Jason Fogelson, About.com's Guide to SUVs here. You don't know me very well over here, but let me assure you -- I'm not a rich guy. I don't think I ever will be a rich guy, and to be honest with you, I don't really understand rich guys very well. But every once in a while, I get to live like a rich guy for a few days, at least while I'm behind the wheel.
For instance, I reviewed this 2010 Jaguar XKR Convertible. Every time I climbed behind the wheel, I was more in touch with my inner rich guy. I understood what it would be like to plunk down $108,000 for a car, and the more I drove the XKR, the more I wished that I had an extra hundred grand laying around.
Which begs the point -- why do we review vehicles that only a small fraction of you would even consider buying? I can think of a few reasons.
First, these cars are fun to drive, fun to look at, and fun to read about. They are the supermodels of the automotive world.
Second, today's cutting edge technology is tomorrow's standard feature. Amazing technologies that one day only appeared on high end luxury cars, like disc brakes, cruise control, traction control and others, are now included on even the least expensive vehicles. When we review high end cars, we get a preview of what the popular car market will be driving in a few years.
Third, high end vehicles are aspirational. Who knows? Maybe you'll fall in love with the 2010 Jaguar XKR Convertible, and you'll decide to work harder at the lab so you can afford one. You'll discover a cure for the common cold, and we'll all be the better for your automotive lust.
Or maybe, you'll just enjoy reading about the cool car. -- Jason Fogelson
Photo © Jason Fogelson
I love to read about cars like the XKR. It’s cars like these that keep my faith in the automobile industry alive. At least there are a few makers out there who know how to build a modern car, yet pay homage to design and model heritage. The European makers still have that largely.
The American makers used to, but abandoned it to chase the Asian dragon and then lost their way altogether. The only models we’ve managed to preserve out of three major manufacturers and their dozen or so divisions are the Mustang, Corvette and Jeep Wrangler. I suppose one could add more to those numbers if you factor in our big pickup trucks. Most everything else is made for a few years, and then abandoned. If a name comes back 20 years later, it’s on a vehicle far removed from what it was used on originally.
The Asians have remained true to several of their models, but they only build bland and uninteresting appliances as far as I’m concerned. Reliable as they may be, they just donl’t do anything for me.
Eric, your description of most Asian cars is spot on…especially Honda/Toyota. I also see them as lacking a distinguishing “character”. The Vette, Stang, Wrangler all certainly have that “je ne sait quoi” charcter, as does this Jag and the Gran Tourismo on the next page. The only Aisian car that really showed me character was the Nissan Z car. Perhaps you might include the MR2.
As for this car…it’s beautiful, powerful and has mystique. That’s all I need!!!
Yeah, I suppose it’s a nice car. But one can afford to put nice things and cutting edge technology into a car when you’re charging $108,000 for the thing. Let them cut the cost down to what a normal car cost and see how much of that fine leather and cutting edge technology stays. Need to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
First, who said any of us has to buy a new car? Most luxury cars are extraordinarily well taken care of yet, still suffer depreciation. I see people in brand new (luxury) SUVs and monster pick-up trucks who paid more for their rides than they could have paid for a great, used sports car. New Escalade or a 5 year-old 911 Turbo S?
Second, the 370Z was a whole lot more fun and reasonable to drive than the GT-R! The GT-R was a major disappointment and if the road is not absolutely smooth, it’s downright punishing and exhausting to drive.