Sometimes shopping for the right car is fun, but today it sucked!

I drove 50 miles to check out four used car dealerships in Broward County, FL -- three of them were in a pretty rough part of town. The first one had a nice black XJR but they wouldn't bother pulling it out of their showroom so I could drive it -- "We're not a test drive facility" the kid told me! WHAT?!!!! I asked him if he really thought I should buy the car without driving it and all he said was we don't want to move three cars just to let someone test drive it, they wanted a commitment first! LOL I told him the car was a little overpriced, but I'd be willing to make an offer if it checked out on the road -- he wanted to know how much! I left.

I went to another "dealership" and didn't feel safe getting out of my car! I didn't stay very long at that one.

I drove past the next one -- didn't even want to stop. It was in the kind of neighborhood where you roll up your windows and lock the doors at traffic lights!

By this time I was tired of looking and I just came home. I almost bought one in West Palm Beach yesterday -- the salesman called me and left a message today - don't know how I missed the call -- they were closed by the time I called back and won't reopen until Monday morning.

That's the end of my shopping this weekend -- except online, of course!

 

If your that concerned, don't bother with dealers, look to private sales and get them to bring the car to you, this is what my Dad does

 

I don't know what you mean by "that concerned," I was simply relaying my daily experience with delving into the darker side of society in my quest for a Jag...you have to look everywhere before you know you've found the right one.

 

You just need to be patient -- the great cars are out there and will reward you with reliability ...... and you are in a perfect part of the world to find one.

I believe you will see a lot of great cars coming up for sale in the near future. As a lifelong Jaguar owner and enthusiast I am around a lot of Jags and many of the people who own X308's as daily drivers are up against the reality of age and miles. Many of these cars will no longer be used by the owners as a primary car in the near future and how many second cars can you own -- the x308s will go. Even my perfect 02 XJR with 55k -- is 10 years old. On long trips the last year or so I take something else.

 

This is what I meant, you're in the USA, I'd have thought you'd have a .357 Magnum under the seat....

 

You're so right, but I didn't -- bad on me! LOL

 

I'd sell mine.
1998 127K
Red/Maroon
Almost perfect body

 

Is that the one with the slipping transmission you were talking about? I bought an XJ8 last week -- love it!