Long term viability?????

[timewarped]

Had a small problem the other day with the top. Car is on extended warranty, cost was minimal. But it got me thinking.
Extended warranty will run out in a couple more years and this is not an easy car to fix. Nor are parts cheap and labor costs seem to run high, due to complexity.
The car only has 20,000 miles (It's an 05), should run for quite a while. I'd love to keep it, it is by far and away the bestcar I've ever owned. But the risk/reward factor now comes up. Would it make sense to sell it now, while it's a low mileage car and is covered by warranty? Should I trade up to (say) an 09, still on warranty? Or should I keep it and hope for the best?(Tried that with an E-type Jag and it was a financial disaster.)
What do you think, guys?

Ed Blake

 

[Crimson Pearl]

Strictly MY opinion!

Not an unreasonable question.

I think you'll find that there are some significant variations on how often and how much the folks on this forum drive their cars. Some use them as daily drivers, others rarely take them out of the garage and there is every variation in between.

It is my personal belief that for those who drive them a lot, eventually something will break or wear-out and no replacement may be available. Of course, the same can happen for "garage queens". You wonder if you should sell it now while it is low mileage and under warranty? Wouldn't that be a bit like dating a very nice and attractive person that you liked a lot and "breaking up" because sooner or later you believe that they will dump you?

I bought my car at 4 years old with 8,000 miles on it. I plan to drive it for 20 years (or longer if my health is good and I am still a safe driver". I figure if I hold the mileage down to no more than 5,000 miles per year, that it will have slightly more than 100,000 miles on it in 20 years. I have 2 GM vehicles that are 22 and 35 years old, and are both as dependable as my 2008 Tahoe.

My Cadillac dealer has a XLR-qualified tech that has at least 20 good years ahead of him. I also don't make it a habit to raise and lower the top unnecessarily for "show and tell". I figure if the adaptive cruise goes out in 10 years, I might not be able to get parts for it, or even some of the parts or sensors for the top mechanism.

But most of the drivetrain and mechanicals are shared parts with other Cadillacs or Corvettes, so the majority of the "wear" items should be available.

There was a fair amount of XLRs came onto the market in 2009 and 2010, as many owners of earlier models traded them in to get 2009 models. Some owners of 2004 and 2005 models sold or traded their cars to obtain later model XLR-V cars.

My summation would be this. Drive it, enjoy it and take extremely good care of it, and it should be for you for many years!

 

[airmike]

Its the BEST car you have ever owned right? that should be answer enough for me. I bet its cheaper than a new wife, or a new house no matter what you spend on it. On a different forum one of the guys has a quote "life is too short to drive a boring car, drive a cadillac". You could always leave it in the garage and it would never cost, but then why have it right. So you could by a car that u sorta like and drive it a lot and wish you were driving the xlr. You asked opinions so that is mine, You like it, so drive it and LOVE it!

 

[airmike]

Crimson Pearl you must type faster than me lol

 

[Comfortzone]

There was a fair amount of XLRs came onto the market in 2009 and 2010, as many owners of earlier models traded them in to get 2009 models. Some owners of 2004 and 2005 models sold or traded their cars to obtain later model XLR-V cars.

My summation would be this. Drive it, enjoy it and take extremely good care of it, and it should be for you for many years!

I had a 2004 XLR that had a load of top issues and the certified warranty was much needed. I sold it and later bought a 2006 XLR and it is problem free!! I have put 6000 miles on it since Feb for a total now of 19K miles.

Also, when it comes to resale, the XLR takes the biggest price drop during the first couple of years. After the initial drastic depreciation, it holds it's value pretty good and for a wide range of miles. I sold my 2004 for practically what I paid for it.

I have no intention of selling the 06, anytime soon...