Driving Long vs. Short Wheelbase Cars
#43
#44
I'm still leaning SWB. But if a Super comes along when I'm ready to buy, I don't know how I'll be able to turn away. To wit, there was a car in SoCal, a Portfolio Edition car, that's was available for around $28K. My parents live out there. I could have had my dad inspect it and buy it for me and put it on the transporter or drive it out here to Texas. But then I see the SWB R's in the $15K to $20K range and I say, what the heck. I'll just get one of those. So, I'm still torn!
#46
I have an interesting 2004 (X350). It is an XJ VDP, but is also SWB. My wife wanted Ivory with her Radiance Red.
Prior to this Jag I had a (X300) 98 XJ SWB. It was a luxury car in every way and couldn't handle its way out of a box.
The 2004 is an entirely different animal. I am Skip Barber trained, and because it only weights 3800 lbs, I fear no 7 series BMW. Period. Car is deceptively solid when pushed. I'm sure an XJR is even better. Below 6ft tall a SWB should be fine.
As far as ride issues, its those damn hard casing Michelin MXMH4's. They also turn into greased lightening with age. I yanked them off at 30K with 7/32nds left on them cause they were getting scary. The new Kumho Escta LX Platinums ride like a dream and handle just as well as car was when new. Car is much smootherat low speed than before!
Prior to this Jag I had a (X300) 98 XJ SWB. It was a luxury car in every way and couldn't handle its way out of a box.
The 2004 is an entirely different animal. I am Skip Barber trained, and because it only weights 3800 lbs, I fear no 7 series BMW. Period. Car is deceptively solid when pushed. I'm sure an XJR is even better. Below 6ft tall a SWB should be fine.
As far as ride issues, its those damn hard casing Michelin MXMH4's. They also turn into greased lightening with age. I yanked them off at 30K with 7/32nds left on them cause they were getting scary. The new Kumho Escta LX Platinums ride like a dream and handle just as well as car was when new. Car is much smootherat low speed than before!
#48
#50
Today a car appeared here locally at Boardwalk Porsche, around 2 miles from my office. It's this car: http://www.boardwalkautogroup.com/-D...k-Car/5741907/
I went and drove it. I am hopefully about 2 weeks from being able to put the finances together, but not today. If I were ready, I would be taking it for an inspection, because I'd be making an offer of around $18K on it. There's NO rash on the wheels. There's only one defect in the paint I could find. The interior is literally flawless. The only thing I didn't like about the car is that the front driver's side tire is worn more than the others. However, the alignment seems fine. It's like the previous owner drove it needing an alignment for too long, then traded it. The dealer performed an alignment and now it's "where it's at". Other than that, this car is perfecto. Only thing is I'm not ready today. Oh the drama of it all.
I went and drove it. I am hopefully about 2 weeks from being able to put the finances together, but not today. If I were ready, I would be taking it for an inspection, because I'd be making an offer of around $18K on it. There's NO rash on the wheels. There's only one defect in the paint I could find. The interior is literally flawless. The only thing I didn't like about the car is that the front driver's side tire is worn more than the others. However, the alignment seems fine. It's like the previous owner drove it needing an alignment for too long, then traded it. The dealer performed an alignment and now it's "where it's at". Other than that, this car is perfecto. Only thing is I'm not ready today. Oh the drama of it all.
#52
Man I am seriously JONESING for that car. I was sad when I pulled it back into its place on the lot. I felt like a kid at the amusement park getting off his favorite ride.
That was the first time I've had one of these cars over 100mph. The sales rep. and I got on the local toll road. I gave it about 3/4 throttle and took it to 90 and backed off. I told the rep. something like "it's astonishing the illusion of speed in these cars". She asked "why, how fast were we just going"? I said "90". She was visibly taken aback. She had a hard time believing we had just gone that fast. Then I floored it from 70mph to 110mph, and kept it over 100mph for around 1/2 mi. Cruising at 100mph was utterly uneventful.
I have driven many cars over 100mph. Never have I driven a car so able to make 100mph seem so routine, in a good way.
That was the first time I've had one of these cars over 100mph. The sales rep. and I got on the local toll road. I gave it about 3/4 throttle and took it to 90 and backed off. I told the rep. something like "it's astonishing the illusion of speed in these cars". She asked "why, how fast were we just going"? I said "90". She was visibly taken aback. She had a hard time believing we had just gone that fast. Then I floored it from 70mph to 110mph, and kept it over 100mph for around 1/2 mi. Cruising at 100mph was utterly uneventful.
I have driven many cars over 100mph. Never have I driven a car so able to make 100mph seem so routine, in a good way.
#53
#54
#55
Man I am seriously JONESING for that car. I was sad when I pulled it back into its place on the lot. I felt like a kid at the amusement park getting off his favorite ride.
That was the first time I've had one of these cars over 100mph. The sales rep. and I got on the local toll road. I gave it about 3/4 throttle and took it to 90 and backed off. I told the rep. something like "it's astonishing the illusion of speed in these cars". She asked "why, how fast were we just going"? I said "90". She was visibly taken aback. She had a hard time believing we had just gone that fast. Then I floored it from 70mph to 110mph, and kept it over 100mph for around 1/2 mi. Cruising at 100mph was utterly uneventful.
I have driven many cars over 100mph. Never have I driven a car so able to make 100mph seem so routine, in a good way.
That was the first time I've had one of these cars over 100mph. The sales rep. and I got on the local toll road. I gave it about 3/4 throttle and took it to 90 and backed off. I told the rep. something like "it's astonishing the illusion of speed in these cars". She asked "why, how fast were we just going"? I said "90". She was visibly taken aback. She had a hard time believing we had just gone that fast. Then I floored it from 70mph to 110mph, and kept it over 100mph for around 1/2 mi. Cruising at 100mph was utterly uneventful.
I have driven many cars over 100mph. Never have I driven a car so able to make 100mph seem so routine, in a good way.
#56
Alan,
I'll refine my words a little more to say that I've never had the XJR's competition over 100mph to compare. What I've driven that fast are Porche 911/993's, american v8 pony cars, an older Mercedes S Class (1978 450SE), and various other forgettable autos.
I've driven the competition to the XJR, but never that fast. I was valet parking cars for extra money part-time between 2003 and 2007. At that time I drove just about every car you want to know about, but never higher than 40 or 50 mph, and not for very long either.
I'll refine my words a little more to say that I've never had the XJR's competition over 100mph to compare. What I've driven that fast are Porche 911/993's, american v8 pony cars, an older Mercedes S Class (1978 450SE), and various other forgettable autos.
I've driven the competition to the XJR, but never that fast. I was valet parking cars for extra money part-time between 2003 and 2007. At that time I drove just about every car you want to know about, but never higher than 40 or 50 mph, and not for very long either.
#57
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