Dear Chris & the team at
KWE,
RE
MODIFICATIONS TO JAG XJS UPB.
I have covered
about 500 miles in UPB since collecting it, rejuvenated, from KWE just over a
week ago. I took it with my partner to a Cotswolds classic car rally last
weekend, and it performed faultlessly. Ours was the only Jaguar XJS present,
and it looked at ease up against a wide assortment of Bentleys, Rolls Royces,
MG's old Citroens, Jensons and other quirky collectables.
It would be
difficult to exaggerate the improvements that you have made to the car
mechanically, and the transformation is all that you promised. The works have
been clearly extensive, and your amazing enthusiasm for the marquee is
apparent in the way that you have ‘sorted’ UPB out. UPB has been in our
possession for 14 years, when it was then 6 years from new.... and I don't
recall it being quite such a gem to drive even then. It probably wasn't this
good to drive when it left the factory!
On the
suspension side of things, there has been the greatest improvement. The
totality of the exercise has been worth every penny. Where once the car
crashed over the rotten roads of
The full
servicing to the engine has brought about a more rapid response and,
pleasingly, a marked improvement in the fuel consumption. It has always, of
course, been a smooth engine, but it is now silkier, and seemingly more
youthful. What has been a great decision for us is the fitment of the new
large bore exhaust, which has much emboldened the V12 wail on acceleration,
without being too obtrusive.
There are few
sounds on country roads that are more delicious in my view than the waffling
burble of a British V8....Stags, Rover P5B's TVR's etc. The Jaguar V12 has
always had a muted and tamed exhaust beat, tuned primarily it would appear,
for optimum refinement. Not any more! Foot to the floor in the the wider
exhaust graced
XJS and you are surrounded by a hair raising vortex of acoustic spume, that
puts any V8 to shame. Great! Yet at cruising speeds it remains quiet.
Marvellous!
We are pleased
with the Becker radio/CD player with IPod socket, which has been fitted very
smartly, is thoroughly up to date, and fits in inconspicuously into the
central console. It as yet does not overheat as the old package did.
All the items of
repair identified on the job sheet have been completed....the cruise works,
passenger window works, and the headlights in my view look smarter without the
rather futile, flimsy wipers that were originally fitted. Great
to have 4 new tires fitted, and thanks for offering to store the still useable
other tires. Your tweaking of the doors has so far brought about much
improved noise insulation, and miraculously, no water ingress as yet from the
soft top!
For the moment
we will probably keep the wheels. They are in good condition, and still look
good I feel, and keep the car original. In due course we will be keen to
update the interior, which while still looking reasonable, is 20 years old and
the seats and carpet would hugely benefit from refurbishment.
The issue with
regard to the bodywork was unfortunate, and I think mainly due to lack of
communication. The contrast with the way the mechanicals/engineering were
dealt with i.e. informing me immediately if there was any change to the work
sheet eg. Oil leak repair/aircon repairs, was marked. I really was not
expecting there to be so much paintwork required. The drivers door dinge
remains a mystery. However, it is clear that you have been thorough, and the
bodywork looks great. There is one area, if I might say, where there is a less
than good finish. The junction between the new wing and the trailing edge of
the front wheel arch, as the wing joins onto the small valance, is uneven.
Perhaps you could look at this when I bring her in for ‘tightening-up’ as I
think Chris called it in a week or so.
I look forward
to seeing you soon. Perhaps one day I will be tempted by the seemingly fast
disappearing saloons of the same period!
Best wishes,
ANDREW KAY