What is great about this thread, and it says a lot about the kind of people who drive Jaguars I think, is that people can disagree so politely and respect the views of others even when they are poles apart from their own. I've been in plenty of threads where a discussion like this degenerates into horrible, flaming behaviour from the first page. It makes me believe that Jaguar owners are a special breed too, much like the cars. Long may it continue!

 

Perhaps if AM hadn't pimped up a DB4 in '61 for an upcoming British-spy film, and instead, Sir William's '61 Geneva Auto Show sensation-causing E type become the "Bond car" things would be different today.
Or not. Maybe some things are just meant to be, but comparing the two, the Jag was worlds ahead in every way. And yet here we are and the big cats are now only found in second-hand stores or as hand-me-downs.
But one thing an AM will never provide is the 'look'. The Bond luster has long faded from the Aston, and as much as I do like a Vanquish, it's a confused identity. But the **** is still the poster girl for a more
'liberated' time. When taking delivery, the sale's manger asked if my wife knew I had bought the car. Co-workers asked how I got permission. Young boys openly drool. Dads secretly drool. And the wives and divorcees
look on with an odd mixture of disapproving contempt and naughty flirtation. It's wholly impractical, won't take the family anywhere, with barely enough room to transport post-dinner party menage-e trois participants.

But the sad truth is, we are a diminishing band of like-minded folks who enjoy a true GT. I applaud Lexus for dipping a toe in the big coupe pool, but it's become a class of car for very deep pockets.

 

The same Bond fantasy people have in their heads, I have of the Etype is my head, but 10x that. Because the coolest people on earth were lining up to own an Etype. And these were people with so much money that a car would rarely excite them. There has never been a greater fanfare surrounding any other car. I cant honestly think of a car that compares in nostalgia. Yes its incredible how fiction surpasses reality. Silicone trumps the genuine article.

 

How soon you forget the reception received by the 1964 Ford Mustang. While nowhere near the style, quality, engineering excellence and price of the Etype, the Mustang excited the masses of Americans. They were not the coolest people on Earth, and they didn't have much money, but they lined up in droves to buy a Mustang. And that nostalgia lives on today.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's what the publisher has to say:




"Mustang Mania

Ford dealers around the United States and Canada weren’t prepared for the onslaught. After slyly off-loading new Mustangs and hiding them in shops or outbuildings, dealerships opened their doors on Friday morning, April 17, and were overwhelmed by just how many car-crazed drivers wanted their first glimpse at Ford’s new Mustang. The stories have become Mustang lore:

In Texas, a dealer reported that 15 people were bidding on his last Mustang.

In Pittsburgh, a dealer was unable to bring a Mustang down off the wash rack because so many people were crowded underneath.

In Chicago, a dealer locked his doors for fear that the mobs endangered themselves and his employees.

One buyer slept in his car at the dealership until his check cleared the next day. In Seattle, a concrete truck driver was so mesmerized by the Mustangs on display that he crashed into the dealership’s showroom window.

The hysteria continued over the weekend as Ford dominated TV airwaves with Mustang commercials on Saturday and Sunday nights. According to Iacocca, more than four million people visited Ford showrooms over the April 17–19 weekend. Most dealerships sold out of their allotted Mustangs; salesmen wrote orders for 22,000 cars, creating a two month backlog."

Those were the days ...

 

It was like that with the E-type, only it was world wide, with two other huge factors, in performance it blew the doors off everything else on the road- even the SL, so it was a no-comprise car. And it was a descendant of Jaguars that were winning back-to-back race victories at the time. In my opinion, the only other car that had similar effect was the one you owned and sent me a picture of. Sans the global availability.

 

I don't own a Mustang and never have. I have driven tons of them, and legitimately REALLY like the 2015+ Mustang GT. The best part about the Mustang is that they don't have near the stereotypes or pretension about them. EVERYONE in America knows a person with a Mustang or who had fond memories of one they owned. They don't have a stereotyped owner; men and women, young and old, rich and poor. Tons of celebrities owned them, politicians, CEOs, etc. They are reliable, cheap as dirt to own and operate, and some variants are wicked fast and handle nicely.

The Mustang really was a big deal when it came out and has been so popular ever since in America for good reason. The E Type and Mustang never were the same type of car. Important no doubt, but the Mustang arguably touched more people.

 

 

No disrespect for the marketing genius of Ford at the time, or for the over 10 million Mustang buyers since. My point was not that the Jag was popular, as it really wasn't in numbers
since Lyons couldn't mass-produce the car. But, had different hands clasped in agreement in '61 we might be lamenting what to replace our DB9s with, and if only a Jag. It wasn't just
the 150mph performance, or even the exquisitely sculpted bodywork capable of bringing most men, and a few women, to their knees. Tilt the cowling forward and god-almighty,
sweet baby Jesus it's one jewel after another. What other make even would dare to expose as much under the skin as the E? Surely not the Pony car's wishbone-control arm front
or its leaf-spring rear. Even Ferrari never lifted its skirt quite as high, or as willingly.

Those were the days. Though, Tesla's Model 3 launch had tens of thousands camped out overnight for a chance to slap a deposit on a car they wouldn't see for two or three years.
And another 400K have plopped a deposit on a truck that hasn't hit production. All without the heavy marketing the Mustang enjoyed. And these cars really are breakthrough. So maybe,
in some ways, these still are the days.

My advice. Save your money. Invest wisely. And in two years supplement the XKR with the Piech Marc Zero.

 

Piech Marc Zero?

Sweet baby jesus, what an ugly car!

 

Ford still has something going right with their 'cars'. The GT was sold for $400,000, but people willingly buy used ones for nearly a million. If Ford would have "mass" produced the GT for a price of even $300,000 and kept up with demand as they no doubt COULD have done easily, there would be a GT in every neighborhood, and not in a climate controlled garage of millionaires who only want to capitalize on future values.
Even the lowly Mustang GT500 could have sold a hellacious number of cars instead of the Limited Edition that was MSRP at $75k but sold everywhere for over $100k. I took a serious look at buying one many, many months ago, but couldn't find any that weren't already allocated or were at $125k or more.
Ford could make an absolute KILLING off some vehicles, but would rather keep the mystique alive. Both Props and BAH! at them for this.
Jaguar already IS a "Special Edition" as per number of vehicles produced. Yes, they are special and not only for the rarity, but because they are Good Cars.

 

Funny never owned or have driven a Mustang . Also never knew anyone who did. Just sayin.

 

My first car was a 66 Mustang with a straight six and a 3 speed. Drove it like it was a Ferrari. Jagtoes you have moved on from an XKR, let us see some pics of your ride. We all like car **** even if it's not a Jag.

Silicon NEVER ever trumps the real deal... just respectfully saying Queen.

 

A buddy had the Shleby GT350. Very impressive car with perhaps the best V8 drive train of any new car at the time. Has everything you need to win a race or die in a ditch off the side of the road. So much power and too easy to drive like hooligan for me. The clutch is like a Civic, gearbox like an S2000, but with 500+ HP. Too hard to just drive regular around town. He had to trade it in to preserve his life or ensure he would maintain his license.

 

Hmm, I saw it in the flesh at Geneva in 2019, and it's anything but ugly. Fantastic presence, scale and proportions. But to each his own.

 

Totally agree. My son sent me this of their Saturday romp through the back roads of Northern Westchester and Fairffield counties in the Northeast. The GT's is the family's anyone-gets-to-drive car. Their FF not so much.
The surprising thing is how well the Model 3 hangs with the pack.




I drove up North in April and joined one of their "spirited" drives. 5 M3 tuner cars, the outragious new M4, a Z4M coupe, a Vantage, tuner 330, and a Tesla Model 3. (i'm 8th from the left).
The Beemer guys were surprised they couldn't shake the physics-defying Jag, I was more surprised the Model 3 stayed on my tail the whole time. And it's not the performance model!

 

I don't expect to get my new ride until maybe August or Sept. When I get it I'll give folks my 1st impression as well as the driving experience. Enjoy the ride.

 

And how much of that nostalgia can still be had in today's model.
My first love was an Etype. First time I saw the XK150 my heart stopped, but then it sobered as the XK did not have any extraordinary underpinnings. And that element of being the best performer was central to that grace, pace, space promise.
Then late one night after leaving dinner we walked by a dark closed Jaguar dealership, on the showroom floor was just one car, illuminated gently a 510hp XKR coupe. (the coupe was Lyon's favorite too). I had that same feeling I had with the Etype. I could not believe that I had an opportunity to recreate that childhood romance.
But one problem still remained, unlike the Etype, this did not have the notoriety and the fantasy was truly in my head. I have got to an age where what's playing on the radio does not matter to me, just the soundtrack in my head does. So we take the irrational plunge of buying a car we dont need...
When I got my car I took it to show my best friend, who is not a car person, but romantic of all art....first thing he screams; that's an Etype.

I got my generation's ability to have Grace-Pace&Space. Wish it was the cat's meow the Etpe was, however, in actuality it is...in my neighborhood cars mean nothing, as example the other day I am behind a McLaren and another one passes me. Forget Etypes and XJ220, look at picture below of what a gathering of Ctypes & Dtypes looks around here, yes that #12 is the one driven by Stirling Moss that broke world speed record down Mulsanne. Its impossible for me to remotely compete or keep up appearances, with a vintage or modern car. Astons are dime a dozen bought for the wives, and because they owned them while it was brand-new if I had one, it would be a dead give-away, a servant buying the hand-me-downs to keep up, since they are so familiar with it. If I had a new Ferrari or Lamborghini, it would be flashing a check I cant cash. It's unbelievable to me that these stuck-up folks stop me to compliment me on the XK.

Turn your tv on, spray tan and and silicone seem mandatory. And that's why an understated genuine XKR with wood and leather is not the bee's knees.

 

that Jag got the black pack and mannnnn it's BEAUTIFUL!It's way different from mine in looks and I can easily point it out.The front bumper look like it got a grill at the very bottom of the bumper and mine have silver fangs on the side of the bumper and yours are black.I wish I can switch my front bumper off and give my Jag this same look

 

Good move DGL!

 

???
What did DGL say/do/move? He hasn't posted for at least two pages.