[1701]

While waiting for the recall repair on my CTS I saw a new silver/shale XLR in the showroom. My personal observations:
1. The extra wood on the console, though a minor change, certainly looks much better, richer. It was executed well & to my eye, didn't appear cheap.

2. The 1 inch square GM badge, albeit a STUPID idea (no one can see the GM on it withour being on hands & knees), isn't too bad on the car, looks like a bit of jewelry!

3. The trim behind the seats is now black, no longer brown. Looks excellent, sets the shale interior off nicely. One good idea they had.

4. The XM antennae integrated in the side mirrors, if they work, certainly eliminates the trunk lit acne!

All in all, from what I saw, improvements. BUT, I did notice, top down, that part of the black rubber trim aling the forward end of the trunk was somewhat bent, leaving a mis-aligned look, not consistent with such an expensive vehicle.
Hope to pick one up this year. Blue steel or silver? Funny, this particular dealership, which sells the most XLR's in the Phila. area WILL NOT order blue steel as it has a purple- tone! Regards, 1701

 

[mikedr]

I was talking to a guy at a high-end car stereo shop, and he said that for motorcycles, they put the XM antenna under the fiberglass part of the cycle just forward of the windshield. Apparently the satellite signals can go through fiberglass just fine. I'm guessing that this is what is being done with the XLR . . .

 

[Guest]

Jack Wells?

I'm really getting mift at Allen now. They refuse to talk to me about the heat in the console or trunk and my 04 has been in the paint shop for 9 days just to blend the fenders into the doors and I stop down there today and it's sitting there with the lights, grille, side mirrors and of course interior of doors all off and no bumper to be seen,while all kinds of action is going on with other cars. I'm not trying to say I'm more important, but I made a two week in advance reservation to have my vehicle painted correctly when I got back from my trip to NYC.
Talked to Scott Allen and really didn't get any indication that he cared. Maybe he did, but didn't let me see any desire to please me.
I've contacted a lemon law lawyer and gave him the particulars concerning the hot console and trunk and will let you know what he says. I have been told that GM has no fix for it and it is a design flaw and I can't lemon it. I guess we will see. Sorry guys, I know you all love this car and I did to until the mistreatment started.

 

[Robin]

Design Flaw

I wonder if this design flaw(Hot Console/Trunk) his been address on the 2006 XLR and XLR-V?. The hot trunk is easy to understand. As it is really a closed box that has no ventlation. With the sun on the top side and the Transmission/axel assy. heat on the bottom side. The console heat is a different matter.

Another thought. If it is a design flaw with the 2004 XLR why hasn't it been address on the 2005 XLR ?. Or has it been address on the 2005 XLR. Does anyone no the answer.

 

[Mr XLR]

Heat from Console area

Robin:
The Xlr with it's performance balanced rear transmission design, transmits it's power to the drive wheels from the front engine through the solid steel drive shaft tunnel to the rear transmission. The trans is connected to the rear axle assembly. The heat is derrived from the drive shaft that is spinning at very high speeds just below the cup holder, there is no correction bring worked on to eliminate the transfer of the heat from the driveshaft.

To assist in heat dampning on the sides of the console, there has been some minor heat reflective material incorporated on the 2006 models. Your dealer, through cadillac assistance can add some reflective materials to the console sides for their 2004 & 2005 models. Please understand, when this is done it will slightly bow out the carpeting area on the sides of the console.

Since the cup holder is only sits atop the driveshaft tunnel, there is no room to add any insulation to the top of the tunnel or console box.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com

Thank you
Allen

 

[Caly]

I wonder if this design flaw(Hot Console/Trunk) his been address on the 2006 XLR and XLR-V?. The hot trunk is easy to understand. As it is really a closed box that has no ventlation. With the sun on the top side and the Transmission/axel assy. heat on the bottom side. The console heat is a different matter.

Another thought. If it is a design flaw with the 2004 XLR why hasn't it been address on the 2005 XLR ?. Or has it been address on the 2005 XLR. Does anyone no the answer.

My '05 console does not get exceptionally hot, less so than my '03 Corvette. The console sits atop a closed tunnel with the engine at one end, the transmission at the other and a drive-shaft running through it. I thought they had vented that to combat heat build-up.

Note: the console and cup holders will get warm but I wouldn't characterize it as hot.

 

[mswaim]

And here we were led to believe Allen Cadillac was the greatest thing since sliced bread.............If you think the center console/trunk heat is an issue now, wait until the XLR-V hits the streets. More power = more heat.

As many of said (including me) the heat issue is no better or worse than that exhibited by Corvettes for many years. My C6 actually feels a bit hotter than my XLR did, including the trunk.