Corvette Convetible Vs Cadillac XLR
Discussion
Few cars in this country ever have or ever will achieve the iconic status of the Chevrolet Corvette. And even though it’s considered an aspirational item—to say nothing of a performance icon—the Corvette has always represented terrific bang for the buck. Never has that been truer than now.
Naturally, GM is proud that its latest and greatest Corvette, the C6, can accelerate to 60 mph in just over four seconds while retaining a base price of $46,950 for the coupe and $55,425 for the convertible.
But GM is quick to change the subject away from value when we bring up that other Corvette-based sports car. GM gave Cadillac the XLR to jazz up its image, but the car’s smaller, less-powerful engine and $26,000-higher sticker (compared with the Corvette convertible) proved less effective in becoming a halo Caddy than in underscoring what a damn good bargain the Corvette still is. The value difference is even more vivid when the Corvette convertible is considered against the supercharged XLR-V, which makes a creditable 443 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque. But at an even 100 grand, the XLR-V costs just shy of twice as much as the Corvette, which, by the way, became even more powerful this year and now makes an obscene 436 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.
To be fair to Cadillac, the XLR has a slick motorized hardtop and comes fully equipped. And in base or V trim, the XLR has an interior the Corvette’s new-for-2008 optional interior package is only now beginning to approach for luxurious look and feel. Besides, the Caddy isn’t alone here. There are few cars in the XLR-V’s class, including the Porsche 911 Carrera S cabriolet, the Jaguar XKR, and the Mercedes-Benz SL550, that can even come close to matching the Corvette’s combination of raw power, scintillating handling, reasonable space, and comfort.
Naturally, GM is proud that its latest and greatest Corvette, the C6, can accelerate to 60 mph in just over four seconds while retaining a base price of $46,950 for the coupe and $55,425 for the convertible.
But GM is quick to change the subject away from value when we bring up that other Corvette-based sports car. GM gave Cadillac the XLR to jazz up its image, but the car’s smaller, less-powerful engine and $26,000-higher sticker (compared with the Corvette convertible) proved less effective in becoming a halo Caddy than in underscoring what a damn good bargain the Corvette still is. The value difference is even more vivid when the Corvette convertible is considered against the supercharged XLR-V, which makes a creditable 443 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque. But at an even 100 grand, the XLR-V costs just shy of twice as much as the Corvette, which, by the way, became even more powerful this year and now makes an obscene 436 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.
To be fair to Cadillac, the XLR has a slick motorized hardtop and comes fully equipped. And in base or V trim, the XLR has an interior the Corvette’s new-for-2008 optional interior package is only now beginning to approach for luxurious look and feel. Besides, the Caddy isn’t alone here. There are few cars in the XLR-V’s class, including the Porsche 911 Carrera S cabriolet, the Jaguar XKR, and the Mercedes-Benz SL550, that can even come close to matching the Corvette’s combination of raw power, scintillating handling, reasonable space, and comfort.
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