Vehicle Description
When Cadillac got serious about their image, they knew that a
2-seat luxury/sport convertible was the way to go. The Allante was
a valiant first effort, but cars like this gorgeous 2006 Cadillac
XLR-V were really the pinnacle of the breed's evolution. Far more
than just a "Cadillac Corvette," it features a sophisticated 4.4L
Northstar Supercharged V8 powerplant, gorgeous "New Edge" styling
and plenty of performance matched by loads of opulent American
luxury. With only 34,826 miles on the clock, this dialed-in, Raven
black retractable hardtop convertible is loaded to the teeth with
factory performance options and has been impeccably well cared for
throughout the years. This ain't your Grandma's Cadillac...
The brilliant, miles-deep Raven Black paint job was one of
Cadillac's ultimate colors, and nowhere does it look better than on
the low, sleek, angular XLR-V. This particular XLR shows under 35K
original miles, and it's obviously been properly maintained and
never used for the daily commute. In fact, we'd be shocked if it's
ever seen so much as a rain drop or even a gravel driveway. As a
result, the finish is bright, clear, and in excellent overall
condition with very, very few signs of use. The low chin spoiler
hasn't been bashed by curbs and driveways, the rockers show very
little abrasion from tire debris, and thanks to the low shape, rock
chips are virtually non-existent. A former owner was wise to not
only install a clear bra on the front end and mirrors, but the rest
of the car has been completely ceramic coated, so you can expect it
to look this good for ages. The styling has aged rather well, and
this is a very distinctive car from any angle, looking best from
the rear � view where you can really see the wedge-shaped bodywork.
Fit and finish are what you'd expect from a car that cost $100,000
(right on the nose, in fact) when it was new, with excellent gaps
and a deep shine to the paint that's better than most GM cars, even
today. And there's just enough chrome to remind you it's a
Cadillac, and that means something.
The Ebony leather interior was as luxurious as Cadillac could make
it, and even at a glance it's easy to see the many improvements
over its cousin, the Corvette. The leather and suede is soft and
supple, and even the driver's seat shows almost no wear, while the
suede inserts inside the seats and on the door panels let everyone
know this is Cadillac's flagship interior. Plush carpets, real
Zingana wood on the dash, and neat little details like the
flip-open map pockets in the doors, the brightly badged 'V-Series'
door sills, and pseudo roll hoops behind the seats make it feel
special inside. Everything was standard, of course, including the
Bose touch-screen NAV/entertainment system that sounds fantastic
and even features voice navigation and ultrasonic rear park assist.
The seats are power operated, heated, and have several memory
settings, and even the steering wheel has an electronic tilt
set-up, so there's a comfortable position to be had for all.
Pushbutton starting is included, and while that's pretty common
today, in 2006 it was pretty exciting stuff. Gauges are simple and
elegant, the dual-zone A/C is powerful, and you could probably sell
tickets to watch the motorized hardtop fold itself into the trunk.
And speaking of the trunk, there's decent space when the
retractable hardtop is up and better than expected capacity when
the trunk is down, so don't be afraid to plan that road trip in
this car.
Cadillac's 4.4 liter "Northstar VVT" Supercharged V8 was retooled
to fit in a rear-wheel-drive application and it's got an entirely
different personality from the Corvette's pushrod V8. Packing 443
horses, it's incredibly powerful, smooth and silky, with the most
scintillating exhaust note this side of Milan, Italy, thanks to
factory electric cut-outs - the perfect choice in a high-end
convertible like this. There's plenty of power at any speed,
although the 6L80E 6-speed automatic transmission always seems to
keep it right at its torque peak so it's ready when you dip into
the throttle, thanks in large part to Cadillac's revolutionary
Performance Shift Algorithm that recognizes high-performance
driving/maneuvering and keeps the car in the proper gear at all
times. The big motor hides under a big plastic shroud, so there's
not much to see under the hood, but it's well maintained and runs
carefree thanks to the Perfromance Cooling Package in tow, and
these newer generation Northstars are well-regarded as durable
engines if they're maintained properly. Underneath, it benefits
from a performance-tined, dual-wishbone independent and adaptive
suspension that teams with the Performance Magnetic Ride Control
option that reads the road up to 100 times per second, Stabilitrak
stability control option, and giant power-wheel disc brakes that
all work together to keep it planted on the road at all times. Big
19-inch chroome wheels with grippy 255/40/19 Continental tires
really make it pop and offer plenty of comfort and great
handling.
A very cool piece of Cadillac hardware, this rare XLR-V still
stands out in a crowd. There are plenty of convertibles out there,
but this exciting modern classic offers big performance with a
uniquely American flavor. Call today!