I saw this XK today. The color is great, but I don't know what to think and feel about the leaper. The car was owned by a Houston socialite, so that may explain things.

 

Well I'm so glad to see this, because I've wondered forever what that might look like. And now that I know I don't like it, I can move on.

 

Each to his own, but not for me.

 

Yuck.......the XK/XKR has such a nice sports car look, the Jag Leaper hood ornament is just that, a hood ornament that does not belong on an XK/XKR

Man, that really sucks. Looks terrible and ruins the appearence of the XK/XKR style. The person might be some socialite, but must have been drinking to much when he decided to put that on the car.

It doesn't even look classy. Even if it's on a 2007 year model.

 

Richzak, I can tell you wouldn't buy this, even with only 12,700 miles on the odometer. It's a shame about the leaper, because the coupe in frost blue is beautiful. I guess it goes to show that money and a sense of style do not always go hand-in-hand.
Thanks for helping me decide to look but not buy.

 

The leaper can be removed and the holes repaired. If the car is selling for enough of a discount then that repair cost can be offset.

Heck, getting that leaper removed may even be a negotiating point...

 

Figure $500 at most to repair and repaint the hood.

 

It would be a dealbreaker for me for sure. Horrendous.

 

in fact, comical. And as previously suggested a simple repair.

 

It might be simple, but I'd be worried about the color match and the longevity of the repair. Is it easy to fill in holes in aluminum? (Maybe it is?)

 

Like it has been said before that money can't buy you class. I've seen a couple of leapers on the XK8 series - looked terrible. I have never seen one on an XK series until this which looks as bad as I thought it would. That said I would still consider buying the car for a discount and having it removed.

The worst thing I have seen lately was in latest version of the movie " Straw Dogs" in which the star drives a vintage E-Type convertible, and it has a leaper mounted on the hood.

 

NO NO NO!

Thats just plain wrong

 

I think that is optimistic... I'd bet closer to $1000...

 

The dealer is asking $35,000. I've already thought about using the removal of the leaper as a negotiating tool. The cabin is in great shape save for a small, yet noticeable, gash in the leather of the glove box. Combined, I think those two things might be worth a $1,500 reduction in price.
Thoughts?

 

If you have thoroughly researched the VIN, and the gash in the glove box and the leaper are the only issues, I'd start the offer at $32K and not let him get you above $33,200

It will probably cost you around $1K (maybe a little less) to get that leper removed and the hood repaired.

If the service records are available I'd ask for them as well.

 

No.
I'm new to Jaguars, and I think I would have thought it looked odd even if I didn't know it wasn't stock. The leaper looks great on sedans.

Just an off-the-hip thought which may get shot down quickly, but what if you got one of the Jag cat face plates (sorry, don't know the right term. It's the round plate that is on the front of the car) and fit it in the spot where the leaper is? It might at least look better and not cost near as much.

 

It doesn't even look good on sedans.

 

terrible on both cars...reminds me of a rhino

 

Yeah, I agree - "sedan" was too broad of a term for me to use. In my head I was thinking of the XJ8 (like mine), and just said "sedan". Ha!

Let me rephrase - I think it looks great on the sedans that it normally comes on. :-)

 

I think people call them growlers. Not a bad thought. I once saw a jag with an Aston Martin badge... You could try getting away with that!