Just added yesterday

[RRoller123]

https://terravali.com/03xkrSilver88k/?f ... qGO9HH6gG0

Just yesterday I added a second Jaguar, this one an XKR, supercharged. These cars are like intoxicating women... One is Bliss, two is Heaven.

Should be here this coming week.

Valeurosport, specialist in Apex, NC in these, plus in Maserati and a couple of other brands. Extremely high integrity dealership, no worries, Valentin is a very honest fellow. Bought both of mine from him.

[aj81spider]

Congratulations - that's a beautiful car.

I find hobby cars are like women too: One keeps life interesting, although every once in a while you wish you were single again (you can tell my partner isn't on this forum!). Two or more consume your all your energy and make you want to hide and hope they never find you again!

[RRoller123]

I am addicted to these cars, I must admit. They are reliable, (but expensive of course when work is needed). They friggin' fly, limited by computer to 155mph top speed, but would do 175mph easy, and the standard XK8 is under 6 seconds 0-60. my supercharged R will be much faster. I have taken a few of the fairer sex out for long day trips out on the Cape (widowed last Winter, sadly), and I always get the same remark: "This is the most comfortable car I have ever been in". And it sure ain't me causing that feeling... hahaah! It really makes a difference having the AC and the heated seats and comfort and quiet... you can go on very long day trips that might have been tedious even in my Malibu, and think absolutely nothing of it. It does make a difference. I love the Spider, but any more than just running around town in it, for me anyway, is out of the question. My back just won't take that anymore.

[RRoller123]

Congratulations - that's a beautiful car.

I find hobby cars are like women too: One keeps life interesting, although every once in a while you wish you were single again (you can tell my partner isn't on this forum!). Two or more consume your all your energy and make you want to hide and hope they never find you again!

AJ, you (and anyone else within the sound of our Eastern MA voices) should come down to the Friday night Cruises at the Episcopal Church at Blue Hills. Right at the base of the rock cliff one sees from 128. Great barbeque, burgers, dogs, corn, etc. And really good people. It is actually easier than it seems to get there, even at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon. My friends the Pietros have run it for decades; it started as a church ministry to provide safe spaces for those in need, developed into a long running car show, with excellent solid gold souled people in attendance. I think nothing at all of running up there from the canal in the XK8.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I love the Spider, but any more than just running around town in it, for me anyway, is out of the question. My back just won't take that anymore.

Sadly, Roller, I have to agree with you there. For me it's not my back, but just that the idea of going 70-75 mph on the freeways (interstates) being buffeted by truck windstreams and crazy drivers, doesn't appeal to me anymore. I still wonder how I drove happily across the country a few times in my '69, and much of that time was with the top down.

That being said, nothing beats a top-down drive on a crisp clear morning on a back-country road with little traffic!

-Bryan
PS: I've always liked Jaguars, but the only one I have now is a 1993 XJ6. It wouldn't make sense to get a newer car, as I pretty much ride my bicycle everywhere. (yes, I'm one of "those" characters)

[TheBender]

I love the Spider, but any more than just running around town in it, for me anyway, is out of the question. My back just won't take that anymore.

Sadly, Roller, I have to agree with you there. For me it's not my back, but just that the idea of going 70-75 mph on the freeways (interstates) being buffeted by truck windstreams and crazy drivers, doesn't appeal to me anymore.

Looks like a great car and lots of fun. I agree too with this. I’ve got 4 cars and all of them have their own purpose. I can’t imagine a nice long daytime drive in Texas during 110 F degree days in July. I see a lot of value in your Jaguars A/C too.

[RRoller123]

The car is so feline that it literally sweats sex. I am not being hyperbolic, there is something about this design...., the Brits know comfort and style and they friggin' nailed it with this one. Plus, there is NO better car to pick up a date in than one of these.

[RRoller123]

I was sold when, after an entire afternoon tooling around the Cape, doing odd stops, beaches, shops, lunch, you know the whole thing, she turns to me on the drive home with a smile and says she has never been in a more comfortable car. That did it, sold. Had to get another one. LOLOL.

The one I just bought is at valeurosport dot com, 2003 Silver XKR. Black leather and BBS wheels. Supercharged. I am a repeat customer, so I got a good deal from Valentin, plus free shipping, and I actually have less in this car with the same miles as I do in the Spider.... which scares me a bit. Valentin is an excellent, very trustworthy and honest specialist in these, plus Maserati and a couple of other brands, he has sold over 150 XK8's and R's. Of course, when it come time for service, I won't touch it, and there will be some really large checks cut.

But I ran the numbers on replacing my aging Malibu, and I could do this XKR for many thousands less, and split my Daily Driving between the 2 of them. I drive so few miles now that I am an aging faht that it makes sense. And the truck can do the Winter and rain and pulling trailers and everything else.

I will be honest and let you guys know how the costs go. I have an excellent mechanic in Hyannis. It is expected that you put about $3-5K in a year if you really keep them fully maintained, but a lot less with less mileage. I am ok with that. I have changed all fluids on the red one, including a full transmission service, which is very complex (surprise) except the rear diff, which will be done, and I have about $1500 in so far. I put an Adamesh Stage 1 stainless exhaust section in too.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I will be honest and let you guys know how the costs go. I have an excellent mechanic in Hyannis. It is expected that you put about $3-5K in a year if you really keep them fully maintained, but a lot less with less mileage.

Yes, please do let us know your experience. I fully believe in routine maintenance, but I've also had friends who got a little carried away with this and spent as much over 10 years to maintain their car as it would have cost to buy a new car at the end. But, there is a happy middle ground I'm sure, and I'm sure newer cars are different than the 1980s and 1990s that I was used to.

-Bryan

[RRoller123]

These things are expensive, no doubt, but they have a lot of company, are not unusual in that area. Porsche, BMW Audi, Maserati, Ferrari, Lambo, etc all cost a fortune to maintain too. These cars were considered to be of "Supercar" status back in the late 90's, and that ain't cheap, for sure. Will run 170 mph all day, but is computer limited to 155 mph in the US anyway. I can tell you that at 110 mph, I have been told that it is like 55 on the freeway, but I have no personal knowledge of this.... A std XK8 like the one I have was about $87K new, I paid $11.4K for a 100% working, perfect body, zero rust CA copy. We shall see... At least I have found a good mechanic nearby. The new one supposedly arrives tomorrow. Not sure what the R sold for new, but mine was again, CA, 100% functional, perfect body, zero rust, at about $17K. And I think I probably have way more than $11k into my Spider?