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In V12 form the S3 remains quick in a wafty, effortless and unflustered way that lunges you politely up to three-figure speeds before you really expect it. It's still superbly smooth and quiet too. Economy depends on driving style - the computer said I was doing 19mpg which sounded suspiciously thrifty to me - but it can't be any greedier than some big, ugly modern off-roader. Nobody bats an eyelid at one of those doing 12mpg.
Through bends the rear-driven XJ leaves you much more in command than most modern big saloons with no stability controls to isolate you from the action but with a much more intuitive feel than the super-smooth original. Personally I'd prefer to get back some ride and trade off some handling, but that's just me. If anything dates the car, it's things like lazy 70s-style windscreen wipers, slow electric windows and underwhelming headlights.
KWE, based in Hampshire, has included the XJ-S in its range now and are on the brink of appointing its first dealer. Chris eventually wants to expand the KWE concept of remanufacturing rather than simply restoring to embrace other marques. "I'd like to get to the stage where I can say to customers 'Pick any car you like that you've seen being driven in the last 40 years and we'll give it to you as new'."
"We want to get across the message that out of the 2.6 million cars sold in this country people should consider a classic car - providing we can convince the public that they are as reliable - if not more so - than a modern car but still look beautiful and have that special atmosphere."
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