So i hope im not the only one whos noticed this but why is the CTS-V better than the XLR and 20K cheaper?? Just paying for the styling/top right??
Comparison:
XLR - CTS-V
Price approx: 76,200 - 51,195
0-60: 5.8sec - 5.2sec
1/4 mile: 14.2sec - 13.7sec
Top Spd.: 157mph - 163mph
Braking 70-0: 182ft - 165ft
Road hold: .88g - .90g

So whats the deal? Trust me i LOVE the XLR but when the CTS-V can beat it... Why? Does this say that Caddillac has big plans for the XLR?? maybe dual turbo:D One can only hope, it seems to me that Caddy should take their roadster and beef it out in the next couple model years.

I would think your paying for the convertible action, the cars dont necessarily appeal -to the same market....the xlr-v should be pretty incredible

things the V doesnt have that the XLR does that are worth paying for:


convertibel hardtop
heads up display
keyless entry/start
all leather wood aluminum interior
adjustable suspension system
adaptive cruise control system
voice control


the V is for speed. the XLR although slightly slower brings a lot more to the table.

definitely different markets....an e55 is just as fast as an sl600, but the sl is 47k!! more expensive

Ok, I can dig that. Still, if i had the pocket-book id buy either. Actually ive been wondering what the XLR looks like in that metallic orange color:p that some of the CTSs came in. Anyone good enough at photoshop to give the X a metallic orange paint job? peace

2 different markets as mentioned. Also faster doesn't mean better.

DOHC motor has a cost premium over the pushrod LS6 in the
"V".

JUST CUZ ITS FASTER DOSNT MEAN ITS BETTER :rolleyes2 The XLR has a lot of stuff teh cts v dosnt.

I wonder which one has had a greater impact on getting a younger target audience to look at and even buy cadillacs?


I'd say the V series CTS has...and although I love the new XLR's that I have seen in person..

I have to admit..the CTS V series pulls on my wallet a little bit more.

OHV LS6 400hp motor is of more value to me than a 320 DOHC V8 is......

Both great..motors..just the 400hp wins out here especially since its lighter and has more torque too..

DOHC has its place though..it certainly is a more refined motor to say the least..

I wonder which one has had a greater impact on getting a younger target audience to look at and even buy cadillacs?


I'd say the V series CTS has...and although I love the new XLR's that I have seen in person..

I have to admit..the CTS V series pulls on my wallet a little bit more.

OHV LS6 400hp motor is of more value to me than a 320 DOHC V8 is......

Both great..motors..just the 400hp wins out here especially since its lighter and has more torque too..

DOHC has its place though..it certainly is a more refined motor to say the least..
well this is kinda like comparing regular 645ci to m3 or regular sl500 to c32 amg. Just wait until xlrv comes out. It will be different.
http://premium.uploadit.org/ph00ny/xlrv.jpg

I have an XLR and test drove the V for the 2nd time today. I was dissapointed in the V the first time I drove it when it came out so I wanted to give it another chance today. My feelings remained the same:

The V is a great ride, great engine sound etc but they are 2 differnt cars targeting 2 different people. The XLR ride is plush and the V is much harsher and living in a big city the stick just doesnt work. I think in my younger days the V would be awesome but its not in the same league at the XLR (nor is is meant to be)

Now a XLR-V maybe a whole different ballgame!

I tested a CTS-V, however I opted to buy the XLR.

If you like a stick shift then perhaps the CTS-V woould interest you, however it would get very trying in today's stop and go commuter traffic.

So i hope im not the only one whos noticed this but why is the CTS-V better than the XLR and 20K cheaper?? Just paying for the styling/top right??
Comparison:
XLR - CTS-V
Price approx: 76,200 - 51,195
0-60: 5.8sec - 5.2sec
1/4 mile: 14.2sec - 13.7sec
Top Spd.: 157mph - 163mph
Braking 70-0: 182ft - 165ft
Road hold: .88g - .90g

So whats the deal? Trust me i LOVE the XLR but when the CTS-V can beat it... Why? Does this say that Caddillac has big plans for the XLR?? maybe dual turbo:D One can only hope, it seems to me that Caddy should take their roadster and beef it out in the next couple model years.


I drove the CTS-V and it does fly (kicks the 2004 Pontiac GTOs butt). The CTS V is a tough, mean and crude HP machine (just makes me smile thinking of a M3 getting destroyed ina race by a CTS-V) On the downside it is so performance oriented that it lacks the niceities (eucalyptus wood, soft leather seats etc) that caddys are known for. Overall both cars kick butt but I am still awaiting teh day I can drive an XLR. I have a vette now as a second car and it has lasted like a tank for 9 years (still all original parts). If the XLR is equally or better in build quality (which I think it is) it will be a relaible tank like we've never seen before.

GO XLR..I hope I can afford one soon!!!

If you have the cheese for an XLR, I'd make a pretty good wager you can afford an XLR and a CTS-V.

But if I did have to choose one, the XLR of course. It's sleek, soooooo good looking, keyless operation is freakin cool, and the convertable top is shared by only one other car in the world - SL500. So the XLR's uniqueness sells it for me alone.

As nice as the CTS-V is, it's still a CTS with a Corvette underpinning. The XLR is a Corvette that's been moved up in class.

I wonder which one has had a greater impact on getting a younger target audience to look at and even buy cadillacs?


I'd say the V series CTS has...and although I love the new XLR's that I have seen in person..

I have to admit..the CTS V series pulls on my wallet a little bit more.

OHV LS6 400hp motor is of more value to me than a 320 DOHC V8 is......

Both great..motors..just the 400hp wins out here especially since its lighter and has more torque too..

DOHC has its place though..it certainly is a more refined motor to say the least..


Hi brother :) You really are everywhere. :)

But if I did have to choose one, the XLR of course. It's sleek, soooooo good looking, keyless operation is freakin cool, and the convertable top is shared by only one other car in the world - SL500. So the XLR's uniqueness sells it for me alone.

The self-folding hardtop convertible isn't unique to Mercedes and Cadillac anymore. It seems like everyone is going that direction lately. Hell, even the Chevy SSR has one.

That said, the XLR is a beautiful car. It is the car Art&Science design was created for and is the spiritual descendent of the Evoq concept. The interior is the nicest one that any American car company has ever produced and even very few european models are superior to it (and none that are even close to it's price).

As nice as the CTS-V is, it's still a CTS with a Corvette underpinning. The XLR is a Corvette that's been moved up in class.

The CTS-V is a CTS with a Corvette drivetrain. It's underpinnings are still Sigma (and very little changed from the base model). A CTS could not ride on the Corvette chassis and have anywhere near the handling it has now. The Sigma is superior to the Performance car architecture that Corvette uses in just about every way. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with using such a layout on cars the size of the Corvette or XLR, because it performs excellently there. But it can not be adapted to other applications because of limitations in it's design.

My only disappointment with the XLR is that it didn't use the Sigma platform that the Evoq sat on. With the performance car architecture the XLR is amazing. With the Sigma it would have been legendary. Watch a CTS-V carve through a racetrack with minimal to no bodyroll and imagine what would happen if that same platform were applied to a car with a lighter weight and better distribution. Like I said, legendary.

Platform quibbles aside, I would choose an XLR over a CTS-V if I were looking for a sports car though. The CTS-V has performance in spades, but the XLR is only a few ticks off in a much nicer package (provided you only need two seats). In design terms, it is today's '59 Eldorado. It defines Cadillac in the present day.

So i hope im not the only one whos noticed this but why is the CTS-V better than the XLR and 20K cheaper?? Just paying for the styling/top right??
Comparison:
XLR - CTS-V
Price approx: 76,200 - 51,195
0-60: 5.8sec - 5.2sec
1/4 mile: 14.2sec - 13.7sec
Top Spd.: 157mph - 163mph
Braking 70-0: 182ft - 165ft
Road hold: .88g - .90g

So whats the deal? Trust me i LOVE the XLR but when the CTS-V can beat it... Why? Does this say that Caddillac has big plans for the XLR?? maybe dual turbo:D One can only hope, it seems to me that Caddy should take their roadster and beef it out in the next couple model years.

I drove a CTS V and it was a really bad _ss car. Just unlimited power and you can scare the heck out of your passengers with the acceleration. The car is a limited production of a mass produced CTS. Very awesome.

As Bret Said the CTS V and XLR are aimed at two different segments of the market. IMO the XLR is very expensive. I actually toured the Bowilng Green plant when the XLR tooling was being set up last year. The Corvette is a very special and exclusive car by itself. What I like about XLR is that it come loaded and is in the ultra exclusive category. I saw a black one on the highway last week and it was really impressive looking from far away. What striked me as very exotic ws the XLR's flat, low and long hood line. the rear end (with top up) also appreas to look like a european exotic car (like a maserati-ish/ferrari type of car). The XLR is a car that is definately on my "gotta have" list! This stems from past Vette ownership and how I really appreciate all the bells, exotic wood and whistles XLR has like the power hard top! :)

I think the XLR is simply beautiful, when they up the hp and add a manual I would definitely consider buying one. :thumbsup:

Just wait until xlrv comes out. It will be different.
Within the last month or so, GM defunded the 'super' CTS-V project... but work continues on the XLR-V...

Both are truly great rides. But for Eye catching "what is that" responses, XLR is the hands down winner. For speed, the CTS V is a total sleeper (for those who dont recognize the badge) that sends euros and rice buggies tucking there heads and running for the drive through.

:yeah:

that's exactly right. cts-v was a sleeper made for speed. the xlr has the flash.

I would agree with the statments made above as well, thats why my 26k (when new) Camaro is a whole lot faster than my 55k STS, 62k Escalade. Speed isnt everything but it sure is fun. :) Nothing like a 13 sec quarter mile, the LS1/LS6 is an amazing engine. It is just two very different markets.

Road & Track people have some pretty good ears and they are saying 440HP for the late 2005 XLR-V. I have my deposit in hand and trading a under powered Platnium 2004 XLR.
I have three questions before I plunk down $$$$
How much more for the V?
Improvements?---Like new colors, heat around the console, better navigation system. ETC
Will it come in a six speed automatic? R&T says yes.

Look at the options for the STS-V. The XLR will come packaged the same way.
6 speed auto, 440hp SC N*, minor interior upgrades, that amazing exterior they have been showing, etc.

No price announced yet, but I wouldn't expect the price to be below $80k so they can differentiate it from the base XLR. Also expect dealer markups to place it very near 6 figures if you plan to be an early adopter...

The performance will definately make C6 owners cry (just stay away from the Z06 badged ones). :D

The [XLR-V] performance will definately make C6 owners cry (just stay away from the Z06 badged ones). :D

... and my unbadged free-breathing supercharged/intercooled wheel-hopping (oops!) CTS-V. :lildevil:

-- Jerry