XJS Soft Tops Club

Owners Club for XJS Cabriolets and Convertibles

Isle of Man driving experiences

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    • 13th July 2017 at 10:55 #6182
      Jon Scales
        @jonscales

        Just filled up for the second time over here and the driving style for the Isle of Man is not looking too bad….a lot worse than cruising but achieving between 19 and 21 to the gallon, probably my heavy foot or not being able to stay at a constant speed.

        Jon

      • 14th July 2017 at 01:02 #6210
        Mark Thorley
          @m164

          Being Auto John you obviously won’t get as good economy as the manual. My car does significantly better than 19/21 mpg during general driving, I’d say close to 30. I was quite surprised just how good the manual economy is. That said, there is something about an Auto in a grand tourer that I find appealing and the slightly less economy would be a worthwhile sacrifice for

        • 14th July 2017 at 14:37 #6239
          Jon Scales
            @jonscales

            Mark, I would agree….Unfortunately over here there are not many roads that I can keep a constant speed going. Also during the TT Practice week I was driving it on a few evenings home and managed to get some pace. Where in the UK the National Speed Limit applies, over here the de-restricted does mean de-restricted. Managed to push well over 100 for a couple of miles just to get me home in time before being stopped from getting into our road because the circuit had shut.

            Jon

          • 14th July 2017 at 23:19 #6244
            Mark Thorley
              @m164

              What did she drive like at 100mph+ Jon Scales ( @jonscales )?

              Positivity steady and quiet? I’ve only cruised at 85mph in mine on the Motorway and it was like being sat on a big comfy sofa 🙂
              Unrestricted roads sound great although it would never happen on the Mainland

            • 15th July 2017 at 08:55 #6270
              Jon Scales
                @jonscales

                Mark, could only hear the engine purring like normal. revs only got to around 3000 and like you said just like sitting in a nice comfy armchair. Going around one or two of the corners I would normally take @ 30 was a bit strange taking them at 45/50 as you heard the mud guards dragging a little, but with an older vehicle I suppose that it not unusual, but it held the road like it was on rails! Seeing the faces of the TT Marshals as you fly past them holding up their fingers letting you know how long you had left before the roads shut was an experience. Especially along one straight, Cronk-y-Vody where it is normally 7 or 8 minutes to home and only having 5.

                Jon

              • 15th July 2017 at 11:21 #6275
                Mark Thorley
                  @m164

                  Wow, great descriptive text, I could visualise everything you said there John, you must have felt like King of the Road and part of some kind of event. In fact reading that has made me want to consider buying a pair of leather driving gloves 🙂
                  I know these cars are very capable of fast driving on straight or bendy roads but I’ve never really safely nor legally had the opportunity, maybe a Club meeting over there could be the answer to that one…..:-)

                • 15th July 2017 at 11:37 #6277
                  Jon Scales
                    @jonscales

                    They are and they fly. It is good at times being able to do whatever speed you like, but it has it’s downside as you need eyes everywhere. That particular instance above I managed to scrape into my road with 30 seconds to spare or I would have had to walk home up from the campsite below our house.

                    It would be nice if the roads were slightly larger (Laurence will be able to atest to this having spent a little time over here a number of years ago), but hey living on an island has it downside. There are only a few miles of dual carriage way anywhere on the island and they all have speed limits!!!! Maybe I should fit the dash Cam next year and provide commentary?

                    It would be good to have a meetup over here. There appears to be one other Cab and Convertible over here and that is it. Hoping John Bleasdale ( @bleasie ) can assist with any of the history of the other Cab.

                    • 15th July 2017 at 21:36 #6297
                      John Bleasdale
                        @bleasie

                        Sorry Jon
                        No information on another one over there Jon, other than the Reg number which I picked up from the build sheet——————— MAN 123 J (Isle of Man——Sebring Red (CDJ 287) V12-

                        Bleasie

                        • 16th July 2017 at 13:37 #6317
                          Jon Scales
                            @jonscales

                            John,

                            That must be the one that the other John that has the 3.6 over here saw, over the edge of the mountain road a number of years ago. I was hoping you could help out on the details of the one I posted the pics of.

                            Jon

                      • 15th July 2017 at 20:11 #6290
                        Mark Thorley
                          @m164

                          Ooh yes please, cam footage would be great to watch with a brief overview of your lovely Cabby before and afterwards. As this site grows maybe a gathering on the IOM could be feasible. Imagine a convoy of us sprinting the Course between coffee stops and doing it days before the TT Event, might even stir the Worlds Camera Crews already setting up in readiness for the most exillerating road race on the Planet. Anything for a piece of free promotional press

                        • 15th July 2017 at 20:59 #6293
                          Laurence Jones
                            @laurence_admin

                            I’m up for venturing over to IOM for a visit in my Cabriolet if you are Mark Mark Thorley ( @m164 ) – just have to time it right that you haven’t handed the car over to your brother Jon Scales ( @jonscales ) 🙁

                            Laurence

                          • 16th July 2017 at 08:48 #6312
                            Jon Scales
                              @jonscales

                              Laurence, it goes back next weekend when we go on our annual holiday to Scarborough. I have a hospital appointment on the Monday so driving it down on the Sunday.

                              It will definitely be coming back next year.

                              Jon

                            • 16th July 2017 at 11:08 #6314
                              Mark Thorley
                                @m164

                                So guys next year it is then?? Let’s try get something organised for an IOM run. Over to you Laurence, it’s your Club 🙂

                              • 16th July 2017 at 13:40 #6319
                                Jon Scales
                                  @jonscales

                                  Just be warned, we will have to look carefully at timing as the TT ramps up the prices for ferries and availability of room on board and accommodation, also there are more roads that are un-restricted for you to try Mark. If there are enough I will get in touch with the Jurby Motor Museum and maybe we could meet up in the forecourt there.

                                  Jon

                                • 17th July 2017 at 18:49 #6344
                                  Mark Thorley
                                    @m164

                                    Yes, good point John, we will keep our options open until we know more of the detail, but yes, a jaunt does sound good ?

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