I have not lusted after a car for years.
I’ve seen and driven a bucketload of very nice cars in my life, and enjoyed it a great deal, and even done a very little racing, on a very amateur basis.
Today, a car is just a way to haul; me and my tools and whatever companions I may want with me.
But there are those days…
Like today, when the car ahead of me as I left for work was a Jag XK.
yes, yes, I know. I Jag isn’t to drive, it’s to sit in garages being tinkered with on rainy saturday afternoons in may hoping against the actual moment when it might be driven, but still.
I have not, not for a long time, seen a car that I loved to look at so much, a car that is- to me, at least- breathtakingly beautiful.
17 comments Og | Uncategorized
Hmm. Looks pretty ordinary to me. De gustibus and all that.
M
I nearly wrecked my car the first time I saw one of those. It was love at first sight.
I’m with you, Og. I’ve lost my desire for a pretty car.
Last fall, I decided to actually purchase a nice looking car (I drive a ‘Possum Lodge Van’) for the purpose of… well… dating. Freetime is a precious commodity in my life and I am close to a period in my life where there is some spare time in my pocket to spend.
When I chose the car I ended up buying it came in the color red. No Thanks. If it stands out too much in terms of color, or prettiness, or sportiness, it attracts the WRONG kind of attention. I ended up ordering the car with a non-red color.
No, I do not want the police following me. No, I do not want key scratches on my car because someone is jealous, no I do not want sneering comments from aquaintances who then think I have stepped beyond my station in life.
I want peace… and a nice car that would please the pretty lady I choose to spend my time on. A car that is nice… but not too sporty. A good color that doesn’t stand out too much and attract the wrong kind of attention.
Who’da thought the choice would be so complex? When I see an older man with a sporty car I just shake my head: They end up paying for it in a variety of ways that I consider to expensive: financially and socially.
Right now, the pretty car just sits while I use the Possum Lodge Van and am happy just the same.
Right tool for the right job, I suppose.
Mark: You might have to actually see it in person to appreciate it’s voluptuousness. On the other hand- and i say this with maximum affection- YOU DRIVE A JEEP!
Og my friend, now you know why I have an XK 120 Jaguar. There may be faster and there may be more reliable and there sure are more economical cars but when it comes to drop dead gorgeous lines and style, well there ain’t much better than Jaguars.
[img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p235/RogerS_photo/JagatTarponlodge004.jpg[/img]
You perfectly illustrate my point, Roger. Gorgeous, but not very smart. Is that a 56? Looks like a british racing green hemmoroid.
For smart, I have a VW Diesel.
For looking good, I have the elderly Jaguar. It’s a ’54 120M drop head coupe. Fitted at the factory with high lift cams, lightened flywheel, dual exhaust and stiffer suspension.
Been in my family for 51 years. I have rebuilt or reworked virtually every part of the car myself.
From my understanding a Britmobile – Jag or an MG is perfectly capable of driving if the temperature is about 68-degrees and constant precipitation is occurring.
Neighbor guy had a red ’64 MGA, friend had a Sunbeam Alpine, cousin had a blue Austin-Healy 3000, a friend in Vienna had a TR250 – keep the newfangled Jag – one of those, that’s what I want. And they last out here in this environment.
The E type Jag will always be up at the top of my, Lust Vehicles list.
My interest in English automobiles had some cold water thrown on it in the form of a Triumph. I traded a guy instruction for his instrument rating for it. It was white, pristine and only sort of high mileage. When the clutch plate had to be replaced and I had to pull the ENTIRE transmission to get at it, I soon lost my lust for things foreign.
But years pass, and like childbirth, we forget. . oh dammn, isn’t that pretty. Must have.
The best thing that ever happened to Jag was being purchased by Ford. All the Lucas Electrics folks got fired, and they became more reliable. But the drivetrain is still very much UK, and hence a clusterfuck.
The styling division, on the other hand, is still a bunch of naked people laying in bed having sex with one another and making cars based on the shape of the impressions in the sheets.
It’s like a disease. I got a double dose of it at a very early age — not only did I see these beautiful sports cars, I saw them at the race track.
I swear, it’s like having malaria — that flares up into a fever again anytime I see a British or Italian marque. Not that I don’t love good ol’ American iron too (watching NASCAR at Phoenix as I type this, in fact) but … man.
Even though I know the only thing reliable about these vehicles is that they will fail in expensive and inconvenient ways — sometimes daily — my head still turns every time I see one.
Jenny
(Who saw a very nice TR-6 just yesterday, in fact.)
PS cond0010, you got it absolutely right. Nice to read your thoughtful analysis. My racing buddy bought the last Celica as a daily ride and got tickets galore — (okay, the fact that it went to 150 all too easily might have had a tiny bit to do with it.) But since he bought an Altima he’s had none. I swear, sporty cars have hidden signs on them that say “COPS SUCK” and they pop up when you blow past officers. Though that car looked like it was speeding when it was parked. :)
Thank you, Jenny. Hehe…
I forgot to talk about repair and reliability, but then I kinda figured that was a given (ie… read, read, read.).
Three decades in automobile retail left me jaded. Favorite saying, “The only car that turns me on is one with a large gross profit”. However, should I have the funds and a Morgan Aero 8 came by………
Og: The Stylish Blogger Award has been passed on to you! Take a look at my acceptance of the award from Brigid, and my pass to you: http://northwest1524.blogspot.com/
I’m sorry. That was a bit troll-like, on reread. Yeah, you don’t have to reply. Just wanted you to know that I had listed you in my list as I enjoy reading your blog.
The lintwife has been lusting over a 2011 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually with 6.7L turbo diesel. Talk about a SEXY vehicle!!!
Is there any wonder why I married her?