Jaguar

From Wales,

And if you're into 'pimped' Robin Reliants, watch Top Gear this weekend, they've sellotaped a Robin to something resembling Saturn 5!!!

From Cumbria,

Favourites:
XJ6
XKR

Worst:
XJS

From Wales,

XJ6 is ok, had a few of them but nothing special, the XJ12 was an altogether better car. The 4.2 engine was a reasonably decent engine but some of the smaller capacity engines weren't all that good - particularly the s1 2.8Litre.

The XJ8 (4Litre V is better than the XJ6's and the XJR better again - but they do need to be serviced on the dot as they can develop expensive timing problems.

The XK8/ XKR is a beautiful car, again, impressive performance in the XKR but regular servicing required. You can pick nice used XKR's up at auction now for little over £10K!!

Like you, I didn't like the XJS but that was when it was released, it grew on me over the years and I really did like the late versions, got to be the V12 though! The one to have is the XJRS V12 6Litre, there was an absolutely immaculate, low mileage one on ebay recently, 1 owner, fully specced, full factory fitted body-kit & spoilers, always garaged, just used in dry weather, fsh, etc. £7K! This car would have been nearly £70K new in the early '90's which was about the same as going out to spend £100K+ now.
0-60mph in about 5secs, top speed 170mph+ They go like jets & sound like them too - where else are you going to get so much car for so little money?

You can go out, buy a perfectly decent, unabused late V12 XJS 5.3Litre for about £3K, (£5K for the convertible), insure it cheaply on a classic car policy and keep it for car shows & fine day motoring. Downside is servicing & spares costs & obviously fuel consumption (but hey, all this global warming is keeping my heating bills down!)
The early XJS's are absolute money-pits, it would be difficult to find a decent one, they rot, there's always something going wrong with them mechanically so steer well clear unless you can buy one that's had a full recent restoration at a good price.