Go Karts are coming back into popularity. At one time, most go karts were home made jobs with old lawn mower engines attached. Nowadays, go karts come in all shapes and sizes. You can get mini go karts designed for kids all the way up to high performance racing go karts.

Before running out and buying the cheapest go kart on the market, there are some things you need to know and some questions you need to ask before laying out cash for a go kart.

For starters, you need to figure out how you will be using the go kart. Are you buying it for the kids to ride around the yard or will you be taking it off road. Many consumer go karts will not hold up under severe off road use.

The frame of a used go kart should be the first thing you check. You’ll want to give extra attention to the welded joints of the frame. Check for cracks in these areas. Also be on the lookout for bent framing members or frame sections that look like they have been recently painted. This may indicate a recent repair.

Check the front and back wheel bearings by supporting each end on blocks. Pull in and out on the wheels checking for wobbly wheels. Then check them again by pulling side to side. Bad bearings can lead to spindle damaged and any wheel bearing found to be bad should be replaced immediately.

Pay close attention to the engine. Check the oil for water. Oil with water in it will look milky or chocolate colored. Also check to see if the oil smells like gas or has a burnt smell to it. Either one can mean serious engine trouble.

Another area where you’ll want to pay close attention to is the linkage of the steering column and brakes. Worn or rusted connections need replaced. The throttle cable should also be checked for wear or damage. Replace if either one is found.

The next step will be to take the go kart out for a drive. Drive around slowly to see how the go kart handles. Loose steering can indicate problems with the linkage. Speed up to see how the engine handles at top speed. An engine that sputters, smokes or mis fires can indicate major trouble.

Drive the go kart. Is the handling tight or does it have a lot of play? Look at the connections from the steering shaft to the wheels. Rusted or damaged connections will need to be replaced.

To ensure you get the very best possible go kart you can for your family and you, simply follow the above tips and use a little common sense. If the deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is!

Correct car servicing is vital if someone intends to benefit from a superior car performance over the span of many years. As the cost of owning a car continues to go up, paying attention to appropriate car service maintenance will permit extensive car ownership. As time goes on, this extended ownership period will help decrease the costs of vehicle loan expenses and interest charges. It’s imperative to realize how to locate a worthy car servicing station, as well as how to keep away from getting suckered by dishonest repair shops.

When trying to discover a valuable car service repair shop, be sure to understand a few time-tested tips on the topic. First of all, don’t wait to come across a truthful car servicing shop until one is immediately needed. The most terrible thing is to break down and then be stuck going to the closet repair place. Family and friends are a fantastic method to be introduced to a potential repair shop. If they’ve received superior repairs, it’s a good chance the repair shop gives the equal service to all their regulars. Before making a final decision, though, be sure to ask for a few more references and then inquire of those individuals about their comments.

Proper car servicing requires knowledge of a few necessary maintenance guidelines. Pricey car service repairs can be kept away from by sticking to a maintenance calendar. Be vigilant and inspect the oil level at least once a week. Let the automobile run for about thirty seconds, turn off, and then hang around for about two minutes or so. Then pull out the oil stick, wipe it spotless, reinsert it, and then pull it out one more time. This will register a correct reading of the oil level.

There are various car service time intervals to be aware of. A few important ones are as follows: at every 3000 miles or 3 months, the oil should be changed. Spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles or so. It used to be normal for a timing belt could be taken out and replaced every 60,000 miles, but now some have varying intervals and owner’s instructions should also be looked at. Tires should be aligned every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Replace the fuel filter every 35,000 to 40,000 miles. Following car servicing periods such as these will help make certain that a car lasts for a long time.

Drivers of Volvo cars must always focus on the above car service timeframes as well as consulting their manuals for timely Volvo service on their auto. All Volvos should be worked on at the correct service intervals that are explained in Volvo Service Records booklets or at one of the Volvo dealerships. By focusing on all car servicing requirements on the body and under the hood, Volvo owners can keep their cars in excellent condition and get pleasure from their driving time for a lot of years.

An additional characteristic to car servicing to be aware of are car service repair rip-offs. A grouping of folks who are often victims of this kind of scheme are the mature. One such trick takes place when an apparently caring citizen flags an aged person down. This scam artist tells the car owner that it appears as if the car requires repairs. The rip-off artist then puts the vehicle up on the jack and untightens the tire so it will wiggle. The elderly person is swindled into providing the rip-off artist money to fix the problem.

When taking a car in for car servicing, recognize that there exist repair places will add unneeded repairs to the work form in order to increase profits. Transporting the car to another car service repair place can help to figure out whether the added repairs are really needed or not.

Driving a car involves much more than simply adding fuel when the reservoir gets low. By understanding the fundamentals of car servicing, a car can be made to go on much longer than the average person realizes. Most repair shops, such as the ones located at many Volvo service shops, are made up of honest folks. However, it’s always an intelligent idea to invest the time to realize the car service process.

It might seem really unnecessary by some people for me to spend $250 on a car seat when Walmart offers them for 1/5th that amount. However, I have good reason. If I were to get in a serious accident, I’d want to be 100% sure my kids were as safe as they could be. I wouldn’t want to have any regrets about what they were sitting in when the accident happened.

My fears are not unwarranted either. I’ve heard far too many stories about car seats or seat belts failing at the critical moment in car accidents. A personal acquaintance of mine lost both children due to seat belt failure, one of which was the seat belt of a baby car seat.

Because of my concern for safety, I’ve done quite a bit of research on car seats. There are two brands that stand out as being extra safe, especially because they have seats that allow children to remain in a 5-point harness as long as possible. Those brands are Britax and Sunshine Kids.

While the Britax car seats are fantastic, I decided to buy the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 seats. These have wonderful safety ratings as well, and fit my needs better than the larger Britax seats. My kids will be able to sit in the Radian 80 seats until they are 80 pounds, double the normal weight limit for the cheaper car seats! The Radian 80’s also have some other great features I like as well.

Steel frames – these frames won’t deteriorate in the hot sun like other car seat frames. Plastic is far too susceptible to damage by heat and sun.

Convertible – this car seat will last as long as my kids–from infant thru booster seat age. The seats work rear-facing and forward facing as well.

Stylish – you can’t beat the cute patterns they have for little girls’ seats.

LATCH system – because car seat belts have been known to fail, the LATCH system allows the car seat to be strapped directly to the car for better safety

Foldable – while the Sunshine Radian 80 car seats aren’t the lightest thing to pack around due to the internal steel frame, they do fold up and can be worn like a backpack if you need to carry it somewhere like for airline travel.

Nice and narrow – unlike most any other car seats, you can actually fit 3 of these across the back seat of most vehicles. This feature is fantastic!

My kids and I all enjoy the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 car seats. They think they’re cool and comfortable, and I know they’re as safe as they can be. Makes for a great combo that is well worth the little extra money!

While you may not think about it very often, car insurance is something which everyone needs. You don’t think about it much; until you really need it, that is. However, most people have no idea whether or not they are getting a good deal on their car insurance. If you educate yourself about car insurance and what to expect from a policy, you can avoid being convinced to buy a policy which you really don’t need.

The minimum coverage which you are required to have is different in each state. The exact stipulations of thee no-fault laws also vary slightly, but work basically the same everywhere.

The first part of your policy is the collision and comprehensive coverage, which covers the automobile itself. Collision covers those trees which jump in front of your car and rude drivers who put their cars in the way of yours. Comprehensive includes damage and theft (hail, falling trees and the like).

The second part of your policy covers liability – the damage done to another car when you are at fault in an accident. This coverage is shown in numeric terms, such as 25/50/10 (this means that your insurance company will cover up to 25,000/person and 50,000/accident – the 10 means your insurance company will cover 10,000 in property damage/accident.)

Medical payments to others, covers anyone in the accident, regardless of fault. Your policy even covers you if hit while walking. If you have an accident and no health insurance, this part covers you. It also defrays expenses from an accident your health insurance doesn?t cover.

There will also generally be coverage in your policy to account for uninsured and underinsured drivers, which covers you if someone with no (or inadequate) coverage hits your car. This part of the policy also covers hit and runs, Towing coverage can also be added to your policy if you opt for liability as well as comprehensive and collision coverage for a low fee.

You can save a lot of money on car insurance by keeping these rules in mind:

1. When it is time to renew your policy, get a variety of quotes and compare the prices. You can do a comparison of rates on many websites – however, look for quotes on insurance with the same coverage as you have now.

2.Check for discounts with your homeowners insurance company. Sometimes they offer a discount if you carry both products with them.

3. Ask if any discounts are available. There are often discounts available for drivers who have higher premiums (such as young drivers) who maintain good grades (if students) or for those who take additional driving courses.

4. Make sure that you really need to cover your car. If you don’t have a loan on the car, you might find it cheaper to just let the comprehensive and collision part of your policy go. Compare the payments you will receive if the car gets totaled against the Kelly blue book value – If this amount is less than two years of your monthly premium, you may want to drop this coverage and use the savings for a newer vehicle. However, don’t be cheap when it comes to liability coverage; it is well worth the cost.

5.Get a weather beater. These are older cars that you use for driving back and forth to work. Save the good car for special trips. When you assign the most driving to the old car, carry only liability and use the new car with full coverage for pleasure us only, you save wear and tear on the car and the money spent on the beater is more than covered by your savings.

Contract hire and personal contract hire rates do vary considerably from one company to the next. One reason is because different companies take a different view on residual values (the value of the vehicle at the end of the term) and also as is the case with many products and services you are not always comparing like with like.

The Internet can be a good place to find competitive offers, which is where most contract hire brokers advertise. One of the difficulties of looking for the lowest possible rate, each time you buy a vehicle, is that on each occasion you will probably have to deal with a different broker, because different contract hire brokers will have special deals at different times. This stops you getting to know the broker and getting to know and trust a good broker is vital, because contract hire broking is an unregulated industry.

Seeking out the very lowest price on a car is only really practical for the smaller company that only occasionally changes a vehicle, or for the individual using personal contract hire. For a company that buys more than one or two cars a year, they really need to find a well established reliable broker that is competitive across the board. Where they can rely on the service and in particular the delivery date that has been quoted; there are unfortunately companies that quote delivery dates that are not achievable in order to secure the business.

In the case of a company that buys more than the odd vehicle it is not terribly practical to be dealing with a different broker each time they acquire a vehicle. A company such as this would probably be better off, developing a long term relationship with an established contract hire broker that would manage the whole fleet and provide all the related services; for example ongoing licence checking of the employees and negotiating manufacturers terms on behalf of the client.

For those who are the occasional buyer then the Internet is a good place to start looking. A search in Google under contract hire will produce nearly 4,000,000 results and under personal contract hire in excess of 750,000. So how many of these companies do you look at? The evidence is that very few people venture past the first page; you will also find offers under vehicle leasing, car leasing and contract hire and leasing.

There are sites that act as directories for a range of contract hire and leasing brokers. Some people are quite happy using these sites others don’t like them. There is nothing essentially wrong with them, although it is important to be aware that they don’t take responsibility for, or police their advertisers. So whilst the site may be very reputable it does not necessarily follow that their advertisers are. There is certainly evidence of contract hire brokers that advertise on these sites offering prices and delivery dates that are unachievable.

Of those advertising on the directory websites there will be some well-established and reputable contract hire brokers. They are often not difficult to spot; they will invariably be those that advertise in a very straightforward manner. If the deal being offered is for twenty-four or thirty-six months you would expect the advertiser to show the profile i.e. three payments in advance followed by thirty five monthly payments, or three payments in advance followed by twenty three monthly payments. If they don’t state the payment profile then they are quite likely to be offering something different, which will make it difficult for you to make a comparison.

Some companies manage to show a lower monthly rental by taking six rather than three payments in advance. There is nothing wrong with a deal that takes six payments in advance, as long as overall it works out less expensive than one that takes three payments in advance. The problem is that that they rarely do.

If delivery dates quoted are better than those quoted by other companies it is really a matter of speaking to the contract hire broker and trying to gauge if you are talking to a company that is straightforward in its dealings. It can be difficult to know, but if the delivery date is much sooner than others are advertising and they also require a deposit (sometimes refundable when the car is delivered), that could be time to start worrying. There is a lot to be said for the old saying, “if something appears too good to be true, it probably is”.

Pricing is another area some contract hire brokers mislead the public, advertising cars at prices knowing they cannot supply at those prices. The thinking behind this is that they will be contacted by those who are attracted by the deal and they can then tell them that that particular batch of cars have been sold but they have something similar etc. It is planned that contract hire and leasing brokers will become regulated in the future; just as insurance brokers are regulated by the FSA. It is expected that these companies will then have to change their ways, or go out of business.

Contract hire broking is an industry where customers are frequently let down, sometimes this happens where small brokers who have to work through other brokers, have themselves been let down by the main broker.

Perhaps one route to follow would be to find say three or four companies offering the lowest prices and then speak to them all; try to establish if they really can provide the vehicle at that price, on the promised delivery date and that they are not going to contact you after a few weeks and change the price, the delivery date or both. Ultimately choosing a company that inspires the most confidence, even if it is 2 or 3 a month more in terms of contract hire rental may be the best option.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution first appeared in the early 90s to pave the way for Mitsubishi’s entry into the World Rally Championship’s Group A class and the SCCA Pro rally Championship. Only the Japanese were lucky enough to witness the first ever Evo’s which were based on the Mitsubishi’s family Lancer saloon.

The car was soon a sought after gem and was crossing european borders to enter the import market as a prized grey-market import. Mitsubishi were fast to realize the interest and quickly paved the way for official imports to the UK in 1998.

The first Evolution was a four wheel drive with a 5 speed gearbox and 2.0 litres of power that summoned a powerful 244bhp. This was a blueprint which set the future standards for the Evo, and Mitsubishi didn’t let us down as there have been many incarnations.

The Evo was built alongside the more family orientated Lancer Saloon, like a hot headed big brother, and though the evo got heavier, the power and the handling got better and better until Mitsubishi had literally evolved a cult classic. The Evolution developed respect amongst speed freaks and rally drivers alike and although the car wasn’t a real eye opener to look at, under the bonnet punch was key to a long and successful life.

The Evolution IX was introduced in 2006 and was the final box edged Evo to grace us before a replacement model was drafted in. This model was a very different beast to the original and sported a lightweight aluminum roof and larger carbon fibre rear wing for better weight ratio and snake control. The engine was still a 2.0 litre turbo with variable valve control, and really kicked in with 345 bhp controlled by a 6 speed sports box.

This car could shake out top speeds close to 148mph and power from 0-60 in just over 4.2 seconds, which is pushes you firmly into the back of your seat and dries out the inside of your mouth pretty fast, so yes, the Evolution was quick but it was popular for more than just sheer power. The Evo was was very smooth to handle so rally drivers loved it dearly, put bluntly, the Evo was probably one of the best handling sports saloons ever made.

There weren’t many contenders that could beat an Evo from one point to another on snaking roads and tracks, much thanks to the low centre of gravity and four wheel drive. Super active Yaw control and Bilstien dampers gave the car handling to die for, so if you manage to grab one, take heed. These cars can shift.

Mitsubishi hinted quite heavily at what the future Evolution X may look like when they unveiled the Concept X show car in 2005. The visuals had changed with smoother lines and modern bodystyle to entice the changing market trends, gone are the squared edges. All this aside, the car remains true the Evo traditions, but fresher and sexier. The Evolution has once again evolved.

Are you planning to go to a sheriffs car auction? If you are, then you have already made the best decision to owning your dream car. The auction will be a place for you to check out price ranges and hopefully give you that dream car at a very good deal.

If you are like most people, you constantly worry about your finances. You probably worry as many times as you get the bills, which is perfectly normal. The thing is, even with the existing bills to pay, getting a car is vital to your job and your family life. So buying an expensive brand new sedan is not the best solution to your problem.

What you need to do is to know how to get that bargain deal. You need to keep yourself well informed in order to make the best deal. One of the best decisions to your problem would be buying your car at a sheriffs car auction. You get a good deal and you get big savings.

Every month the number of repossessed properties piles up. These include land, houses and cars. These are then auctioned off to the public at a great deal. If you are lucky or if you have done your research well then finding a great buy won’t be that hard when you’re at a sheriffs car auction. You really just need to do your research well. A few more minutes a day of searching will payout dividends in the end.

Now, just why are these cars given at a bargain rate? They would tell you that it’s storage. It would be better business on their part to auction these cars at a sheriffs car auction than to let them deteriorate and rust up housed in expensive storage facilities.

The conditions of these cars are good. Some even seem brand-new with no more than a couple of months of use. These pre owned cars range in type because the people who once owned them also have diverse taste.

People can’t always pay their monthly bills and the items get repossessed. You can benefit from their slight misfortune. You just head on over to your local auction and inquire about schedules, rules and conditions. Once you do this you will become a step closer to owning that dream car.

Read up on the sheriffs car auction here at my page and become a few more step closer to your bargain dream car!

Once upon a time when you heard the name AAA, you would immediately imagine maps as well as emergency road service for which the organization was most famous. However, these days AAA auto insurance is just one more service that the AAA (American Automobile Association) is becoming well known for!

A growing in popularity source for auto insurance

The AAA are certainly one popular auto insurance company indeed. They currently provide auto insurance policies for around one quarter of all American households.

The fourth of March 1902 was the date the AAA was founded. Back in those days the company worked with local as well as some regional automobile clubs and additionally had a few associates outside of the US.

The Canadian Automobile Association and in the UK the Automobile Association are some of the AAA’s international associates.

In the United States of America and in pretty much any other developed country of the world we all know auto insurance is something we are governed by the law to have.

One thing that can certainly be said for AAA auto insurance is that since the company has over 20 years of industry experience they have had time to perfect their services.

With AAA auto insurance you get a number of benefits including protection for others as well as their property, protection for your own vehicle and also protection for the owner of the vehicle including the passengers traveling within it.

When your vehicle finds it self in an accident and collides with another vehicle and you are at fault, then you can avail of limited coverage and you can also get the cost of your legal defense covered under your AAA auto insurance policy.

Other things generally covered are liability coverage, medical payment coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and of course coverage for any damage to your auto.

A personal car insurance policy is also an option with the AAA auto insurance company. If you take this option just make sure to compare what you’re getting with other standard policies to be sure nothing is being left out.

There are also a series of additional services you can get with AAA auto insurance. You can for instance get your battery tested once in a while, have approved auto repair, quickly and easily get any travel related documents, and of course you will have access to emergency road services.

In a popular culture where people love SUVs, economy cars, family sedans and sports cars stand out. We have many selling points for all types of cars but sports cars are a bit unique in the attraction because of reasons that we are going to discuss below.

1. Driving Quality

The primary function of sports cars is performance compared to other types of cars that are designed with function and afford ability in mind. The driving experience that you get with a sports car is not the same compared to “normal cars”. When you drive a sports car, you are able to hug turns, accelerate much faster when needed and have a level of driving control that you will not normally find in other vehicles.

If you are concerned as a driver with the quality of your driving experience, a true sports car offers the best alternative. Sports cars have been designed to cater for the most discriminating drivers in mind making them easily outdo the performance of other types of vehicles easily. To prove this, one only needs to drive an oversized SUV and compare the driving experience to that of a sports to understand what we mean.

2. Beauty of Sports Cars

Appearance might not necessarily be the primary reason why we buy a car but when we see the highways littered with messy looking cars, a buyer that is discriminating will find a beautifully designed sports car a very appealing option.

Function might be crucial, but even in this utilitarian planet of cars people still seek cars that are more aesthetically pleasing. Many of us drive quite often and those drivers that want to spend that time in the presence of good design are more often likely to find the sleek lines and measured looks of sports cars alluring and a welcomed relief from the dull cars so many people decide to use for transportation.

3. The Car Residual Value

The moment a new car is driven off the show room, it depreciates in value. We also have cars that are good at holding their value more than others while fewer become more valuable with time. Because sports cars are beautiful to look at and are of better quality, they are more likely to become future classics and have a strong value than normal automobiles.

Just have a look through the classified advertisements. See which older cars are still demanding a high price. You will realize that economy cars and pickup trucks fetch less than high-performance sports cars. Also think about the classic cars which many collectors yearn for. It will be hard to find car enthusiasts still searching for old Chryslers. On the other hand, how many people do you think will be interested in a vintage Corvette?

4. Expression

Every purchase that we make speaks volumes about ourselves. Someone who is comfortable in blending in with the crowd will most likely purchase a car that blends into traffic. We also have those who want to take each and every opportunity to maximize express their individuality. Since sports are fewer in numbers on the road, owning one gives you an opportunity to distinguish yourself from the crowd.

5. It Expresses Fun

Many sports cars are iconic and have a mystique around them. This mystique is nearly impossible to define but it’s there. Its comes as a result of top designers fretting over the tiniest details and many experienced drivers relish the opportunity to drive the latest models. Sports car ownership is, at its core, fun.

What Car magazine voted the Jaguar XF car of the year 2008. The award was well deserved. Leasing and contract hire companies are experiencing strong demand for the XF. It somehow seems odd that the manufacturers of a car so expertly designed and advanced technologically, should have started out as a manufacturer of sidecars; the Swallow Sidecar Company. Started in 1922 by William Walmsley and William Lyons both very keen motorcyclists. However the real driving force behind the company was William Lyons.

At the time motorcycle sidecars were very much in demand, this continued until the ordinary man in the street could afford a car, which was when car sales really took off in the 1960’s. If someone could not afford a car, they would usually have a motorcycle, which was ideal for the single man but not so practical when they got married and had children. The answer was a sidecar. This would allow them to go out for the day as a family; the children would sit reasonably well protected in the sidecar and the wife would ride pillion. The Swallow Sidecar gained market share by having modern and very attractive designs.

During the late 20’s the company had started to build car bodies. The Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company became their new name, which they felt was more in keeping with the work they were doing and they built the body for the very popular Austin 7. Soon they moved from their premises in Blackpool to larger premises in Coventry, where many of the motor manufacturers were based. Other manufacturers started to ask them to also build their car bodies and the company was really starting to get off the ground.

The company was ambitious and before long had launched a car of their own, the impressive SS. It proved to be a real crowd puller when it appeared at the London Motor Show in 1931. Although it only cost 310 to buy, it gave the impression of being far more expensive; it was quite long and low to the ground and its wire wheels gave it a distinctly sporty look.

The name of the company changed again, to SS Cars Ltd in 1933 and the SS1 Tourer was introduced. Shortly after William Walmsley left the company. During the mid 1930’s the SS90 was launched; it was low to the ground and very sporty in appearance, the car was very reasonably priced, less than 400. It was followed by the SS100, this time with a 2,663 cc engine and twin carburettors. It was very fast although later an improved version was on show at the 1938 Motor Show with a 3,845 cc engine. This model never really got of the ground because the Second World War followed soon after its launch.

As was the case with German Motor manufacturers the company’s production was switched to the war effort. The German manufacturing plants were prime targets for the allied force’s bombing raids and the Germans naturally tried to take out the UK manufacturing plants, Coventry became one of the most heavily targeted cities.

After the war the company had to change it’s name. The name SS with all its association with Nazi Germany was far from ideal; in 1948 the company became Jaguar cars. In the same year the XK120 was introduced. Some say its designers came up with the idea of the XK during their long hours on fire watch duty, all members of staff would normally take their turn doing fire watch duty, even senior management; during the war, if you did not have personnel on fire watch during the night, there was a good chance your factory wouldn’t be there in the morning.

The XK 120 was unveiled at the 1948 Motor Show; it was called 120 because of the car’s top speed, which was very fast in 1948. There was nothing that equalled its road holding and speed. It was its lines however that made it so outstanding, even 60 years on there are few people who would not find the car beautiful. It was a soft-top sport car, it had wire wheels and sometimes the bonnet had a leather strap. Girls dreamed of sitting in the passenger seat with the wind blowing through their hair, perhaps not surprisingly men rather liked the idea of being in the driving seat. It’s image later became a little tarnished when it was rather unfairly seen as a cad’s car; depicted being driven by a Terry Thomas type character, complete with cigarette holder.

The 1950’s were a wonderful time for Jaguar; the Mark V11 was launched, a large impressive saloon that proved very successful in motor racing. Mike Hawthorn Britain’s first Formula One world champion and Stirling Moss both raced in it. In 1956 the Mark V11 won the Monte Carlo rally. The XK140 was introduced during 1954; it had rack and pinion steering. It also had other new features including a seat at the rear that could accommodate small children. Although small children were probably far from the mind of the typical purchaser of the XK140, thinking perhaps more about speeding along the coast road of the Cote d’Azur. This was followed by the XK150, with disc brakes, and also Mark1, the Mark 11, the Mark V11 and the Mark 1X.

When the Mark 11 was launched in 1959 it was a prestige car favoured by successful businessmen but it also became the car driven by the successful criminal. It was also a favourite with car thieves; usually used a few days later as a getaway vehicle for jewellery and bank robberies. In order to keep up the police bought the same model and modified the engine. A Mark 11 Jaguar went under the hammer in an auction in Florida during 2008 for over $75,000 USD.

In 1961 Jaguar launched the Mark X, it was a very large car much more suitable for the American market than Britain. It was long and wide and did just seventeen miles per gallon, which was not to much of a problem in the US where they were used to gas guzzling cars but of course they were paying much less for their fuel. In the UK it was too large and expensive to run for most .The car became know in some circles as the poor man’s Rolls Royce. The revolutionary E Type was launched in the same year. It was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the motoring press and public couldn’t believe their eyes; it was a most extraordinary looking car, long, low and sleek, with a bonnet that seemed to go on for ever. To describe the car as eye catching would be an understatement; when it was first on the road, it stopped traffic and pedestrians in their tracks. Jaguar must have been very proud of their achievement.

The XJ6 was launched in 1968 and it proved extremely popular between 1968 and 1973 almost 100,000 came off the production line. The series two was to follow and various versions of this model continued through to the present day. During 1972 William Lyons retired from Jaguar.

The XJS was produced from 1975 until 1996. The design appeared to fall short of what had become expected of Jaguar it nevertheless was very well received by the motoring press. Jaguar appeared to be back on track when they launched the XK8 in 1997. Its design was sleek and elegant and reminded some of the wonderful E Type launched 36 years earlier.

In 1966 Sir William Lyons as he had now become was in negotiation with BMC who were interested in purchasing Jaguar. Leyland were also interested in acquiring Jaguar, this put Lyons in a strong negotiating position. BMC won the day, as did Sir William, as he got what he wanted; which was for Jaguar to be autonomous and to have a seat on the board of the company that had now become BMH.

In 1968 Jaguar’s fortunes started to change they became part of the British Leyland Corporation; British Leyland had become very large and chaotic. Labour relations deteriorated to an all time low and whilst Sir William did everything he could to look after Jaguar and its workforce Morale was slipping and it deteriorated further when Jaguar’s founder retired in 1972. Even the company’s name had been changed from Jaguar Cars ltd to British Leyland Exports ltd; it appeared to be change for the sake of change but it certainly caused the workforce to further loose identity. The inevitable happened and in 1975 the company went bankrupt and was nationalised by the government. One can only imagine what Sir William felt for Jaguar the company he had nursed for fifty years.

Jaguar was then in the hands of Bob Knight a loyal Jaguar man, who was determined to turn the company around. Jaguar reputation for poor reliability was becoming well known and sales were dropping. Knight was convinced that a lot of the company’s quality problems were as a result of outside suppliers supplying components that were of poor quality and subsequently failing, making Jaguar cars look bad in the eyes of the public.

In 1980 Bob Knights role was taken over by John Egan. Michael Edwards, who was head of what had become BL, gave more independence to Jaguar and allowed Egan to carry on where Bob Knight had left off, in restoring the company to profitability.

Bob Knight first identified the problem of inferior components being supplied to Jaguar; Egan also quickly realized that Jaguar’s reputation was being damaged in part by their suppliers. When he made it conditional that the suppliers would pay for the cost of warranty work when their parts failed, the problem was soon solved. This was a big step forward in restoring Jaguar’s reputation

The company and had survived and was secure once more, John Egan was chief executive. Jaguar was bought by Ford in 1989 paying $2.5 billion a very large investment indeed and in the following year invested many more billions into the two companies they had bought; Jaguar and Land Rover.

Jaguar never made money for Ford, Land Rover on the other hand did make a profit. 2001 saw the launch of the X Type, which was pretty much a disaster; it had Ford Mondeo components and a real image problem. It was intended to compete with the BMW three series market but became a favourite amongst retirees; it was not good for Jaguar’s reputation.

Whilst Land Rover did make some profits, Ford never really made money from Jaguar, in spite of the substantial sums it invested into the company. The ill-fated X Type was launched in 2001, designed to rival the 3 Series BMW but it was a break from the traditional Jaguar. With its Ford Mondeo components, it did little for Jaguar’s bottom line or reputation.

Ford had problems of its own and needed to concentrate on their own core business, Jaguar was eventually put up for sale along with Land Rover. Ford had sold most of its stake in Aston Martin in 2007 and in March 2008 both Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata the Indian motor manufacturer for $2.3 billion. It must have been a bitter pill for Ford to swallow, made even more bitter, by having to find a further $600 million to make up the shortfall in the two companies’ pension funds. Furthermore Ford will miss out on the success of the new XF model.

Some were dismayed to learn that Jaguar had fallen into foreign hands but wasn’t it already in foreign hands? More important is perhaps that Jaguar now has a long term future. From past experience it seems clear that to succeed Jaguar needs to be left alone and Tata have made it very clear that they do not plan to interfere with the day to day running of Jaguar.

In 2006 of 30,000 Germans polled, the majority favoured Jaguar over the German produced Mercedes, BMW and Audi; Jaguar is also extremely popular in America. The XF model being hailed as a triumph and with contract hire and leasing companies, that are responsible for so many of the cars on the roads of Britain, placing significant orders for this model, there seems no reason why Jaguar will not be around for another 86 years.