the X308 wheels look SO good in fact, I couldn't help but get myself a set :]

[see below]

 

Has that purple one been lowered?

 

I think it's more the angle of the shot. Those wheels actually raise the ride height a tiny bit but gives it a more lowered looking profile.

I could be looking at it all wrong.

or perhaps a load in the trunk?

 

The standard X308 Starburst wheels look pretty good too. I've got a spare set that was on my Xj40. I was going to put them on the X300, but I decided to keep it all stock.

 

I think your right.

It's funny the difference wheels and even tyres can make to the appearance of the car.

My car looks like it rides much higher than my dads, but when I measured it's height off the road it was actually lower. the Kiwi and Dimple wheels are the same size, so it's all in the tyre (EDIT: mine is also the XJ Sport, so maybe the sport suspension is a little lower too).

Your car looks great BTW, and I don't think you should bother with lowering it.

 

I have these XK8 rims on my 97 VDP:

http://images.drive.com.au/drive_ima.../05jag_m_m.jpg

I think the stock rims on the x300 are ugly.