Brave Pill vs. Almost Sensible...

[_Mac_]

I know the answer is "don't touch the brave pill" - but like a moth to a flamethrower: here I am.

Do I touch a high mileage (200k) C5 Corvette? or Go for a leggy (~75k) X100 Jaguar XKR?
Both have no (apparent) issues other than age related wear and tear. Its a second car that needs to be reliable in case I need to get to another hospital for work, but weekends only for the majority. I'd put no more than 3k a year on it at most and have no problem driving a lefty (won't be my first yank).

So go on; what would you do?

[samoht]

To clarify - which option are you calling the Brave Pill, and which one Almost Sensible? It's not obvious to me that one is safer than the other.

[fflump]

They 70k XKR is most certainly not leggy.

You need a reliable indy to do a PPI and have a good place to do ongoing maintenance so you are buying with our eyes open.

[six wheels]

samoht said:

To clarify - which option are you calling the Brave Pill, and which one Almost Sensible? It's not obvious to me that one is safer than the other.

Ha!

Get the American 🇺🇸

[Pica-Pica]

_Mac_ said:

I know the answer is "don't touch the brave pill" - but like a moth to a flamethrower: here I am.

Do I touch a high mileage (200k) C5 Corvette? or Go for a leggy (~75k) X100 Jaguar XKR?
Both have no (apparent) issues other than age related wear and tear. Its a second car that needs to be reliable in case I need to get to another hospital for work, but weekends only for the majority. I'd put no more than 3k a year on it at most and have no problem driving a lefty (won't be my first yank).

So go on; what would you do?

Why do you need it to be that reliable? A taxi will do as a second car.

[samoht]

My impression is that the Corvette is pretty rugged and designed for the high miles that are common in the US, has a fibreglass body, and isn't too vulnerable to frame rusting (less than a TVR). Conversely the X100 Jag is built on the old XJS platform, complete with 1970s BL rust traps designed-in. OTOH the Jag is reasonably sound mechanically, and obviously lower mileage in this case. Hence not clear to me which is the better bet.

Pica-Pica said:

Why do you need it to be that reliable? A taxi will do as a second car.

Imagine that you're the patient in the 'other hospital', and OP is the doctor and he's driving over there, and his car breaks down.

[_Mac_]

samoht said:

To clarify - which option are you calling the Brave Pill, and which one Almost Sensible? It's not obvious to me that one is safer than the other.

Ha! I did notice the XKR was a recent BP… Strangely I reckon the Jag is actually the safer of the two - parts, knowledge and choice are all in its favour.

But the other is a ‘vette! Fibreglass body and minimal rust issues, bombproof LS means the only problem is likely to be a worn interior and suspension. Unless this one has a dark past of course…

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for the Corvette they're pretty robust but check everything suspension wise & everything else too, same goes for the Jag.

[exelero]

Definitely the corvette , it’s not even ran in yet

[samoht]

My guess would be they're fairly different to drive, the Vette more of a sports car, the Jag more of a cruiser. So given the maintenance perhaps isn't that far apart on these two examples, I'd be tempted to ask what sort of car you actually want to drive.

[_Mac_]

samoht said:

My guess would be they're fairly different to drive, the Vette more of a sports car, the Jag more of a cruiser. So given the maintenance perhaps isn't that far apart on these two examples, I'd be tempted to ask what sort of car you actually want to drive.

I’d like a car that’s more sports car than a GT, once or twice a year drive to conferences, usually around the midlands (200miles each way), but able to take the kids out “for a spin” at weekends. XKR wins there with more seats…

[Mr Tidy]

I'd probably look for a Monaro!