The bulk of this post comes from a thread in the X-Type section which started with the question "Does driving a Jag make you act more British?" Some of the answers were fun, and it led me to an observation that really belongs in this section more. I have noted (and often) that, while the X-Type doesn't seem to generate much of a reaction from other drivers while underway, my XK8 seems to irritate 3-Series Beemers and E-Class Benzes (particularly clapped-out ones with ridiculous wheels and too much bad window tint) to the point where they buzz me like crows antagonizing a hawk. They run up behind me; pass me as if they were very annoyed that I was in their way, and cut in sharply. Repeat. More than one has wound up afoul of the OPP trying to goad me into a race (I guess?) A pair of Beemers one night, trying to Tag Team me. I always make sure to wave cheerfully while they are fuming at the side of the road, digging for their Ownerships and Insurance slips.


Anyone else noticed this?

 

Yes indeed, happens all the time in my wife's XK8, especially on I-95 in Georgia and Florida when she's driving solo to and from visiting her mother in the Tampa area....

Occasionally happens to me in my S-Type, but not nearly as much as with the XK8....

 

I only get admiring glances and questions every third time I get out of my car in public.

However, I drive my XKR coupe aggressively, as in I make constant use of the nice low-end torque curve so I've usually pulled ahead nicely, and heh, its in town so at 50 mph it's coasting time. I've only had one car out accelerate me, a Porsche sedan turbo. Driver gave me thumbs up for even trying at next light.

Ok, I've had one odd experience. Dodge Challenger SRT8 with the big 6.4 V8. He looked sideways and mashed his throttle, as did I. He never pulled ahead and we did this again with same effect. Driver was cussing and yelling, I think at his car as not me. He followed me for 3-4 minutes, I'm guessing his buddy was googling XKR to figure out what it was. Heh heh.

 

Last summer, my first summer owning the car, I had plenty of looks but only one stop-light challenge from a late 80s Testarossa. I declined the challenge... but it might have been interesting. I believe 0-60 for the Ferrari in its prime was low 5s.. my 05 is probably low 6s. BUT I'm not sure how many of those 380 horses were still there. But I digress... I imagine I'll get more of the same this summer. So, Robert, I concur with your observations.

 

I always get complimented whenever I drive mine, from "Is It New?", to "Have You Gotten Pulled Over Yet?" LOL There is also a black XK8, we always give each other thumbs up as we pass.

 

10 a penny Audi driver up my butt looking to see what it is..even my wife agrees I love to slow down just to bug em..mabee im an overgrown kid

 

We have almost an identical situation here. My wife's XK8 gets "challenges" like engine revving, etc. from Mustangs, Camaros and various ricer imports all the time. I have de-tuned the look of my S-Type R to the point where it looks like a regular model and the Mercedes/BMW/Acura crowd seldom gives me a second look these days.


That is unless I get the urge to embarrass someone...

 

I've had my XKR for nearly 2.5 years and have never been challenged. But I live in Texas and I guess that their more interested in pick-up trucks than GTs. I did have a group of high school kids get me to roll down my windo at a stop light and ask me if it was a V12.


Mark

 

I know what you mean, 10 years ago it was BMW drivers that behaved like this now it seems all the middle management types in their Audi A4/A5 2.0 tdi's think that just because they are driving a new Audi that their measly 170bhp is a match for a 15 year old Jag with nearly 300bhp.

 

+1 on the trucks.

I was running about 90+ mph on an open stretch of road one fine day. Not willing to test the hiway patrol too much, I backed off after a fews miles. In about 3-4 seconds a Porsche Carrera blew past me at 100+. Guess he had been trying to catch up!

 

In the city (London Ontario), there are challenges from BMWs on a regular basis. Even the Lexus and Acura crowd want to give my Jag a run. On the highway things are calmer... except once for a Mustang that kept racing me every time I wanted to pass, and then slowed down after I pulled back. On my third try I floored it while I was way back, and passed him doing 100 like he was standing still. He never caught up.

 

Here in the Los Angeles areas BMW's and Merc's have become so ubiquitous that they have become boring. Those are still the cars that folks of a certain type have deemed necessary to get to show they are successful but these days to get a second look in one of them you need either an M-series BMW or and AMG Mercedes--other models are basically a yawn.

Our gen XK8/XKR on the other hand are relatively rare, especially in good shape. I consistently get admiring looks and compliments on the car and average non-car-nut folks often think it is a new model.

Doug

 

Like Doug, I live in Los Angeles, the BMW and Mercedes capital of the planet (Jaguar XF's are almost as plentiful) Often I will teach a lesson or two to some over confident drivers of both. They're just not prepared for the low end punch the XKR can administer. There is never a day, not one, that I don't get stopped and complimented on my convertible by someone in a parking lot, a gas station or a bus stop.....more so than even when I drive my Pantera. It's just uncanny.

 

Also in Texas, not really challenged. Our folks know better.

And I may or may not have tried on a tweed driving cap this afternoon at the store...

 

I concur, i live in London (UK) and i prefer it if i don't get hassled for a race on my way to work, ( i start early so the roads are pretty clear) but more often than not i have guys in BM's and Audi's trying it on - i thought by buying this car guys trying to race would be a rare event. I mean who would think they could beat a Jaguar XK8 Sportscar?
I like to lull them into a false sense of superiority then at a certain junction before a certain bridge i like to very slowly slide up beside them and when the lights change ... floor it - of course you guys all know what happens next ....
Regarding people reactions when they see it, i was driving my wife to an art exhibition in Kensington yesterday , my wife said a lot of guys look at the car when it goes by - but there are so many hot women around this area - i want 'them' to look at it, as i'm looking at them - ha ha.

 

I live in a small town in North Carolina so there aren't a lot of exotics seen on the road (a few, but not many) I think since I've modified my 02 xk8so much, it gets tons of attention. And I can't stop at a light in certain areas of town without some chaved up car revving its engine. I too, get some pleasure passing them with the blue lights pulling them over!!
When I go to dinner at one of our better restaurants there can be a dozen newer far more expensive cars but mine is the one people turn to look at!! Pisses off the BMW and merc owners!!

 

Driving a '95 XJR means that I'm not in a position to challenge much of anybody as even plain-as-mud ordinary family sedans and SUVs have become awfully quick these days.

But, still, I have enough oooomph to catch some of those BMW and Audi road warriors off-guard and knock 'em down a peg or two when they get a wee bit too pushy and arrogant

But that's not what I wanted to talk about.

I admire and respect nice cars no matter what the make. I have a soft spot for Jags but I like many different cars. If I'm at a gas station or parking lot and a really nice [insert name here] pulls alongside I always offer compliments to the owner. In the majority of cases the owner returns the compliment. I'm sure there are instances where the other person doesn't really admire Jags but is simply being gracious.

However, *never once* has a BMW or Audi owner returned the compliment. I find that very disheartening.

Interestingly, perhaps, I find Mercedes owners to be quite the opposite. They're much more likely to offer or return a compliment.

Cheers
DD

 

I feel a bit neglected, I don't get people wanting to race or drooling over my car.

I can do without the drool anyway!

 

I've had many people in their 20's driving crappy cars begin talking to me as I usually leave my windows down to hear my exhaust note. They comment on its beauty, say "sweet Jag!" and the latest was a Ford Taurus station wagon owner who began with "wanna trade?" The funniest was an obese blonde woman in her 20's who walked past and ran her eyes back and forth twice over the car and then looked me in the eye and nodded up with a smile; that's probably the same 'look over' women are used to getting from men. The most satisfying was crawling into a busy parking garage as others were crawling out; mid forties guy in his new Mercedes GL SUV leans out of his window, slowly gazes over the car and tells me "that is a sweet car." It had been up for sale a few weeks at that point and I removed my ad here at the forums within a day.

I never receive any engine revving challenges in Denver. Bummer, I'd find that fun. Nevertheless, challenges occasionally occur. The best was midnight a few blocks after leaving a high-end bar. Three hipsters in a new BMW 7 series and the sideway glances they gave were subtle and to me quite hilarious. My sis-in-law from London was with me. Light turned green and it was even until 20, then my car leapt half a car length and then some more. By 60 I let off and waved my hand to say hi, but they merely looked sullen and turned off. My sis-in-law thought it was great, and had never been in such as stunt.

 

I was just going to post about the Denver experience, was going to say that these cars are so unusual here, only to find another member as a neighbor. When I am out and about complements are the norm, as it is rare to see these. We are in the land of Subaru, and I have toyed around with WRX's on the commute from north to south, sometimes an Audi will want to play, and I certainly try and get reaction out of the American muscle when found. The best encounters are with other XKR/8s. A few weeks ago found myself side by side in traffic with a 2011 XK coupe, also black. Good chat, and at times we slowed to open gaps in front and then made little runs. It was an encounter of mutual respect, not the typical "I can beat you" challenges from other makes.