UK / Euro guys..

[Wayne]

To the gentle English folks...

What can you tell me about the late-model Jaguar X-Type?  It looks like I have an opportunity to pick one up for a decent price, but would be interested in the opinions of English dudes who might actually know more about the English oriented "Baby Jag" than I do.

Wayne

[Wayne]

Probably my least favourite jag... When buying a car like a jaguar I want something a bit more special

With a budget of $6000 USD or so, "a bit more special Jag" is not really in the picture, but compared to the US cars I can buy, the X-type Jag is really "a bit more special" than I can afford as it is.

Yes, I know it's a rebodied Ford Mondeo/Contour, but it's freaking beautiful and drives much better than any Ford I've ever driven.

Wayne

[Wayne]

I'd say go for the XJ220.
But then again, who is me? I'm not British, nor do I have a driver's licence (yet).

You find me a 2004 XJ220 for 6 grand USD within 500 miles with less than 100,000 miles on it and I'll have to consider it.  Otherwise, might as well wish for the mythical "Ferrari found in a barn".

[Wayne]

I think you should get a Mazda Miata instead

Only problem with that is that I'd have to buy two of them. One for each foot, like roller skates.

6'4", 300# remember?  A bit of a tough fit.

Wayne

[Wayne]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  As it is, the current owner kept futzing around with getting it ready to sell, so my dad and I ran off today and found me a little basic Mazda pickup truck with a tiny, anemic 4-cylinder (also made by ford) and 5-speed.

Underpowered, but 30 mpg and it's paid for, which is the major important part for me.

Wayne

[Wayne]

No, I said Miata! Bah!

... and again, I'd have to have one Miata (roller skate) for each foot.  There's no way my big ass fits in a miata.

[Wayne]

Hahah, I'm just kidding! Yeah the Miata is tiny!

check out my blog entry on the subject.