Combine the words “Cadillac” with “No Reserve” and you are almost guaranteed that the car in question will generate significant interest. Such is the case with this 2005 Cadillac XLR. It perfectly combines luxury with wind-in-the-hair motoring, making it easy to understand why it has already received forty-nine bids. It isn’t perfect, but it appears that people are willing to roll the dice that they will emerge from the auction as a winner. The seller has listed the Caddy here on eBay in Orange, California. The price sits at $10,800 as the auction heads into the home stretch.
Cadillac launched the XLR in 2003 as a luxurious two-seat Roadster. It had high hopes for its latest offering, although buyer demand was lower than anticipated. It envisaged shifting at least 5,000 cars per year, but 2005 proved to be the most successful when 3,730 buyers handed over their cash to drive one home. One of the most significant obstacles it faced was the sticker price, while many traditional Cadillac buyers struggled to come to terms with the two-seat interior. The story behind this XLR is unclear, although it was recently donated by its owner for a charity auction. The seller admits its Satin Nickel paint has many flaws, including scratches, chips, and some faded areas. However, performing a quick cosmetic refresh would be straightforward since there are no dents or rust issues to tackle. The top appears to work as it should, and the wheels and glass are in good condition.
Cadillac brought a full bag of tricks to the XLR’s interior, although you would expect nothing less from a car with a high sticker price. There is a healthy array of airbags, climate-control air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, mirrors, seats, and even the tilt and reach wheel. The leather-wrapped wheel includes buttons to operate the cruise control and various functions for the premium Bose stereo. The seats even feature both heating and cooling, catering to buyers from every climate. Add SatNav, leather trim, and lashings of timber, and life aboard this Caddy will be pretty pleasant. The seller indicates there is minor wear on some spots, but there is nothing significant showing in the supplied photos. I believe that handing the car to a professional detailer who specializes in leather would make this interior sparkle.
In typical Cadillac fashion, the XLR features a drivetrain that provides effortless performance. The 4.6-liter “Northstar” V8 delivers 320hp and 310 ft/lbs of torque to a five-speed 5L50 automatic transmission. Power steering, four-wheel discs with anti-lock, traction control, and adaptive suspension marketed by Cadillac as Magnetic Ride Control are all part of the package. The XLR has sporting pretensions, best demonstrated by its ability to cover the ¼-mile in 13.9 seconds on its way to 155mph. The seller claims that this classic has a genuine 17,977 miles on its odometer without mentioning verifying evidence. It shouldn’t be considered roadworthy, although it does start and yard-drive using a booster battery. However, with no major flaws identified, a fresh battery and a thorough inspection might be all that stands between this classic and life on the open road.
The bid tally on this 2005 Cadillac XLR is the tip of the iceberg, because the listing has received over 800 views in the past day, and 294 people have placed it on their Watch List. That confirms that interest is high, and the No Reserve factor means it is days away from finding a new home. If you have been searching for a luxurious drop-top, is this one that you might consider adding to your collection?
Very nice, same here, parents die, kids do not want anything but the money for home 2 million and up. Car to them is an old car no matter make or miles!
The XLR shared its chassis with the Corvette, you got the Caddy body and running gear. It’s a shame it never was offered with Vette running gear instead of the Northstar “system”. About this car, “wear spots, needing a battery to run (why didn’t they put a battery in it), and “only 17k miles”…something doesn’t add up. Approach with caution.
My thoughts exactly Terry. It’s essentially a C6 Corvette with a retractable hardtop. I always felt the LS2 that went into the Corvette (and my ’05 SSR) would have helped that car. Cadillac tried it’s darndest to compete with the Mercedes SL series cars but never had much success.
The northstar is a great engine. If you want an ls buy a corvette. Caddy fixed the head bolt issues found on ezrlier engines. The northstar will run right there with an ls and with a !ittle tweaking outrun a c6 and get great mileage. its a caddilac. Powered by caddy and designed by caddy. Peoplehave spent thousands doing ls swaps to wind up with an inferior car worth less than the swap cost.
Without info on the condition of the magnetic ride shocks, the head gasket and the head and tail lights that are no longer stocked and can cost up to $4k per pair, I’d sadly pass.
@Midbay
Actually the taillights can cost as much as 3600$ EACH.
They used to be 2000 each (4000$ pair) but they are becoming scarce so they are on their way to 4000$ each.
Ah, but a reasonable way into the hobby. My Allante’s magnetic ride shocks are still good at 32 years and 140,000 miles, used parts are available, at least in southern CA from a guy who fixes XLR’s and Allante’s. Some, but not all, Northstars had issues. I think this is late enough in the build cycle that it does not.
Here’s a perfect example of why Cadillac is no longer theSttandard of the World. When this Cadillac came out, Cadillac’s basic models stopped being American style luxury and they weren’t selling very well. Cadillac was trying to become some kind of euro trash car. Cadillac was the standard of the world. They were American luxury. Making a Cadillac Corvette was a waste of money. Cadillac and General Motors needs new management. They seem to be specializing in the Chinese market and not in the American market. I wish they would just move the China.
Well, Dave has a point, up to a point. What is the world standard ride in 2025?
I would submit no one manufacturer can claim that title. When you hand management over to the finance dudes and dudettes, you can kiss your well made, stylish, dependable reputation adios. These folks have no leadership skills, no vision for the product, and are greedy beyond reason. and maybe, worst of all they are boring as hell. Just look at Mercedes and Boeing, mere shells of the “World Standard” and until these folks are replaced it is only going ot get worse.
I own one and they are a beautiful car to drive. Classy and quick ! This one is a bargain !
“The Greener”
WelWl the northstar in this car has no head bolt issues. That was resolved earlier. They will easily go 200,000 miles as many of my customers can state. If you run it hot and dont stop it will do the same thing as anLs or any aluminum engine. It can blow a headgasket. Those few failures are all traced to low coolant from improper maintenance or broken radistor. Just like a million other cars. If run hot you blow headgaskets. Taillights are plentiful used complete for 1200-1500 and can be rebuilt fir 500-600. Mag shocks are available for 400$ a set in the aftermarket. Also many other options available. The modules for the suspension sre slso availsble in the aftetmarket . i can give you a ten page list of cars that cost the same or more for parts. Price a 2500$ tailight for the f150
After having the American prestige market to themselves since the advent of the Sedanette, GM forgot the formula and retired wholesale the executives that drove the brand since after 1950 in the mid to late 1970’s. My memory is that it was that bean counting moron Roger Smith, but I could be just remembering my anger. I was a green horn suffering from youth inspired chutzpah, yet still recognized the complete about face of corporate on all matters Cadillac. Remember this was when the J-Cadillac got green lit while all J-2000’s were being muled around Detroit and Flint. A lifetimer 1936-1977, came to me wanting a line sales job after making six figures for decades just to be around the brand he was loyal to. I still recall him saying after a faux pas from my dumb brain when he said ” a caddy is a golfing helper, David, a Cadillac is a fine automobile”. He was so insightful that I went to the owner and asked if we could change the hierarchy and have me working for him. I made more money working less hours, while still being in charge of Pontiac-GMC-AMC. That was a brain drain the brand has never recovered from.
The flaws in the exterior does not match the milage for a 17k mile car.
This place was written about in the Orange County Register newspaper about five years ago. The story advised proceeding with caution when dealing with them. They may be 100% legit, but it never hurts to check.
Ah, but you should have seen my mother’s ’68 Ramber Rogue with the 289, a bushy driveway and a narrow (to her) garage door. She stopped driving at 78, she should have stopped at 68. Plenty of scratches, little dings, little dents, and the sides of the garage door opening had scratches to match The car never went far from home, 3 miles each way to town at 50 mph, she had what was known as a “heavy foot”. So, you can’t necessarily judge a book or car by the cover.
10 Years ago I had a set of body work done on my 1982 Suzuki GS 1100e. I never installed that set of body work on the bike. So 0 miles on the paint! Just from sitting around the paint is not perfect any more. So a not perfect 17k 20 year old car is not unreasonable.
Might want to check the top operation. Hard to picture that being cheap to source parts and repair.
With the exchange rate entirely on the american side , buyers should be looking to canada to buy a car …
Yolo
Caddy should have put the 2013 Elmiraj into production.
SOLD.
Someone decided to take a $16,203 gamble on an auction car of unknown integrity, and whose parts are rare and big $.