XK Owner, What Is Your Age?
#101
#103
True story; BTW I am 49,
I have owned a few classic American muscle cars. My typical routine was to buy the best example of what held my interest at the time, give the car what it needed, enjoy the car for a number of years until something else grabbed my attention which would result in me selling what I owned (garage space) and pursuing the new fancy.
My last American muscle was a beautiful 66 Mustang which every one loved and my wife hated. She would complain about the "uncomfortable" seats lack of safety features wind noise etc.
One day while on a cruise she turns to me and says "You should drive a car thats more appropriate for a man of your age. This is a boys car and has no class to it" To which I replied "You know what your saying don't you? You know what kind of car you are talking about correct?" Now she is in a bit of a corner but can't really back down so she replies "I know what I am saying" So once again I ask "You know what price point we are talking about here right?" Once again she does not back down "I know and I don't care this car makes you look ridiculous!" "OK" I said "lets have it your way."
Well even though I have "permission to break the bank" I was not about to do so on a new Mercedes SL or something similar but I did start looking and thats when I found the XK8. Well its an easy car to love and truth be told it is a pleasure to drive a modern car. The day I drove it home I could instantly tell two things; One, she loved the car, she loves everything about it and truly enjoys it as much as I do. Two, At first I refused to tell her how much I spent (17K) and for a period of time I can tell she was thinking " I cannot believe he spent that kind of money that S.O.B.!"
Well I had some fun with that for a few days but I ran into another problem, when I told her how much I really spent she became upset with me for "forcing" her to drive a Civic when she could be driving one of these cars!
Ahhh Marriage!
I have owned a few classic American muscle cars. My typical routine was to buy the best example of what held my interest at the time, give the car what it needed, enjoy the car for a number of years until something else grabbed my attention which would result in me selling what I owned (garage space) and pursuing the new fancy.
My last American muscle was a beautiful 66 Mustang which every one loved and my wife hated. She would complain about the "uncomfortable" seats lack of safety features wind noise etc.
One day while on a cruise she turns to me and says "You should drive a car thats more appropriate for a man of your age. This is a boys car and has no class to it" To which I replied "You know what your saying don't you? You know what kind of car you are talking about correct?" Now she is in a bit of a corner but can't really back down so she replies "I know what I am saying" So once again I ask "You know what price point we are talking about here right?" Once again she does not back down "I know and I don't care this car makes you look ridiculous!" "OK" I said "lets have it your way."
Well even though I have "permission to break the bank" I was not about to do so on a new Mercedes SL or something similar but I did start looking and thats when I found the XK8. Well its an easy car to love and truth be told it is a pleasure to drive a modern car. The day I drove it home I could instantly tell two things; One, she loved the car, she loves everything about it and truly enjoys it as much as I do. Two, At first I refused to tell her how much I spent (17K) and for a period of time I can tell she was thinking " I cannot believe he spent that kind of money that S.O.B.!"
Well I had some fun with that for a few days but I ran into another problem, when I told her how much I really spent she became upset with me for "forcing" her to drive a Civic when she could be driving one of these cars!
Ahhh Marriage!
#107
47 too....I inherited mine from Dad two years ago....I'd gladly give it back to dad if I could but damn! I love this car...it's a '02 XKR in anthracite...Dad was 71 when he bought it, he was like a little kid, he'd wanted one since '62 when he was in Germany in the service, he never said he regretted not getting one then but I always knew he did. He had the XKR for a year and a half and put 30K miles in it! he loved this car too....I'll have it till I see him again, Hopefully I'll be at least as young as he was!
#111
In my case it was my bride who prompted buying our 1999 XK8 coupe seven years ago after her Acura Integra Sport was stolen and stripped. It was "her" car but I drove it more often. We replaced the coupe a year ago with an extremely low-mileage 2000 XK8 convertible a year ago because I absolutely love driving/looking at this car. And the shapely design still garners compliments from complete strangers. I still drive the XK8 more than my wife does, even though she claims it as her car.
I fell in love with the original XKE coupe when I was a lad in high school, despite growing up in the Motor City during the muscle car era. I was secretly thrilled when my wife decided she wanted an XK8 to replace her stolen Acura. And I still get a thrill driving the XK8 every day.
I'm glad that only a few of us know first-hand what the rest of the driving world is missing: the first generation XK8 is sexy, fun, powerful, more reliable than other used cars of the same vintage, and are available at bargain basement prices compared to their original cost. And it doesn't hurt that the girls still love their smooth lines (mainly because my lines are not so smooth anymore!).
#112
True story; BTW I am 49,
I have owned a few classic American muscle cars. My typical routine was to buy the best example of what held my interest at the time, give the car what it needed, enjoy the car for a number of years until something else grabbed my attention which would result in me selling what I owned (garage space) and pursuing the new fancy.
My last American muscle was a beautiful 66 Mustang which every one loved and my wife hated. She would complain about the "uncomfortable" seats lack of safety features wind noise etc.
One day while on a cruise she turns to me and says "You should drive a car thats more appropriate for a man of your age. This is a boys car and has no class to it" To which I replied "You know what your saying don't you? You know what kind of car you are talking about correct?" Now she is in a bit of a corner but can't really back down so she replies "I know what I am saying" So once again I ask "You know what price point we are talking about here right?" Once again she does not back down "I know and I don't care this car makes you look ridiculous!" "OK" I said "lets have it your way."
Well even though I have "permission to break the bank" I was not about to do so on a new Mercedes SL or something similar but I did start looking and thats when I found the XK8. Well its an easy car to love and truth be told it is a pleasure to drive a modern car. The day I drove it home I could instantly tell two things; One, she loved the car, she loves everything about it and truly enjoys it as much as I do. Two, At first I refused to tell her how much I spent (17K) and for a period of time I can tell she was thinking " I cannot believe he spent that kind of money that S.O.B.!"
I have owned a few classic American muscle cars. My typical routine was to buy the best example of what held my interest at the time, give the car what it needed, enjoy the car for a number of years until something else grabbed my attention which would result in me selling what I owned (garage space) and pursuing the new fancy.
My last American muscle was a beautiful 66 Mustang which every one loved and my wife hated. She would complain about the "uncomfortable" seats lack of safety features wind noise etc.
One day while on a cruise she turns to me and says "You should drive a car thats more appropriate for a man of your age. This is a boys car and has no class to it" To which I replied "You know what your saying don't you? You know what kind of car you are talking about correct?" Now she is in a bit of a corner but can't really back down so she replies "I know what I am saying" So once again I ask "You know what price point we are talking about here right?" Once again she does not back down "I know and I don't care this car makes you look ridiculous!" "OK" I said "lets have it your way."
Well even though I have "permission to break the bank" I was not about to do so on a new Mercedes SL or something similar but I did start looking and thats when I found the XK8. Well its an easy car to love and truth be told it is a pleasure to drive a modern car. The day I drove it home I could instantly tell two things; One, she loved the car, she loves everything about it and truly enjoys it as much as I do. Two, At first I refused to tell her how much I spent (17K) and for a period of time I can tell she was thinking " I cannot believe he spent that kind of money that S.O.B.!"
Most of my friends my age that care about cars are usually into stuff like WRXs, Evos, F-Bodies, W-Bodies, Mustangs(Fox Body and newer), and trucks(Chevy, Dodge and Ford, no foreign). I'm into high end imported GT cars, so I'm the oddball out.
#113
#118
The stats are only part of the story. You blokes who live in the USA e.g. don't freakin' know how your bread is buttered. I "die" from the waist down when I read of guys buying XK8s for less than $10K. In Australia, the land of high import duties, "prestige car taxes" etc etc a new XK8 will start at $200K plus.
I bought my car on ebay as a writeoff wreck (AUD$12K) then I invested (?? )
over AUD$50K fixing the car. And that is with mates in "the trade". So...some of you ...count your blessings or the seagulls WILL spot your duco !!
I bought my car on ebay as a writeoff wreck (AUD$12K) then I invested (?? )
over AUD$50K fixing the car. And that is with mates in "the trade". So...some of you ...count your blessings or the seagulls WILL spot your duco !!
#120
The stats are only part of the story. You blokes who live in the USA e.g. don't freakin' know how your bread is buttered. I "die" from the waist down when I read of guys buying XK8s for less than $10K. In Australia, the land of high import duties, "prestige car taxes" etc etc a new XK8 will start at $200K plus.
I bought my car on ebay as a writeoff wreck (AUD$12K) then I invested (?? )
over AUD$50K fixing the car. And that is with mates in "the trade". So...some of you ...count your blessings or the seagulls WILL spot your duco !!
I bought my car on ebay as a writeoff wreck (AUD$12K) then I invested (?? )
over AUD$50K fixing the car. And that is with mates in "the trade". So...some of you ...count your blessings or the seagulls WILL spot your duco !!
It probably won't be long until the good ol' US Government decides that Jag owners are "unfairly rich" and starts taxing the crap out of us too.
I'll enjoy it while I can.
Oh, if it makes you feel any better, a seagull thouroughly defiled my XJ8 down on the Oregon coast last week. At least he wasn't a good enough shot to hit the Leaper!
Cheers,