Cadillac XLR is Good, but not Great
This is an entry from Cadillac, going up against mature European and Japanese luxury models. The two-seat Cadillac XLR roadster is the company’s flagship vehicle. 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 like a land yacht than a nimble little sports car. This is a bit of an old-man caddy, with a softer and more agreeable ride. The XLR puts under the hood a softer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 power generator.
The XLR makes good use of lightweight parts, such as aluminum suspension pieces, that keeps the XLR’s weight pretty reasonable. Also, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system thinks for you, adjusting ride smoothness automatically. Adding this up provide smooth and responsive maneuvers. The mash-up of the cutting exterior and bold interior with catching accents do make for a compelling presence. 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 Cadillac windscreen.
The Cadillac XLR does indeed make a stunner, but it’s not worthy of it’s self named, world class status. . Furthermore, the XLR doesn’t really offer that much more than a fully loaded Corvette, which is about $20,000 cheaper and 116-hp more powerful.
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. If putting the top down, then don’t go without a Cadillac windscreen.
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When the author isn’t driving her XLR around town, she’s a fan of psychic reviews, the Seattle HCG Diet Center, and the Cadillac XLR windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
Tags: Cadillac XLR, Convertible, Top Down, windscreen