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With retirement looming and with it, the loss of a company car, I could not bear to turn my 22K mile '12 into a daily driver, so off it went:
To be replaced with another "5.0" (and former relative):
This 460 HP Mustang, with a 10-speed auto is outrageously fast and has all the modern connectivity. But it's in a totally different world with regards to quality and refinement when compared to the XK. That, and the exclusivity, I'll miss. On the other hand, I've returned to one of my High School cars. Best wishes all!
Last edited by GGG; May 7, 2021 at 02:28 AM.
Reason: Edit typo in thread title
I know. I rented a Mustang GT while CA in 2019, and when coming down a mountain route I downshifted with the paddles and looked at the gear display, and it read ‘9’!
Took a few more paddle flips to get down to an engine braking gear.
I had my doubts, but even the wife found that car comfortable on the long drives we did.
SEAICE - enjoy your ‘stang!
Yes, always in the powerband and it does not stop pulling! It has normal, sport, sport plus, track and drag settings. Also has line-lock. It's not smooth though, and in "Normal" its laggy and always hunting for gears. This is really a GM transmission that became a joint project between Ford and GM. The GM version is in the Camaro SS/ZL1 and apparently, has better tuning than the Ford version.
I've driven 5.0 Mustang GTs as rentals and always had a blast. I was really impressed compared to the previous spartan interiors and meh handling of old. They are really nice cars that do a lot really well! They look really cool too!
These are such 1st world problems, what nice car do you take into retirement, even though I personally find your thinking very flawed. You had that XK what, less than 2 years, it would have been an absolute gem as a daily driver. Ours has been for my Wife since day one, plus I use it quite a bit also. An upgrade in technology but a big downgrade from your gentleman's cruiser in my opinion.
Enjoy that bright red American muscle, you are happy with your decision so that is what counts, not my silly blathering.
Thankfully you are in Seattle so the possibility of you taking Marky's advice and coming to Florida is very low, otherwise I would say STAY OUT. We already have a massive influx of midwesterners and notherners coming down here and clogging up our roadways, driving up housing price, and all around annoying us natives.
While I certainly understand and follow your logic, both of our accountants would have a very hard time with it! Trading a $30k car for a $50k car to use as a daily is definitely an emotional decision. I still like it! LOL!
Well, I am from Florida originally and am out of my element here in the Pacific Northwest so FL is definitely on the list of warm places to retire (in the US). Jags, BTW are very common in Florida.
Looking forward to taking a break from working and wife wants to downsize and travel, so we may be moving into a city and a condo/apartment/town-home where I can't maintain a car to my perfectionist standards. Also, in 43 years of driving, I'm on my 49th car and I guess I'm always finding a reason to move on. One reason though... I'm a perfectionist, and I have a problem with seeing cars (or anything for that matter) get worn, and yet at the same time, I find it hard to keep a "garage queen" as I see the cash tied up in the vehicle and I don't look at them as investments. Enjoy your Jags, they're truly in another league from most other cars.
Hurry up and enjoy life now as soon as possible. You are now entering a life that you worked for but you are also entering the red zone of life. So take your bucket list and go for it . Don't think twice just plan and go. Good luck and have a happy retirement.
Indeed I am, as is my Wife. Ok, ok, ok, you are welcome back home. All those transplants can go. We are a rare breed us native Floridians, although I am 1st generation (born in Winter Park but raised in Pensacola and Jacksonville) as my parents haled from up North. My oldest brother who is also born and raised in Florida is like you, out West. He joined the Marines after HS and was peacetime stationed in Camp Pendleton then Hawaii. When he got out after 4 years ended up going to Oregon and then settling in San Diego. He is one of the few Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans in that area.
My Wifes story is more interesting, born in Tampa, her parents born in Tampa, her parents parents born in Tampa, the Florida tree has long roots. We stumbled onto her family bible that documented births, deaths, and other family events going back to 1850. Even had some pictures where it says they were amongst the first white settlers in Tampa (as opposed to Indian or Spanish as Florida had recently been under Spain's ownership).
I also had a company car, mine for around 20 years. When my company role changed 4 years ago I stopped using the car for business purposes but it was still a part of my compensation package so I got to keep it for solely personal use. I elected to go with a reimbursement program instead of the company car, it was very difficult to give up that completely free vehicle that you can drive into the ground while preserving your weekend vehicle. So I sympathize. After I "transitioned" I find myself enjoying having a personal car paid for by the company! And a separate weekend ride.
You are now my favorite board member, until someone else says something cool, I am very whimsical like that.
Farewell to the XK... A little regret...
