Well I did it....

I ordered an infra-red XLR-V. Its order Number 1 from my dealership.

When I told my Bride about it she look at me like I was crazy, and asked, "Why on earth would you do that? The one we have is practically brand new."

I looked sheepishly at her and said, "I don't expect you to understand, and I don't have time to get the therapy that I need."

She just smiled.

I must be having airplane withdrawl...I sold my bird on Aug 1.

Congratulations Aviator (or is it ex-Aviator?) on both the V & your very reasonable wife!
:party

I got whupped by a 20 something kid in a Subie WRX this weekend. At 90 MPH in a 50 zone, the XLR was at the limits of its tires (11,000 miles on mine). I just didn't have the gearing to keep up with the Subie, power-wise either.
:nopity

I don't think you'll have that problem with the bigger rubber and 120 extra ponies in your V--keep us posted !!!
:thumbs

--Bob

Wow! Very nice, great choice and good luck. :cheers

Congratulations Aviator (or is it ex-Aviator?) on both the V & your very reasonable wife!
:party

I got whupped by a 20 something kid in a Subie WRX this weekend. At 90 MPH in a 50 zone, the XLR was at the limits of its tires (11,000 miles on mine). I just didn't have the gearing to keep up with the Subie, power-wise either.
:nopity

I don't think you'll have that problem with the bigger rubber and 120 extra ponies in your V--keep us posted !!!
:thumbs

--Bob

It's still "aviator" - the license and medical are still valid. Next bird will be a Cirrus SR-22. See: www.cirrusdesign.com

Regarding the Subaru, don't sweat the small stuff. Some days you eat the bear, some days he eats you.

FYI - I'm going to name the new ride, "Pokchop"

It's still "aviator" - the license and medical are still valid. Next bird will be a Cirrus SR-22. See: www.cirrusdesign.com

Regarding the Subaru, don't sweat the small stuff. Some days you eat the bear, some days he eats you.

FYI - I'm going to name the new ride, "Pokchop"

The V or the Cirrus? At $189,000.00 (plus options, I assume) small planes seem a lot like big yachts--probably more usefull, but less relaxing!

We sold our Catalina 42, sailboat just before my, now 4 year old, arrived--will try some sailing vacations with the 3 kids b4 buying another boat.

I find sailing a lot like flying (the sail is definitely a wing generating "lift," etc.) so, at this point I'm more likely to get another yacht, than a pilot's license, but every now and then, I think about how cool it would be to get rid of commercial airlines for any, but the longest, trips....

My first love was actually flying, but as a type I diabetic kid, airforce (or any other branch of the military) wouldn't take me. Had to settle for radio controlled gas engine hobby planes--hard on an 18 year-old's budget, but it was the best I could do.
:flag

Now, 24 years later, Type I diabetics are allowed in hot zones for active combat, with doctor's permission. I was born 20+ years too early!
:(

Aviator, do you know any pilots who got their licenses in their 40's?

Enjoy BOTH of your new toys!
:party :cheers

--Bob

Aviator, do you know any pilots who got their licenses in their 40's?

Enjoy BOTH of your new toys!
:party :cheers

--Bob I got mine pretty late in life and would still be using it if my wife had an interest (in her defense she has some persistant balance problems). Getting it isn't much of a problem, passed both written and practical tests on the first try. After bypass surgery and a second heart attack, I just got tired of trying to manage the beuacracies at both the FAA and my various doctors offices to keep a special issuance medical.

There is a brand new thing now called a "Sport Pilot Certificate", which makes learning to fly a lot easier. And I got my "Private Pilot Certificate" when I was 44, and my Instrument Rating when I was 50. (I believe people are self-limited, not age limited.)

The Sport Pilot Certificate varies from existing private pilot certificates significantly including:

1) Requires only 20 hours of flight instruction as compared to 40 hours for private pilot.
2) Limits sport pilots to flying low performance airplanes: maximum weight 1320 lbs, maximum stall speed 45 knots, maximum speed 120 knots, fixed landing gear, and a fixed pitch propeller.

The objective is to make the thrill, satisfaction, and excitement of aviation available to more people by reducing the complexity and cost.

Here's a link to Gleim's website for more information:
http://www.gleim.com/aviation/sportpilot/

If you can visualize it, and believe it can happen, you can "make it so".

The Cirrus SR-22 equipped the way I want it is just over $400K

There is a brand new thing now called a "Sport Pilot Certificate", which makes learning to fly a lot easier. And I got my "Private Pilot Certificate" when I was 44, and my Instrument Rating when I was 50. (I believe people are self-limited, not age limited.)

The Sport Pilot Certificate varies from existing private pilot certificates significantly including:

1) Requires only 20 hours of flight instruction as compared to 40 hours for private pilot.
2) Limits sport pilots to flying low performance airplanes: maximum weight 1320 lbs, maximum stall speed 45 knots, maximum speed 120 knots, fixed landing gear, and a fixed pitch propeller.

The objective is to make the thrill, satisfaction, and excitement of aviation available to more people by reducing the complexity and cost.

Here's a link to Gleim's website for more information:
http://www.gleim.com/aviation/sportpilot/

If you can visualize it, and believe it can happen, you can "make it so".

The Cirrus SR-22 equipped the way I want it is just over $400K

:eek Is this what a "sport pilot" gets to fly?
:nono I think I would pop for the extra 20 hours!!

Naw... a sport pilot can fly a Cessna 150, 172, a Cub, Tri-Pacer, Luscombe - single engine, fixed gear trainers. The Diamond Katana is probably the best example:
http://www.diamondair.com/contentc/K100spec.htm

The Sport Pilot's license is essentially a "Learner's Permit" - something GA (General Aviation) has never had before. Eventually any serious sport pilot is going to go on and get his/her Private, and after about 300 hours or so, his/her Instrument Rating.

Beginning pilots should always fly a trainer, because the amount of information one has to process is vast and intimidating, and "getting behind" the airplane can be dangerous. That's why they want you flying a "popper" at first.

I think the Sport Pilot's license is a good thing, because it allows a student to get a license in half the time - theoretically, that is.

The reality is that the average Private Pilot doesn't get his ticket until he has about 75 hours. Yours truly beat the average at 55 when I passed my checkride.

Consider airplane rental is going to be $75 to $100 per hour and time with the instructor is another $25/hr. It could save the student thousands.

But I do agree with you completely

sorry, I would just be scared to death to be up in something that looks like a glorified go-cart....I would feel safer on a hang glider. Nice they have options though for people who want to get involved. :thumbs

Aviator, once licensed, does this Sport License allow a passenger in the plane?

Whew, much info to digest--but I like what I'm hearing about flying options!

Thanks Aviator--I suppose it'd be easy to get over $200,000.00 worth of options on a 40 ft. yacht too!

Aviator,

I am chomping at the bit to order my V. My dealer says that Cadillac is not taking orders yet. So, I called today and told them you ordered one. They still said they are not taking orders. Would someone please explain this to me?

Thank you in advance!

Aviator,

I am chomping at the bit to order my V. My dealer says that Cadillac is not taking orders yet. So, I called today and told them you ordered one. They still said they are not taking orders. Would someone please explain this to me?

Thank you in advance!


I also have Order #1 with my dealer. This order, with a deposit, only secures my position to buy the first available XLR-V from them....as soon as they are able to order one. With deposit in hand, of course they will order immediatly. Be sure to work with a dealership that will get priority when they do begin taking orders.

I assume this is the same for Aviator??

Aviator, once licensed, does this Sport License allow a passenger in the plane?

Yes, you can carry a passenger but there are some restrictions that I don't recall.

Dadonator, I think that $189K you saw was for the SR-20 not the SR-22. Base price on the SR-22 is $335K, and it options up to $430 or so. Cool thing in 2004 was you could take 60% depreciation the first year. So if one has a business use, the aircraft doesn't really cost you anything for the first couple of years.

Also, airplanes are more like real estate (without property taxes) than cars. If you buy, say a 20 year old Cessna 182, it will appreciate in value if properly maintained.

I bought my 182 for 45K, sold it for 85K five years later. The 210 cost $75K sold recently for $110. Flying is not at all "profitable" however. But if you find a compatible partner or two, its about as expensive as playing golf and belonging to a nice country club.

The order numbers you are getting now are the place in line you will have when the system actually accepts orders. If you have given a deposit, I would check how many are ahead of you. This car will be very low volume, est 700 first year, so if you are dealing with a one XLR a year dealer, you may be waiting for quite some time. Allocation on these will be based on XLR sales, and V-series sales, so your best bet is a dealer who has sold many XLRs and CTS-Vs both.

Congrates from Standby, who ordered #1 in January for MSRP and I wish I knew what the hell MSRP was. Did you talk price?
BTW...........I ordered from the #1 dealer in California....Allen Cadillac,so I expect to get mine either side of January
Bob

Well I did it....

I ordered an infra-red XLR-V. Its order Number 1 from my dealership.

When I told my Bride about it she look at me like I was crazy, and asked, "Why on earth would you do that? The one we have is practically brand new."

I looked sheepishly at her and said, "I don't expect you to understand, and I don't have time to get the therapy that I need."

She just smiled.

I must be having airplane withdrawl...I sold my bird on Aug 1.

Caly, when did you have your bypass and when did you have your second heart attack which I'm sure you where not expecting.

I had a double 4 years ago and feel great

Bob

I got mine pretty late in life and would still be using it if my wife had an interest (in her defense she has some persistant balance problems). Getting it isn't much of a problem, passed both written and practical tests on the first try. After bypass surgery and a second heart attack, I just got tired of trying to manage the beuacracies at both the FAA and my various doctors offices to keep a special issuance medical.

Julie,

Would you be apossed to ordering in California at Allen Cadillac. He actually buys & trades from all the other dealers to get every XLR he can. $1,000 down will secure a position. I'm first on the list for an infra Red V at MSRP, what ever that is.
Bob
Aviator,

I am chomping at the bit to order my V. My dealer says that Cadillac is not taking orders yet. So, I called today and told them you ordered one. They still said they are not taking orders. Would someone please explain this to me?

Thank you in advance!

Aviator,

I am chomping at the bit to order my V. My dealer says that Cadillac is not taking orders yet. So, I called today and told them you ordered one. They still said they are not taking orders. Would someone please explain this to me?

Thank you in advance!

MARGARITAVILLE - I'm down here on one of my regular "Man's quest for oil" trips. Checked out fuel prices lately? I just paid $2.50/gal for regular (for the Escalade)!

Julie-
I doubt my XLR is "on order" with Cadillac as yet. The sales manager took and order form, wrote, "#1" in big letters as the top, my name, and "Infra-Red".

Its probably still sitting in his top drawer. But I know, when he is able to order it, I will be #1. (Maybe he has a whole pad of #1s?!)

Feel better?

Your humble correspondent-- aviator

Caly, when did you have your bypass and when did you have your second heart attack which I'm sure you where not expecting.

I had a double 4 years ago and feel great

Bob I had a CABGx4 in '97. In '99 I had another "interruped MI" as the doctor called it which turned out to be a small clot in one of the arteries they didn't bypass the first time because it was hard to do. The angio showed the problem and that it cleared AND that the original grafts were doing great. NO problems since (except weight which I am once more working down).

Aviator and Standby,

Thank you for your suggestions and help. Aviator, I think that's about what my dealer did -- take a verbal order and then when they can, they are going to order the V. I would be open to ordering a V from any good dealer, except my dealer has been so wonderful to me. I think I will just wait until they give me the go-ahead on the order. If I did order from a dealer in California, there would be a delivery charge tacked on to that, so I better sit tight.

My XLR is in the shop now getting that little scratch fixed from the top not lining up correctly. I really miss it.

Finally decided on the Black Star color for the V. Thanks to this great forum, I am happy to learn that the Black Star color will be very pretty in the light.

Julie,
I have good news and bad news. Naturally your going to hear the bad news first.
They have filled all two hundred and fifty orders for the Black Star.
The good news straight from Bowling Green is........................They are building two hundred and fifty more because of the high demand................so get your order written down on paper with a deposit.
Bob

Aviator and Standby,

Thank you for your suggestions and help. Aviator, I think that's about what my dealer did -- take a verbal order and then when they can, they are going to order the V. I would be open to ordering a V from any good dealer, except my dealer has been so wonderful to me. I think I will just wait until they give me the go-ahead on the order. If I did order from a dealer in California, there would be a delivery charge tacked on to that, so I better sit tight.

My XLR is in the shop now getting that little scratch fixed from the top not lining up correctly. I really miss it.

Finally decided on the Black Star color for the V. Thanks to this great forum, I am happy to learn that the Black Star color will be very pretty in the light.

Hi Julie, the color of the Black Star is beautiful, although when no sun or light comes on it, it is a kind deep black but when the sun is going on it, you will see a metal flake rainbow-color in this Black Star. Black Star is the absolutely right name for this color.

Harry Hans

Thank you, Harry and Bob,

Would those 250 orders of Black Star being already filled pertain to the regular XLR, and not the V? My dealer swears that their computer system is not able to place V orders yet, and they say they are on top of it.

Anyway, you're lucky getting to drive your XLR on the autobahn.

:nono
Black Star is a special order only on the XLR

The XLR-V will be offered in Black Raven




.............soon to be know as "flat black" :D

Julie,

I would think the 250 refers to the standard XLR since we cannot order the V yet. How really knows? Insiders can probably order before we on the outside.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/a05/10_9_211.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414YYUS) Bob
Thank you, Harry and Bob,

Would those 250 orders of Black Star being already filled pertain to the regular XLR, and not the V? My dealer swears that their computer system is not able to place V orders yet, and they say they are on top of it.

Anyway, you're lucky getting to drive your XLR on the autobahn.