2004 Cadillac XLR Review

Specifications

High-Speed Pursuit Just Got a Lot More Efficient

Vancouver, British Columbia, considered the jewel of the Pacific, is a city nestled among the snow-capped mountains of the Coastal Range and the sparkling blue waves of the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver, with its many distinctive communities and highly diverse population, is policed by 1,100 fine men and women in blue. Commanding the human blue-wave is Chief Constable Jamie Hamilton Graham of the Vancouver Police Department.

Overseeing an organization of 1,100 gun-toting police officers places Chief Graham among the top power brokers in the city. Recently, however, 320 horsepower, in the form of a 2004 Cadillac XLR, was added to the Chiefs short term command. You see, in addition to the passion he brings to running one of North Americas most progressive, leading edge police departments, the 54 year-old, 6 foot 3 inch sturdy ex-Mountie has a passion for cars. And its the pairing of these passions that led me to seek the Canadian Chiefs input on a recent road test of Cadillacs high-end, convertible hardtop, two-seater sports car.

While the Chief put the XLR through the rigors of street-level policing, confined or should we say jailed in the bottom level of the police parkade was the black Ford Crown Victoria that serves as his regular set of wheels. Of course this is a full-size sedan, replete with all the policing gear found in a patrol officers car. But fear not fine citizens of Vancouver and U.S. tourists taking advantage of Canadas exchange rate discount, as the Chief monitored the street activity from the open-air cab of the retractable hardtop Caddy he was not without his uniform, gun and red flashing fireball.

After 34 years of policing, Chief Graham hasnt lost his zeal for chasing down the “bad guy,” its just that the XLR has accelerated this process - literally. At a 0 to 60 mph time of only 5.9 seconds, when flashing its order to stop and pull over there isnt much that can evade the fireball on the Chiefs dash. As a strong supporter of traffic safety, the good chief is not reluctant to confront those who feel the roadway is their personal racetrack - as a few such motorists discovered when the XLR lit up their rearview.

Beneath its sharply creased sheet metal, the Cadillac XLR is based on the very competent and highly praised chassis of the C5 Corvette. This rigid foundation supports one of the best looking automotive bodies to come out of North America in a very long time. In fact, every time I cast a glance at the XLR, its sleek wide stance and low roofline make me think of superheroes. This is the sort of car that Batman would drive racing through Gotham City in search of the sinister Cat Woman, or the diabolical Riddler.

And to ensure our superhero, or police chief, can effectively triumph over evil the XLR is powered by a re-worked, 32-valve Northstar 4.6 liter V8 that now features variable valve timing. The 320 growly horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque mustered up by the rev happy Northstar is channeled through a 5-speed autobox that can also be shifted manually by those who prefer their own “shift logic” to that of the Hydra-Matic 5L50-E.

Regardless of which scofflaw the Chief is closing in on, the cutting-edge Magnetic Ride Control shock absorbers combined with the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 P235/50ZR - 18 inch tires keep his ride sure-footed and decisively nailed down; especially when the most demanding of emergency responses and maneuvers are undertaken in the name of Law and Order. As the main man in blue so eloquently put it, “closing the distance has never been so much fun.” When the Chief of police is behind the wheel of the XLR, a sort of equilibrium develops. Call it a symbiotic, Ying and Yang relationship between power and performance.

While pursuing evil offenders, the Chiefs visual lock-on of the suspect need not be broken thanks to a 3D effect, heads-up display situated on the lower portion of the windshield directly ahead of the driver. Unfortunately for him, the audio settings are only displayed on the system as they are being selected. Once things are set to the desired station or CD, the heads-up display drops the audio settings from the data packet displayed on the windshield. This caused the Chief to bemoan “I kept getting confused with the tracks on my AC/DC CD.” Frankly, I think Canadas eclectic government owned CBC AM is more in tune with the Chiefs music genre, not that there is anything particularly wrong with AC DC.

The Chief also had some comment on the “labyrinthine-like” navigation and audio interface screen in the XLR. I believe it went something like this; “for those of us on the information super cul-de-sac, the map, stereo and heating controls made using the police lap top seem like an etch-a-sketch.” (If youve never had the pleasure or pain of surfing the police computer, from what I have been led to believe, its a complex, multi-layered series of programs that would bewilder Bill Gates - and one you wouldnt want to find your picture in).

Although the XLR brings much strength to the offender apprehension aspect of policing, it falls dreadfully short in the area of offender transportation. It is commonly known among the members of the Vancouver Police Department that Chief Graham may well be the first officer on-scene at the next volatile call, and that Graham wont hesitate in tackling the bad guy and shackling him in a set of steel bracelets. Unfortunately any bandits lucky enough (or should I rephrase that to read unlucky enough) to be driven to prison in a Cadillac XLR may find themselves stuffed into a very small trunk. As the Chief puts it, “one prisoner could be tied up in the passenger seat but fitting one into the limited space in the trunk would be a bit of a struggle.”

Beyond its limited ability to accommodate more than one prisoner at a time, Chief Graham also found the XLR to be stingy on equipment carrying capacity. He says, “Storage was a bit of a challenge - what with the laptop, shotgun rack, pepper spray holder, box of road flares, extra boots, emergency blankets, cold weather clothing, prisoners etc. I had to get a small half ton just to follow me around with my equipment.”

Although I can safely say that the Chiefs tongue was planted firmly in his cheek as he prattled on about space limitation in the XLR, he does raise a valid point. With the roof down, where it should be on any monsoon-free day, there is very little stowage space in the XLRs trunk, and even less within its cabin. A picnic in the hinterland wont include the comfort of folding chairs and large coolers awash with food and refreshments. Of course, those who can afford $75K for a toy will likely opt for the country club dining room over just the country.

Space limitations aside, Chief Graham was duly impressed with the many hi-tech features GM has laden upon the XLR. One of the quirkier of which, described by the man himself as a good idea, is “the idiot-reminder that you have gone thirty miles down the road with the turn signal on. Not that it happened to me. I just read it in the manual!” Ah, yeah sure you did Chief.

Many of the miles driven by the Chief, with or without a perpetually blinking turn signal, were done so topless. Aghast! Before you visualize something out of Planet of The Apes let me emphasize, topless as in open air motoring. The XLRs retractable hardtop is an engineering marvel to behold. Watching the mechanics of its retraction and reattachment is similar to watching the Wright brothers take flight in the original Kitty Hawk. In addition to wind blowing through his graying hair and youthfulness coursing through his hardening arteries, the by-product of going topless for the Chief is the ability to freely interact and communicate with the public.

Oh sure, the XLR is a drawing card for anyone, top up or down. But drop the top, place the police chief in full uniform behind the wheel and were talking industrial, electro-magnet strength drawing card. And thats important. Its important because the Chief needs to be accessible to the citizens whom he serves. But often citizens need an icebreaker to prompt the initial words of dialogue - and thats the true magic of the XLR. It actually brings citizens together with the person at the head of their civic safety structure and presents opportunity for working together and problem solving. To capitalize on a recent unrelated add campaign: The 2004 Cadillac XLR, $75,385; the goodwill, discussion, and successes that flow from an initial, “hey, cool car,” priceless.

There is no doubt that the 2004 Cadillac XLR is a cutting edge, breakthrough vehicle for Cadillac and is intended to help doff the image that “Cadillac” is synonymous with “cardiac.” The Chief has certainly given the XLR his “thumbs up!” But as all good things eventually come to an end, so has the Chiefs ride. He must now deal with the reality of returning to his full size, 4-door, multi-prisoner hauling Crown Vic. But despair not ye fine citizens of Vancouver, Chief Graham shall continue his crusade against crime and disorder - only a little slower when in pursuit. Albeit a lot more pragmatically.

XLR Specifications:

• Price Range (MSRP): $75,385 - $75,710
• Body Type: 2-door convertible, composite body panels
• Layout: front engine, RWD
• Engine: 320 hp, 310 lb ft torque, 4.6-L, 32-valve, DOHC V8
• Transmission: 5-spd auto with manual mode
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
• Performance (0-60 mph): 6.4 seconds
• Cargo Cap (trunk): 11.6 cu ft
• Curb Weight: 3,607 lbs
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17 / 25 mpg
• Warranty (mo/miles): 48/50,000 comprehensive
• Direct Competitors: Lexus SC 430, Mercedes-Benz SL
• Web Site: www.cadillac.com

Chief Specifications:

• Price Range: classified
• Body type: mesomorph male
• Layout: biped
• Age: 54 years
• Height: 6 ft 3 in
• Breaks: very few
• Performance: intense
• Curb Weight: indeterminable
• Direct Competitors: none
• Warranty: 5-year contract
• Web-Site: vpd.ca

Note: Additional larger photos available in photo album.