Cadillac XLR is Way Cool
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The XLR is meant to be a competitive threat against the well established European and Japanese luxury cars. The two-seat Cadillac XLR roadster is the company’s flagship vehicle. Dija know that both the XLR and Corvette are built on top of the same platform, even though the Corvette does a better job with it. This caddy is more of a country cruising machine than a sports hot rod. This Caddy is not swift in the response, so the ride is a bit smoother. 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. In addition, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system automatically firms up or softens the suspension based on driving conditions. With all of this taken together, you get smooth and responsive maneuvers. When you put together the edgy, angular styling outside the body and the wood accent inside the interior, you do get a rich looking car. 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.
The Cadillac XLR is a good-to-great car, but it’s not the “standard of the world” as GM likes to proclaim it as. Though its styling and Cadillac badge will appeal to those looking to roll up to the valet in something different from the status quo, the XLR comes up short in terms of maximum performance. The interior is especially disappointing when compared to its similarly priced rivals from Germany and Great Britain. The Corvette looks pretty good against the XLR in comparison, which is $20K less expensive and provides more power.
The XLR certainly have plenty of speed, but the top-end may still come out short for some enthusiasts. The acceleration is notable, but still underneath what one hopes for in this sort of rod. The XLR has a soft underpining, causing the vehicle to roll in curves and nosedive under fast breaking. 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 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.
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