IS A XLR A GOOD RELIABLE USED CAR 2007 98000KM

[lookingtobuy]

Don't mean to sound silly but looking to buy 1 soon , retired just looking for something different to run around in 8000km a year put on car if lucky tired of lifted trucks and last be fore was a hummer , GM guy at heart worked there for 30.1 years till recently. Just wanted to know if they are fairly reliable ty ladies and gents and maybe what to look for if there are some regular problems that show up with used ty again first post hope it works

 

[Rob]

Welcome to the XLR Net!

 

[lookingtobuy]

ty ROB hope for some useful info

Welcome to the XLR Net!

 

[Phil105]

NOT SO SURE

As a two week owner of an XLR, but one who researched these cars quite heavily for a couple years, I'm not so sure I'd recommend one as a sole source of transportation. They are beautiful cars but are prone to "quirks". It is likely you will have a fair amount of "down time" with them - much of which can be related to a shortage of parts, which can be very expensive in certain areas and not just any run-of-the-mill mechanic shop is equipped to service these vehicles.

With that being said, and it's purely my opinion, please note that after some two years of researching, I bought one anyway!! Fortunately, to date (2 weeks later) I've only had two very minimal issues to deal with. A "service stabilitrack" light that simply required a plastic clip installed on a sensor and a bumping/grinding noise in the rear end that I hope tomorrow will be corrected by changing out the differential fluid and replacing the two rear axle nuts - both issues addressed at some point in a Cadillac TSB.

Luckily I do not rely on this car as my sole source of transportation. It is a fun car and an ego booster.

Best of luck to you. I'm sure there are many on this forum who will likely say differently, and who have hopefully had little to no problems with their cars. I sure hope that's the case anyway!

 

[lookingtobuy]

Have second vehicle

Thank you for your advice, appreciate the information and good luck with yours and hope you have lots of trouble free enjoyment driving.

As a two week owner of an XLR, but one who researched these cars quite heavily for a couple years, I'm not so sure I'd recommend one as a sole source of transportation. They are beautiful cars but are prone to "quirks". It is likely you will have a fair amount of "down time" with them - much of which can be related to a shortage of parts, which can be very expensive in certain areas and not just any run-of-the-mill mechanic shop is equipped to service these vehicles.

With that being said, and it's purely my opinion, please note that after some two years of researching, I bought one anyway!! Fortunately, to date (2 weeks later) I've only had two very minimal issues to deal with. A "service stabilitrack" light that simply required a plastic clip installed on a sensor and a bumping/grinding noise in the rear end that I hope tomorrow will be corrected by changing out the differential fluid and replacing the two rear axle nuts - both issues addressed at some point in a Cadillac TSB.

Luckily I do not rely on this car as my sole source of transportation. It is a fun car and an ego booster.

Best of luck to you. I'm sure there are many on this forum who will likely say differently, and who have hopefully had little to no problems with their cars. I sure hope that's the case anyway!

 

[oyealiz]

Thank you for your advice, appreciate the information and good luck with yours and hope you have lots of trouble free enjoyment driving.

I agree about not having it as your only car. I've had mine about a month and love it! However, I now have a check engine light and running rough, so she's down til my Kevin (thank goodness I have someone who is mechanically minded in my home!) can check on it. He pulled the code, and it's something about running lean.

Anyhow, right up until that I was having a blast and driving the car every time I left the house. I'm sad she's down at the moment, but I have other vehicles to drive.

ps What Hummer did you have? I had an H3 for about 7-8 yrs and LOVED it. In fact, it's still in the family as my daughter has it now.

 

[lookingtobuy]

H3 best vehicle i ever owned

hi oyealiz had 180,000 on it not 1 thing ever went back to warranty and all though's km for me it had 2 brake jobs and that's it , my wife still hates me 2 years later for trading it in owned sense brand new till I bought a lifted chevy from dealership a brand vehicle again 2 years later she has never driven the pickup lol p.s. within 6 months I regrated getting rid of it myself --- BEST TRUCK I EVER OWNED ty for the reply

I agree about not having it as your only car. I've had mine about a month and love it! However, I now have a check engine light and running rough, so she's down til my Kevin (thank goodness I have someone who is mechanically minded in my home!) can check on it. He pulled the code, and it's something about running lean.

Anyhow, right up until that I was having a blast and driving the car every time I left the house. I'm sad she's down at the moment, but I have other vehicles to drive.

ps What Hummer did you have? I had an H3 for about 7-8 yrs and LOVED it. In fact, it's still in the family as my daughter has it now.

 

[AL_Jazz]

Just an opinion...

Personal opinion based on having owned mine less than 3 months, but also having owned 40+ vehicles in the past (including an H2 I really enjoyed but my GF called it my school bus because it was big and bright yellow) I don't think it is any more or less reliable than any other higher dollar or performance vehicle. I had to rebuild the transmission in the H2, but that didn't make it a bad vehicle. I had an STS with the Northstar V8 that I drove like a mad man, and never had a single issue with it. I had a C4 corvette with all kinds of issues from day one and a C5 that never gave me anything but pleasure. Lot of people hate Jaguars, but I've never had a bad one. I've had 3 Porsche 928's and they are an electrical nightmare, and my last couple Mercedes with the air suspension couldn't decide on a day to day basis if it wanted to be a low-rider or just drop to it's knee on one corner.

Having said that, my XLR is my favorite vehicle I have ever owned. I have had a MB SL500 (talk about problem prone and $$ to work on) a couple Jaguar XK's (quirky but classy), and recently picked up a Lexus SC430 (all direct competitors to the XLR) for my GF's birthday (to replace her aging Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo), and honestly while the SC430 is a beautiful, nice driving, luxury hard-top convertible, we take the XLR anytime we go anywhere whether just out to dinner or road-tripping. The XLR has much more soul, more fun to drive, gets much more attention, and is all around a better smile generator than any of the above.

Are there quarks, yes. Is it worth it, so far, yes. As an only vehicle...well, I think anyone that has to rely on a 10 yr old low production handbuilt vehicle as their only means of transportation probably shouldn't have one to begin with. That was never Cadillac's intent with they designed and marketed it. It was/is targeted at those of us over 40 with disposable income that desire something different to drive when we want to. When I drive mine tomorrow morning to our local Sat morning Cars and Coffee, there will probably be a couple Lambos, a couple Ferrari's, a few nice 60's muscle cars, a dozen Vettes of various years, and only 1 XLR...mine. Oh yeah...she's worth every penny.

Both our babies in our town-house parking lot.

 

[ccclarke]

This is good advice, but you want to hear about reliability issues from long-term owners to get a good general idea of what to expect.

My XLR was the most expensive vehicle I ever owned as far as repairs. The power train was reliable, but the top averaged two malfunctions during each of the seven years of ownership. Wheel bearings were problematic as well, with three replaced. I used mine as a daily driver for about five years and had no major issues.

It's important to perform scheduled maintenance and nip problems in the bud as soon as they're detected.

That being said, normal wear and tear items like shocks and tires aren't cheap. And some parts are becoming tough to find, even though much of the chassis parts are shared with the corvette.

CCC

 

[Stella]

You can buy whatever brand you prefer car brand spanking new and it be a lemon. Buying a older car should get you away from lemons it's how the previous however many owners it had treated it!
There's only three problems I see with owning a xlr maybe four for you.
1 specific to the xlr parts availability
2 cost of those specific parts
3 number of properly trained xlr techs still in the field or at gm dealerships to fix xlr specific problems properly and efficiently. "Not just throw parts at it".
4 being in Canada your odds of getting the three worsen ten fold.
That being said I've owned mine coming on four years now and have not had a single issue. I also have a warranty just in case though. Could get pricey! Buy one you'll regret not doing more

 

[david jones]

reliable

Don't mean to sound silly but looking to buy 1 soon , retired just looking for something different to run around in 8000km a year put on car if lucky tired of lifted trucks and last be fore was a hummer , GM guy at heart worked there for 30.1 years till recently. Just wanted to know if they are fairly reliable ty ladies and gents and maybe what to look for if there are some regular problems that show up with used ty again first post hope it works

Don't want to make the die hard XLR owners mad again but I do say they do have their problems. Knowing what I know now I would never bought one. FYI only

David J.

 

[Phil105]

YES

That being said I've owned mine coming on four years now and have not had a single issue.

THAT'S THE KIND OF COMMENTS I'M LOOKING FOR!!

 

[lookingtobuy]

Go away for a day and WOW

WELL SUNDAY COMING HEADING OUT TO TEST DRIVE AND GO OVER IT , WIFE WANTS TO COME ALONG (THIS COULD HELP) I HOPE WITH KEEPING ME HONEST INSTEAD OF BEING A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS -- WAS A 2 OWNER CAR BEFORE ME NEVER WINTER DRIVEN SENSE BEING IN ONTARIO , CAR STARTED LIFE IN GEORGIA THEN THE RECESSION HIT AND IT FOUND ITS SELF IN CANADA , KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED IF I BUY IT WILL KNOW BY MONDAY EVEN TOMORROW IF I LOVE IT LOL

THAT'S THE KIND OF COMMENTS I'M LOOKING FOR!!

 

[lookingtobuy]

THROUGH A FEW PICS AT YOU

WELL SUNDAY COMING HEADING OUT TO TEST DRIVE AND GO OVER IT , WIFE WANTS TO COME ALONG (THIS COULD HELP) I HOPE WITH KEEPING ME HONEST INSTEAD OF BEING A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS -- WAS A 2 OWNER CAR BEFORE ME NEVER WINTER DRIVEN SENSE BEING IN ONTARIO , CAR STARTED LIFE IN GEORGIA THEN THE RECESSION HIT AND IT FOUND ITS SELF IN CANADA , KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED IF I BUY IT WILL KNOW BY MONDAY EVEN TOMORROW IF I LOVE IT LOL TY FOR THE INPUT AND ALL THAT RESPONDED TRYING TO BE CAUTIOUS AND HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH A GOOD CAR AT START OF RETIREMENT , WE HAD A TY DAY AT THE PLANT HERE IN 94 HOT DOGS POP BANDS AND GM'S 94 LINE UP LOVED THE CAR WHEN I SAW IT THEN AND STILL DO TODAY .MATTER OF FACT IT WAS A RAVEN BLACK 94 WE HAD AT FAMILY DAY BACK THEN .

View attachment 5587View attachment 5588

 

[David_B]

Be sure to check the cuby in the trunk under the carpet of the drivers side rear of the car that has electronics and a pump in it. See If there is signs of water sitting in it (you would see a bathroom tub ring on the inside side of it) or any sort of water damage/decay to the parts back there.
VERY expensive to fix, I would never buy one that shows any of that.

 

[AL_Jazz]

View attachment 5587View attachment 5588

Looks like someone has changed the factory grill, painted the rear calipers, and added a windscreen. Definately check for signs of water or leakage including the replacement (or excessive cleaning) of the rear trunk linkers and cubbies. Good luck and wishing you miles of smiles.

 

[Phil105]

SERVICE RECORDS!!!

Try to see any service records that apply to the car. See what/if there have been any issues with top and electronics. At the very minimum, run a CarFax report on the VIN #. DO THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DEAL

Best of luck, it's a good looking car - hope it's a good one as well.

 

[lookingtobuy]

Hi guy's

Try to see any service records that apply to the car. See what/if there have been any issues with top and electronics. At the very minimum, run a CarFax report on the VIN #. DO THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DEAL

Best of luck, it's a good looking car - hope it's a good one as well.

Has a carproof done on it no accidents usa or Canada shows some warrenty work done back in 2010 everything I can see came back clean I hope I can trust seller no police report and got USA history with carproof report warranty work was for roof switch replacement and a radiator ,thermostat done all in 2010 , 2011 with a left door pad same year

 

[Phil105]

Has a carproof done on it no accidents usa or Canada shows some warrenty work done back in 2010 everything I can see came back clean I hope I can trust seller no police report and got USA history with carproof report warranty work was for roof switch replacement and a radiator ,thermostat done all in 2010 , 2011 with a left door pad same year

Good job! Don't know what a "carproof" is but guess it's similar to CarFax. Good to see that, hopefully, no work was needed since 2011!!

Now, don't let that dealer put the headlight in your eyes when you start negotiating. Give your wife the checkbook!! ha ha

 

[lookingtobuy]

thanks agian to all

I enjoy reading the information from all on what to look for and thought's about car , keeping eye on thread till later tonight before I head in the morning all this helps ty everybody and happy motoring