Howdy from East Texas!
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 37
From: East Texas
Howdy from East Texas!
Name is Benjamin, 28yo, born+raised 2 hrs East of Dallas, TX.
I poked around here for some needed info, and decided it would be best to join and be counted.
Here's my story, apologies for the length, but I'm recounting it all for the first time so I may ramble, NOT to mention I am on day 3 of getting only 4-5 hrs of sleep each night due to my s.o. starting a new job with much anxiety causing inability to sleep.
Okay, so, cars...I started my driving life out in 2005 driving dad's and grandparent's vehicles when needed. Graduated high school in summer 2006, that winter grandparents gave me a '92 blue Honda auto from my uncle- totaled 6 months later being smashed while parked on the street, insurance $ allowed them to get me another of my uncle's '92 Hondas, white- first time driving a manual- drove for 4 yrs- sold locally, then shared a Chevy S-10 with my s.o. before getting his mother's bought-when-new '97 manual Honda in trade for a newer car we got for her from a coworker- drove 2 yrs, sold after getting side-swiped and getting a insurance payout.
*Just a little side note here, during all these 8 1/2 years my s.o. who I have lived with this whole time, who's a car guy, has owned no less than 9 different cars since I met him, so on average a different car each yr since we started 'going steady'.
So, then...I got bit by the Jaguar a year ago, and am now enjoying full-blown Cat Scratch Fever.
See, I had been captivated by the XJ's styling for a while and always thought I'd like to own one, always checking them out online, but it seemed like a expensive dream. Once I fixated on them I started looking at the market and saw they were not 10K+ like I'd always imagined for some reason.
I took a big plunge off the deep end, head first! Bought one on ebay: a 2001 XJ8 VDP from Florida last January. Talk about getting lucky; nearly immaculate, one-owner, no issues!
I had known I wouldn't be content unless I got a blue one, but quickly fell in LOVE with everything else about it!
Truthfully I had really earnestly wanted an XJS originally but was fearful of the "old Jaguar" reputation so when the guy I got my black beauty from just happened to also put up for sale a Blue 2002 XK8 8 months later, I lept on it. Big mistake jumping the gun, got ripped off by a car with a laundry list of issues that conveniently didn't show up until I got it from from Florida.
I dropped it off at a Jag-only shop for however long it would take, and the hunt was on for what I had wanted from the very beginning. I was obsessed.
Found one on ebay, in Cali, lower miles, 1996- celebration model, blue, ivory/cream interior...I couldn't help myself. I called and made an offer I knew they'd accept, wired the funds.
Very luckily have distant family with contacts whose occupation is transporting fine antique/vintage cars for Concours show-going participant millionaires and they were on their way to Cali and then would be in my neck of the woods in 2 weeks, so it really worked out as best it could. Can you say dream come true?!
Sold the XJ8 to a local high school teacher.
Got the XK8 back from 'Jag shop' with no real improvements- he took me too seriously when I said fix all this stuff when you can, no hurry, don't want to spend any more $ than I need to...he fixed 1 thing. But I guess I'll fix it all myself, it's mostly cosmetic and one major issue (that damn Restricted Performance Mode!).
So now I've got two blue+cream convertible cats to bring up to par, the XK8 being bought by my future father-in-law just as soon as I get it in top shape.
Okay. "Now you know...the rest of the story." How's that for an intro? Sorry again for the life story!
Now I'm here, needing tips, instructions and advice, and looking forward to being a part of this community with my fellow enthusiasts/hobby mechanics!
I poked around here for some needed info, and decided it would be best to join and be counted.
Here's my story, apologies for the length, but I'm recounting it all for the first time so I may ramble, NOT to mention I am on day 3 of getting only 4-5 hrs of sleep each night due to my s.o. starting a new job with much anxiety causing inability to sleep.
Okay, so, cars...I started my driving life out in 2005 driving dad's and grandparent's vehicles when needed. Graduated high school in summer 2006, that winter grandparents gave me a '92 blue Honda auto from my uncle- totaled 6 months later being smashed while parked on the street, insurance $ allowed them to get me another of my uncle's '92 Hondas, white- first time driving a manual- drove for 4 yrs- sold locally, then shared a Chevy S-10 with my s.o. before getting his mother's bought-when-new '97 manual Honda in trade for a newer car we got for her from a coworker- drove 2 yrs, sold after getting side-swiped and getting a insurance payout.
*Just a little side note here, during all these 8 1/2 years my s.o. who I have lived with this whole time, who's a car guy, has owned no less than 9 different cars since I met him, so on average a different car each yr since we started 'going steady'.
So, then...I got bit by the Jaguar a year ago, and am now enjoying full-blown Cat Scratch Fever.
See, I had been captivated by the XJ's styling for a while and always thought I'd like to own one, always checking them out online, but it seemed like a expensive dream. Once I fixated on them I started looking at the market and saw they were not 10K+ like I'd always imagined for some reason.
I took a big plunge off the deep end, head first! Bought one on ebay: a 2001 XJ8 VDP from Florida last January. Talk about getting lucky; nearly immaculate, one-owner, no issues!
I had known I wouldn't be content unless I got a blue one, but quickly fell in LOVE with everything else about it!
Truthfully I had really earnestly wanted an XJS originally but was fearful of the "old Jaguar" reputation so when the guy I got my black beauty from just happened to also put up for sale a Blue 2002 XK8 8 months later, I lept on it. Big mistake jumping the gun, got ripped off by a car with a laundry list of issues that conveniently didn't show up until I got it from from Florida.
I dropped it off at a Jag-only shop for however long it would take, and the hunt was on for what I had wanted from the very beginning. I was obsessed.
Found one on ebay, in Cali, lower miles, 1996- celebration model, blue, ivory/cream interior...I couldn't help myself. I called and made an offer I knew they'd accept, wired the funds.
Very luckily have distant family with contacts whose occupation is transporting fine antique/vintage cars for Concours show-going participant millionaires and they were on their way to Cali and then would be in my neck of the woods in 2 weeks, so it really worked out as best it could. Can you say dream come true?!
Sold the XJ8 to a local high school teacher.
Got the XK8 back from 'Jag shop' with no real improvements- he took me too seriously when I said fix all this stuff when you can, no hurry, don't want to spend any more $ than I need to...he fixed 1 thing. But I guess I'll fix it all myself, it's mostly cosmetic and one major issue (that damn Restricted Performance Mode!).
So now I've got two blue+cream convertible cats to bring up to par, the XK8 being bought by my future father-in-law just as soon as I get it in top shape.
Okay. "Now you know...the rest of the story." How's that for an intro? Sorry again for the life story!
Now I'm here, needing tips, instructions and advice, and looking forward to being a part of this community with my fellow enthusiasts/hobby mechanics!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120,439
Likes: 17,014
From: Durham, UK
Welcome to the forum Benjamin,
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. Great Intro
Follow this link XK8 / XKR ( X100 ) - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the XK8/XKR forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues.
Please remember to add vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. Go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.
You can also visit the US Southwest Region forum by following this link US Southwest - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. Great Intro
Follow this link XK8 / XKR ( X100 ) - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the XK8/XKR forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues.
Please remember to add vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. Go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.
You can also visit the US Southwest Region forum by following this link US Southwest - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 121,160
Likes: 6,655
From: PHX some of the time
Welcome to Jaguar Forums Benjamin,
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 25,864
Likes: 4,709
From: Summerville, South Carolina
