GoRV - Digital Magazine Issue #53 | Page 29

RV FEATURE and water leaked in when it rained . I got sick of patching it . It really needed new metal welded in or the roof replaced . While I never got the job quoted , I had a feeling it would not be cheap . Soon after , I sold the XJ .
I always missed that great allrounder , so in 2018 I bought another XJ . It was a really original vehicle , the exact same model , but this time in Patriot Blue . I made sure there was no rust at all .
But in the five years since I ’ d sold the black XJ , things had changed . Even though it had only done 160,000km and was as stock as a rock , the blue XJ just didn ’ t feel as tight to drive , and with the elcheapo shocks someone had fitted , the ride quality wasn ’ t nearly as good as the stock offroad Up Country shocks on the black XJ .
Phil bought this XJ in Patriot Blue ... but it just wasn ' t the same .
Even though in some ways driving it felt like slipping on a pair of old comfortable shoes , this car was different . I tried to change things , such as the shocks , to improve it , but the magic had gone . I sold it after six months , in the end having never actually towed with it .
Now I just have to wait patiently for Max Taylor to retire his Isuzu MU-X , the next-best modern-day all-round 4WD tow hauler to the XJ Cherokee ...
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