I'm in the market for a used XLR. In no hurry but looking to purchase before the end of the year. Red preferred.

It is my understanding that there is little if any differences from 04 - 08. Is this true?

If you mean the look, well no there isn't much difference unless you get the XLR-V with the supercharger. Difference in dependability, I would stay away from the 04 as it was the first year and there where many issues with it and I talk from experience, having owned an 04, but it didn't deter me as I bought an 06 XLR-V which has been relatively free from gremlins. Either way you are going to get a machine that a lot of people will drool all over your hood.
BobI'm in the market for a used XLR. In no hurry but looking to purchase before the end of the year. Red preferred.

It is my understanding that there is little if any differences from 04 - 08. Is this true?

I had an 04 and only traded it in on an 05 beecause I wanted a red one, my 04 was a silver one... not one problem with the 04 or the 05. 45 k miles on the 04 and 28k miles on the 05...:cheers :jester

I like the '06 a little better because it has a newer style hidden XM antenna. Not the one mounted on the deck lid.

We have an '04 .... #1627 off of the line .... we wanted to buy the entry year XLR .... As much as we love her ("Lola") .... we do have to tell you that she has definetly been a pain in the rear as far as service calls .... at 28,000 mi we are still running her back and forth to the dealership for various parts that were redesigned or made differently as the car was driven and items reported needed replacing. We have yet to have a problem with the engine or transmission ..... but then I haven't started her up this morning! :eek My advice .... unless the entry year is important to you ..... buy an 06 or newer .... you will save many days of sitting in dealer lobbys drinking bad coffee and watching CNN! You will, for sure, get many different posts from the owners of the 04 .... some like BUDSVET with no problems ..... and me with pages and pages of service dept calls! Would I trade her??? Nope .... it's the greatest car we've ever had! I think if I were you though, I would ask to see the service department history on any car I bought .... save yourself some trouble and fall in love with a "healthy" one! :yesnod

Lola's Mom

I am also in the market for an XLR when I find the right one at the right price.

Several other things that are important to me are color choices - both exterior in interior. You will find that the red changed in 06 from Crimson Pearl to Infrared which is much darker (burgundy). This is a personal choice. Also, if you are looking at the light interior the uper trim changed in 06 as well, from beige on the 04 and 05 to dark grey/black on the 06 and later. 06 also added additional wood trim at the CD surround.

Check out autotrader.com and cars.com for cars in your area.

Good luck! :cheers
Jon

We have an '04 .... #1627 off of the line .... we wanted to buy the entry year XLR .... As much as we love her ("Lola") .... we do have to tell you that she has definetly been a pain in the rear as far as service calls .... at 28,000 mi we are still running her back and forth to the dealership for various parts that were redesigned or made differently as the car was driven and items reported needed replacing. We have yet to have a problem with the engine or transmission ..... but then I haven't started her up this morning! :eek My advice .... unless the entry year is important to you ..... buy an 06 or newer .... you will save many days of sitting in dealer lobbys drinking bad coffee and watching CNN! You will, for sure, get many different posts from the owners of the 04 .... some like BUDSVET with no problems ..... and me with pages and pages of service dept calls! Would I trade her??? Nope .... it's the greatest car we've ever had! I think if I were you though, I would ask to see the service department history on any car I bought .... save yourself some trouble and fall in love with a "healthy" one! :yesnod

Lola's Mom

Your dealer doesn't have free Starbucks? Sometimes I swing by mine just for my morning cup of joe.

To the original poster. I like the integrated XM antenna on the 06 and newer but like the dash trim on the 04 and 05's better. New steering wheel for '08.

Thanks for the insight. Great that all responses indicated a love for the XLR. Seems as though the differences are subtle and unless I want the intro year, stay away from the 04. I did not realize the red had changed. I do like the darker red. When visiting 2 different cadillac dealers, I asked about the red and was told that it had not changed. Interesting!!
I have been a cadillac owner over the years and loved them all. 73 coup deville (wish I still had this one - white with red leather interior). 79 Broughm D'Elegance, 85 Fleetwood and a 93 STS. Since then I had company vehicles. I'm 62 and time to get my sports car. The XLR is my choice.
Please let me know if anyone hears of one being available (05, 06). I want to purchase yet this year. I live in Las Vegas.
thanks,
dftndamood (if anyone is curious about my username, I played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra 1967 - 73)

Good luck finding your XLR. You may have to expand your search out of state, I heard that finding and XLR in Las Vegas may be an expensive proposal. :eek

Good luck again and perhaps we will meet in Vegas after I move there in the spring. :)

SilverX

I've noticed the prices on cars.com. Quite a few for sale with a broad range of sale prices. I just might have to fly somewhere to buy it and drive it home!!
dftndamood

You may want to check out Luck Chevrolet in VA (1-866-718-4479) if you don't mide a nice cross country drive. They have an Infrared 06 with 2453 miles listed for $50,495! That's about the best price I've seen for a low milage 06, but it's not the color I'm after. Just make sure that it's not a reconstructed or buy-back car and that it has a valid factory warranty. Since they are not a Caddy dealer you will probably not be able to get the certified used car warranty.

Jon

Thanks, Jon for the lead. I'll check it out and possibly give them a call.
dftndamood

Thanks for the insight. Great that all responses indicated a love for the XLR. Seems as though the differences are subtle and unless I want the intro year, stay away from the 04. I did not realize the red had changed. I do like the darker red. When visiting 2 different cadillac dealers, I asked about the red and was told that it had not changed. Interesting!!
I have been a cadillac owner over the years and loved them all. 73 coup deville (wish I still had this one - white with red leather interior). 79 Broughm D'Elegance, 85 Fleetwood and a 93 STS. Since then I had company vehicles. I'm 62 and time to get my sports car. The XLR is my choice.
Please let me know if anyone hears of one being available (05, 06). I want to purchase yet this year. I live in Las Vegas.
thanks,
dftndamood (if anyone is curious about my username, I played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra 1967 - 73)


dftndamood,

Keep checking around this Forum, I think you'll find many of us are much more familiar with the terrific XLR than most (all) the dealers are.

Good luck, there are good used ones out there!

Floyd

Thanks, Floyd. I've already found out more in one day through this forum than when talking to salespeople at a couple of local dealers. Would you believe my wife and I were talking to a salesperson at a Las Vegas Cadillac dealer looking at a 08 XLR when another sales person walked in front of us, got into the car and drove away. I had to laugh. Worse salesmanship I have ever seen. Also no catalogs, no idea about the colors, couldn't tell me about the differences from year to year, etc., etc. I'll keep listening and asking questions to this group of XLR owners.
dftndamood

We thrive on getting the best info to people who need it and get it to them quick as a bunny http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_11_4.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS)Bob Thanks, Floyd. I've already found out more in one day through this forum than when talking to salespeople at a couple of local dealers. Would you believe my wife and I were talking to a salesperson at a Las Vegas Cadillac dealer looking at a 08 XLR when another sales person walked in front of us, got into the car and drove away. I had to laugh. Worse salesmanship I have ever seen. Also no catalogs, no idea about the colors, couldn't tell me about the differences from year to year, etc., etc. I'll keep listening and asking questions to this group of XLR owners.
dftndamood







http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=ZS (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb113_ZS&utm_id=7921)

I've noticed the prices on cars.com. Quite a few for sale with a broad range of sale prices. I just might have to fly somewhere to buy it and drive it home!!
dftndamood

Road Trip :thumbs If you find one out of town I bet you could find a forum member that could check it out for you.

Thanks for the idea. When I do find one, I will ask the group.

Thanks for the idea. When I do find one, I will ask the group.
I am of the opinion that there are NO bad XLR model years.

the 2004 was the most closely watched (high Quality Control) model to come out of the factory. Of course there were some items that needed to be addressed in all subsequent models that you can read up on here. BUT the car is under warranty. so for the most part as issues were identified they were corrected by the dealer network.

Headlights melting 2004-some 2005's --The entire units were relplaced at no cost to the customer as you would expect.

Top Solonoid Switches various years Replaced to ensure the top would raise and lower correctly.

Rear End Noise-Positraction Plates Sticking-- 2004, 2005 and some 2006's. positraction fluid was replaced with Synthetic and Posi fluid was added. Sometimes it took 2 or 3 changes to correct the problem and in a few cases the Rear was replaced.

These are the main issues --I think but I'm old and may have forgotten a few.

Not bad for a car that is only 5 model years old and starting it's 6th model year.

I would stand behind all years of the car with a service history report and a good extended warranty.

Regards and good hunting

Thanks you. Now I will just be patient till I find the right red XLR.
I'm still a bit confused about the red XLR colors. Seems like the 04 was more red and some 05s? Looking at the pictures and descriptions, the crimson pearl and the new crystal red are similar. Did the crimson pearl come out in 05 or 06? Some 05 pictures look like a deeper red and described as either red, crimson pearl, or burgundy. Help me I'm confused.
dftndamood

Sometimes you can't go by pictures posted. You have to see the car in person. Crimson Pearl was 04 to 05 and then 06 was infra red (sort of burgandy) and probably 07, but not sure about the 07.
I haven't heard of crytal red, but there is a Passion Red which is a bit more money, and it is a true red. Stick around and you'll get more answers from others. I'm twice Platinum, 04 & 06-V
BobThanks you. Now I will just be patient till I find the right red XLR.
I'm still a bit confused about the red XLR colors. Seems like the 04 was more red and some 05s? Looking at the pictures and descriptions, the crimson pearl and the new crystal red are similar. Did the crimson pearl come out in 05 or 06? Some 05 pictures look like a deeper red and described as either red, crimson pearl, or burgundy. Help me I'm confused.
dftndamood

Bob is correct and the 07 is infra red like the 06. There is also an 07 special edition is passion red - it is a bright red that is not metalic or pearl. 08 is a new color that is similar to crimson pearl, but I have not seen the two colors side by side to compare them. As Bob stated, you cannot tell the true color from photos on the internet.

Hope this helps, Jon

I think ol' Mr. Henry Ford may have had something:

"You can order any color your heart desires--as long as it is black."

Kinda simplified things a bit. :lol

Floyd

I'm no longer looking and a proud owner of a 2006 XLR. Just what I was looking for. Infrared!! One owner, low mileage. Bought it from a Cadilac dealer and thanks to you folks, I asked for the Certified Warranty and got it at no extra charge.
Thanks!!!:cheers
dftndamood

Hey, congrats!!!

Wish you all the best with her!

See you at RIII!!! :cool

Floyd

I'm no longer looking and a proud owner of a 2006 XLR. Just what I was looking for. Infrared!! One owner, low mileage. Bought it from a Cadilac dealer and thanks to you folks, I asked for the Certified Warranty and got it at no extra charge.
Thanks!!!:cheers
dftndamood

Congrats. Now you can turn that road trip into a visit to Bob's Big Boy in Burbank next month :party

Congratulations! You are in for the ride of your life .... literally! :eek

Yes ... plan on Rendezvous 3 .... you are perfect for the West Coast group ... and I bet Standby will even lend you his Valentine One and let you lead!! :jester

BTW .... I love the red .....

Lola's Mom
Ruth Ann

thanks, all. So here's a stupid question. What and where is R 3 and is it the same as the gathering at Bob's Big Boy? Same dates? etc?
fill me in. Bring me up to speed!!
THX
Dftndamood

Rendezvous III just got info posted here on the forum. The gathering at Bob's Big Boy is an informal get together of several XLR owners at the weekly cruise night in Burbank. Rendezvous III is the biggest event of the year and has a large Cadillac involvement. The annual Rendezvous is the largest gathering of XLR owners each year in Bowling Green, KY (where your XLR was built at the GM plant). It is a chance to meet other XLR owners, the Cadillac XLR team, tour the factory and many other fun events. Hope you can sign up and make it this year.

First, here is the info to R3.
http://www.xlrforum.com/showthread.php?t=3765

Second, you can read all about R2 here
http://www.xlrforum.com/showthread.php?t=1800

Rendezvous is an fantastic opportunity for XLR owners to meet with several GM representatives from the Assembly Plant in Bowling Green KY, Product Engineering and Cadillac Division Sales and Marketing. A plant visit and a first glance at the new 2009 Mid-Cycle enhanced XLR.

:cool

thanks, all. So here's a stupid question. What and where is R 3 and is it the same as the gathering at Bob's Big Boy? Same dates? etc?
fill me in. Bring me up to speed!!
THX
Dftndamood

thanks, all. So here's a stupid question. What and where is R 3 and is it the same as the gathering at Bob's Big Boy? Same dates? etc?
fill me in. Bring me up to speed!!
THX
Dftndamood

We need to drag you out of the for sale section :jester Bob Big Boy is a more informal event the day ofter Thanksgiving in Burbank CA, here is the link http://www.xlrforum.com/showthread.php?t=2991

Rendevous III will be a huge event with support from Cadillac. Held this year and next year in Bowling Green. Your car gets to go home for a visit :thumbs Great exercise for the car and you get to find out just how comfortable the XLR is on a cross country trip.

Dftndamood,

Yes, get out of this thread and read all about RII which was held in August of this year. By reading about RII and checking out all the pix I'm sure you'll be marking your calendar, and you won't be a bit sorry you did!

Jim (jamsto) & Co. put together a really great weekend last time and we're all sure RIII will even top RII--even though RII will be a very tough act to follow.

See you there--join a caravan--we all want to see your new baby!!!

Floyd