I have an uncle that has always driven the gold chain wearing, boss mobile. First there was the automatic Supra, followed up by a Cadillac Allante. Somewhere along the way, he picked up a new T-bird. Amazingly, he never found his way into an automatic Vette. While in The Poconos, a few months back we had a chance to spend some time with the 2009 Cadillac XLR. This thing may just be my uncle`s ultimate ride.
The sharp edged hardtop convertible looks great and has all sorts of electronic trickery. Doors with no handles, electrically powered everything and luxurious leather clad interior ensures that the aging super dude will have more toys than the other guys at the club. Hopefully the club offers storage for his clubs though, as the XLR doesn’t offer storage for much more than that box of domes he keeps around for his mistress. We managed to squeeze a camera bag (sans domers) in the trunk and that was about it.
The 320 horsepower Northstar V8 sounds great and propels the XLR along quite nicely. The automatic tranny is a nice unit, but why oh why is there no 6 speed? Yeah, yeah, we know; the segment demographic is more interested in elevating their status rather than the actual driving experience.
Enough from me, check out our newest video after the break.
Cruising a Cadillac XLR from Scott Simmons on Vimeo.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Good video Gary. I hardly ever see an XLR on the road though. When the Allante came out, the media did several comparison tests of the Caddy vs the M-B 560SL. Somehow it seems the XLR is overlooked by the press, and the inevitable comparisons against the latest M-B SL’s just aren’t happening, or getting any attention. A pity, since the XLR is worlds away from the old Allante.
Great looking car, but when I drove it, it reminded me of the old E-Type Jags (Or XKE if you like). Ridiculously hard to get into, and you sit so low in it that you don’t actually feel part of the vehicle, you feel like a little kid sitting in your Dads car.
I’m 6ft 2″ and with the rake of the screen, I either had to put the seat in its lowest position just to be able to see under the top of the screen, or put it right up and peer over the top like that guy in the James Bond film, Jaws or whatever his name was.
Nice car…But
That’s funny Crash! Sorta like looking at Tom Selleck in the 308 in Magnum PI. His head always stuck out above the top of the windshield.
GM, once again too late and looking for the wrong party. Those retired white guys aren’t in the market anymore.
Seriously, is this just a trophy car or did they think they could sell enough of them to actually contribute to the bottom line?
love my xlr all the way!!!!!!!!!!!my favorite car
greg berli n reno nv.
and its more than one might think its a bonified supercar us a
style.ps dont talk down something you dont own ever
and go get your neon trash boxs
I own a new cts its awsome!my hubbys xlrv is breathtaking
us women like them cause we can shaire the joy and it drives
so easily!we own cadillacs its a choice we made we looked
at bentlys,lexus,bmw,maserati, even jaguars, the caddys
make you feel like a caddy never could before,,,,
mrs,berlin reno nv.