Jaguar Super V8, 2008: Bill Belew's Car Buzz 1Life is different in a Jaguar Super V8. Itโ€™s especially different in a Super V8 with a 400 horsepower, six-speed automatic and a 4.2 liter engine adorned with inlaid walnut burl veneer and a whole busload of other items I didnโ€™t even know could be put in a car.

Life before and after the Jaguar Super V8 in no particular order.

Before โ€” I used to worry about fuel prices.

After โ€” If I can afford this car, ($95K) I donโ€™t need to worry about another $1-2/gallon increase. Besides 22 mpg on the highway and the Jaguar will get me from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Cincinnati to Nashville, the New Orleans to Miami.

Before โ€” I used to hate getting stuck in traffic.

After โ€” I just love sitting in the Jaguar. Who needs to get anywhere in a hurry when you are sitting in a moving living room?

Before โ€”ย  used to have to fumble with CDs.

After โ€” Now, I hit the 60โ€™s button, the 70โ€™s, Gold and the Jaguar chooses for me what I want to hear. Ah, Hermanโ€™s Hermits, Crosby, Stills and Nash. If you donโ€™t know who they are, you wonโ€™t want to drive a Jaguar anyway.

Before โ€”ย  used to put my feet through the floor and run like the dickens to help my car go faster – Flintstone style.

After โ€” n the Jaguar Super V8, 40 is the new 70 or is it the other way around? I took a friend for a ride and I could have sworn we were doing about 40 mph on the highway that passes in front of Apple, Inc. headquarters on one side and Hewlett-Packard on the other. When I looked at the speedometer, we were heading quickly toward 80 mph.

Before โ€” Young women at the gym never noticed me. I hardly even noticed me.

After โ€” And, I swear this is true, the prettiest woman stepped out of her 2008 VW Jetta (a good-looking car in itself), turned, looked at me getting out of the Jaguar, smiled and greeted me like I was the Hulk. We walked to the gym together.

Before โ€” I looked at my digital clock to read the time.

After โ€” The small analog clock on the dash of the Jaguar tells me the time. Great touch!

Beforeย  โ€” My wife and her parents outnumbered me three to one on what the interior temperature should be set at.

After โ€” In the Jaguar, all four of us have our own individual temperature controls. And]]> , one for the baby, too!

Before โ€” I hated the cold.

After โ€” I wished for somewhere unpleasant to go in the Jaguar Super V8 just so I could turn on my heated seat.

Before โ€” I hated it my wife or kids moved the driverโ€™s seat.

After โ€” I hit the memory button (Iโ€™m #1!) and the Jaguar put the seat with me in it back where I wanted it. The ‘cat knows what I like.

Before โ€” I cared about whether I was driving fast enough.

After โ€” In the Jaguar, I worry about going too fast.

Before โ€” I guessed, usually rightly, where the right side of the car was heading when I parked tail in.

After โ€” That automatic tilt-down mirror on the right side of the Jaguar showed me. Itโ€™s this kind of attention to detail that distinguishes this car.

Before โ€” I yelled at my wife to not pack so much when we traveled.

After โ€” The trunk of the Jag is so big her parents could sleep in it. Maybe Iโ€™llโ€ฆnever mind.

Before โ€” I fumbled around looking for button controls.

After โ€” The Jaguarโ€™s interior buttons light up just enough for me to find them yet keep my eyes on the road.

Before โ€” I used to hate driving to work.

After โ€” Now itโ€™s can I drive? Iโ€™ll bring the Jag. Please? Please let me drive?

My good friend asked me, โ€œWho do you think this car is for, Bill? Whoโ€™s going to buy and drive a car like this?โ€

My answer โ€” Young-at-heart and age grandpas and grandmas everywhere. Baby boomers who can afford it and have grand kids they need to haul around from time to time. When they donโ€™t know what to do to entertain the kids they need only to put the kids the back seat and let them watch a DVD.ย  It wonโ€™t matter to whoโ€™s up front much, if at all, because for them, life is different when they are in a Jaguar Super V8.

Safety Features โ€”ย Adaptive Restraint System, D&P Front and Side Airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, Energyย Absorbent Front Seats, Remoteย Entry, Security System, Side Curtain Airbags, Tire Pressure Monitoring

Fuel Mileage (estimates) โ€”ย 15 mpg (city)ย 22 mpg (highway).

Warranty โ€” Bumper to bumper,ย 4 years/50,000 miles new vehicle limited warranty.

Base Price โ€” $95,200.

Article Last Updated: June 11, 2008.

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