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I've seen many a jag with a leaper-- especially the ones in the states that are older than 2009. New ones don't come with a leaper, but it can be added afterward. On the s type, I LOVE the leaper-- but many from other places don't. Do you prefer one or not? I do. Thoughts?
Down here the "old ones" all came with a leaper, then it was deleted in the name of public safety, then returned as a "spring loaded" emblem, YUK, as an "add on", which is supposed to protect any errant pedestrians that get collected, HAHA, if they are that far up the bonnet, the leaper is the least of their worries. I know I'm a vandal.
I got the "Bill Tracy" HUGE leaper on the XJ-s's, and would NOT have it any other way.
He does not make them for the S Types, and I refuse a spring loaded piece of rubbish, so I am still on the lookout for 2 for the current cars.
Last edited by Grant Francis; Jan 25, 2014 at 04:34 AM.
Not to be out-done, I've got 5 cats on the front of my car...
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Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar
Only over there, we had them until '08 on the S-Type and until the end of the traditional XJ run over here
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons
IMO some Jags look good with the leaper like the S- Type and older Series XJs. But on some it looks out of place and added on. ( XF, XK, XJS ). I think all Jags look good without the leaper.
I change my mind daily on the Leaper or no Leaper question. Today the bonnet (hood) looks so unblemished without it that I couldn't possibly spoil the smooth profile, but tomorrow it will look 'naked' to me and absolutely need the ornament. If only I could try it out without having to drill that hole!
I love the Leaper on the older models. After 2008 the Leaper looks out of place. In my opinion, the new Jags are fantastic cars but have lost their Jaguarness. Which is why I'm keeping my 2007 S-Type, Leaper and all.
"Jaguarness" - That's the word I was looking for. Many years ago, only Rolls Royces, Mercedes, Cadillacs and Jags had hood ornaments, as did all top-end makes from the 30's (never saw a Bentley growing up in the outer boroughs of New York). The Leaper never changed, and the car it was attached to was always considered upper crust.
Many Jaguar owners tend to be brand-loyal, so a Leaper should be, at minimum, a dealer option for newer models, since their older ones had one. All of the the other manufacturers are enjoying success with their retro-styled offerings, so why not a return to the Leaper?!?!
I’ve determined the following as it relates to my XJL 2011; as it’s a big Beast it requires the ‘larger’ Bill Tracey sold 7 3/4 Leaper. A previous post referred to the smaller S type as “looking like a bigger”. My own observation is that an XJL 351 requires the presence of the larger Leaper.
To date I’ve only found two sources for the round based large Leaper. The first being the ‘Bill Tracey’ version which runs $199 which is not quickly removable or spring loaded but wonderful looking. The other is the German made Arden.de Leaper. With US delivery it runs $442. It’s real beauty is it is an engineered piece designed to be quickly removed when felt necessary.
If others on the forum know of sources for the big leapers perhaps they could lend insight. I’m looking to pull the trigger on ‘quick release German Leaper’. If I’m missing some other source for round based big leapers under my nose please do enlighten. Cheers.
I have to agree with Jumpin Jag Flash - I can't imagine my 2001 S-Type without the leaper on the hood. Especially since the Kia Amanti of the same period had a similar body style and hood construction. Someone in the area has an Amanti and they put a leaper on the hood!! Really?
The heath and safety aspect is one reason I say no.
In a potential situation of hitting a pedestrian in an accident even at low speed the damage caused by the leaper on the front of the bonnet might change
an accident with injuries into a fatality. Think about what damage it could do to a person in an impact? even a slow speed one? Think about the legal aspect from being sued. Think about that in a court room situation where the fact that the car is not fitted with one as standard is revealed to the court. There is a potential for liability for whoever fitted the leaper. Do you really want to be in a court room situation for a fatality where you have to prove that you did not fit the leaper? Other brand names like Mercedes made changes to the way they are mounted or stopped fitting them for this reason.
Risk assessment for any likely gain? No contest, I will not fit one.
I would definitely only fit a fully-legal hood ornament. In response to Busa's comment, certainly in Australia, the spring-loaded leaper has been legal since 2005. It was Jaguar's big selling point at the 2005 Australian Motor Show.
I want to thank you all for your opinions. However, regardless of what any of us think, in my case the decision appears to have been made - one of my daughters is getting married in October, and she has decreed that THE WEDDING CAR MUST HAVE A LEAPER. So I guess I am getting the drill out!
Leaper or no leaper?
Modern jag 
