Browsing cars

[XLR Hopeful!]

I'm just looking for a presentable, reliable driver--I don't need a concours showpiece. So I'm trying to stay toward the affordable end of the price spectrum, leaving me some leeway for repairs. I'd like to know what the hive mind here thinks of some that might be possibilities.

I've sent a query to the owner of this car. Seems reasonable for the price--its history is a little iffy, but lots of recent repairs.

Lowest one on ebay

I ran across this one just too late--sold next day. Seemed favorable, although after I looked it up on the registry I had doubts: "great rebuild or part vehicle."

Sold at Unique Classic

Color is listed as white, but looks silver to me. (Computer monitors can skew colors, for sure.) This is a newer year and supposed to be one-owner, who was/is a member here (according to the Registry).

SCHERERVILLE AUTO SALES

Three's enough for discussion right now. I expect there'll be plenty more along later.

 

[mickeytee]

The 07-09 are the best cars in my opinion. 09 with the face lift and few made seem to bring highest prices. 06 are ok but have a few issues. 04-05 are ok but need to be bought really cheap yet the ones i see with low or medium miles people think they are worth a ton. The 08 does look silver although 08 did have white and was the only year for that color. Seems a 100k miles puts avrock in the bucket on price and they drop a ton. However thats only 6,000 a year which is not bad. The cars can easily go 175-200k on miles. An 08 with high miles for say 14,000 you could drive for a couple of years put 20,000 miles on it and still have a 10-12,000$ car. If you can do simple repairs yourself they are not that bad to keep going

 

[robert.ogden2009]

I have an 08, Black with around 70K miles. I'm thinking about reducing to only one car. Car seems to run fine and no body damage. The center console has the usual "won't stay closed" problem, but that doesn't bother me. Everything else works. Retired, so the car only gets driven a few miles every few days. If interested, I live in Winston-Salem, NC
.

 

[mickeytee]

I sell the replacement latch 20$ and not hard to install

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

I like the looks of this one--I'm partial to blue, which seems to be rare on these cars. The price/mileage ratio seems favorable and they've posted the whole carfax report, which is great. Anybody got opinions?

'05 from Josie's Auto Sales

 

[robert.ogden2009]

Car looks great! The 113K mileage is the biggest problem I see. Check to see if the center console cover works properly and the shocks age good.

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

Suggestions noted. I haven't communicated with the dealer yet, but I think I will.

Yes, I might wish for a little less mileage, but it's about what I can expect in a reasonable price range. Anything with really lower miles turns out to have a salvage title, which I want to stay away from.

That one and the '08 linked above in Schererville, Indiana are the two that are most engaging my interest at the moment.

 

[robert.ogden2009]

An 08 is much more preferable to the 05. The earlier models had considerably more problems. One more thing, they all have two separate cd drives. Make sure the map CD is installed. There are no updates available .

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

Two CD's? Where is the one that's not in the dash?

 

[mickeytee]

Id not be so quick about writing off a salvage car. Id just make sure it was not a flood car . you may be surprised at how many flood cars go thru coastal north carolina and get sold with good titles that may not show up on car fax. Ithey also wash a lot of really bad repaired cars .
Many xlr have salvage titles for very minor collisions. Smaller than half the cars out there repaired after small accidents. A fender and headlight can salvage an xlr .i just bought an 05 with 70k miles that wa salvaged by a rear bumber and exhaust. Im going to swap some really good parts off of it to a non salvage car and still have a decent driver for sale for 7000$. Some insurance companies will not insure salvage cars and you might not get financing plus some dealers wont work on them. But there are plenty of companies that do. You save enough to not need to get a loan and the dealer is not the place to get these worked on anyway.

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

Yes, flood cars are the worst, mickeytee! I'd not want one of those.

As regards other salvage units, I've seen some with (apparently) minor damage, but what I've read in other posts here about the cost of replacing just a headlight or tail light scares me. So I'm pretty sure they are not for me. Although, by staying in a reasonable price range, I don't expect to need financing.

 

[mickeytee]

I did not make my point clear. Im not talking about buying a salvage car to repair. Im talking aboit a car that show salvage history. had it been a honda civic it would have been a minor repair. So just because it says salvage does not mean it had the poo knocked out of it.so the cost of parts does not matter as that applies to anything you might need. Headlight are down 1000$ over a few years ago. Tailights are down 500 . i expect next year for both to drop even more. Of course there will always be someone who does not know how to shop or make an offer that will pay the stupid money for parts. Like i trained my kids. Your feet are your best friends. Make an offer you think is fair. If they dont accept, walk away. You wont get to your car before they call you back. There are way more cars for sale than buyers . there are way more parts like headlights than needed.the xlr buyer is a small group. Tons look, most google "xlr problems," read a few lines and walk away. Thats why all the complaints are just hurting the value. We need more from the many owners who have never had any issues or only minor ones.

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/108923277

What do you think of this? The car is too good (if as stated) and the price is too low to make sense. The dealer is supposed to be in Howard City, MI, but the link goes to one in Alaska. (The second time I clicked on it it did show Alaska.)

In fact, I was in Alaska a few years ago and was impressed with the fact that things are more expensive there.

I sent a message to the dealer in the middle of the night and got the below back very promptly. Seems computer-generated?

Something seems wrong--I'll politely decline to Miss Laura.

FA

Laura Clairmont
From:laura2clairmont@fastest-global.com

Sun, Dec 8 at 11:32 PM


Hello,

My 2007 - Cadillac XLR is currently for sale. The car has total of 12350 miles. There are no issues or mechanical problems with the car and its title is clear. I would appreciate it if you could tell me where you are located.
Thank you
Laura

 

[mickeytee]

Scam. That a good looking car plus the photos are of a v. Worth 8-10,000 over his asking price

 

[robert.ogden2009]

Micketee, I'm one of those who have had very few repairs on my XLR. They have been minor. 70K miles with only oil changes and added a custom lighted windscreen.

 

[mickeytee]

Thanks. I see people on the road and ggo to talk to them and ask if they are on the forums. Most say no they have never had a need. I think the cars do best if used weekly at least

 

[robert.ogden2009]

Mine gets driven at least 3 or 4 times a week. I have to admit, I drive like a little old man (78), so there might be a carbon build up.

 

[XLR Hopeful!]

Id not be so quick about writing off a salvage car. Id just make sure it was not a flood car . you may be surprised at how many flood cars go thru coastal north carolina and get sold with good titles that may not show up on car fax. Ithey also wash a lot of really bad repaired cars .
Many xlr have salvage titles for very minor collisions. Smaller than half the cars out there repaired after small accidents. A fender and headlight can salvage an xlr .i just bought an 05 with 70k miles that wa salvaged by a rear bumber and exhaust. Im going to swap some really good parts off of it to a non salvage car and still have a decent driver for sale for 7000$. Some insurance companies will not insure salvage cars and you might not get financing plus some dealers wont work on them. But there are plenty of companies that do. You save enough to not need to get a loan and the dealer is not the place to get these worked on anyway.

I read this over and I think I've got your point now, mickeytee. Is this the kind of car you mean? If it's really all OK except for the front damage, it looks like a good deal.

2009 Platinum Salvage Title

Let's see--there's bumper and grille damage as stated (one fog light missing) and I think the passenger front fender is out of alignment. Hood too--at the back passenger edge. The right headlight is cracked and missing a small piece. I also see there's no VIN listed.

In the video, the guy seemed to have some trouble opening the hood. There's a still picture of the top down, but they didn't show it operating in the video.

I know someone who's dealt with the salvage title process here in TN. He had to keep meticulous records of where the new parts came from, and then have a close inspection before he could get a rebuilt title for it.

So what do you say? Practical to do? Should I consider?

 

[robert.ogden2009]

You might want to check the cost and availability of the parts, especially the headlights.

 

[dedwards]

I'm considering selling mine in the spring, hate the process, have a good clean white 2008 base model DM me if interested