I'm also waiting on a '85 Jaguar XJS-12, which I received for free. It's in nice shape too - not exactly a super collectible, but cool enough that when offered, I took it!

Just my personal opinion - the XJ-S is a beautifully styled automobile. Bank vault like is body rigidity, silky smooth on the road and whisper quite. A truly beautiful automobile - it is a shame it hadn't been built and sold by Toyota or Nissan. Great design but bad execution

We loved ours until the typical electrical/electronics problems started to raise their ugly head - then there was that engine fire - that sent it to the scarp yard.

If someone gave me an XJ-S, I'd build a "replica" of the Group 44 XJ-S { only with a Chevy v8 under the hood}... stunning!!

FWIW,

Carl B.

Edited April 18, 201311 yr by Carl Beck

I finally did it! I pulled the trigger on a 1997 Porsche Boxster with only 45K original miles! They hardly come any cleaner than this. Yes, I know the "early ones" are a lot more problematic than the later ones, but this is the one I could afford! I'll be giving a driving report ASAP!

I'm also waiting on a '85 Jaguar XJS-12

My suggestion is that you IMMEDIATELY put a fire extinguisher (or two) and kitchen mitt / oven glove in the trunk. The fuel rails on these beasts have a bad habit of cracking and spewing raw fuel all over the top of a hot engine. You need the oven mitt to open a hood with a roaring fire beneath it without burning your hand. Practice once or twice opening it with the mitt on, and if it ever actually happens, LOOK AWAY as you open it so you don't lose your eyebrows.

I've had three friends lose V12 Jags to engine fires, all the exact same cause. I also "offered" to put one Jag Flambeau on the side of the I-17 freeway out but a quick discussion with the owner revealed he'd prefer to collect insurance on it so we let it burn.

You NEVER, EVER forget that smell!

A few weeks ago I picked a 1988 300zx Turbo 5spd. Its not only in the garage but is also getting a fair amount of attention. The most recent being a full timing belt service with new WP, t-stat, seals, etc. Hoping to wrap it up soon as it is nice to drive and has cold AC.

A few weeks ago I picked a 1988 300zx Turbo 5spd

There's one A LOT LIKE THIS ONE for sale down here in Huntsville Alabama. $3850. It appears to have been repainted but looks great.

It sits over in the VI Grissom HS parking lot with a sign, and is on the Thrifty Nickle too for several months.

There's one A LOT LIKE THIS ONE for sale down here in Huntsville Alabama. $3850. It appears to have been repainted but looks great.

It sits over in the VI Grissom HS parking lot with a sign, and is on the Thrifty Nickle too for several months.

If its clean, original, reasonable miles, and does not have the digital dash its worth that all day long. The problem is, there are not many people shopping for one of these cars. I originally wanted a Shiro edition but too many people get caught up with how "rare" they are and price their cars too high, all of which still have them for sale.

I have wondered about the reliability of the digital dash. I think those were said to be a plasma digital dash? What kind of technology is plasma? Was that like the plasma TVs they make now? I had a 1985 300ZX that needed a replacement after a year or two. That thing was expensive so I went used. The new one was fine.

I am not sure what kind LED's they are and have never heard anything about them being plasma but I could be just misinformed. It is my personal experience that the dashes themselves are fine, its the power supplies that have issues. Several years ago I had a '88 2+2 with a digital dash that had a bad connector in power supply but it wasn't anything a small soldering iron and about 30 minutes of work could not fix. Others do go dark permanently for various reasons. After all, all of them are approaching 30 years old or have surpassed it since they were debuted in the 280zx so its a miracle that any of them still work properly. Me, I am just a fan of analog gauges and always have been. Most turbo cars were fully loaded and automatic so its hard to find one that is a base car with the turbo package, 5spd, and t-tops being the only option.

A new addition to the family.......a 1971 FORD Bronco.

My Son owns a Shiro, something like 1002 made?

Something new to my garage.

I was looking for something interesting and fun to own. It needed to have modern A/C for use here in Florida. I also wanted something that I could add to my Classic Car Policy. After looking at several alternatives - I found this 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230.

Purchased from its original owner. Garage kept with 50K documented miles. Super clean and in "as new" running condition. Everything works except the Factory Original Cell Phone.. {none of the Cell Carriers around here offer analog service}

The SLK is about the same overall size as a 240Z. Slightly heavier but with a bit more torque and HP from its 2.3L Supercharged DOHC I-4. Performance stock for stock, is a bit better than the 240Z.

A roadster with a retractable hard top - it gives me the best of both worlds. Top down - a fun roadster to enjoy when the weather allows. Hard top up - a well insulated coupe with really great A/C!. Also a very nice group of SLK Enthusiast to enjoy the car with - here in the Florida SLK Club.

If you want to see more of it - I put some pictures on my Web Page..

See: Mecerdes Benz SLK 230 Sport

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl,

Great looking SLK.......start a fund for the speeding tickets