and be something he can enjoy and unwind by owning.

What is enjoyable about a sinking, unreliable jag that won't rev past 2,500 rpm? The sort of liability that keeps you up at night? None. 

People find enjoyment in all sorts of things.  Warhammer, homosexuality, fishing, economical VAG products.  I don't think it was inappropriate that it be suggested. 

Perhaps though, just perhaps, there's another factor at play here.  I suspect there is.

Anyway, we've all had our say. Wishing you nothing but good luck, Ed.

[danthecapriman]

16 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

What is enjoyable about a sinking, unreliable jag that won't rev past 2,500 rpm? The sort of liability that keeps you up at night? None. 

True, however that wasn’t the original intention of the car. It is unfortunately just what ended happening and the car became a nightmare. 
If everything had worked out and the car was perfectly reliable and working then it would have been the car Eddy needed. Surely.

Im not sure what you mean about other factors though I must admit. Or is it just that you’ve got bored of ripping on the Invacar thread?

 

[camryv6]

What about getting rid of the Jag and taking a walk around the Lakeland museum every couple of weeks ?

[mercedade]

33 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

  I don't think it was inappropriate that it be suggested. 

Did anyone? Eddie just said 'I agree it's good, but not for me', surely? Polite disagreement, the lifeblood of AS...

Agree with everything re: sunk cost fallacy - it's time to take the hit on the Jag. I'd have described my own rotting Rover as a car I 'needed' when having it to work on was something that helped me get through the drudge and misery of a hefty relationship breakdown, whereas now it's a nagging voice at the back of my head telling me that no free time is truly free when there's a driveshaft to replace. Fuck that noise.

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

True, however that wasn’t the original intention of the car. It is unfortunately just what ended happening and the car became a nightmare. 
If everything had worked out and the car was perfectly reliable and working then it would have been the car Eddy needed. Surely.

Im not sure what you mean about other factors though I must admit. Or is it just that you’ve got bored of ripping on the Invacar thread?

 

This.  Well said Dan, thank you.  If the Jag had continued the way it did for the first few months, all would be rosy.  But it didn't, and has now spent a good 18 months resisting all my attempts to heal it.  It's like George Best and his liver.

I genuinely hope @Crackers didn't take offence at my comment.  I certainly didn't intend any!  I did feel a need to explain my point.

As for need vs want:  the Motability bin will indeed take care of my physical needs.  It does all the long-distance work, and most of the round-town errands.  It would have no difficulty raising that from "most" to "all."  However: there's no pleasure in driving it. 

Driving is all I ever wanted.  I chose it as my career, worked very hard, passed the HGV test and was very proud of that.  And I've always driven for pleasure.  Wherever we go, I drive.  Holidays abroad?  I don't step out of the airport into a bus or taxi, I go straight for a rental car.  And not just the first thing on the chart, oh no.  I choose my rental carefully: I'm paying for this, I will enjoy it.  Now that retirement has been forced on me, I could do all the essentials with the Peugeot.  But: what price peace of mind?  Many of the cars I've owned have been big, powerful, upmarket.  Several from the US.  This is the kind of car I'm most at home in.  I can relax.  Driving, which on UK roads can't honestly be called "pleasure" any more, becomes at least tolerable.  I get my road tax free now I qualify as "disabled" so after purchase, all my own car costs me is insurance, fuel and garage time.  Insurance, well we all know what a racket that is.  Fuel, I don't drink or smoke so I might as well put it in the tank, right?  And for the mileage "my" car has to do, it really isn't an issue.  Garage time... the last 13 pages tell you all you need to know about that!

I did say upthread that I may well not replace the Jag.  I don't need to replace it.  If I do, the replacement may or may not be a luxury car, but what it will be is a luxury item.  Something that isn't essential to the running of the home, but is present entirely to make me smile.  Very much like the hundreds of model cars upstairs, in fact.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Another curveball... are there any classic car clubs near you? If so, join up, join in and see what happens. 

[eddyramrod]

Oh yes, and I meet one every month at the Motor Museum.    I see some of the members between meetings too.  So thank you; I'm on top of that!

[Crackers]

36 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

genuinely hope @Crackers didn't take offence

None at all, you'll have to try a lot harder than that.

Just think the conflation of Want vs Need is something you need to look out for otherwise you'll get bit again. 

Maybe buy yourself a nice watch. You don't have to worry about one of them going into limp mode. 

[Split_Pin]

What about something like a Peugeot 205? One of those is on my bucket list as I loved the one I had a shot of (why did people buy Fiestas when they could have had this I said to myself!) and they still seem affordable for the money you'd probably get for the Jag? I'd bet they are a skoosh to work on too!

[loserone]

2 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

What about something like a Peugeot 205? One of those is on my bucket list as I loved the one I had a shot of (why did people buy Fiestas when they could have had this I said to myself!) and they still seem affordable for the money you'd probably get for the Jag? I'd bet they are a skoosh to work on too!

I have previously suggested a 205 but you will note that despite being spacious and enjoyable to drive they are a small car .

Something like a 205 auto or MK1 Clio auto (one of the mega high spec ones with leather etc.) would be significantly cheaper to repair and maintain and still be a pleasant auto, but the man wants a tank.

[Noel Tidybeard]

might it be worth messaging Richard the Stag (church house classics) cos he seems to know his way round the range rover air suspenders