A vacuum cleaner for hard surfaces: It is good practice to use a robot vacuum on your laminate floors before using the cleaner. Its durable, high-quality construction ensures long-lasting performance for everyday use. Skidpad performance was curiously little changed at 0.87g, but handling, steering, and braking all drew wide praise. And there was nothing wrong with that — not with 0-60 mph available in less than 6.0 seconds and sticky 0.88g skidpad acceleration. The quarter-mile demanded 15.2 seconds. Car and Driver’s test XLR-V did 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds and a standing quarter-mile of 13 seconds at 110 mph — a noticeable improvement on the unblown version. Car and Driver greeted it as “a strong entry in the prestigious roadster class,” while Road & Track deemed it a sign that “Cadillac is heading in the right direction.” And while the XLR wasn’t intended to be an everyday sight, initial demand must have gratified division planners, with 4,387 built for ’04 and 4190 for ’05. Sensibly, Cadillac reduced SRX prices for 2007, pegging the V-6 model at $37,000 base, the V-8 at $43,000. Like the SRX crossover, CTS buyers can specify an expansive “Ultraview” glass roof, in this case a two-piece affair with power-sliding front portion.

A high level of safety was standard for every model: antilock brakes, traction control, front torso side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Chassis tweaks involved wider 19-inch run-flat tires, a solid front stabilizer bar, the addition of a rear bar, revised tuning for the MRC shocks, and larger brakes borrowed from the Corvette Z51. But in a rather large surprise, all-wheel drive was a $1900 option for the V-8 model; the V-6 got it as a 2006 addition. The regular XLR got it as a 2007 upgrade. If you’ve got chrome fixtures, spray some of this on it to maintain the shine. However, the domestic use of these crowd control chemicals by law enforcement for riot control purposes is still permitted in many countries. Though the initial $76,000 tab was almost twice that of a base Corvette coupe, the XLR came with most every amenity known in the automotive world: power everything, heated/cooled seats, OnStar, a navigation system, “smart” cruise control that automatically maintained a safe following distance, and Cadillac’s new Keyless Access system with engine-start button and no external keylocks. The crisp Art & Science look was well-suited to this wagon, which maintained Cadillac tradition with a posh leather-lined interior and power everything; the ’06s added a nifty power-operated liftgate.

Like other GM divisions, Cadillac now stressed dollar value. Conversely, if you have a robot vacuum that uses an optical sensor to navigate, like the iRobot Roomba i3, leave the light on in areas you want the vacuum to clean. Composite body panels draped around a steel skeleton with a stiff central “backbone” section, hydroformed side rails, aluminum windshield frame, a cross-cowl magnesium reinforcing bar, and aluminum “sandwich” floors with light balsa-wood cores. That goes for the air you breathe, the water you drink and your body itself. As expected, it was basically a stretched CTS, though with slightly softer body lines. A three-way Car and Driver test ranked the mightiest STS between the BMW M5 and Mercedes’ CLS 55 AMG, reflecting the Caddy’s somewhat “softer” responses and plusher, less driver-oriented character. Arriving for 2004, the SRX was a clever variation of the Sigma car platform, offering the same V-6 and V-8 rear-drive and all-wheel-drive powertrains as the STS that followed it. Even so, the XLR was clearly a luxury tourer, not an all-out sports car.

Luxury I, Luxury II, and Luxury III versions delivered 275 bhp in the $42,000-$48,000 range; a sportier $47,000 Performance model packed 291 horses and many DeVille DTS features. Engine choices comprised a base 255-bhp 3.6-liter V-6, borrowed from the CTS, or the new “Gen II” Northstar tuned for 320 bhp. The rear-drive STS was initially priced from $40,300 with V-6, $46,800 with V-8. Initially priced in the $40,000-$47,000 range, the SRX impressed road-testers with its sprightly performance, adroit handling, and luxury-level refinement. Next, we’ll take a look at Cadillac’s “crossover” SUV, the Cadillac SRX. Scheduled for sale in summer 2007, it’s easily recognized by familiar but evolved styling that takes inspiration from Cadillac’s recent award-winning Sixteen concept sedan. Sportier types could shell out a hefty $11,000-$13,000 for a Preferred Equipment Group comprising Z-rated performance tires on 18-inch wheels (replacing standard 17s), Magnetic Ride Control, and uprated brakes and steering. Suspension, steering and brakes are unchanged in concept, but components have been redesigned and/or upgraded where needed. So, you have a choice to make: Call a repairman or see if you can tackle the problem yourself. Steam cleaning grout loosens gunk and mold that have worked into the pores of the grout over time.