Picked up the car late Friday, sat on the motorway for 2 hours wasn't the most entertaining drive, sat wishing I was in my XJ and why didn't I get a XJR!
Woke up Saturday thinking what have I done... went for a drive to find some car seats for the kids, mix of A and B roads and I started to fall in love. Soon as you hit past 4k-5k RPM the car just comes alive and puts a smile on your face.
Being inside the car just feels like my 996 except it's a lot more modern but not a patch on the XJ interior.
Engine wise its perfect, gearbox fine, clutch has a nice feel to it and bites early, handles wells.
Bad points (I'm been VERY picking about some, bearing in mind car is coming up 10 year old!)
After 70-75 MPH I get a bad vibration through the wheel, I think its the drop link that needs replacing that came up as an advisory.
Paint work needs a bit of tidying (couple of stone chips on bonnet)
Hood has a couple of abrasion marks but looking through forums its common, a new hood will only set me back £1250 -£1500 so no biggy, plus you can't beat a new bit of material to bring a new lease of life into a car!
Interior has a couple of marks on the leather, again minor but easily sorted.
Alloys have some bubbling on the inside of the spokes, £400 on a refurb if that.
I've got the car going into my son in law's garage tomorrow for a full checkup, drop links changing, top mounts changing and any other wearable parts changing.
I'll get the leather all restored (weekend job), paint work done by my sprayer so its 100% and then get it detailed and protected with a ceramic coat, after next summer I'll look at getting a new hood.
A good £500-£700 spent on the car excluding the hood will bring it back to being like new.