Cadillac XLR – Hits and Misses
Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it’s serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. This two-seater is Cadillac’s pride-and-joy. Don’t be confused – even though the XLR has the same platform as the Corvette, the XLR isn’t a Corvette in disguise. This caddy is more of a country cruising machine than a sports hot rod. This Caddy is a bit of a candy-ass with a softer and more comfortable ride. The XLR places a mellower 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 power plant.
Since the XLR uses aircraft-light parts, it isn’t heavy and logy like some might suspect. Furthermore, the defacto Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system automatically adjusts ride smoothness, based upon how bumpy the road is. With all of this taken together, you get smooth and responsive maneuvers. The joining of forces between the space-age rocket designed exterior and carbon interior make this a go-go car. The XLR’s retractable hard top provides a great trade off between hard top and open top. If going top-down, then you should arm yourself with a windscreen.
As impressive as it is, the Cadillac XLR roadster is not quite the “standard of the world” — far from it. . If you’re looking at the XLR, then you might as well be looking at the Corvette, which costs $20K less and provides 116 more horse power.
The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it’s just not sports car fast. The acceleration is good, but it doesn’t feel like you’re blasting off from a rocket, like it should. The XLR has squishy suspension which causes the vehicle to pitch and roll under heavy cornering. Even with its adaptive suspension’s split-second response, the Cadillac XLR still feels less willing to tackle turns than the more athletic European contenders. The XLR is best on the open highway, when it can really stretch its legs and unwind. Remember, if you go top down, then you should also go with a windscreen.
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Tags: Cadillac XLR, Convertible, Top Down, windscreen