The leaper on an XJ bonnet
Discussion
I'm told they were fitted standard to all US S-Type and XJ models, and there are an awful lot of that type being fitted across here. They are on a neat chrome bracket and are spring loaded, so I do not think there are any real safety issues.
IMHO they suit the S-Type better than the XJ, on which they tend to be fitted back on the bonnet, which to my eyes isn't right.
It's a perfectly reasonable thing to fit to your car, but I think that we are mostly missing the point. It's a nice thing to drive behind. That's why a lot of people have them.
IMHO they suit the S-Type better than the XJ, on which they tend to be fitted back on the bonnet, which to my eyes isn't right.
It's a perfectly reasonable thing to fit to your car, but I think that we are mostly missing the point. It's a nice thing to drive behind. That's why a lot of people have them.
A jags not a Jag without the cat on the bonnet, same as a Merc needs a star, badges are not the same.
Having said that i do think they dont look right so far back on the bonnet, shifting mine forwards so the head is vertically over the top of the grill badge is on my list of mods somewhere after better wheels and a new wing.
Having said that i do think they dont look right so far back on the bonnet, shifting mine forwards so the head is vertically over the top of the grill badge is on my list of mods somewhere after better wheels and a new wing.
popuptoaster said:
A jags not a Jag without the cat on the bonnet, same as a Merc needs a star, badges are not the same.
Good to see that this is a really contentious issue 
Yes Jags should have cats on the front, but some should have a leaper and some a growler.
Mercs need the star though, it's there to help you aim at the peasants.
Jaguar won't fit one to a UK model at the factory (but most cars destined for the US do get a factory-fitted leaper) but any UK Jaguar main agent/authorised dealer will fit one to any model (approx £350 last time I checked). To be street legal, the fitting has to meet Euro standards re exact positioning and impact yield. Jaguar won't fit them at the factory since they got a lot of bad press approx 20 years ago when a leaper killed someone.
I inherited one on my '04 XK8 convertible (now sold) and I liked it:
Bad points were a) if parking up in a public place, it's prudent to remove the leaper and hide it; b) it slows up cleaning/polishing of the bonnet; c) not easy or cheap to change your mind afterwards on account of the hole drilled through the bonnet; and d) might hinder your resale prospects - although everyone who viewed my for-sale car loved it.
popuptoaster, if you move yours forward, I'm pretty sure it will be illegal.
I inherited one on my '04 XK8 convertible (now sold) and I liked it:
Bad points were a) if parking up in a public place, it's prudent to remove the leaper and hide it; b) it slows up cleaning/polishing of the bonnet; c) not easy or cheap to change your mind afterwards on account of the hole drilled through the bonnet; and d) might hinder your resale prospects - although everyone who viewed my for-sale car loved it.
popuptoaster, if you move yours forward, I'm pretty sure it will be illegal.
Personally i like a leaper on the bonnet, chrome bumpers, chrome mirrors and an electric ariel on the rear wing or the car just isn't a "Jag" all this modern body colour plastic stuff takes away the britishness of the cars just for the sake of looking modern, high waistlines and hidden door handles just look cheap i think, i want stuff on the car to make it feel special to me.
popuptoaster said:
Personally i like a leaper on the bonnet, chrome bumpers, chrome mirrors and an electric ariel on the rear wing or the car just isn't a "Jag" all this modern body colour plastic stuff takes away the britishness of the cars just for the sake of looking modern, high waistlines and hidden door handles just look cheap i think, i want stuff on the car to make it feel special to me.
The argument to that would be that Jaguar's always looked modern (well, until lately, anyway but they are going back to looking forward) the original XJ was a trailblazer, the XJS was very daring and modern (compare it to a contemporary Triumph Stag for example) and even more recent cars like the XK8 were very much of there time. This retro nonsense was cowerdice from Ford listening to too many focus groups and not the designers. I bet they wish the X type had been more like the RD6, and less like a 40 year old XJ, for example. Most of the 'retro' cars have not done well.I agree they needed modernising, i think they have lost something though, back when they WERE modern they had less competition, older mercs were more stodgy to drive and the bimmers were not as upmarket as they are now, over the last 15 or 20 years they were pretty much trading on their "Britishness" as the competition moved into the more sporty saloon slot along with the Jaguars which in the eyes of a lot of the world were a more traditionalist style and i guess thats what i've got used to.
Its not like i get to drive a lot of modern jags so i cant really give an opinion about if they still feel like Jags to drive, its just my opinion that they've lost a litle of what made them look like jags, not helped by making estate cars and fitting diesel engines, i know they need to make a profit to survive, but what you like to look at isnt governed by your head usually.
Its not like i get to drive a lot of modern jags so i cant really give an opinion about if they still feel like Jags to drive, its just my opinion that they've lost a litle of what made them look like jags, not helped by making estate cars and fitting diesel engines, i know they need to make a profit to survive, but what you like to look at isnt governed by your head usually.
popuptoaster said:
I agree they needed modernising, i think they have lost something though, back when they WERE modern they had less competition, older mercs were more stodgy to drive and the bimmers were not as upmarket as they are now, over the last 15 or 20 years they were pretty much trading on their "Britishness" as the competition moved into the more sporty saloon slot along with the Jaguars which in the eyes of a lot of the world were a more traditionalist style and i guess thats what i've got used to.
Its not like i get to drive a lot of modern jags so i cant really give an opinion about if they still feel like Jags to drive, its just my opinion that they've lost a litle of what made them look like jags, not helped by making estate cars and fitting diesel engines, i know they need to make a profit to survive, but what you like to look at isnt governed by your head usually.
Well, in a way we are in agreement then...the X type was a result of pushing Jaguar downmarket and creating cars Ford thought people wanted, not what they actually wanted. I met Ian Callum a few weeks ago and he said he wished he had done a small 2 door coupe instead as the entry-level jaguar. I agree Jaguar had lost there way, I think we just disagree as to exactly what is missing, I believe it's forward thinking modern design you believe it's traditional brand values? Maybe there's room for both? The new XK looks modern while still having plenty of traditional jaguar class...a few options either way (you can have wood interior, BRG and a leaper, I'll have aluminium and a pastel blue and a growler) and we can both be happy!Its not like i get to drive a lot of modern jags so i cant really give an opinion about if they still feel like Jags to drive, its just my opinion that they've lost a litle of what made them look like jags, not helped by making estate cars and fitting diesel engines, i know they need to make a profit to survive, but what you like to look at isnt governed by your head usually.
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