Trabant

Yep, good old Trabbis... like a souped up weed whacker

I spent a lot of time in Berlin in the early 90s --you still saw a lot of those puttering around the East-side streets!

Yep, good old Trabbis... like a souped up weed whacker

You need a better weed whacker.

Nice to see you guys have love for Saab. Here's my first car: 1996 Saab 900s. I don't have it any more, but what a reliable car.

/JR

Ok so i just got back from a test drive on the X-Type.

I have no frame of reference for other Jags or even other higher performance cars, but I took it out to a curvy road by the foothill at the top of a trail head, found an empty lot, and was able to do some fast cornering and turning. I thought it did fabulous, gripped the road and held its own in the tightest configurations. Had plenty of zing on the freeway as well. This thing picks up on command pretty well for an automatic transmission, but there is that tiny lag that comes with auto trannies. I do prefer the tactile feel of a manual.

It still seems to me like its a very muscular agile and firm family car, rather than a cushy , comfy sports car. I have no experience or data points to base that on, its just a feeling.

Ok, so the top of the dashboard and the door side panels are more Ford than Jag, but really: for the handling, steering, grip, comfort, ride, and exterior looks all at this price point to quibble is almost whiny. Its seems like a great gateway high performance car, with enough power and handling precision that my beginning skill level could grow into.

im rather intrigued.

If you want a great gateway high performance car, go back to my earlier recommendation: a cheap Miata. After a couple of years seriously driving one (schools, autocrosses and track days) you'll know all that's worth learning about sports cars and what to look for.

Let's go racing

If you want a great gateway high performance car, go back to my earlier recommendation: a cheap Miata. After a couple of years seriously driving one (schools, autocrosses and track days) you'll know all that's worth learning about sports cars and what to look for.

you really want to talk me out of a Jag, dont you?, lol (jk)

Yes, he does . . .

He's right, though. The Miata would be a great car to own while learning advanced driving skills.

However, the Jag would be nicer for taking your lady to dinner.

look, Miatas are cool and i dont doubt they 'll fill that sports car niche, but if I go down this path , I'll have to sell the Rav 4 to make it happen, which means Im down to one car, which means it needs to have room to haul kids around and get my gear about. I dont see any Miatas that fil those parameters size wise.

Well, you're right, a Miata makes a pretty lousy daily driver (which is the main reason I sold mine).

The thinking was -- and only you know if this is viable for you or not -- is that you can pick up very nice 90s Miatas for about 4000-5000, and often less. If you could swing that while keeping the RAV4 (and you have room for an extra car laying about, etc), then it's a good plan. But if it would need to be your only car, well, it may not work for you.

If you're ultimately looking for something like the 911, then the best gateway is something lower-powered, RWD, and with excellent handling. And man, there just aren't that many cars out there that really, truly fill that bill, especially if you need some level of utility.

I'm a big fan of big fast coupes and sedans, but even the best of them fall well short of a purpose-built machine like the 911.

that may be doable ...and its a path im toying with. And as much as i'm loving the Jag marque, I do think there's better options going that route...As they say, the most expensive used car you can get is a low -priced Jaguar. So thats whats bumped me up to more recent, reliable Jags, at which point we're at the one car scenario. ..

it really depends on what i want from the automotive experience as a whole.

Yeah, that makes sense. If you can swing it, the Miata-as-a-second car scenario would be a good plan I think. You'd really learn a lot about performance car handling and so on. Then, in a year or two, sell the miata AND the RAV 4 and get the 911 (or whatever you've got your eye on then).

get a Jag XK140 , yet get a sports car fun ride and at the same time you get the experience of driving a truck !!!

The XK140 was a beautiful looking car, but the one I always loved the most was the later XK150. Very similar, but the 150's lines were just that bit sleeker. Both much sought-after these days...

yeah i use to have an XK140, and an E type but the xk140 steered like a truck

those are lovely!

I know - and I STILL lust after an XK150. Here in Oz fully restored versions tend be to be offered for anything from $70K upwards. Found this bargain for you Link.... Shipping will be extra...

drool!!!! thats gorgeous!

Ooooh, that's something sweet right there. I like the Jags too you know. I think the next car I buy for Mrs. Bonedaddy will be a Jag.

My boy and I go round with the cars as he is an uber aficionado of super cars and I am a hater of anything not made in america and refer to then all as douchebag mobiles... BUT apparently my PT Cruiser is made in Mexico and now I have sell it (yes ignorance is no excuse i know). My father raised us to buy american and he now is a traitor with his Hyundai Genesis. I am crushed..

In anycase my wife's Dodge Magnum is slightly nicer than my 54 buick (by slightly more than a million times over) so I've got my soon to be 16yr old convincing me more and more to get myself a new version of the car I dreamed of having in high school. I would love to own this sex machine in a bad way.

and my secret traitor side wants this forth coming porshe panamera wagon (I have a station wagon fetish) but I would have to cut off my arm first

A Porsharu? Bad Tavo! Only a SAAB's wipers can scrape the moose off your windshield.

Yay for the SAAB love and props to Enoch Leonard Thulin. Here's the Top Gear tribute Link...

And Trabant??..all the hot East Germans drive Wartburgs.

ps. I had a SAAB 900s and it cost me a small fortune constantly.. my license plate frame read " life's tough so quit yer saab'n"

Ah well, sorry to hear that Tavo. It is true that even a well-made car can become a money pit.

Cool on you for the '54 Buick. I especially dig the '49 Super/Special and '54 Century coupes like this one Link... And a hello to Mopar's Scorched Earth Society, I could live with a 1996 Viper GTS.