@gearjammergamer8560
GM: "I,ve got an idea!!!. Lets take the Corvette and remove probably the greatest engine we've ever engineered for hot rodding, cheap horsepower, and reliability and take it out. Then put in the Northstar.........Genius I know.." Everyone in board room stands and claps
@talis84
I toured the corvette assembly plant when I graduated college in 07. These XLRs are basically hand built, and were not on the line with the corvettes. They had their own much shorter line.
@pepetherealfrog9846
One advice. Don't leave your cell phone near the start button when you get out of the car. You might not be able to get in. It's an early kind of NFC, like the one on our phones nowadays. It can interfer with the signal from the remote and you won't be able to unlock the door. It happen to me and I was lucky to have the key itself in my pocket because there is a key hole hidden in the rear bumper to open the trunk. Then, you can open the door manualy. Enjoy your rides!! 🙂
@daveanderson6248
XLR owner here, 2006. First of all, I've done a lot of research and once and for all, the Northstars were fixed and made right somewhere around 2003, just don't buy one earlier than that. But aside from that, I normally keep my toy cars only a couple of years, and I've had plenty of them: '67 Riviera GS, several Cadillacs and Lincolns including a '63 4-door convertible, a DeLorean (new), Mercedes 450SL's (2), Porsche 944 Turbo and 928 (2), Dodge Stealth Turbo, Plymouth Prowler, Ferrari 360 Spider, BMW i8, etc. The XLR is now going on 12 years and I have no plans to sell it; I just love this car. The best of both worlds with the retractable hardtop, rare, gorgeous, decent performance (mine isn't a V either), and one of the few convertibles that looks every bit as good with the top up as with it down. The only real problem I've had all those years was having to replace the hydraulic pump for the top. Other than that, yes, the trunk insists on leaking no matter what you do, but ironically it is the only convertible I've ever had (and I've had 9) that doesn't leak a drop inside the car, even through car washes. The only real downside is that I'm terrified of being hit; as the Wizard said, the headlights and taillights are not available except used, and for a fortune IF you can find them.
@tomweisser6203
Wizard, you are an incredibly lucky man having a Mrs. Wizard who shares your passion for awesome cars and who doesn't box your ears on a regular basis... at least not in public. Mrs. Wizard, you are a rare gem. Thank you both for some of the best automotive content on the interwebs.
@Tully3674
I own a 2008 XLR-V (bought it off a lease). It's been a great car. 39M miles and it is a head turner here in L.A. ( drive it on weekends). The bad: Interior is more like a Chevy and not a Cadillac. But the car is a keeper and has been relatively trouble free in11 years of ownership. Key to owning any car is replacing fluids per manual recommendations (or sooner).
@metalmanjakson01
Never been a big GM guy, but I've always loved their oddball cars. The XLR, Arora, Allante, G8, ect... The ones that never really had a chance, but were actually... dare I say damn near brilliant. The Northstar itself is such a shame. It's really too bad it's name was tainted by the time they finally got it right. So much potential. Just like GM always does. So close to making the perfect thing, buuuut juuuust missed it.
@navycpo5168
I toured this line with my dad in Bowling Green back when they first came out. My brother in law worked the Corvette side as an engineer. May dad passed away in January, this car reminds me of the good times we shared. Thanks wizzard.
@Pete_Finch
As a V owner, I gotta applaud the choice Wizard. Xenon blue is an awesome color in the sun too Edit: I'd replace all the gaudy gold badging with the proper silver/chrome
@classicreaction5340
I just saw one of these cars in silver in a restaurant parking lot last weekend. First time I had ever seen one in person. They are certainly an attractive vehicle in person....and very unique.
@markhutchinson3367
You don't need to start the car to see the mileage. You can push the start button without pushing the brake to start it and it should display the odometer.
@MrTilbin
Because fixing a car that owes you nothing is still cheaper than paying interest on a vehicle loan
@phantom0456
@15:17 the XLR sounds like a dying Transformer when the trunk opens 😂
@resetgang6638
When I was 19 I had a 98 STS in diamond white pearl with tan soft top, 22" wheels and limo tint. My uncle in-law helped me change the oil and double gasketed it... Overheated on the way home, mechanic said it threw a rod and the engine needed to be replaced. I loved that car so much I paid $1500 for a used Northstar and $1700 to have it installed, even though I only paid $3300 for it (in 2007). Took them 2 months, car never ran right after that. It would stall when stopped even though it was an automatic.
@jeffzekas
It seems the only person who should buy a Northstar is a mechanic, because for a normal person it would be too expensive to own a car which you know is gonna need major repairs.
@landyacht4878
Thanks EuroAsian Bob, we all appreciate your car connections and thanks Wizard for all the content
@Tsenngu
We need to see you drive these cars more! I love seeing all about them but we need to see some before and after drives :)
@stapes82
The Caddivette is a bucket list car. Jake Wiebe at Northstar Performance is the holder of a patented stud kit with larger diameter, improved thread pitch studs plus the alignment jig with machining components for consumer and commercial purchases, repair facility network and in-house sales and installation service with warranty for stock or performance upgrades
@TOBYH
AT A CAR SHOW I MET THIS MAN WHO HAD ONE, BLACK, VERY LOW, XLRV, TWIN TURBO, SET LAND SPEED RECORDS AT THE DRY LAKES I SAW THE BIG POSTERS WITH WRITE UPS FROM DIFFERENT MAGAZINES, IT WENT LIKE 225+ MPH OR SO, IT WAS REALLY BAD ASS. STRAIGHT THRU EXHAUST, YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE ENGINE.
@RobertMoseley