I hadn't thought of it quite like that, but come to think of it I'm fond of those beavers as well.

As shown in the photo earlier in this thread, our STR has a mesh grill and if it didn't, I'd probably be searching for an opportunity to replace it with one.

 

I’ve never been overly in love with the retro look of my 2000 s-type, but it has grown on me; what started off as “like” has slowly grown to “love”. However, calling it the ugliest car Jaguar ever made is stretching hyperbole beyond its limit. It’s a pity some journalists feel the need to resort to such lengths to grab the reader’s attention.

 

I bought an '05 S Type brand new and the car , being long paid for now, sits in my garage as an "extra car" that I can not part with. It is destined to be handed down to my granddaughter someday in nearly mint cosmetic condition.
Anecdote on this 2005 purchase....I had one of the first 2002 X Types leased 36 months. It was due for return to the dealer or payoff. I had the cash in hand to pay the residual and keep the car, but on a lark out of nowhere, I visited the local Jag dealer and saw the line of new S Types sitting there and thought it would be a grand surprise to get one for my wife. So I had a salesman shadowing me and I asked him..." what if instead of paying the residual on that X Type, I apply the money as down payment on a new S Type?"....he said "let's run the numbers". So at his desk, he spits out a written quote on the beautiful silver S Type with chrome wheels I had selected, and tells me that with that down payment, my monthly car loan purchase on S Type would be LESS than the X Type lease payment ! So I said..."write it up, I'll be back tomorrow with my wife who will think we are simply returning the X Type, and I can surprise her with the keys to the new S Type". Next day we arrive to surprise her, and as we are sitting at the finance desk (secret now disclosed), the finance guy told me they can't honor the salesman's quote because he made a mistake and the payments were going to be much higher. So now my wife is disappointed and I'm livid, and demanded to take the matter to the owner of the dealership. He was playing golf, they reached him by mobile and explained the matter and told him I had a written hard copy quote in hand. He instantly told them that because his employee had made a mistake and I had the written quote, they were to honor the terms and close the deal. So....problem solved and as we were walking out the door to our waiting brand new Jag, we were escorted to the gift counter and told to take what we wanted free of charge with their apologies for embarrassing us. My wife chose a coffee mug, but the finance guy said no m'am......you are getting jewelry and instructed her to make another blingy selection!!!! And off we drove in the brand new 2005 Silver S Type that will not leave the family. BTW....in 2005, the sticker on that S Type was a hefty $52000.

 

I took "delivery" of my 2008 S-type last year. I had wondered why the design had grown on me. One reason is our "tastes" catch-up with the designer. But also, in those years, cars have generally become un-beautiful.

 

True dat!

 

.....has the writer never seen a cyber truck?

 

Easy to answer question. Ugliest car ever: the Pontiac Aztec.