Best attention anecdote....was being the first car out of a parking garage at a big Theatre in Chicago. (I had been the last one in, thus the first out). The valet only had to bring my XK8 about 40 feet, to us. The top had been left down and the Valet brought it back the same way.


As I exited the garage and stopped at the sidewalk for pedestrians crossing, a woman with her hubby and two kids, exclaimed "OH, A Jaguar" as the nose inched out of the garage .... as I pulled into traffic and they saw the license plates, I heard her again exclaim "Look, Jazz Cat" !


I enjoyed the attention being that I was on a first date with a celebrity vocalist. We had seen a musical play, "The Howl'n Wolf Story".

 

My neighbor says he always likes to see my car drive by. He thinks it is one of the classiest cars out there.

My wife only asks if any ladies throw their cards into my car when the top is down.

 

I don't get a whole lot of reactions. The most memorable was probably when this little boy, he couldn't have been older then 10, flicked me off....

Another time I raced this 2010 Corvette with a 2000 XKR off the line at a red light, killed him. We pulled up at the next light his girlfriend laughing and killed him again...

 

This and the other "kill" stories just bewilder me. I don't think my 2005 XKR would have been able to beat my old 1995 Corvette off the line let alone a 2010 Corvette with about 100hp more than the 1995. Dittos for you guys claiming to spank late model BMW's and Merc's. I just don't see it happening based on my experience. And no, the throttle cable is not incorrectly adjusted.

Doug

 

The 2010 stock Corvette only produces 430hp. My 2000 XKR stock produces 370hp. With the throttle cable adjusted and other small performance enhancements the XKR can definitely beat a 2010 Corvette.

 

Another Texan... I agree... No challenges (and I'm fine with that) ...

That was YOU I saw in the on the tweed cap Section ?? Wish I'd have known.. I'd have bought you a warm beer.

 

My wife and I took the Jag out for a ride a couple weeks ago for a Sunday drive. We stopped at the local Yogurt shop and we were setting outside enjoying our treats. A couple about our age came out of the shop and I saw her poke her husband to look at our car. He looked it over and then turned and asked me, "is this yours?" I nodded my head and he said" you must have saved for years for this". I said, "not really". I did not tell him a 10 year old Xk8 is cheap. He said, "then you must have been a really good boy". I nodded and thanked him for the complement. In our small town a Jaguar XK8 is rather rare, so people notice.

 

Went to meet a friend for a drink just a while ago and backed into my parking space near the front door, our newest high end restaurant. When I came out, there was a new Maserati backed in beside me. First thought was, obviously he wanted to put me in my place, but then the valet said when he got out he told his girlfriend he thought my car was really beautiful. They don't do sexy cars like that any more he said!!

 

My next door neighbour has a Mercedes SLK, but loves the Jag. He says you can't just look at it, you have to run your hands over it, it's that sort of car.

I popped onto a shop today and an elderly man who saw me park came up to me and said, 'you've got my favourite car'.

I don't get many people here in rural Suffolk wanting to race and we don't have many traffic lights, however, I generally find the Jag gets treated with respect. If I am waiting to pull out of a side turning into traffic, I often get people stopping to let me in (you don't get that in a BMW).

 

Is there a chance that World Wars I and II have anything to do with that?

I mean, a British or German car in Britain? LOL

 

The USA, truly is the land of plenty.


Back on topic, I have no "race" type challenges in the XK8 but it does get a lot of compliments. Same for the 450SL.


My old TT did attract more challenges due to the decals, which I would try to ignore, fortunately it was modded to do 0-60 in 5.5 so would normally hold its own.

 

+1 I certainly do not want to get in the middle of something, but even though mine will try to break loose (T-Cont ON) from 20mph with super sticky Y Rated summer tires, I respect and do not mess with any of the cars mentioned. I could beat my wife's Charger R/T R&T, but only barely, not what I would consider "a kill". If I were out for kills, I guess I would get a twin screw or a Tesla-S (both would be hard on my pocket book)
I'm thinking it would take 0-60 times in the high threes or low fours to compete. Maybe someone can post some time slips. (I would be ashamed to post since mine is north of five)

 

Seriously doubt it. You are saying that the Corvette has more horsepower but don't forget it is also about 500 pounds HEAVIER than the Corvette.

Doug

 

I'd like to clarify, this was about fun. Kill? No one is saying that. Not even the fellas with upgraded superchargers and LSD. Some cars turn out stronger and stay that way, others degrade less, and I mean the same model and year. Magazines have noticed this too, as in half-second differences to 60, including model year 2013.

Now I wonder if the elder (75+) pedestrians who do triple takes will still turn to comment favorably if I replace the central muffler with glass-packs. You can all expect a report on that in 60 days... heh heh :-)

 

In my "slightly modified" XKR I get a few folks who want to run me at a light, mostly late model mustangs. Unfortunately this tends to happen when I'm messing with something and don't want to stress the car. However I get a lot of compliments. A few folks have actually followed me back to the house and two guys complimented the car in the parking lot today. Granted one had just finished selling drugs (don't think I'll park there again).


The most fun is folks walking up and asking me if the car is brand new and what kind is it? This happened a lot while the car was going through its smog check. Made what is a very annoying experience much better.


Now with the F-Type I get the nods and crazy races. For instance I was minding my own business the other day with car in eco-mode (I hate this feature) and the engine was off and a guy on a bike jumped me off the line, no time for dynamic or sport mode, just dumped the throttle. thank god for traction control or I likely would have just sat and fried expensive tires. Damn near blew him off the bike in 3 blocks, the guy had a distinct wtf look on his face. Since the highway patrol station was around the corner figure I won't do that again. Still, was a ton of fun.


Damn I love cars with blowers...

 

I have found people taking pictures of my E type and XJS when coming out in to my parking spot. Just last week there was a guy in a BRG F type who parked next to the XJS to take pictures of both cars together. Guys in XK8's XK's and F types are very interested in both of those cars. Always great fun

My daily X type does not really get much attention unless it's from other pre 2009 Jaguar owners who feel the same disdain I do about the new saloons (this has happened 3 times in about 3 months) Oddly, the X type gets looks of repulsion from XF owners. Could be that I am projecting.

As far as racing is concerned,I have a strict no racing policy (call me whatever you want ) but one can be wrapped around a lamp post very quickly playing those games. That, and also the V12 on the E and the straight 6 on the XJS are no match for any modern car. Maybe a smart car. And neither is the v6 on the X .

 

I started my most recent jaguar obsession about 13 years ago with a 94 XJ, then trading for a 02 Stype, then on to a 04 Xtype, then a 06 XJL (then a brief volvo lapse) then a 2010 XF and added an 88 xjs but traded that for a 2002 XK8. Most of the X ans S types around here are tricked out or really ragged so I do tend to give a frown when I see one but on occasion I see a really nice well kept one and always smile or flash lights. I'm still looking for a good X type estate. Love that little bugger!!

 

The reactions vary. Some people who do not know much about cars think it is newer than it really is. Like brand new (gee, you must have some money to burn, lol). Other people who do know cars often admire it for the styling. On the whole, it is mostly under the radar here because there is so much exotic machinery on the roads at any given point in time.

 

Honestly, the most common reaction I get to the XK8 goes something like, "That's beautiful! What is it?" I live in rural Dallas so you don't see too many Jags of any kind out here lol.

 

The red one gets this where ever it goes ....





Nobody has tried to race me yet ....


Nobody tries to race the XF, total sleeper and would spank everything except for Ms and AMGs.


My 911 turbo was constantly challenged by insanely boosted small Japs, blowing their pop-off valves all over me trying to entice me to floor it ... you wait for their valve to pop and go and they are left with no boost ... just long enough to pull away and for them not to catch up ...