Looking at new cars today

[Chris_]

Not new, new... but two 2000 Jaguar S-Type's.  There is a gold one for sale at our Buick dealership and a blue one at the BMW dealership.  I'm thinking about going back to a used car.  Here are the cars if anyone wants to take a looky lou at them.

The blue one at BMW (they just have stock pictures up right now)

http://www.desertbmwofhenderson.com/index.cfm?vehicle=2000_Jaguar_S-TYPE&action=InventorySearch&subaction=SearchDetailUsed&InventoryID=17514581&inventorytype=Used&preauctionsearch=&fromSearchList&PhotoType=0

The gold one at Buick

http://www.desertgmcbuick.com/VehicleDetails/805017123

My Versa is worth more than I owe on it.  If we trade it in and get KBB value for it, I'll have my loan paid off and $1,000 left over.  If the dealership tries to give me anything less, I am a walkin'!  When we bought the Vera, Nissan tried to tell me it would be $23,000 at $450/mo.  I told them no way in hell I'd buy it for that much.  I could buy an Altima for that price.  We ended up leaving Nissan with my Versa for $18,000 after tax, title, and etc. stuff.   

"Downgrading" cars would save us about $120/mo just in car payments.  We would have to call Allstate to find out insurance rates.  If everything works out, we will both have V8, RWD cars.  I miss my RWD cars.  FWD is so boring. 

We are looking at this financially.  What would save us money, but still be a fun drive?  I originally found a 2003 Nissan Maxima (which is still in the running), but once I found the Jag, I went CRAZY!  I gots to have it! 

Our late morning/early afternoon will be spent at the auto mall.  Hopefully I get to sign papers on a spiffy Jaguar.

[PatriotGame]

Not new, new... but two 2000 Jaguar S-Type's.  There is a gold one for sale at our Buick dealership and a blue one at the BMW dealership.  I'm thinking about going back to a used car.  Here are the cars if anyone wants to take a looky lou at them.

The blue one at BMW (they just have stock pictures up right now)

http://www.desertbmwofhenderson.com/index.cfm?vehicle=2000_Jaguar_S-TYPE&action=InventorySearch&subaction=SearchDetailUsed&InventoryID=17514581&inventorytype=Used&preauctionsearch=&fromSearchList&PhotoType=0

The gold one at Buick

http://www.desertgmcbuick.com/VehicleDetails/805017123

My Versa is worth more than I owe on it.  If we trade it in and get KBB value for it, I'll have my loan paid off and $1,000 left over.  If the dealership tries to give me anything less, I am a walkin'!  When we bought the Vera, Nissan tried to tell me it would be $23,000 at $450/mo.  I told them no way in hell I'd buy it for that much.  I could buy an Altima for that price.  We ended up leaving Nissan with my Versa for $18,000 after tax, title, and etc. stuff.  

"Downgrading" cars would save us about $120/mo just in car payments.  We would have to call Allstate to find out insurance rates.  If everything works out, we will both have V8, RWD cars.  I miss my RWD cars.  FWD is so boring.  

We are looking at this financially.  What would save us money, but still be a fun drive?  I originally found a 2003 Nissan Maxima (which is still in the running), but once I found the Jag, I went CRAZY!  I gots to have it!  

Our late morning/early afternoon will be spent at the auto mall.  Hopefully I get to sign papers on a spiffy Jaguar.

Think insurance and repair/service costs!!!

Seriously, a Jag will cost you twice to insure than that of a Chevy and thrice to fix a coolant leak.

I owned both a Jag and a Mercedes and the insurance and service costs were far above that of my previous Merc Cougar.

The Jag does look nice though...

[Odin's Hand]

Jags are notorious for electrical malfunctions.

[Chris_]

I had a 1994 Mercury Cougar!  It was my first car.  My dad bought it for me and he did all the repairs on it. 

Then I had my 1996 Nissan 240SX, then went to my 2008 Nissan Versa SL.

Thank you for your input PatriotGame.  What kind of Jag did you have?  I am searching on Jaguar forums to get a better idea.  I still have other cars in the running... like Nissan's.  lol  If we don't feel comfortable with a Jaguar, I will go with another Nissan.

[Chris_]

Jags are notorious for electrical malfunctions.

I think Ford was producing Jags by the 2000 model year.  I'm pretty sure the S-type is based on the Lincoln LS or Continental.  I don't think British Leyland/Lucas Electrics was in the picture at that time.

[Chris_]

I think Ford was producing Jags by the 2000 model year.  I'm pretty sure the S-type is based on the Lincoln LS or Continental.  I don't think British Leyland/Lucas Electrics was in the picture at that time.

This car was built in the UK, the VIN starts with an S.  I know Ford/Jaguar are like the same thing basically.  My parent's have a 1999 Lincoln Continental and a 2004 Lincoln LS.  I LOVE the LS.  It's the only thing I drive when we go back to visit. 

[Chris_]

I have a friend with a 2003 LS.  It's pretty sweet.

[Zeus]

 The  LS is a nice car. I don't understand why they quit producing them in "06 I believe is the last yr. I'd buy one of those before I'd buy any Nissan, that's just the way I roll.

[Chris_]

There are no LS's for sale.  The S-Type is as close as we will get.  That's my first choice, then the Maxima.

[Chris_]

A new Maxima?  I like them.

[Lacarnut]

I hate to burst your bubble but trading in cars every couple of years gets to be quite expensive. I have done that for many years buying new ones. You would be better off paying off the car that you have rather than adding a couple of years on to the note you allready have. Getting out of debt is a wonderfull feeling. Believe me.

The Jag is a beautiful car. No doubt about it. However, as other have said, it will take you to the poor house with expensive repairs. If you decide to get it, check out an extended warranty. 

[Chris_]

I hate to burst your bubble but trading in cars every couple of years gets to be quite expensive. I have done that for many years buying new ones. You would be better off paying off the car that you have rather than adding a couple of years on to the note you allready have. Getting out of debt is a wonderfull feeling. Believe me.

The Jag is a beautiful car. No doubt about it. However, as other have said, it will take you to the poor house with expensive repairs. If you decide to get it, check out an extended warranty. 

I've actually never traded in the middle of a loan.  My 240SX was paid off for two years before I bought the Versa  My car would paid off with the trade in.  There is no way in freaking hell I would trade in my car, just so I can transfer the debt from this one into another loan.  My husband did that when he traded his Sentra for the GTO.  It pissed me off. 

Chris - The Maxima is an 2003.  I wish I could afford the new ones.  They are amazing cars.

Expensive repairs?  Yeah, if you take it to the dealership to fix everything.  We do our own maintenance and have saved hundreds of dollars on previous cars.  Dealerships are the freaking worst when it comes to fixing things.  They once wanted to charge me $1,100 to fix a part on my 240SX.  Doing it ourselves only cost us $300.

[BlueStateSaint]

I hate to burst your bubble but trading in cars every couple of years gets to be quite expensive. I have done that for many years buying new ones. You would be better off paying off the car that you have rather than adding a couple of years on to the note you allready have. Getting out of debt is a wonderfull feeling. Believe me.

The Jag is a beautiful car. No doubt about it. However, as other have said, it will take you to the poor house with expensive repairs. If you decide to get it, check out an extended warranty. 

I've got an '02 Saturn SL that was paid off almost four years ago.  It wasn't a big payment to start with, and the additional money has gone to the day care provider. I have been thinking about a used Tacoma, seeing that I've got a brother who is the comptroller of an atuo dealership chain around here, but it'd just be another coupon book.  Besides, almost 30 mpg is difficult to give up.

[thundley4]

I've got an '02 Saturn SL that was paid off almost four years ago.  It wasn't a big payment to start with, and the additional money has gone to the day care provider. I have been thinking about a used Tacoma, seeing that I've got a brother who is the comptroller of an atuo dealership chain around here, but it'd just be another coupon book.  Besides, almost 30 mpg is difficult to give up.

We have an '02 Saturn SL with a little over 42K miles on it, and no reason to give it up yet.

[BlueStateSaint]

We have an '02 Saturn SL with a little over 42K miles on it, and no reason to give it up yet.

Mine'll hit 113,500 this week.  It burns oil.  I just put four new tires on it.  The exhaust system needs repairing.  30 mpg is tough to get rid of.

[IassaFTots]

Mine'll hit 113,500 this week.  It burns oil.  I just put four new tires on it.  The exhaust system needs repairing.  30 mpg is tough to get rid of.

I have TWO Saturns.  A 2000 SC2, with 160K on it.  Just had the valve stems remachined, and drives like a dream.  Had a problem with burning oil, previous to this, and none so far.   And, a 2008 Astra, just bought it last year, still under warranty.  The SC2 gets close to 30, the Astra gets more. 

I have a buddy with a 1999 SC2, that has over 250K on it, says it just won't stop driving.  But when he decides to get something else, he is going to let me part out whatever I can to keep mine running. 

[Chris_]

The SC would make a good candidate for an electric car conversion.  It weighs under 2400 pounds and with the motor and exhaust system removed, would probably drop down to 2000lbs.

[IassaFTots]

The SC would make a good candidate for an electric car conversion.  It weighs under 2400 pounds and with the motor and exhaust system removed, would probably drop down to 2000lbs.

That is definitely something that I am considering.  I like having a back up car, that is paid off, to keep some of the miles off my newbie.   Sometime next year, I plan on taking the train to work.  The SC will be my trainstation car.  It is SO dinged up, it's perfect.

[Chris_]

I got my way at the dealership and now own a Jaguar.

My Versa was paid in full by the dealership.  The Jaguar payments are under $300, the insurance is $80 cheaper a year, and the tags are about $160 a year.  It is so much cheaper.  The gas will cost a bit more, that's it.  And honestly, I don't give two shits about the economy.  That's right, DUmmies, our household has two V8's. 

The car was in immaculate condition for a 10 year old car.  It's all leather, sunroof, fully loaded, wood grain dashboard and steering wheel. 

Pictures of my beauty later.  We got home kind of late yesterday, so there were no pictures right away.

[Chris_]

I got my way at the dealership and now own a Jaguar.

[Chris_]

I got my way at the dealership and now own a Jaguar.

My Versa was paid in full by the dealership.  The Jaguar payments are under $300, the insurance is $80 cheaper a year, and the tags are about $160 a year.  It is so much cheaper.  The gas will cost a bit more, that's it.  And honestly, I don't give two shits about the economy.  That's right, DUmmies, our household has two V8's. 

The car was in immaculate condition for a 10 year old car.  It's all leather, sunroof, fully loaded, wood grain dashboard and steering wheel. 

Pictures of my beauty later.  We got home kind of late yesterday, so there were no pictures right away.

Economy should read environment.  lol  What is the matter with me?  We even got to sleep in until 7:45am this morning!

[BattleHymn]

Jess,

What model of Jaguar did you snag?

[Chris_]

I have a 2000 S-Type. 

[Chris_]

Kia did a huge styling rip-off of the 2000 S-Type for their Amanti that came out a couple years later.  I hate to say it, but the Kia looks nicer (at least from the front).  The Jag has a much nicer butt.

The dash in the S-type looks almost the same as the one from the Lincoln Town car.

I got sit in the Kia in the showroom.  Man, it was plush.

Jaguar vs. Kia

[Chris_]

I remember that Kia.

Here are some pictures of mine.  They are not the best, but whatever.  It was hot out.