[Taipted]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1873089081&category=6350

I was under the impression that all spyders were manual+vr4

 

[Odin]

Nope, some spyders were SLs

 

[Spirit]

And an auto at that. Given the added weight involved, you are looking at possibly the slowest 3000GT ever produced. I dunno, I guess a SOHC with auto might be close. Easily the slowest for the $$.

When the antenna goes up it is UGLY. You can see it on the right front fender in the pic.

I saw one just like that a dealership not long ago and I really wasn't impressed at all. His antenna was stuck extended full at all times and I was very put off by it.

Each to his/her own.

That really is a chick car, and yes Spyders came in all flavors, but I believe the color options were very limited.

 

[PRODIGY3000]

That's one car I would debage in a second.

I am VERY reluctant to believe that its an automatic. I think all Spyders came with manual transmissions standard. He probably just skipped over that query box.

And if not then what the hell were they thinking...

 

[surgeon83]

They did not make a manual SL spyder. All SL spyders are automatics. All VR-4 spyders have 6-speeds.

 

[puffe516]

They did not make a manual SL spyder. All SL spyders are automatics. All VR-4 spyders have 6-speeds.

i didnt know that...ya learn something new everyday

Spyder vr4's are so sweet! i think there's one on Ebay selling for 28k w/ LOW miles

 

[PRODIGY3000]

...what the hell were they thinking

 

[Zentelis]

They were thinking "anyone who really wants a manual is going to have to shell out the extra $10K for the VR-4"

ya have a sport convertible, most enthusiasts are going to want a manual...automatic sports cars suck

most likely it was just a business tactic..coincidentally, there were fewer SL spyder's produced overall than VR-4's.
And I think hans was talking about buying an SL spyder and doing the first 5-speed spyder =)

 

[ShawnE94sL]

automatic sports cars suck

I think you meant to say all, but, the 3000GT.....right ;D

 

[JD-01]

Research folks... the information is out there, you just have to apply a small amount of effort to find it:



http://emeraldsearch.com/spyder/lit_1995_4page_spyder_brochure.htm

-JD

 

[Todd Rosenthal]

I have an SL Spyder and love it. It is fast enough for normal driving and I am to old to race. I drive it around the twisties in Hagerstown at a high rate of speed and it handles very well.

I love to drive with the top down and enjoy the wind.

Would I like a manual? YES, but I wanted the hard top convertable more.

 

[mobilebeatz]

actually, a Supra is a much better example of an auto sports car that doesn't suck.

 

[YogsVR4]

You can add a any LS1 engined sports car with an auto that would fit into the "Doesn't suck" category

 

[Spirit]

I don't think too many of you would complain about my XK8, it only comes with auto. Yeah, I know, some of you would have to have the XKR, so I guess you could complain......

Regarding that brochure for the Spyder, pretty cool, but I can see that they retouched the pictures to remove that ugly antenna bump on the R front fender.

That was the first thing I noticed.

 

[puffe516]

automatic sports cars suck

Some of us do have feelings ya know! :crying2:

 

[tbadiuk]

Hey! You have an XK8? That's on my list of "cars to get" in the future! How does it compare to a NA 3/S? How does it handle? I was thinking of getting a hardtop but the convertible is tempting...

Ted

I don't think too many of you would complain about my XK8, it only comes with auto. Yeah, I know, some of you would have to have the XKR, so I guess you could complain......

Regarding that brochure for the Spyder, pretty cool, but I can see that they retouched the pictures to remove that ugly antenna bump on the R front fender.

That was the first thing I noticed.

 

[Spirit]

Hey! You have an XK8? That's on my list of "cars to get" in the future! How does it compare to a NA 3/S? How does it handle? I was thinking of getting a hardtop but the convertible is tempting...

Ted

Got the hardtop, the vert is heavier and frankly I've never been in love with soft top cars. T-tops, sunroofs, those I like alot. South Texas isn't the place to drive an open car 90% of the time.

Compare to an N/A? Hmmm.... 70K vs. 35K. What do you think?

A stock N/A will get ripped from a start and all of the way up, the Jag is obviously a much nicer ride from a plush standpoint. Handling, the Jag is a dream around town, freeways, etc.

But....for twisties, for getting on it. The 3000 is a better car if you had them on a track and the power was equal. In fact, I don't think it would even be much of a race.

The Jag has no business even thinking about lining up with a VR-4, performance wise.

I've never driven an XKR, that's just too much money right now, from what I understand though, a VR-4 will still maul it badly.

FYI, both the Jags are governored at 155 top speed.

 

[tbadiuk]

Thanks for the info! That's what I figured pretty much. I hate sqeeks and rattles so a rigid body (hard top) is probably better for my the the convertable.

On the price, they are dropping like a rock, which is good for me because I want to buy one. New, 100K+ CND (~70K US or so), used, I see 1998 hardtops with like 30k miles going for 45-50K CND (30K US). That is insane! I figure I'll be able to eventually get a 5-7 year old low milage XK8 for like 20K US which is a steal.

God I love our 'disposable' society...I'd never be able to afford full sticker!

Ted

 

[Spirit]

Yeah, they drop real fast on the resale if you go back a few years. Having said that, there is a little more to the tale.

The only reason the XK8/R even exists is the Ford influence after buying Jag out a few years ago. The first few years there were a fair amount of Jaguar designers still involved. How can I put this....I would not buy any XK8 pre '99. Drove several, took a couple home for the weekend. I don't like squeaks and creaks either. They may be the same car, but they don't act nor drive like it. <edit> I have a '00.

You won't see the late models dropping on the resale like the earlier ones even given the same amount of time.

I wasn't ever gonna take the depreciation hit on a brand new one, never considered it. But I made a pest of myself and they got tired of me so I got a super offer on an early return lease. It was 6 mos old and had 4K on the clock. I saved almost 15K from sticker price, more than I had intended to spend originally, but I couldn't resist...

I feel like the original owner anyway, so it's all good.

 

[tbadiuk]

I remember that there were some changes made in the 99 or 2000 model year, memory is a bit murky though.

The 99's and 00's seem to be dropping with the same pattern that the 98's dropped (ie- 99's are at about 40k US and 00's are about 45-50K us, looks to be about 5k/year drop USD).

I'm actually hoping that when they release the redesigned XK8(R) in 2004(5?) they will even drop faster! People with too much money leasing cars (and writing off the depreciation) = insanely fast price drops!

Ted