Yet another XK8 sighting report

["Kirbert" <palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net>]

Saw my first XK8 today (yeah, I don't get out much, and I live in Bubba 
central, nearest Jag dealer is three hours away).  It was a red convertible, 
parked at a restaurant.

After hearing all the other people's comments on how this car looks better in 
real life than in pictures, I was ready for that -- I have had that 
experience before.  However, my impression of this car was WORSE than the 
pictures.  I won't be saving my pennies for one of these cars, and I can't 
imagine that teenagers will be planning to go to med school just to be able 
to afford one the way they did for the E-type.

I had been anticipating a chance to find out if those buck teeth in the cowl 
were removable.  It appears that removing them would be unwise, since they 
are there to decorate a large tubular structural member that goes across the 
opening.  This structural member needs painting flat black BAD -- the chrome 
rib doesn't totally cover it, and the clearly visible unfinished metal tubing 
looks like something Ford would do.

The dashboard is atrocious.  Lots of beautiful wood, but the distinct 
impression that the wood isn't the dash -- it's just a pretty covering over 
the real dash underneath.  Like, "it's really plastic, but 'quality' cars are 
supposed to have wood, so we slapped some wood on TOP of the plastic."  To 
add insult to injury, they stenciled the "XK8" insignia on the far right 
corner, so the passenger would know what car he's riding in.  Not a 
gold-plated trim piece or even gold lettering, but some tacky-looking tan 
paint.  Ford strikes again.  MUCH better if they had left it off -- wonder if 
it can be rubbed off?

17" wheels.  I suppose that's the trend these days, and considering the cost 
of large 15" tires, I would have at least gone to 16".  But 17"?  I dunno.  
Would expect the ride to suffer, but I can't vouch for that, didn't ride in 
it.  I don't think the wheels are very pretty either, but they are a lot 
better than some others these days.

One more note: As an XJ-S owner, I can now feel proud of my back seat!  
Although I normally would never ask anyone over 5 feet tall to sit in it, it 
is the back seat of a Rolls Royce compared to the back seat in the XK8 
convertible!  I really don't understand why the car companies do this kinda 
shit -- what good does it do to install a totally unusable back seat?  Why 
don't they just install a good storage compartment instead?  Or design a 
single seat facing sideways?  That feature also smacks of Ford.

I'm glad it's selling well for them.  I hope they are investing the profits 
wisely; their long-term outlook doesn't look too good to me.

 -- Kirbert      |     If anything is to be accomplished,
                 |     some rules must be broken.
                 |          - Palm's Postulate

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Follow-Ups:

• Re: Yet another XK8 sighting report
• From: stephen kurtzman <stephen@kurtzman.com>

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