^great...  Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

campaj1 wrote:

...too much time was spent looking at the Alfasud...

A1GSS wrote:

campaj1 wrote:

...too much time was spent looking at the Alfasud...

I had the misfortune to work at PSF in 1978 / 1979 at BL in Cowley (making bodyshells) and we had an Alfasud in the show bay. Also an Allegrro with Alfasud running gear. The "real" Alfa was extremely popular amongst us trainees for "assessment drives"... a world apart. I had a Citroen GS at the time (another oddball world beater in its own peculiar way) - but I was not allowed to bring it onto the site... the competitive examples and evidence of what might work was there, but the firm was incapable of making a good car.

All water under the bridge now, but BL offerings were truly appalling cars.

Funny that, hardly surprising
The Alfasud was a good example of how a company lacking in a reputation for build quality could do it.
The simpler suspension was in fact far more sorted in terms of body control and handling.
The GS was an example of how they could have succeded by going towards ultimate comfort, imo the Hydragas just offered the worst of both worlds; high maintenance, poor handling, too wobbly for comfort! They sorted it by the MGF, but was too late by then!

I had a serious habit of hydraulic Citroens (7 in all...)  Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

The hydrogas on mine leaked on one side. You'd park it on a pavement and it'd be nice and level, then drive off and it'd be like a very large person was driving.

haha did nothing for the image of the cars i guess!

By that time (mid 80's) it's image was already a little tarnished.

Someone mentioned the Jaguar XJS not being cool? Someone needs to look at XJS prices and the production run of 20 years!

They have their electronic gremlins but nothing like as much as the L302. Sort out the rust and electronics and these cars are on par with their Aston Martin contemporaries (which also rusted and cost double).

Own and drive a good one for a few years and you might change your mind. The smoothest and quietest engine I've ever had (including my Turbo R), fantastic suspension and in convertible form so beautiful to look at. 2009 Vogue TDV8 Nara Bronze
2002 Vogue V8 Zambezi Silver
1986 90 Pick up Deep Bronze Green
1978 Series III SWB Deep Bronze Green

Rich86, it was me who mentioned the XJS and all I said was possibly not cool. I used to own one and agree with some of what you say. I liked mine but it was really no beauty and considering they did make it for 20 years you'd think they'd sort out the corrosion and reliability issues, but I'm not sure they ever did. Mine was the facelift 4.0 coupe. The engine was quite nice but nothing like the V12.

You're correct about the prices now. In some ways I wish I'd held on to it.

I am really thinking about getting a good X100 XKR, but we'll see. I liked sitting so low and in so much comfort.

I disagree. The original E-type was always going to be a difficult act to follow but I fell in love with the XJS the minute I saw and drove the original convertible back in 1988. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder in any case.

The rust is something that cars continue to fall foul on. Look at a 4 year old Range Rover for example. The XJS design still hasn't been copied and not for the wrong reasons and so it's unique.

Like I say if you find a good one and look after it then like the FFRR's the problems and issues can be overcome albeit with deep pockets and extremely comfortable and enjoyable motoring can be had. 2009 Vogue TDV8 Nara Bronze
2002 Vogue V8 Zambezi Silver
1986 90 Pick up Deep Bronze Green
1978 Series III SWB Deep Bronze Green