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6K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  ewill3rd 
#1 ·
Just put 41K down yesterday on a 19K perfect looking in and out red 04 XLR. DRove it the day before seemed perfect. Then a huge storm came tru 2.5" rain in and hr! Went to get the car 2 days later trunk would not open. Put it in there service dept and saw the rear sunken hydro pump area all wet. Needed new module. I read a long list of elect repair and other things when I purchased the car. Even saw it was a GM buy back. The buy back did not scare me because the previous owner said the transaxel, and HVAC did not work? and the s eat frame was broken. The current owner a buick dealer had the car for his wife and those ites never needed work. I guess since he had buy back ins. he just wanted out. Do I need to be concerned about other potential problems due to all that moisture in that sunkin area? I told there mech. to dry it out pull all plugs apart clean use elect greese, replace modual and adj trunk to pull down a bit tighter and then reck for leaks?
Any thougts would be helpful as car should be done today? Thanks Jim
 
#2 ·
I would *NEVER* purchase a buy-back XLR. The early XLR's have enough inherent problems of their own to throw in a buy-back on top of that. Dealers will always try to minimize the effect of a buy-back title on a vehicle saying it just "needed a blower motor" or that the trans was replaced etc.

The truth is, for it to have been bought back, there had to be a SUBSTANTIAL problem, or series of problems that kept the car out of commission for 30 calendar days or more, (in some states less). It was a HEADACHE someone wanted to get rid of.

The main things to look out for are problems with the roof hydraulics (the hoses on some are misrouted and can blow and leak hydraulic fluid all over the interior of the car, its impossible to get the stains out), problems with the side vent windows that tend to fall off (they are just on with adhesive), and thats about all Ive heard.

Still, buy-backs are just asking for trouble. I had a 2001 STS buyback, also with LOW miles (26k) in 2003 and I dumped it, it was full of problems. You have to ask yourself what caused someone to dump a car with such low mileage. If you still can, I would take it back and get a 35-45k mile XLR for 35-45k. Ive seen them as cheap as 36000 with CLEAR titles and no buy back with 43k miles. You could use the difference to buy a good extended warranty (and many extended warranty providers *wont* warranty a buy-back vehicle).
 
#3 ·
PD4M, Thanks I have a bunch of cars and I am the US Pres of the Rolls Royce Foundation so I appreciate your input. The one difference is the current owner for the past yr has been a Buick Car dealer and he had no probs of note in 4 k miles. I have all of the repair sheets and its the usual elect stuff. Today the mechanic called and said the car went back to the Caddie dealer because the water wiped out the hydo pump. I have an agreement that if the car is not to my liking i get all of my money back since it happened before I drove off the lot! I personally have a RUF car to suit my needs but the wife always wanted a cadie 2 seater. I am in the wait and see mode right now. Thanks again for your honesty. Jim F
 
#5 ·
PD4M, After chatting with the caddie mechanic tonight who could not seem to fix the car, I called the dealer and bagged the deal. I was tought there is always another deal! So keep me posted I saw a nice 05 in VA I might look into. THanks again. If you ever want to know about Rolls ,Bentleys,or Porsches Im the guy. So with xlrs its you!!! Jim
 
#6 ·
The XLR has an inherent water leak condition I have found near the driver's side upper rear quarter where the top meets the quarter panel. I have repaired several, and it is not for the average technician....if the technician working on your XLR has not gone to GM specialty school for it, he shouldn't be touching your car. I have worked on XLR's from the beginning, and I can tell you there isn't a roadmap for many repairs on this vehicle. It comes from hands-on repairs. Don't mess around with an amateur or you will be next on the list for a buyback.
 
#7 ·
Master T! This tech was to XLR school in 04 before he moved to PA and is now at a buick dealer. I have bagged the deal and awaiting my return ck. I found one today and 05 with 11K mi in Owings mills MD for 49K in blue and I cked everything so far looks clean I tend to think that on 05 is a better car than the 04 as is usually the case. I also believe and I may be wrong but I think the xlr's are holding there value better than there Corvette counter parts.
I will know more on all of this tomorrow but I appreciate all of everyone input. I am the National tech guy with the Rolls club for 34-37 Bentleys and most Rolls or Bentleys from 55 to 85. Its always best to speak to "THE GUY" about any special car. Thanks Jim
 
#10 ·
Hi all, I am now back to the problem car. I have looked and several and when I get the GM list all have had numerious problems repaired. I am just not used to that I have had a doz new chevy SUV types in the last 20 yrs and almost never need dealer attention?
Anyway the dealer called me about the water damamged car its now all fixed by a cadie dealer and water proofed by a leak expert. The dealer in qusetion will give me the $1,900 gm extended warranty at no charge or all my money back ! This was his wifes car and 4 new tires to boot!
WELL GUYS TALK TO ME NOW? THANKS JIM
 
#11 ·
Hi all, I am now back to the problem car. I have looked and several and when I get the GM list all have had numerious problems repaired. I am just not used to that I have had a doz new chevy SUV types in the last 20 yrs and almost never need dealer attention?
Anyway the dealer called me about the water damamged car its now all fixed by a cadie dealer and water proofed by a leak expert. The dealer in qusetion will give me the $1,900 gm extended warranty at no charge or all my money back ! This was his wifes car and 4 new tires to boot!
WELL GUYS TALK TO ME NOW? THANKS JIM
Is the Warranty GM Certified or GM Extended warranty. I do not believe the extended covers the top while the GM Certified does. If it is certified and you have a Cadillac dealer you trust I would go for it. The worst car I ever owned for breakdowns was a 97 Catera but the service experience was so good I have stuck with Cadillac since. My 05 XLR has had minimal warranty needs.
 
#13 ·
Diff flavors of warranties.

Make sure:

1. It is GMPP.
2. It has 0 deductible.
3. It has loooong life. 48 months, 50k extra miles beyond what is on car right now. Look at the details of the GMPP. Do not take an aftermarket warranty.

Above applies if you buy car. GMPP, new tires (do some homework here; you do not want kmart tires); Have him put brake pads all around and have him change radiator hoses, anti freeze, trans fluid, and rear fluid. Oil too. That might make it a real sweet deal.
 
#14 ·
Z06, Yes it is the best GM warranty. The tires were brand new Michleins. NOT run flats. But good new expensive. Ill have to live w/o the runflats for now. I haved a family member who used to run a Cadillac agency and says this is the best warranty around. I also have the factory one till next april1 too. Ill need to buy a flat tire spray bottle just in case.
I did buy the car and have driven it 500 mi so far ! Its my 75 vehicle since I was 15 now 57 and the most fun I have had with a car since. (excluding racing my Porsches! LOL) The wife loves it its her car. We are planning on going on the XLR Bowling Green tour with the guys on this site in Aug too. Thanks for your help. JIm F
 
#15 ·
Z06, Yes it is the best GM warranty. The tires were brand new Michleins. NOT run flats. But good new expensive. Ill have to live w/o the runflats for now. I haved a family member who used to run a Cadillac agency and says this is the best warranty around. I also have the factory one till next april1 too. Ill need to buy a flat tire spray bottle just in case.
I did buy the car and have driven it 500 mi so far ! Its my 75 vehicle since I was 15 now 57 and the most fun I have had with a car since. (excluding racing my Porsches! LOL) The wife loves it its her car. We are planning on going on the XLR Bowling Green tour with the guys on this site in Aug too. Thanks for your help. JIm F
Look forward to meeting you in Bowling Green. It should be a great event. last years in New Mexico was smaller but loads of fun.
 
#16 ·
It sounds like they are taking good care of you.
I know some of those water leak specialist companies are really good since that is what they do.

I haven't seen an XLR yet that was getting water in the trunk, and I see more of them than most dealers.
It sounds to me like they are taking good care of your car and treating you right. It might be hard for them to get you "certified" coverage because the car has to be processed a certain way before the sale to be certified used.
A GMPP contract may not be the absolute best but it should be fine.

As far as the value of a car, to me... the car has value at 2 times, when you buy it and when you sell it. Okay well maybe 3 times... when you have an accident too.
Otherwise you just own the thing and drive it around. If you plan to keep the thing for a short time then it matters how well it will hold its value, but if you plan to keep it forever it doesn't really matter.
I usually keep cars for at least 6-10 years anyway so it is not really a big issue to me, but I know some people trade up every other year or even more often. If you do that then it is a good idea to research resale and depriciation, otherwise I'd say just enjoy the ride.

XLRs still turn a lot of heads, especially when the top is in motion.
 
#17 ·
Ewill, Thanks for the positive info. I am a 1000% car geek. I have many and I used to race a bit and am currently the Nat'l pres of the Rolls Royce Foundation. That all said I understand depreciation especially on Rolls and Bentley cars. I always buy them over 10-15 yrs old when there not worth 10% of new! My comment was more in the lines of vette values vs/ XLRs
I am not worried about down time as much as way too many things going wrong with a 1st yr model! Though looking at the repair history much has been done. The biggest problem with these high tech cars is electronic failure and replacement electronic parts after 10 yrs. We have Rolls cars out there 10-12 yrs old and thers no way to repair them. Yet I can get parts for my 35 Bentley very easily! (No electronics!) I have also found that driving the cars every few days vs sitting in garages is the best medicine. Electronics like to be used! Not sit. When I judge at national meets you have had to drive your car at least 100mi that week before we let it on the field! You trailer it you better drive it or take it home! Thanks again Jim facinelli
 
#18 ·
Jim,

I am an XLR specialist in my shop, if they come in I work on them, period.
The only time I don't work on them is if they come in for routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations. The only exception to that is if I am so busy that I can't get to them, but usually they reschedule unless it is an emergency. (sometimes I'll look quickly and order a part then tell them to come back if it is a simple thing like a trim item) I have many regular customers with every year XLR and some V's. I see all the problems that these cars have and by my count it isn't many.
Sure the folding tops can be glitchy, but if you know how to read the data when they act up they can be fixed in less than half an hour by a simple sensor replacement.

I have only heard once of a hydraulic line breaking and it was on this forum.
Some issues I have done battle with for a while but once I figure them out it is nothing much to deal with. The hardest job I have had is probably a catalytic converter issue and even those aren't that hard to fix. (just expensive)
I could rattle off everything I have ever fixed on an XLR but compared to other models it would be pretty short. Maybe repetitive, but short.

I can't afford one, and they don't really suit my style but I can still appreciate that it is a great looking car and it seems to fit the market that Cadillac made it for fairly well.
You are right, these cars do like to be driven. Some of the real problem cars I see are the ones with really low miles that don't get used much. Not to say they are falling apart, they just act up more when they don't get used regularly.

I understand your point about values. I just don't see why it matters if you buy what you want and you like it, that makes it worth almost anything to me. It matters only what it is "worth" to the person that owns it, otherwise you are just worrying about what other people think of you and what you have and that to me is just silly.
;)
For example, I have a motorcyle that is aging... even though it is aging well.
I don't care if it is worth $500 or $10,000, if I go out to get on it, it starts, and it takes me where I want to go that is all I need. Worrying about it's value everytime I see another bike on the road and comparing them side by side constantly is just a waste of my brain power. I have other things I'd rather expend my energy on.

Not dissing anyone here, just stating my opinion.
I know everyone understands that my opinion is limited by my personal views on things and I respect that others have different views, but that doesn't mean they necessarily make sense to me from my perspective.
Thanks for tolerating my diatribes folks.
 
#19 ·
ewill3rd, Thanks for your candor. I agree whole heartedly about the value things. Being a businessman though we always need to know values for banks. We usually need to give them net worth statement and they need a breakdown of car value's. This is really the only reason or for quick sale if someone gets in financial trouble.
I have a question of you I asked on a new thread but no one has answered yet. When i walk uo to the car after my wife has driven it my auto sets do not move unless i push the number on the frivers seat. same with mt wife after I drive. I even tried aiming the fob at the door and pressing the open button 30 sec like i do to reprogram my 97 Seville. Where should I look? fop or a computer glitch? Thanks Jim
 
#20 ·
Jim,
I am not 100% sure but I think you need to check your personalization settings.
Make sure the options to move the seat and steering wheel are set when you want them to be moved. I confess I work on so many I forget where they are in the menus.
It is likely that this feature is deactivated for one driver, particularly since you mention that it works on one but not the other.
Look through your personalization settings on the DIC and make sure that the remote recall settings are right for what you want them to do.

I have another customer that was asking about this the other day.
I am not sure if I still have one in the shop but I'll double check it tomorrow or Friday.
 
#21 ·
ewill, Bothe setting do not work. I meant they work evevrything else on the car but the seat, wheel mirrors etc. Those only work when We press the proper buttons on the drivers seat. We worked on it today a lot and still nothing. Thanks Jim
 
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