The Accurate Reloading Forums
Lotus 7 or Jag XKR?
28 October 2012, 01:27
PeterLotus 7 or Jag XKR?
Saw a Lotus 7 on Ebay for about $15K. That's about the price of a 2000 Jaguar XKR.
What would you pick and why? I'm torn!!!
getting close on making good on my bucket list.
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
28 October 2012, 08:42
Idaho SharpshooterJaguar will have parts and service available.
Lotus has cancelled all of their R&D on the three new models they said would be out next year. They may not be around.
Got parts?
28 October 2012, 08:54
45-70 shooterThey are both British ...... you like to drive or fix things ?
Got money ? Porsche 911
Budget tight ? Miata
28 October 2012, 17:31
Peter45-70, you hit the nail on the head. I have owned a Miata and did love the car, and the practical side says get another one, but, it does not have the power that either of the Brit cars do. The 911 is nice, but just doesn't turn me on like either the Lotus or the Jag.
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
28 October 2012, 20:44
BiebsLotus 7, hands down. I've been afflicted since I watched a "Dr Baker" run his Super 7 at a Gymkana cone race some 40 years ago. What an awesome little sled!One of these days I'll sell a double rifle or something and pick one up.
28 October 2012, 20:57
shakariI'd be inclined to go for the Lotus if only because it'll be easier and cheaper to maintain.
28 October 2012, 23:32
PeterYeah, Steve, I tend to agree. It is probably something I could do myself, if I could get the parts! Very accessible engine compartment, no a/c etc. Anyway, perhaps moot as it is now at $19,350! Not very good for trips though! Sore ass!
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
29 October 2012, 01:51
shakariPeter
How about a Merc SL?
They sell for peanuts in the US compared to most other places, main dealers still carry spares for something like post 1970 cars at least, they're comfortable, stylish, reliable (if correctly maintained) and easy to work on.
If you want to buy from overseas, a reasonably good LHD (1980s) version in South Africa will sell for about US$4K - 5K or so and you can ship it to the States for about US$2K.
29 October 2012, 02:06
PeterHmmm, I had not thought of that. Any particular model or year?
Peter
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
29 October 2012, 02:20
shakariThe older the model the more valuable they are. If you want a bit of poke, the 450SLs & 500SLs had the best engine etc and probably sold the most..... if you want a smaller engine then the SL190 is a lovely car.
I reckon the most reliable ones were probably the late 70s & early 80s BUT (note the big BUT) I also reckon the most stylish were the ones from the mid 1960s.
FWIW, I can buy a fully restored mid 60s 190SL LHD in RSA for about E10K and here in Portugal, it's retail value is in the region of about E45K-50K.
I do have to pay a fair bit of import tax on that though.
Early to mid 80s
Early to mid 60s (I think)
29 October 2012, 02:38
shakariI should have added that you need to look out for corrosion, esp in the wheel arches and the floor of the boot/trunk...... they often suffer there (mostly) because the early owners liked to do things like drive them through the surf to impress the crumpet but of course, the cars pay for that kind of shit in the end.
29 October 2012, 02:52
Peterquote:
drive them through the surf to impress the crumpet
!!! Not in England! there are no beaches! Haven't heard "crumpet" to describe the fairer sex in quite a while! The 500SL's look interesting though.
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
29 October 2012, 03:04
shakariUK ones rust because they salt the roads..... I was thinking of the ones in RSA & the USA.
I guess the term 'crumpet' proves we're a pair of old farts huh!
29 October 2012, 05:28
Peter"I guess the term 'crumpet' proves we're a pair of old farts".
I knew that already from a previous discussion about playing "conkers"!
Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
29 October 2012, 05:48
eezridrWife owns a SL 550. I had a XKR for about 3 years. It was a 2008 (great car)!
If you want something that is fun, pretty quick, and screams. Try a BMW Z4M roadster. You can get one under 30K. The engine is about bulletproof and revs to 8000 RPM. They are not like 911's. Every doctor has a 911...
Main thing is that they are simple without a lot of gizmos. Have a broad power band from 2000-8000.
Really enjoy that car although it is not a every day car. Weekend toy! You can spend a lot more money but not sure you can have a lot more fun.
29 October 2012, 09:18
Idaho SharpshooterIn the last four years I have put over 37,000 miles on my old 2000 XK-8 convertible, or should I say "Drop Head Coupe"? with no issues; other than tires. It really drives well with the Pilot Sports, but 19,000 miles is what it gives a set. It came with Conti's, 5,000 down the road they looked more like track day tires. Worn smooth all the way across. P-zero's were great, but about 9,000 on the set. Fronts wore badly, and Pirelli reps asked what I expected. The dealer went to bat for me, and they wear-rated them. Half-off a new set. The Jag dealer had the Pilot Sports in stock, and worked me a deal. I will probably get another set for replacement about March.
The car has been fabulous, a couple trips to Illinois, a couple each to Reno & Vegas, that at triple-digit speeds about half the way.
Heated leather seats, and a very nice sound system. 20 in town, and 25-28 on the road.
It just is a very comfortable, good handling GT.
29 October 2012, 11:51
GatogordoThey're giving away 350, 380, 450, etc up to 600SLs to the last model change in 2003. They're not that fast, but the V12 600s will likely hold value better than the 500s and can be had for less than $15000 for reasonable mileage 2000s with careful shopping. Truth be told it really won't do anything the 500 won't, while costing more to maintain, but the V12 emblem really looks cool. I am nearly to the point of buying an XK8 for the fun of it, but maintenance is an expensive bitch on them. ISS has been extremely lucky on maintenance IMO. I can buy nice low mileage XK8s from about 8,000 for decent (if such exist) older ones to about 16-18,000 for nice 2005s. For no rational reason, I've always wanted a Jag in British Racing Green and there is a 2005 sitting in Dallas with 65K miles that I think I can buy for about $16,000. They're probably cheaper than owning boats, maybe......
The XKRs are faster but not fast enough to really make a difference if you're a speed freak and don't mind paying tickets.
Best speed for the money, without doubt, is a new Corvette from Kerbeck. Unbelievable deals right now. A reg coupe for under 40K. A conv. Grand Sport, with LT3 for well under $60,000 if you already own a Vette ($3000 owner loyalty bonus, expire 10/31) and a GS coupe for well under $50K. If they won't do 200, it will be so close that you won't know the difference. The dealership is just so damn far from me. Unlike the older Vettes, the C6s are absolutely rock steady at 100 and are barely breathing hard. They do have a lot of road noise tho, big tires sitting close to the pavement do that. They hold their value quite well for 5 years or so.
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29 October 2012, 15:35
shakariPersonally, I'd be very wary of any V12 engine..... they're wonderful things but helluva expensive to fix when they go wrong.
29 October 2012, 15:52
eezridrIn a few years a C6 Z06 is on my list. Perhaps this yesrs drop top 427. I think that small block 427 is one of the best engines ever built. Not sure it is going to be available in the C7's. If so with Direct injection, all the better. I have driven quite a few of these and what a torque curve. You really can drive this car in 4th from a stand still to 140 MPH in one gear.The only other car that may be able to do that is a Aston Martin V12. Both cars have super flexible engines. I will have a Aston one day...not the fastest car on the block but capable far beyond my abilities and drop dead gorgeous. The 2013 DB9s are stunning with 510 HP.
Back to the 427 vette. 505 HP that will get 25 MPG on the highway is phenomenal. Like was stated the C6 is a nice car.
quote:
Originally posted by Gatogordo:
They're giving away 350, 380, 450, etc up to 600SLs to the last model change in 2003. They're not that fast, but the V12 600s will likely hold value better than the 500s and can be had for less than $15000 for reasonable mileage 2000s with careful shopping. Truth be told it really won't do anything the 500 won't, while costing more to maintain, but the V12 emblem really looks cool. I am nearly to the point of buying an XK8 for the fun of it, but maintenance is an expensive bitch on them. ISS has been extremely lucky on maintenance IMO. I can buy nice low mileage XK8s from about 8,000 for decent (if such exist) older ones to about 16-18,000 for nice 2005s. For no rational reason, I've always wanted a Jag in British Racing Green and there is a 2005 sitting in Dallas with 65K miles that I think I can buy for about $16,000. They're probably cheaper than owning boats, maybe......
The XKRs are faster but not fast enough to really make a difference if you're a speed freak and don't mind paying tickets.
Best speed for the money, without doubt, is a new Corvette from Kerbeck. Unbelievable deals right now. A reg coupe for under 40K. A conv. Grand Sport, with LT3 for well under $60,000 if you already own a Vette ($3000 owner loyalty bonus, expire 10/31) and a GS coupe for well under $50K. If they won't do 200, it will be so close that you won't know the difference. The dealership is just so damn far from me. Unlike the older Vettes, the C6s are absolutely rock steady at 100 and are barely breathing hard. They do have a lot of road noise tho, big tires sitting close to the pavement do that. They hold their value quite well for 5 years or so.
29 October 2012, 18:57
PeterA used Vette would certainly make my list but I don't know enough about the different models, years etc. to know what would be a good candidate. Are they reliable?
Peter
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;