[mikef]

I ordered my new Stratus Grey 3.0 PL two months ago for a June build. The Jaguar forecasting system seems to use the latest in "hindsight" technology.
They only know when it will be built after it's finished, and only know a delivery date after it's been delivered!
I just got a call from the dealer to say it has arrived
I'm just waiting for an email with a choice of number plates, because I can't have my personal plates back for 12 months after the theft of my much loved 2.7 PL.
I will definitely be fitting the chrome pedals, but I'm dithering about mudflaps this time. I've gone for the wussy heated steering wheel and the front sensors/rear camera.
I haven't bothered with the iPod interface this time; I didn't really make good use of it. USB sticks and CDs will do me nicely.
Warm charcoal + burl walnut.
I would have preferred xenons, but that comes with headlight washers which really annoy me, as I think I've posted before. I will just have to eat more carrots if I intend driving in the dark
I still haven't seen a Stratus Grey in the metal, so I hope I like it! I'll post some pics soon.

[Admin]

Wa-Hey, Status Grey! (I used to be a poet and didn't know it..) Nice one Mike. Whilst we're all looking forward to the pics you do understand that you can't change your avatar don't you? This forum wouldn't be the same without it!

[Admin]

mikef, on 08 July 2010 - 11:39 AM, said:

I still haven't seen a Stratus Grey in the metal, so I hope I like it!

Lets hope you've not done a 'Goldjag' *






*edit...oops sorry Goldjag I meant

[mikef]

10.00 pm and a couple of beers later not a single bugger has expressed joy at the imminent receipt of my new Jag
All forum heroes are now on notice as no longer being my friends unless they write reams of praise
(PS to Admin: the avatar stays cos charcoal interior is the best!)

[rayUK]

Congrats Mike,
I've seen the stratus grey in the flesh and it's wonderful, really very classy and for some reason makes the car look bigger! I think you will be delighted with it.
Now all you need is a Wolf dog to guard the car at night. They are very clever and allow thieves to open a door before attacking and removing just the neck. A very satisfying sight indeed.
Enjoy Mike.

[mercybill]

ooooo Well I am very sorry I'm sure I was waiting to see actual pictures, and your report when you had it, lol lucky bugger, I almost wish someone would nick mine LOL.

Actually thought it had been pinched last night, I came out of the hotel this morning walked along the side of the building to where I was sure I had parked on Wed night, and bloody hell no car, heart almost stopped, and I turned back toward the reception to get them to check CCTV, and there it was at the other side of the car park, LOL

Incidentally talking about colour, I saw an XJ in Claret on wed looked amazing. only seen them in black silver or that funny colour before

[andyxf]

I was waiting for to pictures so I could say how good it is

[mikef]

I collected the beast late this afternoon
The drive home in the rush hour was tedious, so no chance to put my foot down After 2 months of driving whatever old dog I could borrow, I'd forgotten how QUIET an XF is
Stratus Grey is "sparkling charcoal" in the sunshine, and up against pure black it definitely has the edge. In the late evening it is simply black. Somehow it all comes together; black A and B pillars; improved wing mirror mounts; the rear valance kinda matches the colour; the windows blend into the shape, making it a more homogeneous shape... you can tell I'm pleased

I didn't go for chrome vents on Frost Blue; I saw one or two and they didn't look right. I'm wavering, but I think I'm wavering towards going for it, maybe before the indulgence of chrome pedals

19" wheels look good fantastic but it remains to be felt; my XJ was on 19s and it tended to tramline in the ruts on worn out motorways. I think there were a couple of hard bumps on the way home, but that could have been that the car is so quiet that I was being picky.

I'll try to take some pix this weekend, but it's bloody hot here and I'd like it to be polished properly first.

PS The car was stabled next to a Caviar XJ at the dealer. Bit of a fashion colour IMHO, and although the exterior looks good the interior lacks the style of the XF.

...now... shall I fit mudflaps?

[mercybill]

Nice one Mike lets hope you don't lose this one Lol, will you be sleeping with the keys under your pillow now

[duzepiwo]

Bury them in the garden - just remember where....

PICTURES!!!!

Congrats - I still thrill every time I go out in my second XF, and haven't yet discovered just what it's capable of...

[but watch this space - we may be hiring Milbrook for a day.....]

[andyxf]

Well done Mike look forward to seeing the pictures, I am glad you are back in an XF and are so pleased with it

It won't be so much as burying the keys or having them under his pillow, he sounds like he will be sleeping in the car

[greenie99]

rayUK, on 08 July 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Congrats Mike,
I've seen the stratus grey in the flesh and it's wonderful, really very classy and for some reason makes the car look bigger! I think you will be delighted with it.
Now all you need is a Wolf dog to guard the car at night. They are very clever and allow thieves to open a door before attacking and removing just the neck. A very satisfying sight indeed.
Enjoy Mike.

Ray, how does the Stratus compare to the Lunar?

[mikef]

Impatient Admin, on 13 July 2010 - 07:01 PM, said:

Come on MikeF you big tease

Finally took it for a proper drive today: up the M3, onto M25, then into Woolwich (for the Yanks, that's near Greenwich, the holy grail and origin of all navigation; 0 degrees longitude )
Drizzly rain, so I can't comment too much on whether the much-hated turbulence around the mirrors is reduced. There's still a bit but it doesn't seem as bad; time will tell. I was never a moaner about wind noise, and I've had the radio on so I can't really comment.

No pics yet cos I'm waiting for the perfect weather to give her a proper polish.

I have no complaint about 19" wheels. The ride is just as smooth as on 18"s. Perhaps it's a little more twitchy on road imperfections, but the feedback is just right and no one would notice except someone like me who has done 40K miles in a 2.7 on 18"s.

I've played with D, S, Dynamic, in various combinations but I'll reserve judgement until a few more trips. A plug-in chipped 2.7 can perform as well as a 3.0, and I think perhaps with a bit more smoothness. Maybe anyone out there who has plugged in a chip to a 2.7 might like to swap for 10 minutes and try the difference

The (standard) 19" wheels look waaay better than the old 18" ones which are now only on the basic 3.0 petrol Luxury. Stratus Grey deserves chrome vents so that's coming up soon.

Pics soon... promise

[dom]

mikef, on 08 July 2010 - 11:39 AM, said:

I ordered my new Stratus Grey 3.0 PL two months ago for a June build. The Jaguar forecasting system seems to use the latest in "hindsight" technology.
They only know when it will be built after it's finished, and only know a delivery date after it's been delivered!
I just got a call from the dealer to say it has arrived
I'm just waiting for an email with a choice of number plates, because I can't have my personal plates back for 12 months after the theft of my much loved 2.7 PL.
I will definitely be fitting the chrome pedals, but I'm dithering about mudflaps this time. I've gone for the wussy heated steering wheel and the front sensors/rear camera.
I haven't bothered with the iPod interface this time; I didn't really make good use of it. USB sticks and CDs will do me nicely.
Warm charcoal + burl walnut.
I would have preferred xenons, but that comes with headlight washers which really annoy me, as I think I've posted before. I will just have to eat more carrots if I intend driving in the dark
I still haven't seen a Stratus Grey in the metal, so I hope I like it! I'll post some pics soon.

How can you use USB sticks if you haven't got the portable music interface?

[mikef]

I can't
I'll have to live with "AUX" input

[vika01]

mikef, on 08 July 2010 - 12:39 PM, said:

I ordered my new Stratus Grey 3.0 PL two months ago for a June build. The Jaguar forecasting system seems to use the latest in "hindsight" technology.
They only know when it will be built after it's finished, and only know a delivery date after it's been delivered!
I just got a call from the dealer to say it has arrived
I'm just waiting for an email with a choice of number plates, because I can't have my personal plates back for 12 months after the theft of my much loved 2.7 PL.
I will definitely be fitting the chrome pedals, but I'm dithering about mudflaps this time. I've gone for the wussy heated steering wheel and the front sensors/rear camera.
I haven't bothered with the iPod interface this time; I didn't really make good use of it. USB sticks and CDs will do me nicely.
Warm charcoal + burl walnut.
I would have preferred xenons, but that comes with headlight washers which really annoy me, as I think I've posted before. I will just have to eat more carrots if I intend driving in the dark
I still haven't seen a Stratus Grey in the metal, so I hope I like it! I'll post some pics soon.

Do you call that a long wait? I ordered mine February 2nd and I will get it on monday.

[pious]

AUX input it the pointy plug right, like from an MP3 player? What's the quality of that against the USB or CD etc, if you dont mind me going off topic? Congrats on the new wheels, by the way. Looks like a very nice colour.

[stilsonsteve]

mikef, on 13 July 2010 - 07:02 PM, said:

Impatient Admin, on 13 July 2010 - 07:01 PM, said:

Come on MikeF you big tease

Finally took it for a proper drive today: up the M3, onto M25, then into Woolwich (for the Yanks, that's near Greenwich, the holy grail and origin of all navigation; 0 degrees longitude )
Drizzly rain, so I can't comment too much on whether the much-hated turbulence around the mirrors is reduced. There's still a bit but it doesn't seem as bad; time will tell. I was never a moaner about wind noise, and I've had the radio on so I can't really comment.

No pics yet cos I'm waiting for the perfect weather to give her a proper polish.

I have no complaint about 19" wheels. The ride is just as smooth as on 18"s. Perhaps it's a little more twitchy on road imperfections, but the feedback is just right and no one would notice except someone like me who has done 40K miles in a 2.7 on 18"s.

I've played with D, S, Dynamic, in various combinations but I'll reserve judgement until a few more trips. A plug-in chipped 2.7 can perform as well as a 3.0, and I think perhaps with a bit more smoothness. Maybe anyone out there who has plugged in a chip to a 2.7 might like to swap for 10 minutes and try the difference

The (standard) 19" wheels look waaay better than the old 18" ones which are now only on the basic 3.0 petrol Luxury. Stratus Grey desrves chrome vents so that's coming up soon.

Pics soon... promise

Excuse me for spoiling the moment of glory with a new car,only had mine 6 weeks so I'm still at the drooling stage, but whats this "only on the basic 3.0 petrol luxury"I have a 3.0 petrol which has 17" wheels which apart from being a bit of a pain to clean,lots of spokes are fine. You must also know there is no such thing as a basic Jaguar. The basic 3.0 petrol is the same spec as the basic 3.0 Diesel execpt for 18"wheels a couple of minor technical mods.So far, apart from fuel economy, which I accepted due to my low mileage I am very very impressed. No run downs please or you will sound like Baron,and you don't want to do that!!

[pious]

I'll chime in on that - I drove a 3 litre petrol as a loaner a few weeks ago (it had 20" wheels though) and I was really (like enormously) impressed. Even the engine note was great. I'm a V8 fan myself (must be compensating for something), but I think if I had driven the 6 before I bought the 8, I would have found it very hard to justify the extra 20% ($30K) or whatever I paid for it, and I think I would have been extremely happy with the 6. And by the way, I have the 19" plenty of spoke wheels on the 8, and they are a pain to clean as well, but they do look good from an angle.