Shh...don't let the cat out of the bag (no pun intended)-but the later XJS and
XJ6 are wonderful cars and, some friends agreed with me-the next collectible!
I have a friend who bought used an XJ6 3 years ago and the only thing he's had
to have fixed was the A/C! He says that for the price he paid and the cost of
running, he couldn't imagine paying more that he paid for the Jag for a Toyota
or Honda! And he lives in L.A.-and does A LOT of driving.
I think the XJS convertible is just one of the loveliest cars ever. My aunt had
a business partner who for years, every year traded in the his and hers
Mercedes for the newer model-until a friend got an XJ6. They've been happy
Jaguar owners ever since-can't see ever going back to the Mercedes-and they
have the money to have whatever they want!
And I do know Jag owners who do their own work too. So, it's not an anomoly at
all.
Me? Everyone asks me if I'll ever get a reliable, second car (in addition to
the Spit)-and the answer is a resounding YES! I want an XJS convertible- (6
cyl. thanks-Dave said he won't work on the 12-so, I guess that statement would
be proof that he'll take care that car too!)
Like I always tell Nigel when there's a good looking Jag nearby-"Someday, if
you're good, you'll grow up to be a Jaguar!"
LBCs RULE!!!!
Laura G.
>
>From: "Jay S Baker" <jayb@2xtreme.net>
>Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 12:50:46 -0700
>To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
>Subject: The Difference 'tween Triumph and Jaguar owners
>
>
>I am a lurker, but I have to respond to the recent comments about Jaguar
>owners.
>
>I am a very lucky person! I love British autos! And because of this, I have
>been
>labeled a nut case by just about everyone I work with. I perform ALL of the
>work required to keep my families cars on the road. I am an Electrical
>Engineer
>by trade and I have found that nothing relieves the stress from my work
>better
>that turning wrench in my spare time.
>
>My daily driver used to be a 1980 Spitfire which I acquired a bit over 4
>years ago.
>This car became my good weather drive about a year ago when I began driving
>a
>1993 XJ-6 daily. I have owned the Jaguar for over about 3 1/2 years (my
>wife's
>car before I inherited it). In the time I have owned these autos I have put
>40,000 miles on the Spitfire and 90,000 miles on the Jaguar.
>
>Now let's look at cost of ownership. Yes my Spitfire cost me MUCH less to
>purchase originally than the XJ-6. HOWEVER I have put FAR more money into
>keeping the Spitfire on the road that I have put into the Jaguar. When I
>bought
>the Jaguar I paid less for it that I would have paid for a new Honda or
>VW. In fact a 3 year old Jetta was being offered for sale for more money
>than my 4 year old Jaguar!
>
>Jaguar owners have more money than sense.... NOT!
>Jaguar owners never work on their cars.... NOT!
>(And I am not alone. Check out the Jaguar-lovers email list(s) and you will
>see
>the same sort of advice for the person who does his/her own work as you see
>on the Spitfire list.)
>Jaguars are very expensive to own and operate.... NOT (if you do the
>maintenance
>yourself and don't buy parts from the dealer)!
>
>Come on people. Please stop the Jaguar owner bashing. We are all riding in
>the
>same boat (or is that "a similar LBC"). We love these cars for what they are
>(and also for what they are not). Don't blast someone for loving a
>different
>British auto than you. After all most of what you say about the cost and
>mentality
>of Jaguar ownership can also be said by a MG owner about the owner of a
>Triumph.
>
>cheers
>jayb
>
>P.S. You might ask why my wife gave up her XJ-6? It is because I needed
>something
>a bit more reliable than the Spitfire, especially when I need to drive the 3
>hours
>to San Francisco for work. We looked at several different new cars and
>ended up
>buying her yet another Jaguar (a 1994 XJS convertible) which cost us a bunch
>less money.
>It was a win/win/win since we now own three beautiful British Autos! And I
>will say
>that I REALLY enjoy my 1/2 hour commute (through winding country roads in
>the
>foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California) no matter which car
>I drive!
>
>
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