I'm glad you stopped lurking and chimed in, Jay. I will speak for most on
the list (though I have no right to do so, and everyone is free to disagree)
and say there is no animosity here towards LBC owners of any stripe. It is
only good natured kidding. Much like the professional rivalry between
engineers, architects, lawyer, doctors, etc. We only poke fun at the
stereotypes, and don't have ingrained hatred, etc. This is not a hate
group. Many of us own vehicles of various "ethnic" groups. I personally
appreciate big American cars, muscle cars, big SUVs, all British cars,
motorcycles,... It is just humor. I personally would love to own a Jag and
I would be anything but a stereotypical Jag owner. If nothing else the
thread has a redeeming value because you were motivated to share your
thoughts and I'll bet you can bring a unique perspective to the list.
Life is too short to alienate groups of people based on negative
generalizations.
It is equally too short to laugh at that part of ourselves we see in other
people. Anyway, enjoy...must be nice to be able to pick which classic
British car you cruise in. ;-)
Terrence N. Banbury
1967 SPITFIRE MK III
1988 Honda Accord lX
1998 Ford Expedition EB
2000 Ford Mustang GT
1973 Honda CB350G
> ----------
> From: Jay S Baker[SMTP:jayb@2xtreme.net]
> Reply To: Jay S Baker
> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2000 3:50 PM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: The Difference 'tween Triumph and Jaguar owners
>
>
> I am a lurker, but I have to respond to the recent comments about Jaguar
> owners.
>
> I am a very lucky person! I love British autos! And because of this, I
> have
> been
> labeled a nut case by just about everyone I work with. I perform ALL of
> the
> work required to keep my families cars on the road. I am an Electrical
> Engineer
> by trade and I have found that nothing relieves the stress from my work
> better
> that turning wrench in my spare time.
>
> My daily driver used to be a 1980 Spitfire which I acquired a bit over 4
> years ago.
> This car became my good weather drive about a year ago when I began
> driving
> a
> 1993 XJ-6 daily. I have owned the Jaguar for over about 3 1/2 years (my
> wife's
> car before I inherited it). In the time I have owned these autos I have
> put
> 40,000 miles on the Spitfire and 90,000 miles on the Jaguar.
>
> Now let's look at cost of ownership. Yes my Spitfire cost me MUCH less to
> purchase originally than the XJ-6. HOWEVER I have put FAR more money into
> keeping the Spitfire on the road that I have put into the Jaguar. When I
> bought
> the Jaguar I paid less for it that I would have paid for a new Honda or
> VW. In fact a 3 year old Jetta was being offered for sale for more money
> than my 4 year old Jaguar!
>
> Jaguar owners have more money than sense.... NOT!
> Jaguar owners never work on their cars.... NOT!
> (And I am not alone. Check out the Jaguar-lovers email list(s) and you
> will
> see
> the same sort of advice for the person who does his/her own work as you
> see
> on the Spitfire list.)
> Jaguars are very expensive to own and operate.... NOT (if you do the
> maintenance
> yourself and don't buy parts from the dealer)!
>
> Come on people. Please stop the Jaguar owner bashing. We are all riding in
> the
> same boat (or is that "a similar LBC"). We love these cars for what they
> are
> (and also for what they are not). Don't blast someone for loving a
> different
> British auto than you. After all most of what you say about the cost and
> mentality
> of Jaguar ownership can also be said by a MG owner about the owner of a
> Triumph.
>
> cheers
> jayb
>
> P.S. You might ask why my wife gave up her XJ-6? It is because I needed
> something
> a bit more reliable than the Spitfire, especially when I need to drive the
> 3
> hours
> to San Francisco for work. We looked at several different new cars and
> ended up
> buying her yet another Jaguar (a 1994 XJS convertible) which cost us a
> bunch
> less money.
> It was a win/win/win since we now own three beautiful British Autos! And
> I
> will say
> that I REALLY enjoy my 1/2 hour commute (through winding country roads in
> the
> foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California) no matter which
> car
> I drive!
>
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