Old Cars

[Mugs-n-such]

For those of you who like the four wheeled beastie (I would think not an inconsiderable number of posters here), here's some photos. I had thought about buying and restoring the old Jag, but it's an auto transmission.





This is the Jag I was thinking about buying, but among other things it needs a new paint job (obviously) and new front seat upholstery:



If any of you moderators want to convert these to thumbnails, please do, I seem to always have a fight trying to get it right...

[Edited to fix links - Ian]

[straightfairy]

That Jag may just need a G3 (rubbing compound) polish? You can see the change back to red where the paint has been in the shade.
I'd be amazed if you can find a manual transmission XJ-S in the US; they're rare enough in the UK and not prized, as the car is seen as more of a 'wafter' rather than overtly sporty.

[Since1982]

I'm still paying through the nose to keep my 1993 Ford Aerostar Van running good 19 years later. When it's right, it still blows the doors off nearly anything in it's style. Having been a 25 year Professional Cab driver in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida, I am a hard core OFFENSIVE driver. Here's MY favorite offensive driving statement. When showing up at a 4 way stop sign at EXACTLY the same time as 3 other drivers and all stopping at exactly the same time. Who goes first?

My answer is....I do, let everyone else figure out who goes next. OR sit there for hours waiting for the car on your right to go first..around and around and around ad infinitum, ad nauseum..

[Mugs-n-such]

I didn't know you were a cab driver, Skip. I was a cab driver for about 4 months, and I had a hard time "making the nut" as they say. One day I came into work (it was a Friday and I was looking forward to making some serious money) and the man said "unless you can pay me $300 we can't let you work today". I had been having trouble anyway (the dispatcher can really make you or break you) so I quit then and there. I have to admit, I don't really miss the job. My understanding is statistically, it's one of the most dangerous jobs there is. Sometime if you're interested, I might swap cab stories with you Skip.
As far as the Jag, I don't really need 3 cars...I always thought I'd love to own a V-12, but Kirbstone told me to shy away from them...not sure why, unless not too many mechanics know how to work on them, or parts are hard to get and/or expensive etc. I didn't know the standard transmission on them was rare...of course what I know about Jags could be written on a postage stamp...in BIG letters. I just always thought they were cool looking.
My brother owns a Ford Windstar, he's had it a long time, so I guess he likes it. He had a Ford Probe but finally sold it. I don't know anything about the Windstar's engine, don't know if it has as much "ooomph" as the Aerostar or not.
Peace to all.
P.S. For a change, I'm not wearing my kilt 'cuz I just came from church, but other than church or when I go to a movie with my friend Gene (as opposed to going alone) I almost always wear a kilt now, receive mostly positive feedback, but an occasional (rare) snide remark.

[crfriend]

As far as the Jag, I don't really need 3 cars...I always thought I'd love to own a V-12, but Kirbstone told me to shy away from them...not sure why, unless not too many mechanics know how to work on them, or parts are hard to get and/or expensive etc.

Given that it's a Jaguar, all of the above are likely true.

For a little while I owned three cars -- one of the stupider things I've done in my life -- and my principal was a 1984 Plymouth Voyager minivan with secondaries being a 1971 Duster and a 1967/8 Dodge Dart convertible. I'd always coverted a jaguar XKE, but the prices were outside what reason would allow me to do and, besides, I really didn't need a garage queen; I tend to drive my cars rather than admire them. So, I think I'll stick to my (late dad's) little 1990 Nissan 240SX that turns 22 this July and still makes heads turn.

It turns out that the 240SX has quite the following around here, and it's not uncommon at all for somebody else who's driving one pull up alongside, toot, wave, and give a thumbs-up.

[Mugs-n-such]

THANK YOU IAN for fixing my link.
If the 240SX is the one I'm thinking of, that's another car that I used to covet...I almost bought a Nissan 280Z I think it was, back in 1990, but I just didn't quite have the $$$. Now I'm going to have to google Nissan 240SX, but if it's what I think it is, it's a LOVELY car, and I kinda envy you, but I'll take comfort in my lil' ole Miata, lol.
(Edited to get the Nissan model # right)
I just did a google of the Nissan 240SX and it surprised me that the front (to me at least) is somewhat reminiscent of the Miata. I wonder if the pop-up headlights take the regular round headlights that all cars used to use, like the Miata? That's one thing I like about the Miata, is the headlights are the "old" round type, fairly cheap and still fairly easy to find.
If we were to race, I imagine you'd win, crfriend, because the 240SX has a 2.4 L engine, does it not? and my poor Miata only has a 1.8 L engine, lol.
I thought the Nissan 280Z somewhat reminiscent of the old XKE type Jag.
I think you're right, having 3 cars (unless you're a millionaire which I am obviously not) is kinda crazy, and then I'd have to pay more on insurance and sales tax, too.
Maybe it's the ham in me, but I always like it when someone notices the car I'm driving. I'm glad that 22 years old Nissan can still turn heads, and the thumbs up is always nice.
EOR (end of rambling) (or rant, take your pick)
(Edited for typo)

[Kirbstone]

Good pic. of the Jag, Gary. Looks like the paint job looks seriously bleached & needs a little gleem. I don't reckon they made any V12s with manual transmission, and I expect all Jags sold in the US were automatics.
Having been a family man since we were young, sports two-seaters never figured in our personal transportation menu. There are a bewildering lot of head-turners about, but I can't actually covet one for myself. I leave competition in the traffic lights Grand Prix to others.

Stopped for petrol in Dublin City the other day I spied a recent Ferrari model in gunmetal grey (I thought they were all red!), which sported a flat twelve ahead of the rear axle and hadn't much rearview vision. It was a serious looker though, and probably cost a packet.

Boys toys!

T.

[Since1982]

Mug said: I was a cab driver for about 4 months, and I had a hard time "making the nut"

In Miami and Fort Lauderdale Florida, it was so busy back in the 70's my average day's total take befor the split with the company averaged @2,000.00 dollars + another $2,000.00 in tips. On top of that I'd get regular well-padded drunks that were rich and could depend on me to make sure they got into bed with their wife by the end of the 5th day of drinking, for one of those debacles, my pay and regular tips averaged $15,000 a week PLUS another $5,000.00 picking up called in bar runs with other known lounge drunks that knew they could trust me to keep their name safe and body alive and THEIR money untouched unless he wanted it touched, between drop offs and pickups with the original chartered customer. I could make up to $35,000.00 a week doing that. Everything above board and legally done. I'll hunt up an old picture of my Fort Lauderdale Red Cab's 1967 Chevrolet Cab, that I could stuff 8 people comfortably in between regular drops and pickups. With extra room for lots of luggage AND a folding wheelchair as well. (PS) now the wheelchair is mine. LOL

[skirtyscot]

I am a hard core OFFENSIVE driver. Here's MY favorite offensive driving statement. When showing up at a 4 way stop sign at EXACTLY the same time as 3 other drivers and all stopping at exactly the same time. Who goes first?

My answer is....I do, let everyone else figure out who goes next. OR sit there for hours waiting for the car on your right to go first..around and around and around ad infinitum, ad nauseum..

When I was in the USA I couldn't believe those 4-way stop signs - such a crazy idea! I used the same technique as you, Skip, and nobody ever seemed to mind. They did make me think that American drivers must all be ever so patient and polite, everyone seemed happy to wait for the other guy to go first. Imagine if they tried it in Italy - every crossroads would be piled high with twisted metal and dead bodies!

[Kirbstone]

Re: 4-way stopsigns. As I stated earlier in another thread, he who drives Mercedes has priority. No debate!

T.

[Mugs-n-such]

That's awesome Skip, about the cab driving...I confess I never made anywhere near that, one time a man gave me a $20 tip because he had just won the lottery and I thought that was pretty good! Some weeks I actually made pretty good money, but I only had the cab for 12 hours a day, I had to share the other 12 with a different driver. I drove with ABC cab, for another $5 or $10 a week I could have had a 24 cab with Best Cab, I should have gone that route I guess, but I guess I'm just not a cab driver...especially since my dispatcher obviously didn't like me, she was so rude to me on the radio even the other drivers were talking about it and they told me so. I don't know why she didn't like me, but, oh well...I'm glad you made a good living of it thought. After they let me go at ABC my landlord had set me up with a job at Best Cab, maybe I should have taken it, but my experience with that dispatcher (among other things) kinda kept me from taking it.
What! Kirbstone, you mean you don't take part in the green light Grand Prix? Well, I never! Seriously, I don't either, I figure it's just a good way to get a ticket.

They did make me think that American drivers must all be ever so patient and polite, everyone seemed happy to wait for the other guy to go first. Imagine if they tried it in Italy - every crossroads would be piled high with twisted metal and dead bodies!

Thanks skirtyscot for giving me my laugh of the day, maybe my laugh of the week! I just wonder, though, is that just humour, or is there some truth to it?
(edited to laugh at skirtyscot's ... ?joke?)

[Kirbstone]

Having driven the length & breadth of Italy many times on holiday, waiting politely for others to proceed is not in their psyche.

T.

[skirtyscot]

They did make me think that American drivers must all be ever so patient and polite, everyone seemed happy to wait for the other guy to go first. Imagine if they tried it in Italy - every crossroads would be piled high with twisted metal and dead bodies!

Thanks skirtyscot for giving me my laugh of the day, maybe my laugh of the week! I just wonder, though, is that just humour, or is there some truth to it?
(edited to laugh at skirtyscot's ... ?joke?)

Every horror story you have heard about Italian drivers is true! I have driven there too, and they are assertive road users, to put it mildly. Or completely crazy, to be more honest.

However it seems they are not as bad as a lot of other nationalities. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAct ... =IP/11/830 On a par with other Mediterranean countries, and considerably better than eastern Europeans (though the roads in the east are probably in a much worse state. Why the Belgians fare so badly is a mystery.

[Milfmog]

I always found driving in Italy quite easy. There are two rules:

Rule 1: Drive as if you own a Volvo (easy for me)*.
Rule 2: There are no other rules.

Once you've realised that the horn is merely a conversational device and should not be regarded as either a challenge or an insult it's fine. Nobody minds you cutting them up or pulling out in front of them or turning left across their path... Why would they mind? That's exactly what they do.

Malta, on the other hand, is like Italy with the kid gloves taken off... scary; but since the roads are so bad no one ever goes fast enough to really hurt themselves. Very few cars without dents over there...

Have fun,


Ian.

* When dealing with an oncoming Volvo the key thing to bear in mind is that, for a Volvo driver, looking out of the windows is optional.

[Mugs-n-such]

I won't be driving in Italy anytime soon, thank goodness; however, I am playing chess with a man in Italy right now. The internet is amazing I think.

When dealing with an oncoming Volvo the key thing to bear in mind is that, for a Volvo driver, looking out of the windows is optional.

lol...you guys are cracking me up (I guess they have that saying in the UK too, it means making me laugh too hard).