"Face tattoos" are totally personal too....just say'n

 

There is only one other XK8 in the small city I live in. It has a leaper, 20" spinners and a wind deflector that proclaims JAGUAR in 12" letters. We call it the "ugly Jag" I'm in the no leaper camp.

 

Not that I am saying that I would something like this on my car either, but I could see where, to me, it would be a far better choice.

Of course, then it would not be a "leaper" but a "creeper".

BTW, this is a ceramic figurine.

I am in the no leaper, and no creeper crowd.

 

My Granddad had one of those on top of his TV!!!

 

I'm a retired cop and had numerous arguments with the guys on traffic about " leapers ", as I wanted one for my S type a few years ago before I crashed it. Apparently they are illegal in the U.K even the spring loaded ones on grounds of safety ( up to a certain age ), I argued the toss but lost. Don't shoot the messenger U.K viewers, it is an offence, but it depends on if the cop knows his stuff or not, and if he does what penalty he gives you!!! Stupid law, but there are so many stupid ones it makes no difference, if you are a XK8 owner a leaper would look stupid also.

 

I started a simular thread a while back. It was like starting WWIII. It seemed the ladies like the idea of the leaper, but the guys didn't. I support the guys. And when I was in Britian a few years ago I didn't see any hood ornaments on any cars. Is there a law over there against havint them. Something like they don't like skewering the pedestrians.

 

I think the only way to get more passionate emails about a subject would be to ask if synthetic oil or dino oil would go best with a leaper on the hood of an XK8/R with 26" spinners.

 

The leaper looks elegantly in place on our S-Type....

On my wife's XK8, it would look as if it were about to pounce on a poor unsuspecting vole in its burrow. As much as she loves the leaper, even she realizes that a leaper just doesn't work on her XK8 hood....

 

Still searching for the Part Number ..........

 

Believe me, I know what you mean about WWIII! I've started a few myself.
As for the leaper, seriously, don't let ANYONE keep you from installing one if you want it. It's your car not theirs. You're NEVER going to make every one on here happy, in fact, unless you do anything other than wash and wax the car as it rolled it off the assembly line, you'll probably be chastised.
I happen to like the leapers on Jaguars, had one on my XK8 until I had it painted and now that I designed a unique growler badge that I really like, I'm not installing the leaper back on. I never drilled holes anyway, having modified a standard leaper be cutting off the posts and using badge tape to install. It also made for easy removal if I wanted it off. And no damage to the paint.
I guess my advice is more about the forum than your leaper. Have a thick skin, and more than a grain of salt when posting anything you're thinking about doing. And don't let anything said here stop you from modifying your car any way you want. Aside from the wonderful mechanical help found here, mod threads are the most fun!!!
And this is the perfect icon for the leaper thread!!

 

I seriously don't think that's the case. The leaper draws controversy on certain models, it always has, it always will. By the way.....what car wash and wax are you useing??????

 

Good one!!
I learned quickly never to ask the leaper question!! It's the most hotly debated issue on any jaguar forum site.
I've also noticed there's a direct link to modifying our cars and the age of the responders. Younger guys like to see mods, middle age guys are so so, and the older chaps get down right mean!! Lol (and before I get attacked, there are always exceptions!)
I'm somewhere between the first two I guess even though im on the tail end, age wise, in the middle age group.
I, for one, want the most unique car I can have, within reason. Never been a fan of off the assembly line models for me, not to say I don't respect the flawlessly restored /maintained examples others prefer.

 

I haven't seen any meanness, just sarcasm, joking, or ribbing. This forum is the most helpful and friendly I've seen. But that's just an old guy talking.

 

Nice! What saddle do your prefer, English or Western, when you so elegantly ride the fence. Lol!
Vector

 

did the xk-e have a leaper? NO
should the xk8 have a leaper? NO

simples

 

But in the same respect the XJ6 Series I,II and III didn't come with them and they actually look good on them to the point that most of them have them (we used to get into the smaller leaper vs bigger leaper controversy on the Jag-Lovers XJ6 BBS) I'm in agreement however that on the E-type, XJS, XK8 they just don't look "right" funny too is those are all kind of the same "blood line" Jaguar cars.

 

Phil,

Your car looks FANTASTIC but I'm wondering if Walnut Metallic Black might not have ben just SLIGHTLY better then Black Walnut Metallic ??

 

Must be an old guy talking..........

PS: my wife just informed me that she likes the leaper, and wants me to get one.

 

Not old .............................. geriatric !!

 

Haven"t you been paying attention? Side saddle!LOL