Jaguar F-Type Concept Car

Introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in 2000, this Jaguar F-Type concept car turned a lot of heads.  It's easy to see why.  The retro styling is reminiscent of Jaguar's mid-century racers, like the D-Type.  This car was never put into production, but with Jaguar now under new ownership there are continuing whispers that the company may expand it's product line to include a new evolution of the F-Type model.

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Jaguar Racing Posters Vol. 1

These vintage Jaguar racing posters come from 1951 and 1952.  

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Dreaded Throttle Body Issue

I knew of the potential for this problem when I first began researching the XJ8 before I bought it.  It seems the throttle position sensor for my '99 Jaguar XJ8 has officially bit the dust, and unfortunately the part is ONLY sold as part of the full throttle body.  

Why Jaguar decided to do this instead of simply selling the part individually like pretty much every other manufacturer is beyond me, but luckily I found a salvaged throttle body on eBay for around $400. Considering a new throttle body would cost over $2000, this is a healthy savings, although it's still overkill as I'm only after the TPS to begin with.  I never expected owning this car to be cheap, but I did expect a bit more intelligence behind some of the design.

I've been without my vehicle for two weeks now, and I can't wait for the part to arrive so I can do this repair.  I have my fingers crossed that it works the way it is supposed to.  I hate questioning the reliability of my vehicle, when if it wasn't for the failsafe mode always kicking in when it detects something I feel the car would still be working fine.  It's a strange machine. 

More on my Jaguar XJ8 throttle body, pictures of the part, and tips about cleaning the TPS connectors and the throttle body itself are also on the way.

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Back in 2 Weeks!

There's no harm in taking a bit of time for yourself, and with 80+ posts in the last two months I don't feel too guilty about stepping back for a couple of weeks.  I want to make the most of what's left of the summer, and in turn, this will translate into time to create new content and actually work on my car.

I'm excited by the potential that this project has shown in such a short period of time, and I want to find new ways to expand this concept and my approach.  Expect big changes come this fall.  Jeeves and the Jaguar will return September 1st.

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The Uncommon Luxury Sedan

I really love the lean and slender look of these XJ's from the late sixties and seventies.  This print ad for the 1975 Jaguar XJ stands out for advertising an 'item by item' strategy for their warranty, including extras like windshield wipers and lightbulbs.  It is only for the first year though, and in usual fashion it's doubtful that any of that stuff would wear out quite that fast.

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Jaguar XKR-S Technical Film

The XKR-S is an amazing and shockingly fast vehicle, and this edit showcasing it proves to be just the ticket to fuel your excitement.  I want one!

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A Place in the Sun

This 1990 print ad for the Jaguar XJS is another classic example of what I love about the ads for these cars.  Whether it's incorporating a private jet, a helicopter, or a yacht, the common thread is always about traveling in style.

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XJ6 Cross Section

While I couldn't find the corresponding sheet to match this diagram, I just found this image of a 1968 Jaguar XJ6 to be really cool.  As it is, I think it would make a really cool framed poster.

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Car Washing Tips

Having lived with the inconvenience of not having a garage, I've put a lot of time into washing and keeping my car looking her best over the last year.  Car washing, however, doesn't have to be an epic chore, nor does it have to cost you very much.  Here are a few simple rules for a simple and hassle free car wash:

1.  Create a kit.

One of the easiest ways to keep your car clean is being prepared for whenever you might feel like doing it.  I drive around with a small container in my trunk that contains micro-fibre cloths, paper towels, a duster for the interior, and a small squeegee.  It just takes some of the hassle out of having to round things up every single time. FYI, don't keep your cleaning products in your trunk though as they won't hold up to the extreme hot or cold temperatures.

2.  Use a spray n' wash.

While the automatic car washes might seem like an easy choice, they're considerably more expensive in the long run.  A simple spray n' wash is all you really need.  For the most part your car doesn't need the soap anyway, and a good pressure wash will remove most dirt.  Generally speaking, I get by only spending $1 on my car washes.

3.  Dry your car off.

While this task seems tedious for some, it's actually a really important part of the process.  It makes your wash last a lot longer and keeps you from immediately getting your car dirty again on the drive home.  Dirt sticking to the water as you drive away, or dried water spots all over your car kind of defeats the purpose of going for a clean in the first place.

4. Use a spray wax.

After I pressure wash my car, I give it a quick once over with a shammy to semi-dry it, and then use a spray wax to finish the job.  Using a simple all-in-one spray wax can be applied while the car is still wet, and can be used as a polish while you're drying your vehicle (so you're doing two jobs in one essentially).  This also sounds like a lot of extra work to many people, but this simple step will keep your car clean longer as dirt won't stick as easily and water will bead right off.  Not to mention, it really makes your paint shine and makes your effort apparent.

5. Check the weather.

Know what you're up against.  Sometimes there's no point to washing your car when you know there's rain in the forecast.  We've all been there, and a minute online will save you some hassle.

6. Enjoy it.

To be honest, I don't mind washing my car.  I find it's an easy way to appreciate a machine that I really enjoy, and it makes me feel proud to know that I'm taking care of it.  It's also a bit of a cathartic experience and an easy way to wind down when you've got a lot on your mind.  Who didn't like playing with the garden hose when they were a kid?  It's like that, but with purpose.

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1938 Autocar Cover

Another Autocar magazine cover, this one from 1938, features an SS Jaguar.

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1936 Autocar Cover

A cover of Autocar magazine from 1936 featuring a Jaguar.

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Post #76

Without proper motivation and drive, a blog is nothing more than a vacant address.  For my own sake I wanted to take a moment and remind myself of just what has happened on Jeeves and the Jaguar since it all began two months ago.  

Below you'll see an image that I created from the flipcard view of this site, and the 75 original posts that have been made since June 1.  It just goes to show how a little effort adds up fast, and how you begin to build a history even when you're not thinking about it.  Simply click on the flipcard link to review any of these posts and where we've been so far.

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Still Top Cat

Keeping with the jungle theme that was used in numerous Jaguar ads, here we see a 1968 Jaguar XKE lurking in the grass.  While these cars were fast, they weren't known for their off-roading abilities and I certainly would never have driven one into the brush.  Still a cool ad though and that was obviously the point.

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Jaguar Super 8

This was a quick and simple project that came about with the purchase of a Super 8 app on my iPod Touch.  Leaving work last week, I wanted to use the Super 8 effect to capture some retro inspired home video footage of my drive home.  I think it creates another cool way of looking at the vehicle and instantly creates a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of how many memories we have from simply driving places.

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