... and deserters?

[blackflash]

Chaps,

I bid you a tearful farewell. Courtesy of our friends at AutoTrader, my X308 has been sold swiftly and at full asking price to a Dutch enthusiast who has been waiting for one with the perfect (of course!) anthracite-and-ivory colour scheme to come along.

I am however not leaving the Jaguar fraternity altogether! I am the proud owner of a Copper Black 2005 XKR-S, fully loaded and fastidiously maintained with less than 22k on the clock. I'm still getting used to the coupe vs saloon but it feels rock solid and goes like a bullet.

I'll pop in now and again to make sure you're behaving yourselves...! And say hello at Newby Hall.

All the best,

Nigel

[SV8Predator]

Worst 'I've got a better jag that you lot' post ever.

But still, enjoy your new acquisition. Any problems yet?

[robv12]

a bit uncalled for SV8??, Nigel enjoy the new car, hope to see you at Weston Park in June, no Newby this year

[jBlackwell]

Hi Nigel,
Your car sounds fantastic, I look forward to seeing it at Weston Park. I am also glad another Jaguar fanatic managed to get a car they desperately wanted when you sold your X308. Well done on getting your XK.
I love my X300 but I know one day when the opportunity arises, like you I will be changing it to a different car in the guise of an XK, nothing like living the dream.

James

[blackflash]

Well BrakeBuster (remember him?) was right. Or was it Joejag?

Bough the XKR-S with 22k on the clock in January. Absolutely smitten with the looks, the power, the tightnes of the ride, the gorgeous interior, the fully loaded features, the Brembos, even the fuel economy at 24.5mpg vs 20mpg for the XJR - everything sorted, everyone commented it was like a brand new car, and it got 10 times the admiring comments/glances/etc.

But... the ride quality on those gorgeous looking 20" Sepangs. Wonderful on a decent A road. But road noise on the motorway means you can't really enjoy the premium sound system like you can in a saloon. And it does clang on those sort-of-potholes which the saloon would just soak up.

So why the epiphany? Well, I dropped the car into David Marks for its service and he lent me a 3.2 X308 - yes a 3.2. I expected it to be under-powered but a bit quieter so fair enough. It was a transformation! Smooth power - enough for me in most situations - and SO quiet.

So if i can get anything like the premium price I paid for it, it's farewell. I don't hate it, in fact I saw it in the station car park tonight, smiled, bumped into an old friend who drooled over it (not on the paintwork obviously) and loved driving off...

Pics at http://www.flickr.com//photos/funnyturn ... 6678/show/

It was 7 years old with 22k on the clock when I bought it, and now it's 8 years old with 32k on the clock. Still pristine inside and out. If all I get is a bunch of people waving their Parker's guide prices at me then I'll still be driving it in a few years time. But if I find someoen like me who is looking for exactly this car and is smitten then I'll move on.

X308 next? I doubt it. Gorgeous but very few capable of being my only car. Another Jag? Hmmm. XF makes sense, and gorgeous inside, but I can't help feel they're not a REAL Jag so why not go mainstream Audi or BMW or whatever. No heritage to speak of, but superb build quality and diesels which do 50mpg+ AND 0-60 of 7 seconds.

All the best,

Nigel