I recently was invited to a comparison test drive by Lexus of all their cars and some of their competators cars, including the XLR. They had three different tracks and groups of cars. The performance group included the SC430, the XLR, Jaguar XK8, and BMW and Mercedes models, and Infinity G35 sedan. I don't know why the G35 sedan, but it was in this group. The longest waiting line in the whole place was for the XLR twice as long as the nect most popular, the SC. Of course it was my first choice too.
I was disappointed with the XLR though. The first thing I noticed was the extreme heat coming off the transmission tunnel and up from under the car at the doors on a coolish overcast day. I thought the previous driver had the heater on full blast, but it wasn't. From a dead stop on the first straightaway about 400' I guess, you could see a radar speed check of your top speed before brakin and going into a serpentine. I hit 30MPG. Later I tried the G35, since this was the type car we were really there to try out for my wife, a family sedan. I was shocked that it hit 39MPG in the same test, with the AC on. Admittedly the XLR was the most abused car there! And maybe Lexus wasn't too enthused on us doing a really fair test, but I came away disappointed in the XLR. I didn't try the SC, no interest. Was I duped? Was the XLR defeated by its popularity? :confused
I was disappointed with the XLR though. The first thing I noticed was the extreme heat coming off the transmission tunnel and up from under the car at the doors on a coolish overcast day. I thought the previous driver had the heater on full blast, but it wasn't. From a dead stop on the first straightaway about 400' I guess, you could see a radar speed check of your top speed before brakin and going into a serpentine. I hit 30MPG. Later I tried the G35, since this was the type car we were really there to try out for my wife, a family sedan. I was shocked that it hit 39MPG in the same test, with the AC on. Admittedly the XLR was the most abused car there! And maybe Lexus wasn't too enthused on us doing a really fair test, but I came away disappointed in the XLR. I didn't try the SC, no interest. Was I duped? Was the XLR defeated by its popularity? :confused