Impressions of the Cadillac XLR for 2008

In 2008 Cadillac released the XLR Base to the car-buying market. The XLR came in three configurations: Platinum, Base, and V. The Base configuration is powered by the 4.6-liter eight-cylinder engine, which makes 24 highway miles and 15 city. The XLR competes in the Convertible market segment, in direct competition with Toyota.

The XLR Base is equipped with a General Motors 4.6 liter eight-cylinder engine that utilizes 32 valves. The Northstar engine is mated to a General Motors 6-speed Transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Cadillac.

The fuel system for the 2008 XLR is a traditional SFI, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 18.00 gallons.

Steering control is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The XLR has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. The car uses leaf front springs and leaf in the rear.

The dimensions of the XLR Base are 72.30 inches wide by 177.70 inches long. It sits a comfortable 50.40 inches off the ground. It seats a standard two passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 105.70 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $80,650 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $75,408. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.

The 2008 XLR gets 24 miles/gallon on the highway and only 15 in the city. This is average for a convertible car.

The vehicle is available in Alpine White, Alpine White with Body Color Hard Top, Black Raven, Black Raven with Body Color Hard Top, Crystal Red, Crystal Red with Body Color Hard Top, Elektra Blue, Elektra Blue with Body Color Hard Top, Goldstream, Goldstream with Body Color Hard Top, Light Platinum, and Light Platinum with Body Color Hard Top.

The standard warranty period for the XLR is 48 months, or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty also includes a warranty on the drivetrain for 60 months or 100,000 miles respectively. This is standard in the convertible market. Extended warranties are also available through the dealer.

Considering all factors the 2008 Cadillac XLR Base was a rowsing. Cadillac responded to critisims about the 2007 XLR and made drastic changes. The result is better than the sum of its parts. Look for more from Cadillac along these lines in the future.