2009 XF Premium Luxury Jaguar MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH JAGUAR By Judy Gell www.CarColumns.Net      From my teen years (a very long time ago) I have loved Jaguars.  On the road up the hill from Pacific Grove, where I went to High School, towards Monterey, California, I  frequently saw a black Jag, shiny and streamlined, looking like it was about to take off for outer space.  I knew virtually nothing about cars beyond the awe this particular one stirred within me. And I knew, without a doubt, that I would not anytime soon become the driver, let alone the owner, of such a magnificent vehicle.

   .  But my friends and I talked about it:  what color ‘ours’ would be, and which popular guy would be chosen from the frenzied throng to ride in it with us.
      It would be forty years before the dream of  sitting behind the wheel of a Jaguar and experiencing the luxury and power would actually be realized.   By then I had learned volumes more about cars, and the engineering and technology had advanced to what, back then, seemed like science fiction.  But none of this reduced in any way the thrill of  having my very first Jaguar to test drive a few years ago!  It was exquisite, all I had hoped for, my dream come true.  Parting with it at the end of one very short week was agony.
     Fortunately, that was not to be the last fling I would have with my dream car.  I have had the pleasure of driving three others over the past few years; and this week I drove the 2009 XF.  This one was shiny black, too.  I can’t imagine a Jaguar being offered in anything but a dark, elegant color.  There is no need to draw attention with bright color; the superb styling is all that is needed.  A little sporty, very sleek, and nearly vibrating with a sense of power and speed.  As often as I forget what I’m driving and where I parked it, this Jaguar drew me like a magnet and I never wandered a parking lot clicking the key fob.
     All these feelings, this passion, is backed up by a real flesh and blood------oops, I mean a metal, glass, leather and wood object that is designed and engineered to give it that personality and character that evokes my passion, and the same in many other people, as well.  The XF  is powered by a 300 horsepower,4.2 liter V8 engine paired with a six speed automatic transmission.  The acceleration was amazing, and the ride so smooth that I had to be very careful to mind the speed limit—that cat can get away from you before you are aware of it!  Dynamic stability control, steering wheel mounted shifter paddles, and 4-wheel disc brakes with  ABS all enhance handling and maneuverability.  The luxury of the heated and cooled soft leather seats was positively pampering .  I did not get to use the heated steering wheel feature (it’s July in Texas, for Pete’s sake!), but it  is great in the winter time!  The 300W AM/FM Alpine audio with CD  with portable audio connectivity had the power to lull you to relaxation or pump you to exhilaration.  A DVD based navigation system and 7-inch touch screen with Bluetooth further enhance the elegance, comfort and convenience of this vehicle.
     My favorite feature was the adaptive cruise control.  You set your cruise speed as desired and also set the distance you would like to keep between you and the vehicle in front of you.  The system will automatically slow you down if you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, even if someone changes lanes very close in front of you.  When the distance lengthens to the space you have chosen, your cruising speed resumes.
     My only disappointment with the Jaguar XF was that it did not have the Jaguar hood ornament.  That shiny silver, leaping jaguar is such an icon, they really shouldn’t be allowed to put one of their vehicles on the street without it.
     I was surprised to see that the MSRP was just $55,200.  (Maybe the hood ornament is platinum, not silver, thus saving thousands when is it removed from the design.)  My test model had options, including the cooled seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, and others, bringing the total, including transportation and handling, to $63,125.  Estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.