WHAT IS IT?
The XLR is perhaps one of the more interesting side notes in General Motors history. For decades, the Corvette stood alone as their V8-powered 2-seater sports car. Other models like Buick Regals and Trans Ams had to artificially lower their official horsepower numbers as to not embarrass their flagship and the chassis was always a stand-alone. Then in the mid-oughts there came a need for a rebranding of the luxurious (aka aging demographics) Cadillac brand with a new “Art and Science” sharp-edged look. So, General Motors built a Cadillac on the sport-car chassis of the Corvette, built this alongside the ‘Vette in Bowling Green, KY, and created something that seemed pretty special. The XLR was a more luxurious offering than its Corvette cousin, featuring a retracting convertible hard top like a certain German manufacturer had recently started to offer, a 32-valve Northstar V8 with 320 HP, magnetic shocks capable of better coddling wealthy drivers, Bulgari-branded instruments were an interesting touch, and a flagship for Art and Science was born.
Sales weren’t great… about 15,000 in total over a five-year run. The XLR was pricey (this example was nearly $79,000), performance ultimately lagged the more affordable Corvette, the Northstar engine had a reputation for some reliability issues, and the market perhaps wasn’t really looking for a Cadillac sports car but really wanted Cadillac SUVs. The final years of the car’s production overlapping the great recession and housing crash of 2008 didn’t help, obviously.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS?
While not the rare supercharged XLR-V variant, this car seems to had led a coddled life and is very nice. Per the Bring a Trailer description, the original owner won this car in a casino giveaway and drove it very sparingly. The second owner added about 15,000 over the car’s 18-year life bringing the total to only 16,000. Black on black is hard to photograph but really complements the car’s stealth-fighter inspired styling.
Frankly, low-miles XLRs seem to show up for sale pretty regularly and can represent a pretty interesting value on a rare and still capable vehicle as long as the hard-top functions and the head gaskets aren’t blown. This is the best one available this week short of an in-the-wrapper XLR-V one will never drive. Would you be welcomed at a Corvette club function in one of these?
the market perhaps wasn’t really looking for a Cadillac sports car but really wanted Cadillac SUVs.
I can’t believe how nice the underside is, that aluminum subframe…..I wonder what the preferred alternative is to the Boomerchrome wheels?
“I wonder what the preferred alternative is to the Boomer-chrome wheels?” Anything else that isn’t chrome or black?
The STS, SRX and XLR got the rare Northstar + RWD combo. The XLR being the only rear sporty car fitted with the Northstar. When not pulling head studs out of the block the Northstar is a silky smooth powerplant that comes on smooth, but lacks the velvet hammer hit of the supercharged version in the XLR-V. The XLR drove, rode and generally felt better built than its sibling Corvette. It will always be the oddball at Corvette meet ups, but oddly enough is welcomed at Allante club meetings. Proceed with EXTREME caution attending those, owners take themselves and their orphaned cars way too seriously.
I’ve recently logged some road time in a low-mileage last year example of the XLR. I didn’t pay much attention to them when they were new, but I appreciated the overall driving experience. The Northstar makes a very pleasing noise…enough to let you know it is there but far from obnoxious. After driving one I left with a far better impression of this car.