View Photos of the 1992–93 High-Dollar, High-Lux Convertibles
The Cadillac Allanté, the Jaguar XJS, and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL prove that price doesn't necessarily equal performance.
Any of these three cars—the Cadillac Allanté, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, or the Jaguar XJS—would look proper in the Snottyfield Hills Country Club valet line. But are they any good to drive? More to the point, are they worth their extravagant prices? After logging many miles in the posh environs of Santa Barbara while pretending to be rich, we anointed a winner—reluctantly, because each of these cars has major flaws that shouldn't be present at these prices.
Behold our gold-plated gladiators: the 1993 Cadillac Allanté, the 1992 Jaguar XJS V12, and the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
This Mercedes-Benz 300SL packs 228 horsepower for $90,335, making those some of the most expensive ponies on the market.
The 1992 Jaguar XJS V12 looks and feels ancient, because it is.
GM abandoned its three-speed Turbo-Hydra-matic transmission long ago, but it lives on in the XJS V12.
The XJS's cover for its top is installed manually. Can you tell?
Here we have 5.3 liters of V-12 that produce a snoozy 276 horsepower.
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL aced our handling tests. Acceleration was another matter.
The 300SL's completely automatic top, with its hidden roll bar, is a marvel of engineering.
The 300SL's 8.8-second run to 60 mph means the $12,000 Ford Escort LX-E trounces it by a full second.
The 1993 Cadillac Allanté inherits a price advantage mainly because its price hasn't climbed too high since its 1986 introduction.
The Cadillac Allanté is nose-heavy, failing to hide its front-drive layout.
Cadillac's interior shows off all the right angles.
The 290-hp Northstar V-8 is the main reason the Allanté won this comparison, delivering a 6.2-second 60 mph time.
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