It would be nice to get more friendly responses from other Jag owners on the road, but unfortunately, some of them are a bit snobbish. Too bad - such a fun mark to own.

However, .... within one month of bringing Kitty home, some gal comes into the Doctor's waiting room where I'm queued-up and and says, "Who the Hell owns owns that Jaguar?!" I walked out later with her phone number and the promise of interesting days to come.



Of course, there's always the parking lot chatter, and I've even had people pull over to compliment her while I'm shammying her off after a wash. Got to admit, it does feel good.

 

I'm sure we'll all be interested in pics of your project.

 

I live in Tucson, and I know the roads I usually drive VERY WELL. I occasionally get challenged, and will usually let them think they are winning, until I get to some curves on the road, at which time I can roar through the turn while they try and keep up, and I always laugh as I see them chickening out and putting on the brakes. When they are realizing they are in over their heads and trying to slow down, I am still accelerating.
I really LOVE my Jag!
I get a lot of attention whenever I take it out. A lot of people want to know what it is, and a lot think it is still a new car, even though it is a 99 convertible. People are always telling me "Sweet ride, dude!"

 

Just don't try to challenge "Jeff In Tucson" - he'll leave you in the dust like a fighter jet....

 

I actually got that exact same comment one time from some young guy obviously hipper than this old fart.

Doug

 

A couple years ago I was working nights and got off around 1:00 AM. On the way home, I stopped at a 24 hour greasy spoon to get some dinner. I parked my 2002 XKR in front and sat in a booth. While I was waiting for my burger, three guys came in and sat in front of me. I heard one guy say "What kind of car is that?" One of the other guys said "I think it's a Chrysler" (I was a little insulted). The third guy said "No, it's an Alpha Romeo", which was a little better. I then leaned forward and said "It's a Jaguar".


I frequently, as I'm sure we all do, get comments at gas stations, supermarkets, etc. similar to the above "Sweet ride dude", and they are correct, it is a sweet ride. However, I have never been challenged on the road.


Mark

 

 

I've had some people think it means I'm pretentious, rich, spoiled, etc. Usually only big car guys know they're a great used value and just want to know more about the car. At least around here.

I'm just excited that today I prepped it and started it the first time since November (just a tiny vacuum hose leak was all that happened in storage, replaced it in minutes). I'm looking forward to another fun summer.

 

I've been daily driving my '02XKR for the last few weeks, I did get coaxed into one high speed run, this guy in a 350z kept messing with me over about 12 miles, I finally got p'od and just to get away, floored it, we started off around 70, we were on a section of road 3 lanes wide in each direction and suddenly there was no-one in view in front of us! Don't know if all XKR's are like mine but mine loves to go while it's already rolling...... Got to work and then a few minutes later, the receptionist comes to me and asks with a sheepish grin... What did that guy do?..... I explained, she said "I was behind you".... You pulled away like he was standing still! In about 1/2 mile, I couldn't see you but I saw him get pulled over......

I will no longer get induced!

 

I kid you not. I saw a black XK8 coupe with tasteful after market wheels parked in a high end shopping district where I do my banking. I had to stop and admire the car's paint work and XKR grille. The parking ticket enforcer was near and I prepared to pop in coins for him and others but they were all safe. The owner came out, we talked, and two gals from a nearby store approached and asked if his car was a Tesla. I corrected them, the owner laughed, and revealed his 97 coupe had a new paint job and showed his new two tone seats at my request. Impressive.

 

Most modern day Jaguar sedan drivers find us invisible - no thumbs up. People that drive or used to drive XK-120's, 150's, E-types, XKS or XK8/R's notice these cars - most offer a smile and a positive thumbs up.
For those not fortunate enough to own an XK8 or XKR Jaguar I see far more smiles on their faces when walking by our parked cars than looks of disdain.
Older Ferrari's, Lambo's, Aston's and the rest of the prestige offerings seen today used to have that same magnetism but now all that everyday people [that are not 'gear heads'] see are very expensive aero cars usually driven by mindless pop "stars" or illiterate athletes.
Jaguar XK8 and XKR owners please stand and take a bow for letting the public see and enjoy what will remain, beautiful cars.
RB

 

Got the smiles today while driving through Westwood (near UCLA) and waiting at a light while some obvious student-types were crossing. The couple of guys in the group kept looking at the car and staring/smiling. I got the impression they were trying to figure out what it was since these often get confused by most normal folks as new models.

Doug

 

Stop & go thru downtown, have had a few come out of coffee shops & bars to ask what it was ('97 xk8 black coupe). The best was the nice readhead who asked if she could buy me a drink....married with kids ya know so I politely declined. Almost as nice was with the '85 XJ6 in about 2000 still in beautiful shape (the car not me), a mid 50's lady came into the small shop I was in and asked if the jag outside was mine & apologized sort of for walking around it and gawking at it. As I was talking with the owner for a bit, I told her to go back out & hop in and try it on for size. Should"a seen the amazed look on her face. She loved the leather & wood and was so surprised that someone with such an expensive car (tongue in check as I type... chuckle) would let others hop in so freely. Always "feel-good" cars for sure.
Cheers
TheCounty

 

In my neighborhood, there's a woman in a fairly new Maserati four door I pass every morning and she always waves! And this weekend she was at the same supermarket I go to and we both parked miles away from the closest car. While I was standing in line to check out, she was at another register and the checkout girl said she saw me drive in in my Maserati and I laughed and said that's not mine, I had the jaguar. Then she said, but yours is convertible isn't it! "Yup" I said "but its a Jaguar". Then three other employees all said, not realizing the Maserati owner was two check out stands away listening, "your's is so much hotter!" You can imagine I walked out with my feet not touching the ground!!

 

Although it happens daily, the latest complimentary episode was in the parking lot of a hardware store, where two young women (early twenties) getting into their car parked next to mine both commented about how "cool" my car was and how they loved the color. I told them it was 12 years old and had almost 150,000 miles, and they remarked that sometimes the older ones are still nicer.

 

Hope you didn't let that remark go by without a suitable reply.

 

I am used to getting compliments about my Jaguars - and snide comments from jealous types. The funny ones are the most memorable to me.

Last fall while traveling thru the Adirondacks along I88 we stopped in Worcester NY for fuel. This was a very rural small town area.

I am standing there fueling up when I notice that everybody is staring at the XK8. Then a horn blares as two guys almost crash into each other in the parking lot.

A woman is walking past us, stops to point at our car and laughingly says "You're gonna cause an accident in here with that thing. We're not used to seeing stuff like that."

 

I got a speeding ticket in Worcester, NY heading back to Troy from Watkins Glenn F1 (Jackie Stewart's last race). Backseat full of empties in my Opel. Here in Daytona, no compliments or comments from folks......even the other XK* drivers don't wave! Only thumbs up was from a XK120 driver. Don't know what the deal is with you guys down here, but c'mon, at least flash the lights.

 

I've never been challenged or pulled over, but my wife has.

Several times she has been pulled over by the police so they can flirt and ask about the car.

Just recently, she had a guy in a Corvette try to accelerate around her to cut her off. She floored it and left him in the dust. He got pissed off though, and at the next light he floor it only to get pulled over by a cop at the next block.

She had a Porsche Cayman try to take her at a light a few months ago. He failed.

I was pulling through a parking lot over the weekend and passed a guy on foot. I parked about 30 yards away from him. I heard him on his cell phone saying "You won’t believe it. A Jag XKR just passed by me."

-lux

 

Have a 97 xk8 coupe, coronado blue with Detroit 20' rims....To echo some previous posts - to be sure on a daily basis here in Chicago I get the Audi A5, the BMW, the multitude of Benz's who either stay way back or fly by. Rarely do I encounter an actual challenge....The best is when others on road ignore them new cars and focus their eyes upon mine. I guess what pisses them cars off is a six hundred dollar per month nut for the next four years while mine is payed off and timeless....

However, I do not flaunt my ride..Do not put my left arm/hand at 12 on the steering wheel - just let the car speak for itself.... Still after ten years of ownership at times find reasons on a sunny day to just drive.....Not wealthy not a big shot but a BIG SHOT ONLY who can afford a true exotic ----- I FEEL LIKE EVERYDAY in my quite way..