I have a chance to purchase a 2004 XLR, with the northstar V8 engine.
I have the STS with the 6.
I would appreciate any pros or cons on the vehicle as well as the engine.
Thanks always for your great info .

caddyrich

The most important thing about owning an XLR is having a good mechanic.
A lot of guys don't know much about them even at dealers because it is a low volume car.
Those of us that do know them, know them well but those of us who don't, don't know them at all.
There are some quirks about that car but if you know what they are they are not much to deal with. If you really want it there is no reason not to get one.
Make sure the folding top works properly and have it looked over by a reputable shop to make sure it is in good condition.
It can be an expensive car to repair so make sure to save some money for surprises or look at extended warranty options.

ewill3rd:

Thanks for taking the time and introducing me to the world of the XLR.

I will continue to look for a later model XLR with the GMPP extended warranty.

If you happen to know of one, please pass it along.

If you happen to also know of a great tech in the Morristown New Jersey area let me know.

Again thank for the great input.

caddyrich

I don't know any guys up in Jersey. If you get desperate I can check around on the GM Tech forum though.
If you get really desperate I am only a few hours away and not many guys know XLR like I do. ;)

I consider XLR to be a niche car, usually a certain type of person owns them, especially new.
Most of the new purchase owners get genuinely frustrated when they don't have a good tech. I work on A LOT of XLRs. I think there is some word of mouth around here and I have dozens of regular customers that I talk to on a regular basis. (not to brag on myself but...)

At any rate, if you get stuck on something that your local dealer can't seem to figure out just look me up and I'll see what I can do or what kind of advice I can give you.

Good luck, I hope you find a good one!
I love to drive them even though they don't have the umph of the Corvettes.

The 04 and early 05 XLRs suffered from a couple of issues: Horrible reliability with radiators, (mine were replaced twice by the previous owner) which was fixed by the upgraded V series radiator; Highbeam bezels that melted (look closely at pics on eBay to see what I mean) and were later replaced with better units; and tops that needed to have sensors and switches replaced with alarming regularity. The tops have been upgraded with better parts and software, but you may have to have the old parts weeded out as they fail to get the new ones.

Without shop manuals, a Tech II and CANdi module, there isn't a whole lot you can do to work on this car. It's got 23 different modules that communicate on two different busses. If your car (and most 04's are) is out of warranty, you can expect to pay some outrageous prices for certain parts. For example, headlights are close to $1k each. And as Luke stated previously, good techs who know this car are not plentiful. Ask any prospective dealership if they have a trained XLR tech; you don't want anyone using your car as a training aid.

Now the good news: These are great times to buy used XLRs. 04s are selling in the mid to high 20s and there are some super deals on later models. There haven't been too many upgrades to the cars over it's production run. Adaptive headlights, Gen II magnetic ride control, multi-colored HUD displays, a heated steering wheel and a leather dash are the major changes through the years. The V series is cat-quick, but doesn't have the Adaptive Cruise Control due to it's lower metal grill. ACC is awesome as most who have experienced it will attest. Many of the first adopters are complaining about wear and cleaning issues with the suede seat and door inserts that are part of the V package.

As far as driving manners, it's a wonderful ride. It's not a vette. It wasn't meant to be. I've put 14k miles on my CTS-V in five years of ownership, and 10k on the XLR in a year. Whenever I go to the garage, it isn't much of a choice which car I'd rather take. As nice as the CTS-V is, there's no comparison with the XLR. I'll probably trade the V soon for a newer, regular CTS. I've driven a few regular-aspirated STS's and came away unimpressed. It was cool when new, but the luster faded quickly. Cadillac is GM's shining star; it's a shame more people aren't buying them at the moment.

Just my .02. Your milage may vary.

CC

ewill3rd--cccclarke

Again, the information you have given me is very helpful, and I will continue my search for a later model 06-07 XLR.

I will take you up on your offer if I find one and of course prior to my purchase I will run it by you for your expert opinion.

This is what make this forum so valuable.

Thanks again

caddyrich

I think '04 and maybe '05 had issues with the power steering reservoirs leaking because of the way they were made.
There are updated parts available to swap it to a metal reservoir but that can cost money. The plus side is that I think most of these have already been fixed.

The folding top issues have also been addressed with updated software for the folding top module. The new sensors are pretty much the same as the old ones but the software keeps them from acting up.
I usually program all the ones I get to keep them from having issues from glitchy sensors later and replace any sensors that are freaking out.

There are some common little things, but the biggest thing to watch out for is one that has had work done by someone that didn't know what they were doing.
Folding top adjustments are sensitive and critical and it takes practice to get them all right.
I hope you find a good one!

As always, Luke's info is timely and accurate! My car seems to have experienced every "glitch" the '04s are famous for including the power steering reservoir which split and bled profusely al over the garage floor. The unit was replaced with an upgraded V version and has been fine since. The difference in resevoirs is the shape. The old ones are rectangular and the newer versions are round.

I had a switch go bad in the trunk latch last month which prevented the top from operating. The tech that replaced it inadvertantly misaligned the trunk lid somehow. When I picked the car up, it had a 4" scratch on the right sail panel and a corresponding one on the inside edge of the trunk lid. He can't imagine how it happened, but the dealer is taking care of it for me. Unfortunately, it has to go to a body shop to have part of the roof pulled, which makes me nervous.

My best advice is to buy an XLR with at least a year's warranty left so you can drive it with peace of mind and extend it if desired. No matter the year, you'll have a car that brings a smile to your face every time you press the ignition switch, and a presence that encourages complete strangers to "talk cars" with you with nearly every fill-up. Good luck with your search!

CC

"One fine vehicle."