This page is dedicated to the cars I have owned since I started driving in 1985 (I was a late starter!).    Click here for the Daimler XJ6 page or scroll down.
On passing my driving test my first purchase was a 'C' registered 1985 primrose yellow Peugeot 205GT with a 5 speed gearbox, a car that was all the rage at the time only being surpassed by it's big brother the 205GTI (couldn't afford that one). I was very happy with the car for a few years but, as I was not earning much, the insurance costs

     
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became too much of a burden and it had to go. It was part exchanged at a dealers in Wakefield for a fairly basic 1988 silver/grey/ blue Ford Fiesta. This did the job for a few years and was 'nippy' enough, but no power. Slight uphill gradients meant gear changes in the wrong direction even on the motorways - needs must, however! So I kept the Fiesta for longer than I had hoped. Then I got the 'classic' bug when I purchased a 1969 Daimler V8 250. Shortly after, the Fiesta was sold and the Daimler became my 'daily driver' in 1996 for 3 years (see the link on the index page) until I bought a 1969 Triumph 2000 Mark 2 in 1999 which was also my main car until I returned to a 'run of the mill modern' one. This was a 'K' registered green Rover 216 automatic which I bought in June 2002 for rather less than was asked. I was quite pleased with my purchase but, as is usual with my car purchases, there is always something I do not notice. Although there was a large dent above the rear window, I was still happy I had made the correct choice. From this car onwards, I have since always driven cars with an automatic gearbox. Being a somewhat lazy and sedentary person, I really can't be bothered with using my left foot with what is, essentially, an unnecessary chore! A nice car with 1600cc engine which did most of what was asked.

However, my yearning for larger engines and luxurious interiors was beginning to overcome my sensibility and, in June 2004, saw an advertisement for a Rover 75 and a Volvo S80 for similar prices. I made the journey to Sheffield to see the 3 litre Volvo, but the car was "out". My feeling was it was "out" at the garage having repairs so I decided against this one. A trip to Wakefield was next to see the 2 litre Rover which looked exceptionally good in it's pale blue skin. It was a 2000 V registered, top of the range SE Connoisseur with 6 speed automatic gearbox built during BMW's ownership of Rover (later borne out by the German writing on the cam belts). Unfortunately, the car would not start, the salesman suggested the battery was low and after some tinkering the engine burst into life. The V6 configuration sounded very sweet. A test drive was taken without incident and a deal was done. It was mine.
The 'battery' problem turned out to be a starter motor problem when I took it to the local Rover dealership to have a service and the starting problem diagnosed. This turned out to be an expensive service but at least I had assurance everything was tickety boo! Until the fan motor packed up, that is - more expense. This fixed, I had no further problems with the car during the rest of my ownership except, of course, for the usual service items. Because it was a high mileage car, I decided to have the cam belts changed as a precaution and discovered there are 3 on this car not including the alternator drive belt and it is, therefore, quite a job to replace them. I found the originals were in very good condition, so money wasted there then! My only other concern was when the computer display blanked out, but after trawling the internet, I found a free, easy way to fix this problem (see the tips page). A few months later, I managed to purchase a 1969 Vanden Plas Princess 1300, but not as a 'daily drive' (see index page).

Being a long time member of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club it was quite natural to think my next vehicle should have some relation to my membership and, whilst I was very happy with the Rover, in May 2008 I decided it was time to look around to see what was available. A very nice looking advertisement for a 1997 Jaguar X300 with LPG conversion in Halifax tickled my fancy, but on viewing, the interior was quite poor and I decided against this one. Next to Wakefield to look at a 1994 Daimler finished in dark blue with a 4 litre straight six engine. This car is of the Jaguar XJ6 (XJ40) breed, but unlike the X300, which is also an XJ6, is more of a limousine. The wood, leather and the 4 litre automatic 'lump' is right up my street. Although rather extensive in it's dimensions, I think I made up my mind to buy as soon as I saw it nestling in the corner of the garage of Auto-graph Specialist Cars, although how such a large vehicle 'nestles' anywhere escapes me! A drive the following day encouraged me to part with my 'hard-earned' and I became the owner the following Saturday of June 2008. I discover the car is one of the later XJ40s which have some of the X300 features. It remains to be seen if I can afford to keep it considering the exorbitant fuel and tax costs these days. However, I hope to get the most out of it whilst I can. Click here to view info relating to my time with the car.

Last updated July 2009