I've had my 2000 XK8 for not quite five months yet here in Palm Beach County, Florida, and have had many compliments (the sapphire blue exterior is in very good, not perfect, condition, and the convert. top looks brand-new).

Compliments in parking lots, and several of the guys at work drool over it at times; I've had lots of looks at stop lights, but with the summer heat and humidity the windows are always up and the A/C on, so stop light conversations have not generally been possible. I suspect that will change this winter when I start driving with the top down almost all of the time...

Most of the verbal compliments seem to come from men around my age, 50s or so.

It's easy to tell when someone is checking out the Jag while I'm driving back-and-forth to work; while driving at slow city speeds between numerous stoplights, often (VERY often, usually several times each day!) other cars pull up nearly even with my Jag and then begin turning into my lane (the old car-tends-to-drive-direction-I'm-looking syndrome, which is why cops are often hit when parked on the shoulder of a road). I've nearly been sideswiped many times and have learned to drive with my thumbs resting on the horn for quick audio warnings. It unnerves me how often this happens, making it hard to relax while I'm driving, even at 35 or 40mph! Not exaggerating one bit here. Does this happen to anyone else??? This, I didn't expect--it's driving me crazy!

Racing? Mustangs, 'Vettes, Lexus' and, believe-it-or-not, LOTS of Audis and VWs(!) come alongside me and rev their engines--I just ignore them for a few reasons: I don't want a ticket or higher insurance rates (spotless driving record, and insurance here is Florida is too damn high already!), and I don't want to tempt my tranny into sudden A-drum failure. The Jag is fast, we all know that. I accept that and attend to other things in life, not needing to prove it to myself or anyone else. But it seems that most racing challenges here are from Mustangs and Audis/VWs. It is funny, 'though.

But here is the weird thing, and to tell you the truth, I kinda expected (feared) this; some people now treat me poorly since I bought the Jag. The guys I know that are very proud of their expensive new pickups and classic domestic muscle cars, don't talk to me much like they used to, and (pretend) they haven't the slightest interest in my Jag, whereas they would positively glow when anyone (including me) showed interest in their rides. These are 'car guys' that seem most affected.

Even though I possibly expected some jealousy I was hoping not to actually see it, but there it is--manifest in some of my friends and neighbors. My suspicions are that this Jag envy is more of an issue in the US than most other countries, as Jags seem to not be as common here. And my opinion is that they are an extremely classy-looking car, thus making them stand out, as there are very few classy-looking cars, new or old, to be found in the US amongst the general population (where I reside).

 

Lately people just laugh at mine because it doesn't run and tell me thats what you get for buying a Jag.
Its been a nice but expensive lawn ornament the last couple of months though.

Dave

 

Here in Canada people are conservative. I get a thumbs up while driving in my Pacific Blue 2004 XK8. I work in a small automotive parts supplier company and I have found that since I started driving the Jag I got there a few mornings early and got a spot next to the Presidents Caddilac XLR. It has happened quietly but now I notice that inthis company of 500 people no matter when

I come in that spot is always available for me.

 

Interesting thread this, The car gets lots of looks wherever I go. That has never changed in the last 4 years of ownership. It stops people in their paces, and I have had lots of positive comments too. The car is often shown at English classic car shows with my Mk5 Ford XR3I convertable. There are 4 of these Fords left in the UK yet the Jaguar still has thousands on the road. However at the car shows hundreds of people take pictures of the Jaguar and only a few of the Ford. Many comment " is it new?" because of the condition of the Jaguar. As for street racing, I dont do that (well not since i was a teenager). And I have not had anyone alongside me that wanted to see how fast it would go (not that I would engage in that behaviour anyway). I do however give it loads of "wellie" in quiet country roads to enjoy the sound and performance. They are real headturners here, but going back to the original thread I dont act any more British because I am, but I do enjoy classical music more in the car than in other cars. Does that qualify ?

 

I have a midnight black xk 2008 at a recent wedding I had numerous couples taking photos in front of it , it certain does turn a few heads and start a lot if conversation having said that I found when I owned my Porsche cayenne there was a lot of envious individuals with the jaguar I found a lot more positivity with this vehicle.

 

My carnival red XK8 was parked in front of the dealer. A 40-something woman and her father walked out and I heard her say "Wow, that's a beautiful car!" When I came out they were still looking at it. The gentleman said "your wife has a chip in that car." I looked puzzled and he said "your wife has a chip in that car, so she can track you and make sure you ain't gettin' in trouble in it".