Best-handling four-seater, indeed

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
07/13/2017 at 00:43 • Filed to: None

I’m about two and a half weeks into my XJ-S adventure and I’ve been driving it about how you’d drive a 3rd-gen Camaro. Point, shoot. 5mph around a corner then goose the throttle for a burst of BLARHALHRARLHARH from the exhaust pipes and a satisfying torquey push into the seat (though, as I’ve learned, the car is actually slow as balls in a straight line it feels much faster than it is). Today for the first time I didn’t have a bunch of potential projectiles in the car or the trunk so I actually took some corners with a bit of enthusiasm. Car and Driver wasn’t exaggerating. “Immune to the laws of physics” is a good way of describing it. The harder I push the XJ-S in corners the harder it refused to acknowledge the concept of such frivolous things such as “momentum” or “body roll”. It wasn’t spritely, no, it’s no Miata but it remains stupidly composed on interchange ramps and vacant intersections ignoring that it’s a four-decade-old two-ton luxury car .

uuuuugggghhhhh it needs an LS.

DISCUSSION (17)

CodyVella > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 00:46

I’m dying to get my hands on an XJS with the Carb’d V12 just so I can straight pipe it. I mean yeah, I’ll spend 99% of the time trying to tune the carbs, but oh boy, that 1%...

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 00:48

If it’s running now... I’d say don’t fix what isn’t broke. We all know after swap in the LS it’s going to be as unreliable as everyone thinks Jags are.

19JRC99 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 00:57

Please don’t put an LS in it. It’s stupidly easy to get power out of an old 350. Also, what rear gears are in it? Those can have a huge effect.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
07/13/2017 at 01:01

Probably true.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 19JRC99
07/13/2017 at 01:03

Fuel economy though. 15mpg is about the best I can hope for with a 350. Maybe 18 highway if I spring $1000 for a FiTech and supporting stuff. Not a thrilling prospect.

2.88 rear gears. There really isn’t any way to change them either.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 01:16

I’m super stoked about your car. It’s been a treat reading about it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
07/13/2017 at 01:19

Thanks!

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 01:22

If you think it’s good now, invest a couple of hundred $ (and a few weekends’ cussing) in putting new bushes throughout, including subframes and steering rack, and prepare to be amazed.

Classic Jags’ magic ride and handling relies heavily on a shit-ton of carefully calibrated bits of rubber, and they start to harden up or perish after 7 or 8 years. Its the best bang for buck upgrade you can do to an old Jag, unless you know for a fact someone else has done it recently.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 01:28

vortec 350 with 2wd 4l60e?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
07/13/2017 at 01:35

Yeah, that’s my thought. Would have to shorten the driveshaft 4 inches and play around with but those make more or less my power goal for this car bone-stock and would probably get 20+mpg highway.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
07/13/2017 at 01:37

Yeah... I need to go through my brake system for sure to figure out where I seem to be losing brake fluid out, and the steering rack is pissing fluid out so that’s a headache all of its own. Can’t imagine a new steering rack is terribly cheap for these.

EDIT: The front end is definitely where I’d start with bushings to crispen up the steering. Probably going to get a new rack regardless of if mine is rebuildable just to ensure there’s no internal play or wear.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 05:40

I was going to say how there are a few OEM options for higher ratio diffs (my XJ40 has a 3.54), but I bet they never sold them in the States. You guys only really got the V12 and a smattering of I6 convertibles didn’t you?

I wonder if the XJ40 diff is a straight swap...

AuthiCooper1300 > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
07/13/2017 at 07:16

You are so right.

It’s amazing how so many people spend huge amounts of money on big alloy wheels, firmer dampers and/or springs and exotic tyres without even having a look at all the bushings in the suspension.

After a few years replacing those is imperative in any old car, let alone a high-performance or sporty one.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
07/13/2017 at 11:34

I think later years got higher ratios. There was one different ratio compatible with the gen 1 IRS

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/13/2017 at 13:32

Every other review I see of those say they handle amazingly, while the others say they drive like crap. Nothing in between.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/13/2017 at 13:56

Tires make a huge difference as does maintenance. The suspension is impressive but highly finnicky.

Fresh-Outta-Nissans > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/21/2017 at 05:30

Heh, my friend is the manager at FiTech. Their stuff seems to work I guess?