Intro, manual tranny for XJ40 & Jaguar Pride...

[Seppo Nikkila <sin@sin.pp.fi>]

Hi Jag-Lovers,

Being new to the list I would like to introduce myself to you. I am an EE
living in Helsinki, Finland and currently driving a '88 XJ40. My 2.9 engine
broke on the second Xmas day when it was exceptionally cold even by Finnish
standards. I now have a pre-owned 3.6 installed and it seems to be working
OK. Too bad it took over a month to do the replacement :( I would still like
to replace the automatic transmission with a 6-speed manual. Which
transmission (used) I should get for best performance? What would be a good
source or does anybody out there have one for me?

I just got a '67 XKE here to Helsinki from Arizona. A nice object for a
light restoration -- would appreciate any hints from all of you about doing
my resto. The main things to do seem to be the carburetter, all rubber in
and on, paint (later) and suspension adjustments. Other than those, the car
is basically in show condition. 

Gunnar Helliesen <gunnar@bitcon.no> wrote:

>Are these stories about incompetent and rude Jaguar salespeople typical
>of the US only, or do they apply to the rest of the world as well?
>
>In this country there is only one Jaguar dealer, Oslo Jaguar Service.
>They seem to know their stuff very well and are anything but rude. Once
>upon a time (mid-late eighties) they had a branch here in Bergen. I went
>to the grand opening and got the experience of a lifetime: I ride in a
>brand new XJS V12 convertible. After the ride the salesperson showed me
>around and told me all about Jaguar ownership (how they need maintenance
>etc.). We agreed that I should wait a little before I bought one because
>I couldn't afford to maintain in properly. I was around twenty years old
>at the time and the salesperson was right. He did the only right thing
>though: He was honest, polite and very friendly. He had a full house of
>people but he still had time to notice the dreamy look in my eyes when I
>walked in and recognize me as a future customer. I had always wanted a
>Jaguar, but the ride in that XJS hooked me for good and he knew it.

        Gunnar had a similar experience to that of mine. The Finnish
        sales people have the same kind of approach as well (contrary
        to most all others, the GM seller is especially rude here).
        Just a couple of months ago the Finnish Jag importer invited
        the members of the Finnish Jaguar Drivers' Club to their premises
        for the monthly meeting and during it we got a pre-view of the
        brand new XK8. Two cars just being polished for the grand opening.
        Sorry, no test drive, though ;-) We also have an independent service
        shop here. These people know their stuff and are very friendly.

>When I walked into their showroom in Oslo for the first time about a
>year ago I was given the royal treatment again, full tour of the
>facilities etc. I should explain here that I do not look like the
>typical Jaguar customer, I have long hair in a pigtail, a beard and I
>almost always wear jeans and a t-shirt. They still showed me the XJ220
>they have stored in the basement!

        You lucky dog! 

>I didn't buy a car from them, I bought it privately with a lot of help
>from our list admin, Nick. When I called OJS to inquire about the
>history of the car they told me everything they knew, congratulated me
>and invited me to come in and show them the car as they hadn't seen it
>for some time. A few months later I did and had a long Jaguar chat over
>a cup of coffee.

        Did you buy the XJ220??? Wow!

>The result of all this was that when I crashed the car in October I
>spent a lot of energy fighting with my insurance company over where to
>repair the car. I insisted on Oslo Jaguar Service and won in the end.

        The insurance people seem to be criminals all over the world.
        I get these stories from VetteNet constantly as well.

>The moral of this story is that Ken is right: You have to treat the
>enthusiasts like royalty, they are the best salespeople money can buy
>and you don't even have to pay them. Besides, you will probably end up
>earning money from them in the end anyway.

        Fully agree. Too bad most sales people havn't learn that.
        Actually all customers deserve top treatment. It pays of in the end.

>Disclaimer: No, I do not have any financial interest in OJS, I'm just a
>happy customer. To balance things I should mention that they are *very*
>expensive.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>From:	Ken Wallace [SMTP:kwallac2@ix.netcom.com]
>>Sent:	Saturday, February 01, 1997 7:54 AM
>>To:	jag-lovers@sn.no
>>Subject:	Re: Jaguar Pride vs. Jaguar Cars Ltd.
>>
>>The unfortunate stories about the Jaguar sales organization that have been
>>reported on this list recently have left me thinking that something must be
>>seriously wrong at Jaguar. I would like to make a few assertions:


My experience is mostly that of Gunnar's. Yes the prices here are terrible
as well -- for the XK8 Convertible with no options they as here almost $200,000!

cYa,
sin~

Seppo Nikkila               ________^________       E-mail: sin@sin.pp.fi
Katajanokankatu 7 E 38    //~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\\     Waving from Helsinki
FIN-00160 Helsinki       // __________________\\  
Finland              /\~~---~   | ____ |   ~---~~/\    VIN 194377S102024
                    /|    /______\____/______\    |\
67 / 427 L68       ( | /      |   \##/   |      \ | )  Jaguar E Type 4.2    
Coupe	           | \=|===|================|===|=/ |   '67 Black / Red 
Maroon / Black      \ \\O #####| NCN-34 |##### O// /    FHC LHD 1E33953
Saddle Leather       \ =======||========||======= /    
4-speed M-21          ####  Museum Registred  ####       
Corvette Sting Ray    \##/  Bolt-On Redlines  \##/       Jaguar XJ6 '88
=========================================================================
                        & Ralley BFG Radial T/As       2.9->3.6 done :))
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

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