Yet moar purchaseage

[wuvvum]

I have serious issues...

 

Picked this up on Friday night.

 

 

As you can see, it's a slightly scruffy Rover 200. It's actually a 220SDi, but that's not all - it's been "played with" and is now putting out something around 140bhp and a metric fuckload of torque. The upshot is that it's enormous fun to drive - I lost count of the number of tailgating VAG TDI drivers I left choking in my exhaust smoke on the run round the M25 and up the M11.

 

At one stage I let a rather impatient gentleman in an 11-plate A4 come past me on the A11, then I pulled back into the outside lane behind him and followed him to the next roundabout. Coming off the roundabout I floored it and flashed him out of the way - to his credit he did pull over and let me past, and the Rover then proceeded to leave him for dead all the way to 110 mph, at which point I decided that was fast enough and pulled in - needless to say he then caught up and went steaming past again at about 130.

 

I also managed to completely annihilate an 08-plate Fiesta ST on the Norwich ring road, which the baseball-capped driver didn't take too kindly to. It's been a while since I've had a car which has brought out my inner teenager quite so effectively. And it's actually not been that bad on diesel either, considering how much fun I've been having in it. It's tested till the end of next July and taxed till the end of January, so should keep me going for a while as long as the gearbox doesn't go pop. Well worth £300 I thought, even with the cosmetic imperfections.

 

At the other end of the scale, doing a fine job of bringing out my inner old man, is this, which I bought yesterday.

 

 

 

I'd wanted one of these for a while - I just love the shape of them - and this one came up at a price I couldn't refuse, so I headed up to Derbyshire to collect it. The seller had stopped using it as he had bought a motorbike and his Mrs. wouldn't let him run both. It'd been sat for a few months so the brakes were a bit grindy for the first couple of miles, but after that it drove home faultlessly. It's a 3.2 so it's not massively fast, but it's supremely quiet and comfortable and I found myself adopting a rather more relaxed style of driving than in the Rover, wafting along at 70-75 and letting the impatient TDI drivers zoom past unhindered.

 

It also has what I think is a rather nice interior - it's full leather, and being an XJ Sport (which I think was the pov spec version) it has a black dashboard and grey wood trim, which I think suits it quite well.

 

 

Overall I'm quite impressed with it so far - it seems a lot more poised on the road than an XJ40, although I don't know if that's just because it's newer. Doubtless there'll be some irritating electrical faults that will rear their heads at some point, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...

[Pete-M]

That's the same trim as in mine, but yours being an XJ8 has the newer dash. I think the only interior difference otherwise is I've got XJR on the wheel and an R gearknob, the wood in mine is black.

 

They're small inside but the combination of poke and tranquility available is great. Don't want rear seat passengers, they ruin the fun.

 

Mine's not awful on fuel. It'll do 25 mpg on a run. Not bad for two tons and 326 bhp.

[trigger]

Your a sick man Wuvvum!, But i approve, of the Jag especially!

 

So just how many cars have you got at the moment then?!

[overheadvalve]

wuvvum, i love your recent purchase, the Jag in 3.2 guise can be a real bargain, is that the ultimate Autoshite car?

The Rover? well it sounds brilliant fun. Top man!

I wish i had the nuts to have similar issues, mrs ohv wound cut my nuts clean off!

 

Edit: Sunroof seal "issues" come standard with any Rover 200/25 or 400/45 Get tha gaffer tape out!

[RoadworkUK]

Shirley the nippy, econo Rover and the opulent, ministerial Jaaag makes pretty much the ideal pairing. Job done, game over.

 

Plentiful LOLz on the idiot A4 driver. They just can't let it lie, can they?

[Guest Len H]

I like the Rover best. The standard 220 diesel intercooler is a bit of a weapon anyway, I had a really battered 220Di for a while, it had been partially rolled into a ditch, that was surprisingly pokey.

Small cars with big torquey engines are superb.

 

What's been done to tune your 220SDi? I think it's usually just a tuning box, VAG TDi style - they use similar Bosch electronic diesel controls.

[HillmanImp]

Those Jags are so cheap at the mo its almost rude not to buy one. I have been looking for a while but have so far resisted.

[wuvvum]

What's been done to tune your 220SDi? I think it's usually just a tuning box, VAG TDi style - they use similar Bosch electronic diesel controls.

Yep, this. It's a little grey box which sits by the battery and has separate dials to set fuelling, air and turbo timing. I haven't fiddled with it yet as I rather like the setting it's on at the moment.

[wuvvum]

Those Jags are so cheap at the mo its almost rude not to buy one. I have been looking for a while but have so far resisted.

Yep - I've been looking at early X300s for a while now as it's possible to pick up a scruffy MoT'd runner for under £500. I actually prefer the X308s as I think the XJ40 dash in the earlier cars jars a bit with the more rounded X300 shape, and the V8 engines sound nicer, but I didn't think I'd be able to afford a useable one - this is the first half-decent one that's come up within my budget.

[wuvvum]

So just how many cars have you got at the moment then?!

16. Although that's going to drop down to 15 this afternoon as the Accord is going to Honda heaven. May drop further as well as I'm probably going to sell a couple, although it looks like it will be going back up again at the end of the week as I appear to have won a diesel Saab 9-3 on eBay.

[garethj]

What's been done to tune your 220SDi? I think it's usually just a tuning box, VAG TDi style - they use similar Bosch electronic diesel controls.

Yep, this. It's a little grey box which sits by the battery and has separate dials to set fuelling, air and turbo timing. I haven't fiddled with it yet as I rather like the setting it's on at the moment.

This sounds like an epic idea. What are these Rovers like for other stuff, such as things falling off?

[Guest]

I groaned when I saw that bubble 200.....

 

...and then I read the spec, it sounds FANTASTIC. I think you should purposely make it look worse. X300 I can take or leave, though I'm sure it's lovely.

[Cavcraft]

Truly living the dream. Credit where credit is due, you don't half get some ace cars Wuvvum.

[M'coli]

I like the 220 - I keep thinking about a sacraficial winter smoker and these increasingly sound like a good thing.

[ashmicro]

A Rover and a Jaguar. I heartily approve.

[eddyramrod]

/\ I'm with ashmicro, well done! 16 cars? I have the space, but not the nerve...

[overheadvalve]

So wuvvum, any chance of some pointers to Jag ownership, i fancy a Jag i guess it's my time of life at just over 50. I would like a V8 similar to yours or a V6 S-type, i have noticed that the S - Type prices can be very low, partly beause they can have some problems with worn out wishbone rubbers, autoboxes, some rust etc and electric window winder mechanics, i would not mind a keep fit gearbox and no leather, the poverty models seem to attract little interest and so look better to me but i suppose this idea wears a little thin when you want to sell on, unless you buy really well and pay lowest price.... still i'd love a Jag.

[barrett]

I groaned when I saw that bubble 200.....

 

...and then I read the spec, it sounds FANTASTIC. I think you should purposely make it look worse. X300 I can take or leave, though I'm sure it's lovely.

 

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps a mismatched rear bumper, and a couple of good kicks to the door and wings up one side?

[Rocket88]

So wuvvum, any chance of some pointers to Jag ownership, i fancy a Jag i guess it's my time of life at just over 50. I would like a V8 similar to yours or a V6 S-type, i have noticed that the S - Type prices can be very low, partly beause they can have some problems with worn out wishbone rubbers, autoboxes, some rust etc and electric window winder mechanics, i would not mind a keep fit gearbox and no leather, the poverty models seem to attract little interest and so look better to me but i suppose this idea wears a little thin when you want to sell on, unless you buy really well and pay lowest price.... still i'd love a Jag.

 

Mrs colc has a V8 version of one of these. Fuel consumption is catastrophic over here, but it's been fairly reliable, apart from driver's electric window motors, which seem to be made from chocolate. They have an interesting way of telling you they need servicing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,they won't start once the oil loses a certain amount of it's viscocity, apparently the tappets won't pump up. Might be worth remembering if you come across a cheap non runner! They're not exactly spacious, either, which is typical Jag, but the ride and the performance are excellent

[ChinaTom]

So wuvvum, any chance of some pointers to Jag ownership, i fancy a Jag i guess it's my time of life at just over 50. I would like a V8 similar to yours or a V6 S-type, i have noticed that the S - Type prices can be very low, partly beause they can have some problems with worn out wishbone rubbers, autoboxes, some rust etc and electric window winder mechanics, i would not mind a keep fit gearbox and no leather, the poverty models seem to attract little interest and so look better to me but i suppose this idea wears a little thin when you want to sell on, unless you buy really well and pay lowest price.... still i'd love a Jag.

 

A friend of mine (and Magnificent Rustbucket's) has the last X300 XJR Manual to come of the line and may be persuaded to part with it. Won't be pennies though. Manual Jags are cheap for a reason. They were mostly on the 2.9 and 3.2 XJ40's and a very few X300's and may not have received the servicing and love when they most needed it. It is a hell of a stretch for first and second gear. What with rusty bulkheads taking out a load of these early "poverty spec" cars, finding a good one will be pretty hard.

 

I guess the S-Type could be a better bet - they must be pennies by now.

[wuvvum]

Ooh, a manual XJR - sounds like it could be fun. I have seen the odd manual X300 on the Bay, but as CT says they're usually povvo-spec 3.2s with cloth trim, and they're not that great to drive - as with Mercs, there's a reason most Jags are sold as automatics. S Types do seem to be getting very cheap now - I don't like the looks myself but I would imagine they'd be a pleasant enough thing to waft about in. An early X300 would probably be the cheapest way into Jag ownership (they seem to be just as cheap as XJ40s at the moment), and I imagine the AJ6 would be a lot easier and cheaper to fix if it went wrong than the later V8, but they do seem to suffer a bit from grot so worth buying one with a full test so at least you know you'll get a year out of it. And realistically they're unlikely to depreciate any more than they already have.

[Cavcraft]

The S-type is a bloody nice place to be, definately better than the 'X' imho. In all honesty though the big Jags (XJ) are the nicest to drive.

[j-j]

That Rover is amazing! Make sure you maintain it with those steel wheels please.

[Barry Cade]

Wuv, are you married?

 

I spend some of my time running around buying old chod, some of my time fixing my old chod, some of my time working to pay for old chod, and the rest trying to stop the wife leaving me for all of the above.

 

 

Soooooo..

 

 

 

 

If you can give any tips on the places to find the superb variety and quality of crap you buy, I'd be all ears!