1997 Ford F150

'97 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercab
Proving infinitely useful, our F-150 pickup has accumulated miles like a Concorde jet, climbing 6000 since the last update. Its impressive 8000-pound towing capacity has been put to use hauling a Ford-powered sprint car to Western-region racetracks in support of dirt-slinging Road Test Coordinator Brad Long's oval-track addiction. On these motorsport adventures, the recently fitted SnugTop shell has proven extremely useful for securing tools, coolers, and miscellaneous gear in the truck's bed. The cap itself has received mixed styling reviews: Some staffers find its curves flow with the F-150's lines to create an SUV-like appearance, while more conservative types find its non-conventional shape less appealing. We're in total agreement that there's a definite trade-off for the convenience of secure storage: visibility. While backing out of tight parking spaces is a challenge in any 18-foot truck, add a box of dark-tinted glass and the task becomes downright intimidating. The recent 15,000-mile service totaled $127.17, nudging the operating cost to just shy of 10 per mile.

'97 Jaguar XK8 Convertible
Luring the sleek, new feline from Coventry, England, with a garage full of premium-fuel-laced catnip, we added a convertible Jaguar XK8 to our long-term fleet. This majestic roadster combines power, prestige, and opulence in one delicious package. Under the sloping hood lies the 4.0-liter/290-horsepower DOHC V-8. Mated to a five-speed automatic, the all-aluminum powerplant propels the elegant car 0-60 mph in 6.9 tea-spilling seconds. With tweed cap and scarf in place (oops, wrong magazine; make ours Ray*Bans and No Fear cap), the driver is treated to a wood-trimmed interior wrapped in royal cowhide. Features abound: power windows/door locks/mirrors, automatic climate control, electric seats with driver memory function, keyless remote security system, garage door opener, and stability control. With such a high level of standard equipment, available options can be counted on one hand. We chose the all-weather package with heated seats and traction control ($2000) and the 240-watt Harman Kardon premium stereo system ($1800). Dressed to impress, our XK8 totaled $74,310.