For Sale: 2009 Cadillac XLR in Mesa, Arizona

On the shortlist of modern cars that instantly became a classic is this 2009 Cadillac XLR-V. Low production numbers, a hardtop convertible body, and a supercharged V8 come together under America's most prestigious continuous marque. So if you're looking for a car you can really enjoy today and watch its admiration grow for years to come, it's hard to beat this fast Caddy.

This car costs over $110K when new, and you know exactly the reason why. Equal parts Caddy luxury and Corvette performance, the XLR-V was the ultimate expression of a modern American exotic machine. This one is truly setting its sights on the Mercedes SL AMG crowd with a great-looking hardtop profile that looks like a sleek coupe with the roof in place (and the dark tinted windows make it appear absolutely sinister.) And with the touch of a button, the hardtop disappears to create a wedge profile that you could swear was always meant to be a roadster. This car has been driven and enjoyed, which seems right, because that's likely your plan, too. So the finish and details are not concours-ready. Still, the Radiant Silver color earns its name the moment you see the sunshine hit the deep luster of what appears to be the factory paint. The only thing that shines brighter than the paint are the specific V-sport elements like the mesh grille, quad exhaust tips, fender vent trim, and the exclusive 19-inch wheels.

Inside the luxury and performance image continues. It starts with a terrific set of bucket seats. Cadillac was really thinking about its customers because details like the suede fabric inserts means never having to think about hopping in while wearing shorts. These dual buckets are power adjustable to make sure they strike the ideal balance between all-day comfort and keeping you secure during spirited driving. As the top-of-the-line Cadillac, this came with all the best features, including real wood trim, keyless entry, keyless ignition, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, power steering, dual airbags, side airbags, cruise control, and a head-up display. The infotainment system controls everything from a sat nav to the AM/FM/CD Bose premium stereo. And all your essential controls are at your fingertips right on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Best of all, the dual-zone automatic climate control and heated seats mean you can take the top down nearly any time of year and still stay comfortable.

While all of the features make this a great luxury machine, it's what's under the hood that makes it an instant classic. The XLR-V used Cadillac's proprietary Northstar DOHC V8 engine. With 4.4 liters and a supercharger on the top, this is a 443 hp big power machine. In fact, this was more powerful than the 2009 C6 Corvette with the awesome LS3... so we know it's an awesome sports car with a real power pedigree. It has been well-maintained, and so it still gives the silky smooth performance around town that you love from a true Cadillac. But the moment you want to hit the open road, the six-speed automatic transmission grabs a lower gear, the supercharger instantly comes to life, and the dual exhaust gives a mighty roar. Plus, the Magnetic Ride Control suspension is the same system used by Ferrari, and it adapts to your aggressive nature. When combined with the drilled four-wheel disc brake package, this is the true Cadillac of sports cars.

Complete with maintenance records, the idea with this XLR-V is that you get a sharp-looking car you can drive and enjoy today. If you want to be the owner who also takes it to the car shows in a few years, then you'd likely also invest in professional detailing and refreshing for that level of scrutiny. But right now it's hard to resist having fun with a silver bullet machine that knows how to engage you better than some brand-new sports cars costing twice as much. Call today!!!