[ebferro]

Was just perusing the March, 2007 Corvette Magazine and on page 50, there is an article entitled Balancing Act. It's supposed to be a comparison between the Z06, a BMW M6 and the XLR-V. In reality, it's a comparison between the Z06 and the M6 with just part of a page devoted to the XLR-V. Most of the verbiage about the XLR-V is negative. They cite poor fit and finish, use of cheap materials in the interior despite the price of the car, stiff suspension, weight versus the Z06, lack of paddle shifters and a slow transmission. I also noticed a link on the XLR-V forum on cadillacforums.com that points to a video that's not very flattering, either. The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgZNj7JcTlM. Anyway, Il haven't driven my V that much but so far, I really like it. Was just wondering what others thought about all of this negative publicity. If I recall, the Corvette wasn't perfect 3 years into its life, either, and it's taken it 50+ years to get where it is now.

 

[caddiedrummer]

Well, first it is a Corvette mag. And, it strikes as an odd comparison. Folks making choice are usually comparing XLR-V to SLs and maybe M5. Folks looking at Zs are usually also looking at SRT Vipers.


Frankly, the M6 is a higher end car than the V, and even the M5 handles better and has some advantages. IMO, neither have the styling of the XLR and Bimmers have gotten too finicky for me.

As for the Vette--talk about fit/finish!! I had a C5 and C6 and have had an 05 XLR and 06 XLR-V and I cannot believe the Vettes and Caddies come out of the same plant. Take the tour and look at how much time/attention goes into the XLRs vs the 38,000 Vettes they pump out a year. NO comparison between quality of any Vette and the XLR.

 

[Guest]

I concure about the trip to Bowling Green, it is an eye opener, and as far as the tranny shifting slow, that is pure nonsense. Mine is an absolute screamer off the line and shifts like a B&M hydro. Think I'll buy that Corvette magazine and the next time I go to the mens room, I hope I run out of toilet paper.

Well, first it is a Corvette mag. And, it strikes as an odd comparison. Folks making choice are usually comparing XLR-V to SLs and maybe M5. Folks looking at Zs are usually also looking at SRT Vipers.


Frankly, the M6 is a higher end car than the V, and even the M5 handles better and has some advantages. IMO, neither have the styling of the XLR and Bimmers have gotten too finicky for me.

As for the Vette--talk about fit/finish!! I had a C5 and C6 and have had an 05 XLR and 06 XLR-V and I cannot believe the Vettes and Caddies come out of the same plant. Take the tour and look at how much time/attention goes into the XLRs vs the 38,000 Vettes they pump out a year. NO comparison between quality of any Vette and the XLR.

 

[caddiedrummer]

PS--- Did "Corvette" , in the discussion of fit/finish , mention the pesky "little' problem of their tops flying off the cars at speed.?? Guys I know have had multiple tops.

Wanna read about fit/finish nightmares, go to the Vette forum. My top never came off, but "service" lights routinely came on for no reason, and the Vette infamous orange peel was obvious in the paint like every other Vette I have had.

I just find it astounding they can complain of the fit/finish of the V compared to the Vette. It may as well be a Maybach compared to the Vette.

 

[jackewells]

The video and the other comments are all sour grapes. They will have a XLR when they can
To hell with them:flag

 

[XLR I FL]

It's obvious to me that this guy doesn't know how to drive on a road course or I'll bet the road. He wants to make the car mis-perform as far as I can tell in the video.

I would LOVE to go "HEADS UP" with him in a factory spec'd car of his choice.

As far as the rest of the "negative emails", they need to go for a ride before judging the car.

There are TOO MANY Mercedes owners who really like this car as opposed to their SL 500's and SL 600's and offer unsolicited compliments on it.

Besides he's ALWAYS been a WHINEY BRIT!!!!

 

[Pegasus]

Actually, if you turn the sound off on this European snob and just watch the video it's great! If the jerk wants to critique something he should start with that piece of junk known as Jaguar.

We can all agree that the V is overpriced. But if you buy it right, it's one heck of a car. I had my pick between an SL AMG, a Z06 and an XKR and went with the V for too many reasons to list here.

 

[Guest]

Loose lips sink cars too

Yep! Couldn't have said it better myself Jack. It's guys like this that "loose lips sink ships", and cars. Boy, that brings back memories (1941)

The video and the other comments are all sour grapes. They will have a XLR when they can
To hell with them:flag

 

[jhiller]

It's all horse poop !
I sold a 3 month old Vette convert to buy a 2007 XLR-V
The V is better in every way. It is built better, is faster and has much greater driveability.

The real difference is that the XLR-V is a grown up persons car !
Jim

 

[IBMBROKER]

It's all horse poop !
I sold a 3 month old Vette convert to buy a 2007 XLR-V
The V is better in every way. It is built better, is faster and has much greater driveability.

The real difference is that the XLR-V is a grown up persons car !
Jim

I to traded in a 2005 Corvette coupe; owned it for two years. The six speed manual gave exhiliarating performance. But rowing thru the gears of a tranny that was never as smooth as other manuals Ive owned made me start looking. The coupe did offer a huge trunk area...with the top in place. But the convertible; which I was ready to order had a much smaller trunk.

So let's look at the XLR-V. Worth the extra 20K (bought a new 2006 Jan 2 / 07. Less trunk space with the top down but how often do I really need a lot of trunk space? I rarely took out the targa roof, I put the XLR HARDTOP down every day.arty

As for performance, only 600 miles on the odometer so I haven't buried the pedal yet but it's gotta be really close to vette territory. I think the NAV and DIC features are a little better on the Vette (MP3!!!!!) but the XLR get the thumbs up every day,,,rightfully so...a great car so far. A car you don'[t see on every corner like the C6 is starting to be.

 

[mswaim]

The bottom line is; buy what you want and enjoy it.

You cannot compare all of the cars mentioned since they are not all designed to perform to equal standards. My C6, A4 F55 was ordered with both tops, however the painted top seperated within the first year. Oddly enough, the top on my XLR also failed many, many times in the first year.

The paint on my C6 is every bit as good as the paint on the XLR. Comparing fit/finish - I would say the XLR has the edge, however I paid quite a bit more for the XLR so to me, that's a no brainer. When it comes to performance, I prefer my C6, but that is where the real problem lies in comparisons.

The C6 is designed to be a world-class sports car from the ground up. The XLR is similar since it shares many under-pinnings, but it's not the same, and the V is Caddy's attempt to bridge the gap. The bigger problem is, if you only wish to compare performance, you need to compare the XLR's big brother (V) to the C6's big brother (Z06) and we all know what happens if you do that...............once you have rowed a C6 Z06 through the gears, you will understand. That thing is a beast, plain and simple. It is not a gorilla in a tuxedo - it is a pissed off Godzilla with or without the subtitles!!

As far as DIC's and HUD differences - I wish GM would have provided the same HUD units to the XLR/V's as those installed in the vettes since thwey are better. I also wish they would have offered the paddle shift option to the V since it is a neat feature, but all in all the V is pretty cool and worth the bucks - as is the Z06 which doesn't offer an auto tranny.

Let's face it, life ain't fair!

 

[jackewells]

I've had two Corvettes and three XLR's

Believe me, the XLR is the best of all worlds......:smash :thumbs