Originally posted by jatrax I'll give you it was not the best analogy. However, owning a Jag has been one of my dreams since I was a kid (which sadly you just crushed), so I had assumed it would be more fun. If you can authoritatively state from your experience that driving a Jag is NOT more fun than driving a mini-van then I guess I have to thank you for saving me a bunch of money.
Sigh, one more dream crushed.........................
Oh dear, I really need to preface my posts with something along the lines of 'never take me too seriously' - I definitely don't!
If you have the dream of getting a Jag, please do not let me put you off it. Mine, an XFR, is basically an XF with the 5.0L supercharged engine and trick suspension from the XKR with a bodykit, and it is awesome. A one off purchase with a massive chunk of money I won't see or earn for a long, long time. As such, it is financially the most stupid purchase I have ever made, but otherwise the best. Over 500hp, a fantastic sounding V8, the best interior of any car the sensible side of £100k, a comfortable ride, and IMO better looking than the BMW and Merc equivalents. It also cost a great deal less than a CLS AMG or an M5 - enough less to buy a copy of pretty much everything Pentax makes if I had had the money in the first place!
Alas, the immense running costs in the UK of insurance, tyres and fuel mean that it just isn't practical to use every day, and I actually save money by running a second car for most of my miles - a 1.2 automatic suzuki swift, highest trim (BTW, who thought that we would ever see a bargain basement car that had climate control, bluetooth, a more than half decent stereo, cruise, and even an airbag for the driver's knee!). I love it because it is equally great value for different reasons - cheap to run, but more importantly looks better than the amorphous blob of most new compact cars, and it handles like a go-kart. That, along with the peppy but underpowered engine means that you can drive it like a rally car while keeping to speeds that won't get your licence revoked instantly. If I drove the Jag enthusiastically, but well within its limits, on the public roads it wouldn't be long before I had to take the bus.
That's why I said that often it matters more how you use something - but it still matters what you choose to use. If you want a Jag, but understandably can't stomach the high price new, have a look at an S-Type R. Not fantastic looking, but the wonderful old 4.2L supercharged V8 and should be pretty reliable. A 5 year old one is likely to cost less than almost any new budget car. It's still a Jag, built in the factory that once made spitfires!
David
EDIT: Apologies for the massive deviation from the topic
EDIT AGAIN: The minivan may be appalling to drive - I once drove a loaner Prius and would never accept a car that handles like such a barge. My take on the analogy was meant to say that the K-x may be cheaper, but is just as honed and fit for purpose as any recent Pentax.
Last edited by orangezorki; 03-20-2012 at 01:01 PM.