[ColinG]

Hi

After looking at these for quite sometime on and off I've finally bitten the bullit and am now the proud owner of a 2011 Jaguar XJL 5.0 n/a V8 Portfolio in black.

It was an exciting yet sad trip to pick her up leaving at 5am, my X358 was running very well and despite the remnants of storm Callum for the early part of the journey it was an enjoyable and smooth drive.

I arrived Jaguar around lunchtime and was disappointed not to see the XJL, it was being waxed apparently. So the sales guy took the X358 for a spin while I talked him through the history, all was well except minor wheel vibration at ~70 mph.

By the time we got back the XJL was there, initial glimpse it looked great, however closer up it wasn't so good, it was a very poor waxing as their was polish residue everywhere. 3 of the wheels were kerbed, despite me being told on the phone it was in perfect condition, the inside hadn't been valeted nor the under bonnet. Hmm, not a great start...

Looking past those issues I could see the car otherwise did look in good condition for a 7 year old car, so we went for a test drive. Back at the garage the manager apologised for the wheels and immediately gave me £340 off to cover the cost of a 4 wheel refurb, deal was then done.

The car is a 2 previous owner vehicle, Jaguar and a very wealthy gentleman in the media/newspaper business and has covered only 17k, so assume it's essentially been a chauffeur car.

It was a very enjoyable trip back home, despite tiredness. Anyway here are some pics:

Thanks
Colin

 

[JimboV8]

I’ve got a funny feeling that the car is going to look a lot shinier than it does now in the days to come Colin. Enjoy, it looks great.:mrgreen:

 

[Guest]

Lovely car Colin, bet that interior is lovely with that low mileage!

 

[ColinG]

I've got a funny feeling that the car is going to look a lot shinier than it does now in the days to come Colin. Enjoy, it looks great.:mrgreen:

Cheers Jim, yes no doubt. It was just a very nice quick hand polish with Autoglym SRP and spray wax, she definitely needs a good machine polish as there are lots of swirls and light scratches that my OCD can't live with lol.

 

[ColinG]

Lovely car Colin, bet that interior is lovely with that low mileage!

Thanks Chris, yes the interior is immaculate and in fantastic condition. I'm following your Daimler SV8 thread with interest, keep up the good work and keen to see it progress.

 

[fat controller]

Oh, My, God!!! What a belter of a car!

Now, you must let us all into a secret..................... Have you managed to wipe the grin off your face yet?? :lol:

Seriously though, that is one beautiful car - your neighbours must be properly jealous, and that is only going to get worse once you have the car up to your standards. I wish you the very best of health to enjoy your new car, and hope you have many trouble free miles and memories ahead.

 

[ColinG]

Hey Russ

Thanks very much, very nice comments.

Seeing as you mentioned it, I actually had 6 of my neighbours in the street talking to me today about the car, lots of nice comments...

Sorry but can’t yet say the grin is gone and expect it will stay for a while yet ;-)

Remember and let me know once the Vennbox arrives safely! Hope the beers yesterday were good?

Cheers
Colin

 

[fat controller]

Hi Colin,

Yes, Beers, Chinese and following spiced Rum were all very favourable. First time I have seen youngest brother in law since I came out of hospital. Took him a wee spin in the XJ - he now has a grin that I imagine is very similar to yours! :lol:

I will of course let you know when the Venbox arrives - it will likely be fitted within the hour of arrival :lol: and I will no doubt not look back! Although I am not lucky enough to own such a new XJ, I will be watching your thread with great interest.

I swear that they should just have put Castrol Edge in the drips in hospital, and I might not have been in so long :lol:

 

[Super350]

Looks beautiful, Colin. Loving the interior with the contrasting piping.

But, another one lost from the X350/358 fold

Those 351s clearly have appeal...

Hope you enjoy it for a long time to come and look forward to seeing it in the flesh.

Best wishes
Simon

 

[ColinG]

Hi Colin,

Yes, Beers, Chinese and following spiced Rum were all very favourable. First time I have seen youngest brother in law since I came out of hospital. Took him a wee spin in the XJ - he now has a grin that I imagine is very similar to yours! :lol:

I will of course let you know when the Venbox arrives - it will likely be fitted within the hour of arrival :lol: and I will no doubt not look back! Although I am not lucky enough to own such a new XJ, I will be watching your thread with great interest.

I swear that they should just have put Castrol Edge in the drips in hospital, and I might not have been in so long :lol:

Glad you had a good one Russ, always a nice feeling to go for a spin in an XJ!

Here is to you continued good health.

Cheers
Colin

 

[ColinG]

Looks beautiful, Colin. Loving the interior with the contrasting piping.

But, another one lost from the X350/358 fold

Those 351s clearly have appeal...

Hope you enjoy it for a long time to come and look forward to seeing it in the flesh.

Best wishes
Simon

Thanks Simon, definitely not lost and will always have a strong affection for the X350/358.

 

[JimC64]

Hi Colin, I was wondering when the thread would surface and here we are at last :-D

It was great to catch up with you the other day and get a sneak preview of what was to come, she's a real beauty and looks great, although I know you'll improve that further.

As I've recently went through the same experience, I can fully appreciate the mix of emotions involved, taking your old chariot, the old trusty steed to swap her out for a new love. The sadness getting swept away by excited happiness with a little nerves wondering if you're doing the right thing almost lol.

The 350 mile or so trip back home would definitely be enough to give a feel of what you'd let yourself I for, but you need to play quite a little bit more and really get to know her, lots of extra functions and gizmos to work out too :mrgreen:
I loved and still love my X358 as I'm sure you do yours, but the X351 really is another few levels above and beyond as you experienced for yourself. I imagine like me you'll be in / out of the X351 section having a nosey around but always with one eye on the X350 / X358 to see what's going on there too!

It sounds like the dealer wasn't quite ready for you and a couple of things needing sorted, glad you got a deal to get these resolved and walked away with a lovely example of what could almost be a sister car to mine.
Hope to catch up in the coming weeks / months and see them together, that'd be cool

In the meantime, enjoy the ride..:-D

Is this is your new ownership thread for the life of the car or are you starting another?
Cheers
Jim

 

[ColinG]

Hi Jim,

Yes very true on the mixed emotions, I did love the old girl.

It was very good to have a blether and discuss the cars, looking at your gorgeous one over last few months helped make my mind up on the switch. Jaguar really have taken a really nice car into a great car in the newer models, lots of nice upgrades, the interior on yours looks simply stunning.

I've a few small improvements in the pipeline, I'm booked into Wheel Pro to get the "perfect" alloys refurbished, I'm also talking to Skidz in Falkirk about a rear entertainment system and Dyna Tune about a remap and Dyno session. Over and above that I quite fancy adding a factory rear spoiler and must admit those illuminated kick plates do look tempting at some stage.

It would be good to catch up and compare the cars soon, we are off this week and hoping to get away for a Wee break with the kids, but let's try some point after that.

I plam to keep this thread updated as my formal ownership thread.

Cheers
Colin.

 

[JimC64]

Hi Colin,
yes, a great blether as you say.

The fact that seeing my car helped you to make up your mind was such a compliment, thank you

I see you're not hanging around on the improvements / mods either!
The wheels actually don't look too bad in the pics, but probably make much more sense in real life I suppose, I guess they'll make a big difference when done, rear entertainment for the kids totally makes sense and Skidz get a really good name.

The factory spoiler I totally get and is on my list of things to do for sure.
The illuminated tread plates all round are definitely on my hit list as I've probably mentioned a thousand times lol, but……..

When you said you were going for a remap I nearly choked on my coffee??

I would've thought going from a 2.7Tdvi to a 5.0 V8 would've been a big enough jump, but clearly not!
A visit to the tuners for a remap is in my future at some stage too, but unsure when.

It's going to lift it a little more once you get your private plate added too :-D

Cheers Colin
Ps: Time to update your signature :-D

Jim

 

[#steve]

Lovely car,I'm very jealous.
Those illuminated tread plates are well worth having, the blue light really sets the car off at night.
The other thing I could not live without now is the reversing camera, that's a real godsend.

 

[mac_doctor]

Lovely car, sir. Shame that it hasn't got enough TVs, but I guess that you'll fix that soon enough.

Please leave the red paint in the tin: don't listen to the Laird!

 

[Guest]

But, another one lost from the X350/358 fold

I think its that ruthless JimC.... he's luring them all away from us, with his tanned temptress show-thread....

 

[JimC64]

I think its that ruthless JimC.... he's luring them all away from us, with his tanned temptress show-thread....

Love how I seem to get the blame for everything these days lol

Big bad Jim...

Jim

 

[JimboV8]

Love how I seem to get the blame for everything these days lol

Big bad Jim...

Jim

All in a day's work Jim, they're just jealous.:mrgreen:

 

[#steve]

Lovely car, sir. Shame that it hasn't got enough TVs, but I guess that you'll fix that soon enough.

Please leave the red paint in the tin: don't listen to the Laird!

No fear about that, this car is having tartan callipers .lol.