Handsome bastard, fighting me all the way...

[horriblemercedes]

Have you got a quote for the work? Or at least for the bits you can't do yourself?

It's probably worth doing it rather than sacking a car you otherwise like off to We Buy Any Car. Known quantity, better the devil you know and all that. With those bits done, it could get away with minimal work needed for a few years to come

 

I think the wall of text appears worse than it really is

[eddyramrod]

9 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

Have you got a quote for the work? Or at least for the bits you can't do yourself?

See, that's the key.  There isn't anything on that list I can do with my own fair hands, except possibly (but not with any certainty) the number plate light.  I would have to pay people for every inch, assuming one of the rapidly-shrinking number of garages around here was prepared to do the work at all, and preferably in a reasonable time.  I have had a call from the garage that tested it: they "haven't been able to get prices" for various parts that would be needed.  That isn't promising, although I suppose at least they didn't say "take the fucker away and don't come back."

This is a lovely car.  Saving it makes sense on so many levels.  But I'm not the best-placed man to do that.  Even when I was healthy, my skills were not up to date for something like this; now... well I barely even dare to open the bonnet.  Also, how much is it going to cost me?  Labour rates I would just have to take on the chin, but parts?  If we can't even find prices then it's safe to assume they will be £HFM.  I'm living on fixed benefits and just about getting by.

Oh and, insult upon injury?  There's three quarters of a tank of Unleaded in the bastard!

[horriblemercedes]

If you were planning to replace it with any similar kind of car, you'd probably find that there was value in fixing it and persevering with this one, I think? 

I like these and I'd be tempted to make an offer if I didn't already have a green Jaguar XJ and a need to downsize

[Dobloseven]

Sorry to hear this, Eddy. I've had a ride in it and it's what I would describe as a nicely patinated old thing,ie. pure Autoshite. Shows the wisdom of early Mot ing though. It's all down to money at the end of the day. Man maths can give you whatever answer you want in these situations. Honestly can't see WBAC giving anything like 1100 quid, though. But happy to be proved wrong. Good luck, whatever road you go down. 

[danthecapriman]

Shit! Such a shame if you have to get rid, but you know what’s affordable to you and all that.

Hopefully they can come back with a reasonable price for bits & the labour.

[eddyramrod]

I'm in an unfamiliar position at the moment.  I have, on the previous page, already been debating whether or not to keep it, because I don't actually need a car beyond the Motability shed.  The Jag, and the Cadillac and Volvo before it, are not much more than ego-massagers: good for my mental well-being (mostly) but definitely not essential for daily life.

Early MoT-ing would have been nice!  I had to wait for various garages to fit me in with regard to the air suspension, then wait on delivery of a new ebay strut, then wait again to be fitted in for test because there was no point even doing that until I had the part (even if the garage could have taken it in).  They haven't fitted the new strut, it's still wrapped up in its box on the back seat.  £200 down + test fee and I still can't drive it.

Replace it?  It might happen, or might not, for the reasons above.  I would like any replacement to be something similarly spirited, but the chances are slim.  I'd also like it to be something older, but the same applies.

If any Shiter wants it at £1100, I'll throw in the unused gleaming new (pattern) front strut I've just bought, that's now sitting on the back seat in a puddle of futility.  That's saved you £200 already.

[horriblemercedes]

2 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I'm in an unfamiliar position at the moment.  I have, on the previous page, already been debating whether or not to keep it, because I don't actually need a car beyond the Motability shed.  The Jag, and the Cadillac and Volvo before it, are not much more than ego-massagers: good for my mental well-being (mostly) but definitely not essential for daily life.

Early MoT-ing would have been nice!  I had to wait for various garages to fit me in with regard to the air suspension, then wait on delivery of a new ebay strut, then wait again to be fitted in for test because there was no point even doing that until I had the part (even if the garage could have taken it in).  They haven't fitted the new strut, it's still wrapped up in its box on the back seat.  £200 down + test fee and I still can't drive it.

Replace it?  It might happen, or might not, for the reasons above.  I would like any replacement to be something similarly spirited, but the chances are slim.  I'd also like it to be something older, but the same applies.

If any Shiter wants it at £1100, I'll throw in the unused gleaming new (pattern) front strut I've just bought, that's now sitting on the back seat in a puddle of futility.  That's saved you £200 already.

That strut is to replace the one noted as defective on the MOT?

 

If you've got it already, that would be encouraging me even more to fix it, if I was you. You've already made a lot of the investment in buying that. Of course you know your situation better than I do though

[eddyramrod]

Yes, that's right; the strut that failed on me a hundred miles and five weeks away,   I bought that because I knew it was needed; if it was all the car needed there would be no problem.  But it's not.  It needs two tyres immediately and two very soon after, even without all the rest, and the labour which soon mounts up!  I could have absorbed the strut, and fitting.  I can't absorb the rest, it's just too much.

Also, I've got too much going on in my head to cope with sorting this.  MrsR is going into Lancaster hospital on Wednesday for a new hip.  I'll leave the rest of that to your imagination, but suffice to say, this is going to be a hell of a winter.

[danthecapriman]

What size tyres are on this? A set of 4 of those probably aren’t going to be cheap?

Presumably, the suspension arms aren’t ones you can only change the bushes on? It’s a whole part to replace?

Could you trim the parts prices down by using part worn tyres. Maybe good used suspension arms or maybe just replace the bushes if you can do that.

Be a damn shame to lose it though!

[eddyramrod]

I don't know how much new tyres will be, but I'm guessing the wrong side of £150 a corner.  Used suspension parts?  Who's to say they'll be any better than what's on it?  Also, the scrappies around here have gone the way of half the garages, ie there aren't any.  My head won't cope with the hunt for parts, new or used.  I've got way more than enough on my plate.

I've had 18 months out of it, and it was lovely most of the time.

[danthecapriman]

2 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

I don't know how much new tyres will be, but I'm guessing the wrong side of £150 a corner.  Used suspension parts?  Who's to say they'll be any better than what's on it?  Also, the scrappies around here have gone the way of half the garages, ie there aren't any.  My head won't cope with the hunt for parts, new or used.  I've got way more than enough on my plate.

I've had 18 months out of it, and it was lovely most of the time.

All very true. It’s probably the labour cost that’s going to be the killer regardless tbh.

[Carl1981]

@eddyramrod Where are you based?

I have a friend who restores and breaks XJ’s, he may well be able to supply good used parts (wheels with part worn tyres etc) or he may even do the work for you.

alternatively he may beat the wbac offer and trailer it away for you.

ill pm you.

[eddyramrod]

1 hour ago, Carl1981 said:

@eddyramrod Where are you based?

South-west corner of the Lake District, almost overlooking Morecambe Bay.

[Schaefft]

Unfortunately that's usually how things go. If you can't do the work yourself the labor cost involved in keeping the car on the road is the deal breaker, especially on stuff with air suspension where decent shocks that will last a few years are paid for dearly. They are a guaranteed £££ failure point after 20 years.

[Carl1981]

47 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

South-west corner of the Lake District, almost overlooking Morecambe Bay.

This guys in Lincoln, so not a Million miles away.

[eddyramrod]

Indeed: about 240 I think.  I've texted him.

[hairnet]

Schaefft should add to his alloy limo collection

[High Jetter]

7 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

MrsR is going into Lancaster hospital on Wednesday for a new hip.  I'll leave the rest of that to your imagination, but suffice to say, this is going to be a hell of a winter.

Mrs J had one, and a knee. Happy to share, if you like.

[eddyramrod]

Thank you, but I think, once they've been fitted, they're actually quite difficult to share.....

[Spiny Norman]

That all sounds a bit shit Eddy, but if it's any slight consolation my buddy at work has just had his second hip replacement and is already up and about, albeit on sticks after a couple of weeks so it might not be as bad as you think. We're expecting him back late October.
Hope Mrs RR has a speedy recovery, you can worry about the cars later.

[Schaefft]

10 hours ago, hairnet said:

Schaefft should add to his alloy limo collection

Possibly would if it was the 4.2, absolutely would if it was an R!

[Rocket88]

What size tyres do you need?

[eddyramrod]

Update!

I went to WBAC this morning and they started chipping.  The best offer they could give me was £400.  So obviously I drove home again.

Since then I've been at an event at the Lakeland Motor Museum, where I was in conversation with a party from the garage I called at on-spec the other week.  I showed them the fail sheet.  When I said I already had the strut, smiles broke out.  Consensus seems to be that a set of tyres can be brought in just under £400 and the rest is relatively easy.  So I'm taking it in on Monday afternoon for them to look over.

It looks like Handsome has a future!

[danthecapriman]

🥳 yay! 
Fingers crossed it can be done nice and easy.

WBAC are a waste of time.

[loserone]

What kind of fuel economy do you get from this Eddy? 

I need to tick the Jag (and Merc) boxes some day, and having a V8 would be ideal

[eddyramrod]

Well you know... it's one of those things I had to find out for myself, I suppose.  I know what to expect in future.  More to the point, I found something I'm really not used to: a garage with enough enthusiasm to consider the project!

[eddyramrod]

Just now, loserone said:

What kind of fuel economy do you get from this Eddy? 

I need to tick the Jag (and Merc) boxes some day, and having a V8 would be ideal

Fuel economy?  V8?  No, these are two different worlds.  The V8 world is the one I choose to inhabit.  It's a world where fuel economy doesn't matter.  This engine isn't exactly big as V8s go, so we're probably looking at 20s in daily use.

5 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

What size tyres do you need?

235/50/18, four of them.

[loserone]

Ah, sorry, I forgot you had a bottomless pit of money for the petrol station 😂

[Zelandeth]

37 minutes ago, loserone said:

What kind of fuel economy do you get from this Eddy? 

I need to tick the Jag (and Merc) boxes some day, and having a V8 would be ideal

Friend of mine back up north had a very similar one and usually used to see high teens to low twenties generally.  Think I had a slightly lighter, or at least more consistent foot as every time I borrowed it I got 22mpg on the nose without fail.  Which for the size of car and performance on tap I thought was pretty decent.

Reckon on a long motorway trip mid to high 20s would be easily achievable.

[DirtyDaily]

Reckon on a long motorway trip mid to high 20s would be easily achievable.

And the rest. I've had 4 now. Can't remember what the 3.0 did but my 4.2 did over 40mpg on a run once. Regularly did 35+ mpg at 80ish. My 3.6 was slightly less fuel efficient but more or less the same and I got 35mpg on a run from my 4.2 supercharged. They're unbelievably good on a run.https://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/650f08231d439/20211231_133503.mp4