I bought my first Jaguar about 6 months ago. I'm 19 and have never seen another Jaguar like mine here (Western NC) It actually looks exactly like OP's (2000 Jaguar Vanden Plas SuperCharged) All of the other Jaguars in my area are X or S types. I personally do not like the bodies on those. When looking to purchase mine I looked at almost every dealership within 200 miles that had one. I didn't feel a connection to any car except the one I purchased. As soon as I saw it I had to get THAT one. I get looks in the car but since purchasing it people seem to think I'm a rich snob. I guess it comes with the name. I don't mind paying $500 for insurance every month to keep driving it. I'd rather be in my Jaguar than anywhere in the world. I can't seem to call it a Jag either, I don't like the way it sounds when I talk about it.

 

I def agree on the "rich snob" comment. People I dont know make assumptions of me by my car. Some people are intimdated by a young person driving such a nice car. What color is your VDP supercharged? I looked for one of those 5 yrs ago and wanted it really bad, but I couldnt find one that was resonably priced. I searched for months to find my color combination, and found one about 250 miles from where I live in Texas.

Calling the car a Jaguar Vanden Plas def gets strange looks, because people think 'Vanden Plas' sounds extremely opulent, like a term Rolls Royce would use.

Alot of people assume that these are slow old people cars. When I stand on the gas, people become scared of the unexpected speed.

 

I've gotta say I agree with the age discrimination when it comes to these cars. I'm 23 now, but got my XJ when I was 22 and have had a mixture of reactions from people. Some think that my Dad may have bought it me, and don't understand I worked and saved for 4 years to buy my XJ. Others think I'm borrowing it from my Dad, and one person even called the Police because they thought I'd stolen it!

There are a few XJs in my area, but this is Britain where they are made! In fact there is one exactly the same as mine, even the wheels! The only difference is he has a private reg plate (Vanity Plate).

But as Burmaz says, the speed these 2 ton vehicles can move at surprises everyone!

 

Mine is the same color as yours (champagne). I bought it for 8k with 65000 miles. I love pulling up to an Acura, or a WRX and humiliating them. 370 horsepower is nothing to play with!

 

My XJ is actually Platinum silver and, when I've had the paint polished, it looks amazing! Even though my engine isn't Supercharged, the 290 BHP is more than enough to get my point through tho those of a "Fast & Furious" frame of mind. It does it with so much grace and so little fuss too! I love hearing the sound of the eight cylinders burbling away too!

 

My car is silver too. Moon man, what color interior do you have? Vanden Plas Supercharged! That sounds NICE!

These engines sound like music when revved up. The closer to red line, the better it sounds. I also like the deep pitched hum the car makes at idle. Standing behind the car when the car is started and driven off sounds so smooth and classy. The V8s sound better than the old XJ6 engines. Has anyone heard the Jaguar V12?

 

I've heard a V12 in teachers XJS when I was in high school, that was a nice sound. He did have a custom exhaust on it though, I imagine they are quieter than that normally. They are so smooth though, that you can put a penny on the top of the engine and it won't fall off! Though that said, I think the V8 is pretty smooth. Smooth as silk to be honest!