Tag: XJS

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Since 1st Sep 2021 E10 petrol has replaced E5 at regular unleaded pumps throughout the UK

What is E10?

E10 stands for 10% Ethanol (E5 is 5% ethanol). In other words, the fuel is 90% petrol and 10% bio-ethanol. Bio-ethanol is ethanol which has been produced from plant matter

Why do we have to have it?

Governments around the world see the addition of bio-ethanol to car fuel as a ‘green’ move because when ethanol burns it produces few harmful emissions, and the CO2 it produces is offset by the CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere when the plants, such as sugar beet, are growing. Optimists regard this as a carbon neutral process, though many arguments exist about the ethics of clearing forest and growing crops for fuel instead of food.

As a fuel what are ethanol’s problems?

Ethanol absorbs water from the atmosphere and effectively dilutes the fuel if left for a long time.

Tony Bray 2

Continuing our series of guest blog posts, we asked loyal customer Tony Bray to tell us why he chose his XJS, and how KWE helped to make it ‘the best car it could be.’

The Jaguar XJ and XJS are widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful luxury saloon and all-round accomplished sports cars ever made. So, it’s no surprise that the team at KWE is always on the look out for challenging new projects to work on.

With our engineering expertise and passion for Jaguar cars, we’re able to offer a high-quality restoration service. Our aim is to restore all of our Jaguar XJS and early XJ saloons cars to a ‘better than new’ standard.

In Doug’s second guest blog, we asked about any memorable journeys he’s taken in his XJS – and we certainly weren’t disappointed! It looks like Doug’s got the right idea when it comes to classic car ownership, as he gets so much more from the car than if it was kept in a garage all the time.

Have you completed any particularly interesting journeys in your Jaguar XJS?

I’m not keen on cars sitting in garages or concourse-style perfection. Don’t get me wrong, I am pedantic about how she looks, is maintained and drives. The key requirement being that the car must be driven. I bought her to enjoy driving and feel connected to the road, not to look at and polish – granted I do a fair bit of this too.

To this end, we recently took her to the Spa Classic Racing meeting at Spa Francorchamps circuit last May.

As part of a new series of blog posts, we will be inviting a number of XJS owners and Jaguar enthusiasts to contribute to our blog, telling us exactly why they love the XJS.

We spoke to loyal KWE customer, Doug Wilson, about why he’s fond of his XJS, and what makes it better than the modern vehicles in his garage.

About Doug

Born in Lanark, Scotland

Occupation: Company Director, Power Utility Company

Interests: Music, guitar playing and collecting, whisky collecting and drinking, shooting, reading, sports and international travel

What’s in your garage?

My wife drives a Land Rover Defender. I use a Mercedes GL350 AMG Sport Bluetech as my daily driver. My V12 Jaguar XJS Coupe (1989) is my classic car choice and I also run a modern sports car. For the last ten years or so this has always been a Mercedes SL500 or new SL 400 variant. However, I have recently traded-in

As part of a new series of blog posts, we will be inviting a number of XJS owners and Jaguar enthusiasts to contribute to our blog, telling us exactly why they love the XJS. This week, we’ve gone across the pond and asked California-based, Rhett Redelings what makes the car so special to him.

About Rhett Location: San Francisco Bay area, California, U.S.A. Occupation: IT Manager, City of Sausalito

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Which cars do you currently own?

KWE’s quick guide to classic car insurance

Many of our Jaguar XJS customers seek our advice on classic car insurance, and no wonder - it’s a rather different requirement from normal car insurance.

It’s important you consult a reputable broker who specialises in classic car insurance, in order to get the best possible cover for your classic car. We would recommend researching the following insurance companies, but there are, of course, other reputable brokers available:

 

  • Peter James
  • Lancaster
  • Peter Best
  • Adrian Flux

 

We would highly recommend going for ‘Replacement Value’ insurance cover, in case of unexpected damage, such as a collision or accident as you drive your freshly-restored classic away from KWE! This helps to overcome issues relating to the ‘book’ value that insurers sometimes offer, which might be a tenth of what you’ve just spent.

The above insurers provide specialist advice, and really know their stuff when it comes to classic cars. While they might offer only a limited mileage policy (typically 6,000 miles per year), they should be fine with insuring the car for a more accurate replacement value. KWE can confirm

70% of classic cars are underinsured (Classic Cars For Sale)

Classic insurers say owners have unwittingly kept their cars’ agreed values at the same levels for years, despite recent price surges, particularly for 1970s and ’80s models.

Marcus Atkinson, marketing director at classic car insurer Hagerty, said the majority of classic cars are under-insured simply because owners are unaware of how much their cars have increased in value after recent price rises.

Top Gear presenter Chris Evans auctioning £11 million worth of classic cars (The Mirror)

New Top Gear presenter, Chris Evans, is selling off £11million worth of classic cars at auction next month. Evans, who is replacing Jeremy Clarkson as the new presenter for the BBC show, has consigned 13 cars to the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The items include the rare right-hand drive 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy, with an estimate of £2.6-2.9m, the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 ‘Daytona’ Spider,

According to Wikipedia, a Grand Tourer can be defined as: “a performance and luxury automobile capable of high speed or spirited long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement”.

The term derives from the Italian ‘gran turismo’, and is a tribute to the tradition of the grand tour, which sees GTs of various marques and models embarking on long-distance, high-speed journeys in both style and comfort.

 

But which car is the ideal Grand Tourer?

According to author Sam Dawson, “the ideal is a car with the ability to cross a continent at speed and in comfort, yet provide driving thrills when demanded”, and it should exhibit the following:

  • The GT should have been devised by its designers specifically as a Grand Tourer
  • It should be able to transport at least two in comfort with their luggage and have room to spare

More and more drivers are turning to classic cars as their vehicle of choice. For some, the decision is driven by nostalgia, while for others it may be the desire to stand out from the crowd. This post will take a closer look at some of the reasons why classic car fans are choosing uniqueness before uniformity.

 

Stand out from the crowd

In a world of relative conformity, some individuals just want to be different. Whether that is through their dress sense, their interior design, or, indeed, the vehicle they choose to drive, there are individualists who favour uniqueness.

As car designs become increasingly dull, and with a lack of personality resulting from modern design, looking for a new car is hardly exciting. Driving experience is also taking a hit, as technology takes control of the wheel more and more.

 

A a properly re-engineered classic car ensures complete driving pleasure, and will take

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