Just found the September 2003 issue of Road and Track. It contains a run-off called the "Convertible GT Comparison Test". The cars tested were the Cadillac XLR, Jaguar XK8, Lexus SC 430, Maserati Spyder GT, Mercedes-Benz SL500 and the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet.

After testing and comparisons, the cars were ranked in the following order:

1 - Porsche (568.3 points)
2 - Cadillac XLR (551.9 points)
3 - Jaguar XK8 (544.9 points)
4 - Mercedes-Benz SL500 (542.2 points)
5 (tie) - Lexus SC 430 (531.2 points)
5 (tie) - Maserati (531.2 points)

For those curious, the hood opening times were:

Porsche - 16.5 seconds
Mercedes-Benz - 17.2 seconds (hard top)
Jaguar - 18.2 seconds
Lexus - 23.7 seconds (hard top)
Cadillac XLR - 26.7 seconds (hard top)
Maserati - 30.7 seconds

Andy

i don't have the magazine, but i'm sure it said something like, "the xlr is the coolest car ever..." :jester

Bump (due to updating of first append to describe the magazine article).

Read lates Road and Tack and was really a super article. When the only Roadster that receives a higher rating is th ePorsche 911 and we rated better than the Masseratti, Mercedes, Jag and Lexus, that can't be a negative!!!!

:jester :cheers :flag