[wilf leek]

Jack21 - I too had mixed feelings when Ford bought Jaguar. However, my feelings now are that it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Build quality has improved beyond belief, the cars now come close to the top of the UK JD Power surveys, when they used to be falling off the bottom.
New models are coming in - the next XJ car (early 2003) will be all aluminium, and the XJR will push the BMW M5 in terms of outright performance. The MKII version of the "S" type is the car it should have been from the start. The "X" type is rivalling the BMW 3 series. (although I am really, really, not sure about front wheel drive in a Jag!) And on top of that, the new small roadster is confirmed for production.
And all the time, the heritage has been maintained. Nope - Ford has been good for Jaguar imho.

And yes - some of my NY friends use the expression "The Kings English" and it rolls me up every time.