Cadillac XLR Basics
This XLR is one more attempt to take on the mega-luxury brands coming out of Europe and Japan. 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 has more in common with the luxury boat cruisers than sporty little roadsters. This is a bit of an old-man caddy, with a softer and more agreeable ride. The XLR also uses a tamer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 engine.
The use of lightweight components like aluminum suspension pieces and composite body panels keeps the Cadillac XLR from being a bloated luxury two-seater. Furthermore, the defacto Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system automatically adjusts ride smoothness, based upon how bumpy the road is. This ensures generally smooth and responsive maneuvers. The combination of bold, angular styling outside and distinctive eucalyptus-wood cockpit accents gives the XLR a sophisticated presence. The XLR’s hard top is retractable, providing the best between the secure hard top and cruising with the top down. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a Cadillac windscreen.
This Cadillac XLR does indeed turn heads, but it’s not worthy all of the hype GM is giving it – far from it. . The Corvette is a better car, which is $20K less in the price tag, and the engine delivers more ponies.
The XLR certainly have plenty of speed, but the top-end may still come out short for some enthusiasts. Acceleration, though certainly quick, is not as forceful as its corporate cousin. The XLR isn’t notable on the chassis, which rolls to heavily into curves and pitches to far down when breaking fast. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. The XLR does its best performance on the highway, where the car can practically drive itself. If going with the top down, then your wife will thank you for getting a Cadillac windscreen.
——————————-
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