Hiring an e-type for a wedding
Discussion
Hi all,
Being in the early stages of planning our wedding next year (september), while my dearly beloved is wrapped up in colours and venues and photographers, my mind is thinking about how I am to arrive at the ceremony!
I've always loved the e-type Jaguar, ever since I saw them at the Bromley Pageant of Motoring as a child, and as I've grown up I've always liked the idea of hiring one for a couple of days and for my Best Man and I to drive to the ceremony in one (via a sneaky nerve steadier in a nice country pub of course!). The plan would then be for my new Wife and I to travel home in the car the following day, via somewhere nice for a spot of lunch.
I'd therefore be looking for hire over the Saturday (day of wedding) and Sunday as a minimum, maybe the monday as well (I assume returning it on the Sunday might be an issue?).
I live in North-West Kent (m25 j3 area) and the wedding will be in Ashford.
So, my questions having found a couple of places online that seem to fit the bill:
- Has anyone done this or something similar before? Any advice (am I mad considering I'll have enough to think about on the day!?)
- Any recommendations of a hire company?
- Any recommendations on which e-type I should be looking at? I must confess, I know how beautiful they are, but there my knowledge ends! I would want a Roadster over a coupe and looks-wise would not rule out a series 1, 2 or 3, but is an earlier car going to be difficult to drive for a classic car virgin such as myself?
Any thoughts, tips and recommendations very much appreciated.
Thanks
Being in the early stages of planning our wedding next year (september), while my dearly beloved is wrapped up in colours and venues and photographers, my mind is thinking about how I am to arrive at the ceremony!
I've always loved the e-type Jaguar, ever since I saw them at the Bromley Pageant of Motoring as a child, and as I've grown up I've always liked the idea of hiring one for a couple of days and for my Best Man and I to drive to the ceremony in one (via a sneaky nerve steadier in a nice country pub of course!). The plan would then be for my new Wife and I to travel home in the car the following day, via somewhere nice for a spot of lunch.
I'd therefore be looking for hire over the Saturday (day of wedding) and Sunday as a minimum, maybe the monday as well (I assume returning it on the Sunday might be an issue?).
I live in North-West Kent (m25 j3 area) and the wedding will be in Ashford.
So, my questions having found a couple of places online that seem to fit the bill:
- Has anyone done this or something similar before? Any advice (am I mad considering I'll have enough to think about on the day!?)
- Any recommendations of a hire company?
- Any recommendations on which e-type I should be looking at? I must confess, I know how beautiful they are, but there my knowledge ends! I would want a Roadster over a coupe and looks-wise would not rule out a series 1, 2 or 3, but is an earlier car going to be difficult to drive for a classic car virgin such as myself?
Any thoughts, tips and recommendations very much appreciated.
Thanks
There is just No contest , it just has to be a S.1 Roadster. Preferably in Opalescent Silver Blue , acheingly Beautifull . But i think you will struggle to find one from a Hire Co. in that colour. Most seem to be Glitzy Red repaints. There was a Hire Co. somewhere in the Kent ? area , think ? he had a Red 63 Roadster.
Re strugling to drive it, Many E-Types drive very poorly , with sloppy Suspension, Brakes that dont , and the 3.8 Models Moss Gearbox is frankly Awfull to use. The 4.2 Models All Syncro Box however is a delight to use and a Good well set up E is just heaven to drive. They can also feel nose heavy, the weight of that steel bonnet is realy noticeable. (Alloy or Fibreglass Bonnet transforms them) but as a wedding treat Go for it, there is just nothing to compare to an E.
Re strugling to drive it, Many E-Types drive very poorly , with sloppy Suspension, Brakes that dont , and the 3.8 Models Moss Gearbox is frankly Awfull to use. The 4.2 Models All Syncro Box however is a delight to use and a Good well set up E is just heaven to drive. They can also feel nose heavy, the weight of that steel bonnet is realy noticeable. (Alloy or Fibreglass Bonnet transforms them) but as a wedding treat Go for it, there is just nothing to compare to an E.
If in doubt do it!
You don't get married that often (unless you are a minor celeb?) so make the most of your day enjoying a car that you fancy.
We hired a shiny black Series One 4.2 XKE (see piccy) for our wedding a couple of years ago and have absolutely no regrets.
It is an iconic car which is both beautiful to look at and drive.
As regards which sort, it is entirely a matter of personal choice, although the Series One to my mind is by far and away the prettiest of the bunch. Should anyone has a contrary view I understand that SpecSavers have many keenly priced spectacles for sale.
A September wedding might be bathed in glorious sunshine or alternatively drenched in a frigid monsoon so I'd say at least consider a tin top over a rag top. We had lots of rain (what with it being January in Devon) and stayed both dry ensconced in our metal tube and toastie warm with the heater on. Whilst I have no experience of rag tops on Jaguars, my Frogeye can on occasions leak like a leaky thing if water manages to find a sneaky gap through which it can channel itself at 60mph. Think tent on wheels and you generally won't go too far wrong with classic roadsters. Brides, I am reliably informed, can get a bit funny about having their outfits messed up on the day - maybe seek Future Mrs Wiggy's views regarding such a possibility?
A three-day hire works well if you want to enjoy a little motoring in the car. I drove it about 30 miles on our wedding day (some of which may have been whilst a smidgekin hungover and preoccupied with other things) and a further 200 miles over the next two days. This included a memorable blast over Dartmoor, a bit of cheeky winding through some of the narrower lanes and surprising the odd rep mobile on the A30.
I don't know any hire firms near you but would suggest that you visit whichever company you intend using before you sign up to anything, ask for a test drive and familiarise yourself with the below points.
(i) The bonnet is surprisingly long.
(ii) Future Mrs Wiggy (once confirmed in role) will need her dress wrapped around her legs and at least three men to thread her feet first through the door after the ceremony.
(iii) The bonnet is actually a touch longer than simply being surprisingly so.
Migeulski
Oh, and don't mention it is for a wedding as prices have a funny habit of increasing at the mere suggestion of such a thing.
You don't get married that often (unless you are a minor celeb?) so make the most of your day enjoying a car that you fancy.
We hired a shiny black Series One 4.2 XKE (see piccy) for our wedding a couple of years ago and have absolutely no regrets.
It is an iconic car which is both beautiful to look at and drive.
As regards which sort, it is entirely a matter of personal choice, although the Series One to my mind is by far and away the prettiest of the bunch. Should anyone has a contrary view I understand that SpecSavers have many keenly priced spectacles for sale.
A September wedding might be bathed in glorious sunshine or alternatively drenched in a frigid monsoon so I'd say at least consider a tin top over a rag top. We had lots of rain (what with it being January in Devon) and stayed both dry ensconced in our metal tube and toastie warm with the heater on. Whilst I have no experience of rag tops on Jaguars, my Frogeye can on occasions leak like a leaky thing if water manages to find a sneaky gap through which it can channel itself at 60mph. Think tent on wheels and you generally won't go too far wrong with classic roadsters. Brides, I am reliably informed, can get a bit funny about having their outfits messed up on the day - maybe seek Future Mrs Wiggy's views regarding such a possibility?
A three-day hire works well if you want to enjoy a little motoring in the car. I drove it about 30 miles on our wedding day (some of which may have been whilst a smidgekin hungover and preoccupied with other things) and a further 200 miles over the next two days. This included a memorable blast over Dartmoor, a bit of cheeky winding through some of the narrower lanes and surprising the odd rep mobile on the A30.
I don't know any hire firms near you but would suggest that you visit whichever company you intend using before you sign up to anything, ask for a test drive and familiarise yourself with the below points.
(i) The bonnet is surprisingly long.
(ii) Future Mrs Wiggy (once confirmed in role) will need her dress wrapped around her legs and at least three men to thread her feet first through the door after the ceremony.
(iii) The bonnet is actually a touch longer than simply being surprisingly so.
Migeulski
Oh, and don't mention it is for a wedding as prices have a funny habit of increasing at the mere suggestion of such a thing.
Many thanks for the replies so far, very much appreciated.
RE the risk of rain spoiling the future Mrs Wiggy's day, there's nothing to fear here. The car will be used for my best man and I to drive to the ceremony. We are actually staying overnight at the location of the ceremony and heading off in the car the following day so, unless the missus gets unnaturally attached to her wedding dress, she shouldn't be wearing it in the car!
Of course it will feature is many (most?!) of the wedding photos!
The more I think about it, the more I think the S1 is the way to go if at all possible. I also agree with the point about the bright red examples that seem to be for hire. I do like the look of this one but other than that, there's not a huge amount of choice online.
And many thanks to the two posters with offers to help - I will be in touch with you both at a later date - this post was more a "toe in the water" to see if anyone shouted "don't be so silly". Thankfully that's not happened so I will be pursuing this properly later this year.
Thanks again
RE the risk of rain spoiling the future Mrs Wiggy's day, there's nothing to fear here. The car will be used for my best man and I to drive to the ceremony. We are actually staying overnight at the location of the ceremony and heading off in the car the following day so, unless the missus gets unnaturally attached to her wedding dress, she shouldn't be wearing it in the car!
Of course it will feature is many (most?!) of the wedding photos!The more I think about it, the more I think the S1 is the way to go if at all possible. I also agree with the point about the bright red examples that seem to be for hire. I do like the look of this one but other than that, there's not a huge amount of choice online.
And many thanks to the two posters with offers to help - I will be in touch with you both at a later date - this post was more a "toe in the water" to see if anyone shouted "don't be so silly". Thankfully that's not happened so I will be pursuing this properly later this year.
Thanks again
These people are a lot closer.....
http://www.classic-touring.co.uk/cars.asp
They have two Es and an XK.
NB I have no knowledge or experience of their service, I've just stumbled across their website.
Paul.
http://www.classic-touring.co.uk/cars.asp
They have two Es and an XK.
NB I have no knowledge or experience of their service, I've just stumbled across their website.
Paul.
Just to resurrect this thread as we've started to look into this a little now.
Classic Touring seemed to be ideal in terms of location so we gave them a call. Now, not wanting to break any name and shame rules here, but they could not have been more dis-interested in our custom if they tried. Struggled to get any info out of them and the call was ended with "To be honest, I would call back closer to the date as I doubt I'll even be running this place in a year's time...". Nice.
My Fiancee works just around the corner to Bespokes who have this:
which, although not seen in the flesh yet, looks beautiful in my eyes and will look great against the green ivy-covered property we are getting married in.
Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
Classic Touring seemed to be ideal in terms of location so we gave them a call. Now, not wanting to break any name and shame rules here, but they could not have been more dis-interested in our custom if they tried. Struggled to get any info out of them and the call was ended with "To be honest, I would call back closer to the date as I doubt I'll even be running this place in a year's time...". Nice.
My Fiancee works just around the corner to Bespokes who have this:
which, although not seen in the flesh yet, looks beautiful in my eyes and will look great against the green ivy-covered property we are getting married in.
Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
www.theaveburycollection.co.uk in Cudham/Biggin Hill have an 3.8 E-type roadster but it is a members club.
wiggy001 said:
My Fiancee works just around the corner to Bespokes who have this:
Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
I briefly worked for Bespokes a few years ago, and I've driven that car.Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
They're a long established professional set-up, and that car drives really well.
forsure said:
wiggy001 said:
My Fiancee works just around the corner to Bespokes who have this:
Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
I briefly worked for Bespokes a few years ago, and I've driven that car.Does anyone have any experience of them? They are looking for £700+vat for a Friday-Monday hire, including insurance for 2 people and 300 miles.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
They're a long established professional set-up, and that car drives really well.
Here's a rather breath-taking story. I had a call from a friend in Switzerland who is doing the 75th anniversary Jaguar parade to Goodwood from Coventry. He's coming with his son, aged 29. He phoned me up and asked casually if his son could borrow the C or D type to go to Goodwood. That would be five days and a minimum of 700 miles. Now, how much could I charge him commercially? Oh, the answer was of course no 
Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 3rd August 09:43
lowdrag said:
Here's a rather breath-taking story. I had a call from a friend in Switzerland who is doing the 75th anniversary Jaguar parade to Goodwood from Coventry. He's coming with his son, aged 29. He phoned me up and asked casually if his son could borrow the C or D type to go to Goodwood. That would be five days and a minimum of 700 miles. Now, how much could I charge him commercially? Oh, the answer was of course no
THE parade is a hand picked set of cars which have been specifically organised by Jaguar themselves, and the JEC and JDC. They are specific numbers of specific models. The JEC for instance is providing 2 XK150s. I presume they want to end up with 75 cars, but I didn't add the list up to work it out. The parade goes down from Coventry, via London to Goodwood and into the Revival.Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 3rd August 09:43
My XK150 was on the list, but hasn't been selected :-( Pout. maybe I can persuade SWMBO to let me go to Spa instead to make up for it.
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