Nice video. Even though the Gen2 Volt is technically more advanced and practical, the ELR is just to beautiful of a car that throws the rational choice out the window. I want one! Too bad GM has killed both platforms well before their time. BTW Your garage is awesome!
Thanks for the nice words Paul. My wife just bought a '19 volt. She knew this was the end and they just came out with the Pacific blue color which she really liked. She couldn't be happier with the car. We also have a '67 Eldorado that we drive extensively in the summer . Its a driver, not mint condition but beautiful lines . I'll video out a little content of that in the spring. In almost 4 years I have seen only 2 ELRs on the road. They are rare but you should be able to find one in good condition without too much difficulty. I love style and this has oodles of it. The garage took me the better part of 3 years to complete.
While GM was wasting their time with hybrids, Tesla surpassed everyone in the auto industry with all electric. I had 3 Volts and an ELR until I could afford a Tesla. Volt and ELR didn't last long. Tesla will live on forever.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Speaking of sports cars, the ELR proportions always reminded me of the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. Also of the same year 2014.
@@sentry8992 It could be because of the short front of the car. The A pillar of the ELR extends to right over the front wheel sort of like a mid engine car
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 And to think someone actually compared this design to a minivan. That's a real head scratcher. Nothing about this car is even remotely like a Minivan.
I also have a 2014 Cadillac ELR, and I love it. I bought it after Cadillac discontinued the car, and prices dropped in less than half. I got mine with around 25,000 miles on it for $30,000. The car has been great for me even though I have driven two seater sports cars most of my life, and I traded a Nissan 370Z for it which I also loved and was outrageously fast, but was getting a little too low for my close to 70 year old body to work its way into. I have one thing I don't like about it, and that is the computer system in it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, like now. The center touch screen has not been working at all so I cannot get to my navigation system, or any of the systems it works exclusively off of, since I touch it and it does nothing. The touch control sliders and buttons on the center console also do not always respond. Other than that it has been an excellent car for my needs, and I used to work less than 10 miles from my home, so at one point I was able to drive the car for 8 months without putting a drop of gas in it, but the car started running the gas engine so the gas did not go stale, and it told me so. I like the handling and the beautiful interior which is the best I have ever had, but the best part is the Bose sound system. I had a Bose system on a '91 Nissan 300ZX which I had removed and replaced with an after market system, but this Bose system is the best I have ever heard in any car. Their prices have continued to drop, and they still look better than anything Cadillac has put out since, but they are rare, so you have to keep looking until you find the right one for you. I haven't checked lately, but for a 2014 the price is probably around $20,000.
I don't know where you live but I have heard that if you live in hot locations or the car sits outside in hot temps the CUE system can go bad. The car is unique. Exterior styling, interior, plug in hybrid- nothing else like it. Like you I am close to 70 and it is just me and my wife so this car is just right for us.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 I live in San Diego, but the problem with the touch screen has started since the virus quarantine. I am using the car very little right now since I don't work, and only go out to get groceries. The screen will play the CUE introduction, and show the camera view when in reverse, but then it shows all of the icons and when I touch them nothing happens. With the virus thing I really don't want to bring it to a Cadillac dealer right now. I always keep the car garaged and plugged in when I'm not using it.
Thanks for this long-term review. I'm stunned by the beauty of the ELR and it is now a fantastic pre-owned value. I'm considering trading my VW EOS for the ELR. My biggest challenge: A roof rack to carry a surfboard or mountain bike. But the ELR is stunning.
Carrying anything like what you suggest might be a challenge LOL. There are other coupes like the Lexus LC500 and the new BMW series 8 coupe that have the looks also. But with starting prices of 100k plus, I couldn't afford those. The ELR just feels nice to drive and with that sculptured metal surrounding you, it just makes you feel good.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Thanks. I also discovered the pre-owned ELR 2016 is hard to find. I want the 2016 ELR because I read GM added additional performance.
@@energyexecs I would try for the '16 also. Like the grill change and yes some software tweaking did better performance . But with only 500 made , might be difficult to find what you want.
Great video. Thanks. Heading for a Gen 2 Volt and have been distracted by the ELR. I have a 2016 Escalade so the trim, instrument panel, and interior materials are very familiar and very nice. Three issues causing me pause. 1) Size of the back seat. My nine-year-old will outgrow it in a few years. Then what? 2) The Volt Gen 2 is an improvement over the original tech with a bit longer electric range. 3) Availability due to low production numbers and, at some point, service and parts. I live about 1.5 hours from the Twin Cities in MN in a city of about 100,000. There are Cadillac dealers in the region, but none are particularly excited about working on the ELR. Also, as expressed below, that is one wonderful garage!
My wife still loves her 2019 volt. Its been a great car. Summer months electric range is close to 60 miles where as the ELR is about 40 miles. ELR back seat area is tight. If you are over 5'5" it wont be too comfortable and in and out is not the easiest. CUE system on the ELR could be problematic but mechanically pretty reliable. Appreciate the garage comment.
I appreciate the video, just bought one 3 days ago. But I came here in hopes to hear about the actual experience of owning it, not as much a walk around. I'm curious on if these are reliable cars or not. Nobody has put out a video that I can find talking about long term updates in the terms of reliability. Any issues that pop up.
I am probably the wrong person to ask for long term . I've had the car for over 5 years but it only has 7000 miles. However the problems that I did have 1) outside mirrors had to be replaced as they did not indicate charging. 2) 12 volt battery had to be replaced twice. Other than that the car has been good.
Loved this car from the time I saw the concept years ago at the DC auto show. Might end up getting a '14 as a gap vehicle in between my current Prius while waiting for a Cybertruck.
I think the grill cost between $450-550 and yes I installed myself. Just liked the looks of it. Side profile of this car is my favorite. That it was a plugin hybrid , and drastically reduced MSRP made it a no brainer purchase for me. No regrets.
Figure around 35 to 40 miles of electric range on the ELR. Heavier car than the volt. Range wont be as much. The iD4 is all electric ? ELR is a rare car though not just in its quantities but also as a 2 door coupe that isnt a sports car.
Hello- I just bout a 2014 with 90k on it. It is a very beautiful car black with the peanut butter seats. I’m still learning it. It stay’s in garage most of the time, but my EV is at 29. Should I be worried about the battery. I heard it’s 10k to replace. I have always wanted this car & now I have it. I’m a little worried. It drives like its brand new. I’m still trying to get educated on my ELR. 😊
8 year battery warranty, right? There is going to be degradation over the years. Cold will adversely affect the battery. Don't know where you live but if in a cold climate try and limit the use of electric seats and the heater. Warm up the car using gas. For a 9 year old car 29 miles of electric isn't out of the question. When my car was new I would get 35 miles in the winter . Just drive it and enjoy it. The power train is quite reliable and robust. Gary
Thanks for the owner review. I have been looking at ELR's lately online . I like the fact that it is a car rarely seen , making it a nice car to drive to Cars & Coffee meets. I already own a Chevy BOLT EV (full electric) which is my daily that I've been driving for 3 years and loving the electric driving experience. If I were to get an ELR it would replace my 2004 Crossfire (another fun rarely seen car) with the beautiful ELR. Given that it would be a third car I would keep the mileage low and drive it mostly electric mode using very little gas. I understand that the ELR like the Volt has to start the gas generator after some period of time of non-use. Is that only while driving? I would hate to have it start in my attached garage. BTW - I love your garage ! Thanks again.
The engine maintenance will come on if the gas hasnt been used in some time but there will be a dismiss message if you want to wait for another time for the gas to come on. This dismiss will occur a few times until a point where it wont take the dismiss and the gas just comes on whether you want it or not. If I were to buy another new car it would have to be at minimum hybrid plug in but preferably full electric. My favorite cars are coupes. The ELR fits the bill like no other at this time. And thanks for the garage comment
This is a great video. I'm looking to purchase an ELR this year. Do you mind sharing a video of what the ambient lighting at night looks like? It's about the only thing I haven't seen covered on the car yet from all the videos I've seen. So excited to get one soon.
Zach- I will try to get a video of it but it will be probably difficult to see. I will tell you that on each door panel there is a strip of blue light running the length of the panel and in the footwells there is blue light. To see the car in person is much better than what I can film. Personally , I think it is a beautiful coupe, rides and handles so good. And is so eerily quiet in electric mode.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Thank you for the info. I would love to see one in person but can't find any for sale within a few hundred miles, so all of my research is limited to online until I'm ready to buy.
Honestly if this car wasn’t an electric Hybrid and had a little bit more features like you stated with the hood, automatic wiper, heads up display, sunroof, this would been a great investment and would’ve sold well. Honestly, I’m upset that they wasted that beautiful design on that type of car because it’s perfect. They should bring it back as just a normal gas powered car with at least 300 hp and make it AWD too.
Doubtful they bring this back. GM moving away from cars altogether. They probably thought about cost effectiveness with the Volt platform. In hindsight , it was a horrible decision on their part to build this car in the first place. They already had the CTS coupe which was a good looking car with performance. Then to try and make another 2 door coupe when the market for those type of cars was all but gone. Not too smart. Good for me though. I'm kinda weird and like stylish 2 door coupes.
I had it 8 years but only 8k miles total. Outside of initial problems from new under warranty ( battery, side mirrors) it was fine although the CUE was slightly glitchy.
Thanks for the review, I also own a 2014 and I really enjoy the car. I've a question and maybe somebody has an answer. With all the technology the ELR has. Does anyone know if there is any software and battery upgrades in the future? It should not be difficult to increase the mileage from the battery with all the technology that's out there.
Don't know for sure but if there is it probably won't be coming from GM. The ELR from them was dropped like a hot potato. Maybe some independent concern might take a crack at it but then with only about 2800 cars out there to begin with, would it be worthwhile for them. Not to mention you don't want to jeopardize the 8 year warranty on the battery.
@@InSaN3ViSioN That's about to change bigtime. GM will be launching its Ultifi over the air in car software platform. They expect it to grow into a $25 Billion dollar service by the end of the decade. That's as large as Netflix and Spotify. They will be launching the service in 2023.
So, how many miles have you driven with it? Any repair problems and maintenance issues. What kind of backup system does it have- gasoline engine? I hope the car isn't just a showpiece in your livingroom. I clicked on this video, because of how long you've had it, but it turned out it was just an introduction video.
Livingroom? Problems were taken care of under warranty. Side view mirrors and 12volt battery were the only problems. 4 cylinder gas engine needs premium gas. 40 miles on electric and about 30 mpg on the highway with gas. Has 8000 miles
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Thank you for the info and video. Would love to be the owner of an ELR, but what scares me is the cost of breakdowns. I can see 3 or 4 thousand every trip to the dealer. As a retired guy living on my measly SS and pension, unexpected big bills would kill me.
@@skymiller530 Yeah, remember too that the primary battery will start to degrade over time. The warranty on the battery was 8years or 100k miles. The inverter if that goes would be quite expensive and so too would be the CUE system. Parts are going to be tough since only about 2800 of these cars were made. It is a beautiful car though.
Love the black awesome car. ;-)) The turn table is awesome !! Black was my 1st color choice. It got lucky and found my red for 40,000 $ with 108 miles on it. I now have 36,ooo on it and still love it. a few minor problems but nothing major.
How do u feel about this car now? I was looking into this car and test drove it for the night and wanted to see if u had anything to add a year later about how well it’s doing or even the cons about it ?
Cons- wish it had cooled ventilated seats. For that matter we live in cold western New York and the heated seats don't warm up all that much. The engine can be noisy at times especially under load but pretty quiet when it's not. If the car sits without driving it for say 3 or 4 weeks make sure you have a trickle charger to keep the 12volt battery nominal. Pros- I still like the styling, 2 door frameless window coupe. Love it on electric and in summer I get 44 miles on a charge. Comfortable and handles fine. Still glad I bought it. It's rare and I wanted a taste of the future when cars will have electric propulsion.
I have had the car for over 6 years and still haven't seen anything I like better in the plug-in hybrid category. I'm partial to 2 door coupes. Of course I would never had paid 77k sticker but 34k ( included tax credits) was in my wheel house. Yeah, I would still buy it today for 34k.
The simple answer is after the battery has run out of juice the engine starts and clutches to the generator to produce power needed to drive the car. But overall it is a complicated and ingenious powertrain.
Outside of 2 warranty issues when brand new(12 volt battery and side view mirrors) the car has just had normal maintenance . ( Oil changes, tire rotations). Thankfully nothing major.
In the first year the AGM battery died and was replaced under warranty. Dealer put a brand new one in and that one went defective in one day. They put another one in. So far almost 3 years that one has been fine. The charging lights on the side view mirrors went bad so the dealer had to replace the whole mirror assemblies. Aside from one time that that CUE system went blank (lasted about 2 minutes- seemed like an eternity) the only other thing has been the remote FOBs. Make sure you replace the the battery in them probably every 2 years.
Its not hard but you have to take your time doing it. The bumper will need to be removed to get at the bottom screws for the grill. So care must be taken that you don't scratch the paint in this process. I am not sure if the dealer will do it but I would think a collision shop would for a price. The '16 grill looks nice and I put the '14 grill cleaned up and away for safe keeping.
I'm probably not the best person to ask about that question. I bought the car brand new in April of '15 as a leftover '14. I just over 4 years I have only put on 6200 miles. My 4 year bumper to bumper GM warranty has just expired. I did have some warranty work done on the side mirrors and the 12volt battery but that was about it. I have the car serviced at a dealership that only sells Cadillacs. They have 1 factory trained mechanic for the ELR.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 wow! I cannot believe you bought the car brand new for 40 Grand. That is an incredible deal. I am going to test drive one and if I like it I'm going to plan on buying one, it's going to cost me about 25 grand for one with between 30 and fifty thousand miles on it. Thing I like about the car is it's absolutely stunning on the outside, the interior is extremely luxurious and beautiful, and it gets incredible mileage. And, most of my trips are less than 35 miles, so most of the time I will be able to avoid using gasoline. That's incredible. Thank you for your reply. That garage must have cost you a hundred grand by the way...
For me I am partial to 2 door coupe styling. The ELR is probably the last effort in this category for quite some time or maybe never for GM. A plug in with style and for the price I couldn't pass it up. I know I will never go back to an all gasoline vehicle again after driving this. Spring and summer driving I consistently get 42 miles on a charge. I truthfully enjoy this car and you will too. Thanks for the comment on the garage. Makes me feel good but no it didn't cost 100k LOL
Well it is OEM so the price is fair... my next question, have you replaced anything during your time of ownership or are you looking for anything soon??
Look Chris, everybody is going to have different opinions about cars. My thought process on this car told me to buy it. 1) plugin hybrid - I like electrification on cars 2) the style appeals to me- 2 door coupe, frameless glass, sleak profile. 3) price- $34500 with discounts and tax credit for a brand new car. ( I didnt include taxes). 4) I liked the car and in the end thats what really counts- not what Doug Demuro thinks.
Generic demonstration of features but little about the way it feels; Are you happy with it?...You complained twice about the price but you bought it anyway....Interesting disco-era garage though, like the turntable.
The price was too high for what the car provided. But not at the price I paid for it. With the tax credit it came to around $34k ( not including taxes). I wanted a taste of the future and I think this plug in hybrid provided it. Plus, 2 door coupes ,if you like them , are scarce (outside of sport cars) . I dont drive much but the car has a confident feel. Typical of GM handling if you have any experience with GM cars. Disco era? Where do you see the mirrored balls and DJ station?
Yeah, not many miles. Its put away in late October and brought out in April. Still enjoy it if even just looking at it through winter. Can't stand the road salt here.
Nice garage! My ELR always puts a smile on my face when driving it in sport mode. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the comment. I too have a smile when driving this car.
I saw one live ,a real one. I can't own it but yes, even I had a smile on my face.
You never know what may happen. Thanks for your enthusiasm
Lol ELR in sport mode is nothing. Drive a Tesla Model 3 Performance or a Model S P100D
Nice video. Even though the Gen2 Volt is technically more advanced and practical, the ELR is just to beautiful of a car that throws the rational choice out the window. I want one! Too bad GM has killed both platforms well before their time. BTW Your garage is awesome!
Thanks for the nice words Paul. My wife just bought a '19 volt. She knew this was the end and they just came out with the Pacific blue color which she really liked. She couldn't be happier with the car. We also have a '67 Eldorado that we drive extensively in the summer . Its a driver, not mint condition but beautiful lines . I'll video out a little content of that in the spring. In almost 4 years I have seen only 2 ELRs on the road. They are rare but you should be able to find one in good condition without too much difficulty. I love style and this has oodles of it. The garage took me the better part of 3 years to complete.
Paul Aguirre i will be getting one in a month or so i drove one at the dealership its just futuristic desig its just amazing carr
While GM was wasting their time with hybrids, Tesla surpassed everyone in the auto industry with all electric. I had 3 Volts and an ELR until I could afford a Tesla. Volt and ELR didn't last long. Tesla will live on forever.
ruclips.net/video/5o6Qlnw-jIg/видео.html
Thank you for this! I just picked up a 14 and I am super excited!
Very nice Joel. To this day I can't think of another car I would rather have considering price and style.
I e.n.v.y. you so much, you have a jewel. A jewel! Oohhh my god. You lucky custard!
I am fortunate. Watch for some videos I will be making with the car on the road now that spring is here.
The Car is beautiful. GM designers did a great job. Even in late 2021 it looks stunning.
Ive had it going on 7 years now and still have not seen anything style wise that I like better outside of pure sports car
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279
Speaking of sports cars, the ELR proportions always reminded me of the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. Also of the same year 2014.
@@sentry8992 It could be because of the short front of the car. The A pillar of the ELR extends to right over the front wheel sort of like a mid engine car
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279
And to think someone actually compared this design to a minivan. That's a real head scratcher. Nothing about this car is even remotely like a Minivan.
@@sentry8992 Agreed. I dont understand that reference.
I also have a 2014 Cadillac ELR, and I love it. I bought it after Cadillac discontinued the car, and prices dropped in less than half. I got mine with around 25,000 miles on it for $30,000. The car has been great for me even though I have driven two seater sports cars most of my life, and I traded a Nissan 370Z for it which I also loved and was outrageously fast, but was getting a little too low for my close to 70 year old body to work its way into. I have one thing I don't like about it, and that is the computer system in it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, like now. The center touch screen has not been working at all so I cannot get to my navigation system, or any of the systems it works exclusively off of, since I touch it and it does nothing. The touch control sliders and buttons on the center console also do not always respond. Other than that it has been an excellent car for my needs, and I used to work less than 10 miles from my home, so at one point I was able to drive the car for 8 months without putting a drop of gas in it, but the car started running the gas engine so the gas did not go stale, and it told me so. I like the handling and the beautiful interior which is the best I have ever had, but the best part is the Bose sound system. I had a Bose system on a '91 Nissan 300ZX which I had removed and replaced with an after market system, but this Bose system is the best I have ever heard in any car. Their prices have continued to drop, and they still look better than anything Cadillac has put out since, but they are rare, so you have to keep looking until you find the right one for you. I haven't checked lately, but for a 2014 the price is probably around $20,000.
I don't know where you live but I have heard that if you live in hot locations or the car sits outside in hot temps the CUE system can go bad. The car is unique. Exterior styling, interior, plug in hybrid- nothing else like it. Like you I am close to 70 and it is just me and my wife so this car is just right for us.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 I live in San Diego, but the problem with the touch screen has started since the virus quarantine. I am using the car very little right now since I don't work, and only go out to get groceries. The screen will play the CUE introduction, and show the camera view when in reverse, but then it shows all of the icons and when I touch them nothing happens. With the virus thing I really don't want to bring it to a Cadillac dealer right now. I always keep the car garaged and plugged in when I'm not using it.
I have a 2016 Performance package and over 60,000 miles now. Purchased off the lease and thrilled with the automobile. Beautiful in every way.
Cool Lee. Have to go out tomorrow with the car and it should finally hit 7000 miles. LOL
Look at that damn garage! This man makes MOVES!
Thanks- took me better part of 2 years to complete
Thanks for this long-term review. I'm stunned by the beauty of the ELR and it is now a fantastic pre-owned value. I'm considering trading my VW EOS for the ELR. My biggest challenge: A roof rack to carry a surfboard or mountain bike. But the ELR is stunning.
Carrying anything like what you suggest might be a challenge LOL. There are other coupes like the Lexus LC500 and the new BMW series 8 coupe that have the looks also. But with starting prices of 100k plus, I couldn't afford those. The ELR just feels nice to drive and with that sculptured metal surrounding you, it just makes you feel good.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Turns out I can use a trunk- or hitch-mounted bike rack. Regarding a surfboard: I *DO* have a soft top carrier that works.
Nah. Get a Tesla Model 3
...Thanks. I always liked the ELR and its styling. Here in 2021, I am still thinking about purchasing a pre-owned ELR.
Well, if you like rarity you can't go wrong with this. Agree with the styling
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Thanks. I also discovered the pre-owned ELR 2016 is hard to find. I want the 2016 ELR because I read GM added additional performance.
@@energyexecs I would try for the '16 also. Like the grill change and yes some software tweaking did better performance . But with only 500 made , might be difficult to find what you want.
Great video. Thanks. Heading for a Gen 2 Volt and have been distracted by the ELR. I have a 2016 Escalade so the trim, instrument panel, and interior materials are very familiar and very nice. Three issues causing me pause. 1) Size of the back seat. My nine-year-old will outgrow it in a few years. Then what? 2) The Volt Gen 2 is an improvement over the original tech with a bit longer electric range. 3) Availability due to low production numbers and, at some point, service and parts. I live about 1.5 hours from the Twin Cities in MN in a city of about 100,000. There are Cadillac dealers in the region, but none are particularly excited about working on the ELR. Also, as expressed below, that is one wonderful garage!
My wife still loves her 2019 volt. Its been a great car. Summer months electric range is close to 60 miles where as the ELR is about 40 miles. ELR back seat area is tight. If you are over 5'5" it wont be too comfortable and in and out is not the easiest. CUE system on the ELR could be problematic but mechanically pretty reliable. Appreciate the garage comment.
Nice, informative video. Grille swap looks great. You should put a 2016 emblem on the back, too.
I think you did an awesome job
Your garage looks
Like a lux dealership
Thank you for sharing
Stay safe
Thanks so much for the comment. Debated the amount of work and time it would take me. But it was worth it.
I appreciate the video, just bought one 3 days ago. But I came here in hopes to hear about the actual experience of owning it, not as much a walk around. I'm curious on if these are reliable cars or not. Nobody has put out a video that I can find talking about long term updates in the terms of reliability. Any issues that pop up.
I am probably the wrong person to ask for long term . I've had the car for over 5 years but it only has 7000 miles. However the problems that I did have 1) outside mirrors had to be replaced as they did not indicate charging. 2) 12 volt battery had to be replaced twice. Other than that the car has been good.
Where was this filmed? Your garage or your living room? Either way it's incredible!
Thanks very much for the comment. Its actually an old pole barn that I spruced up. I love it in there.
Loved this car from the time I saw the concept years ago at the DC auto show. Might end up getting a '14 as a gap vehicle in between my current Prius while waiting for a Cybertruck.
I think the grill cost between $450-550 and yes I installed myself. Just liked the looks of it. Side profile of this car is my favorite. That it was a plugin hybrid , and drastically reduced MSRP made it a no brainer purchase for me. No regrets.
Great video! I've been looking into these and this really helped. Thank you!
Looking at one now… curious if I should let my VW id4 and go with the ELR. I owned a 2011 Chevy Volt.
Figure around 35 to 40 miles of electric range on the ELR. Heavier car than the volt. Range wont be as much. The iD4 is all electric ? ELR is a rare car though not just in its quantities but also as a 2 door coupe that isnt a sports car.
Hello- I just bout a 2014 with 90k on it. It is a very beautiful car black with the peanut butter seats. I’m still learning it. It stay’s in garage most of the time, but my EV is at 29. Should I be worried about the battery. I heard it’s 10k to replace. I have always wanted this car & now I have it. I’m a little worried. It drives like its brand new. I’m still trying to get educated on my ELR. 😊
8 year battery warranty, right? There is going to be degradation over the years. Cold will adversely affect the battery. Don't know where you live but if in a cold climate try and limit the use of electric seats and the heater. Warm up the car using gas. For a 9 year old car 29 miles of electric isn't out of the question. When my car was new I would get 35 miles in the winter . Just drive it and enjoy it. The power train is quite reliable and robust. Gary
Thanks for the owner review.
I have been looking at ELR's lately online . I like the fact that it is a car rarely seen , making it a nice car to drive to Cars & Coffee meets. I already own a Chevy BOLT EV (full electric) which is my daily that I've been driving for 3 years and loving the electric driving experience. If I were to get an ELR it would replace my 2004 Crossfire (another fun rarely seen car) with the beautiful ELR. Given that it would be a third car I would keep the mileage low and drive it mostly electric mode using very little gas.
I understand that the ELR like the Volt has to start the gas generator after some period of time of non-use. Is that only while driving? I would hate to have it start in my attached garage.
BTW - I love your garage !
Thanks again.
The engine maintenance will come on if the gas hasnt been used in some time but there will be a dismiss message if you want to wait for another time for the gas to come on. This dismiss will occur a few times until a point where it wont take the dismiss and the gas just comes on whether you want it or not. If I were to buy another new car it would have to be at minimum hybrid plug in but preferably full electric. My favorite cars are coupes. The ELR fits the bill like no other at this time. And thanks for the garage comment
This is a great video. I'm looking to purchase an ELR this year. Do you mind sharing a video of what the ambient lighting at night looks like? It's about the only thing I haven't seen covered on the car yet from all the videos I've seen. So excited to get one soon.
Zach- I will try to get a video of it but it will be probably difficult to see. I will tell you that on each door panel there is a strip of blue light running the length of the panel and in the footwells there is blue light. To see the car in person is much better than what I can film. Personally , I think it is a beautiful coupe, rides and handles so good. And is so eerily quiet in electric mode.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 Thank you for the info. I would love to see one in person but can't find any for sale within a few hundred miles, so all of my research is limited to online until I'm ready to buy.
Honestly if this car wasn’t an electric Hybrid and had a little bit more features like you stated with the hood, automatic wiper, heads up display, sunroof, this would been a great investment and would’ve sold well. Honestly, I’m upset that they wasted that beautiful design on that type of car because it’s perfect. They should bring it back as just a normal gas powered car with at least 300 hp and make it AWD too.
Doubtful they bring this back. GM moving away from cars altogether. They probably thought about cost effectiveness with the Volt platform. In hindsight , it was a horrible decision on their part to build this car in the first place. They already had the CTS coupe which was a good looking car with performance. Then to try and make another 2 door coupe when the market for those type of cars was all but gone. Not too smart. Good for me though. I'm kinda weird and like stylish 2 door coupes.
Where did you find the 2016 grill? I can’t find anywhere….Also, who did you use to put it on?
Back when I bought it in 2015 a number of GM suppliers had it. Like GMpartsdirect.com and GMparts.com. I put it on myself.
"Then he turns on the revolving floor in his garage "...holy crap
So so nice for pulling in and pulling straight out again. And so foolish a waste of money. Eh, what are you going to do
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 ,no- I admire the details of this garage. Mine is filled with old parts and tools to build cars.
Gooooood car !
What is the title of the song that is playing in the background?
actually I have no idea. Came off a video editor . Nondescript piece of music- no title
How reliable was it it .
I had it 8 years but only 8k miles total. Outside of initial problems from new under warranty ( battery, side mirrors) it was fine although the CUE was slightly glitchy.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 thxs
Thanks for the review, I also own a 2014 and I really enjoy the car. I've a question and maybe somebody has an answer. With all the technology the ELR has. Does anyone know if there is any software and battery upgrades in the future? It should not be difficult to increase the mileage from the battery with all the technology that's out there.
Don't know for sure but if there is it probably won't be coming from GM. The ELR from them was dropped like a hot potato. Maybe some independent concern might take a crack at it but then with only about 2800 cars out there to begin with, would it be worthwhile for them. Not to mention you don't want to jeopardize the 8 year warranty on the battery.
Get a Tesla if you want software updates. GM sucks with tech.
@@InSaN3ViSioN That's about to change bigtime. GM will be launching its Ultifi over the air in car software platform. They expect it to grow into a $25 Billion dollar service by the end of the decade. That's as large as Netflix and Spotify. They will be launching the service in 2023.
So, how many miles have you driven with it? Any repair problems and maintenance issues. What kind of backup system does it have- gasoline engine? I hope the car isn't just a showpiece in your livingroom. I clicked on this video, because of how long you've had it, but it turned out it was just an introduction video.
Livingroom? Problems were taken care of under warranty. Side view mirrors and 12volt battery were the only problems. 4 cylinder gas engine needs premium gas. 40 miles on electric and about 30 mpg on the highway with gas. Has 8000 miles
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279
Thank you for the info and video. Would love to be the owner of an ELR, but what scares me is the cost of breakdowns. I can see 3 or 4 thousand every trip to the dealer. As a retired guy living on my measly SS and pension, unexpected big bills would kill me.
@@skymiller530 Yeah, remember too that the primary battery will start to degrade over time. The warranty on the battery was 8years or 100k miles. The inverter if that goes would be quite expensive and so too would be the CUE system. Parts are going to be tough since only about 2800 of these cars were made. It is a beautiful car though.
Love the black awesome car. ;-)) The turn table is awesome !!
Black was my 1st color choice. It got lucky and found my red for 40,000 $ with 108 miles on it. I now have 36,ooo on it and still love it. a few minor problems but nothing major.
Glad you still have passion for your car. These ELR's are rare and beautiful
Do you have the adaptive cruise? Did it effect putting the 2016 grill on?
no adaptive cruise so I can't help you with that
Great video. You should invest in a pro detailer. I noticed the condition of your paint.
You mean the usual GM factory paint job LOL
How do u feel about this car now? I was looking into this car and test drove it for the night and wanted to see if u had anything to add a year later about how well it’s doing or even the cons about it ?
Cons- wish it had cooled ventilated seats. For that matter we live in cold western New York and the heated seats don't warm up all that much. The engine can be noisy at times especially under load but pretty quiet when it's not. If the car sits without driving it for say 3 or 4 weeks make sure you have a trickle charger to keep the 12volt battery nominal. Pros- I still like the styling, 2 door frameless window coupe. Love it on electric and in summer I get 44 miles on a charge. Comfortable and handles fine. Still glad I bought it. It's rare and I wanted a taste of the future when cars will have electric propulsion.
Would you buy one today???
I have had the car for over 6 years and still haven't seen anything I like better in the plug-in hybrid category. I'm partial to 2 door coupes. Of course I would never had paid 77k sticker but 34k ( included tax credits) was in my wheel house. Yeah, I would still buy it today for 34k.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 thanks, I've seen a lot of review videos on it and all they say and talk about is how expensive it was when it came out
@@hnr309 It was. Granted , it was a step up from the Volt but not 3 times the cost.
Awesome! Does the gas engine just charge the battery or does it actually power the wheels?
The simple answer is after the battery has run out of juice the engine starts and clutches to the generator to produce power needed to drive the car. But overall it is a complicated and ingenious powertrain.
How was maintenance cost?
Outside of 2 warranty issues when brand new(12 volt battery and side view mirrors) the car has just had normal maintenance . ( Oil changes, tire rotations). Thankfully nothing major.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 thank you for the reply. I really like the design. Thank you so much.
I'm looking to get a 2016 model
I think there was only about 500 made.
I love this car. I test drove one in 2014. I'm hoping to get one this year. How have the electronics held up?
In the first year the AGM battery died and was replaced under warranty. Dealer put a brand new one in and that one went defective in one day. They put another one in. So far almost 3 years that one has been fine. The charging lights on the side view mirrors went bad so the dealer had to replace the whole mirror assemblies. Aside from one time that that CUE system went blank (lasted about 2 minutes- seemed like an eternity) the only other thing has been the remote FOBs. Make sure you replace the the battery in them probably every 2 years.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 were the mirrors under warranty?
yeah they were@@201950201950
Hi! I have a 14 ELR and want to convert the grill to the 16 like yours... is it an easy change? Can I get the dealer to do it? Thanks for your review
Its not hard but you have to take your time doing it. The bumper will need to be removed to get at the bottom screws for the grill. So care must be taken that you don't scratch the paint in this process. I am not sure if the dealer will do it but I would think a collision shop would for a price. The '16 grill looks nice and I put the '14 grill cleaned up and away for safe keeping.
There weren’t any mods done to it though right. It’s the same size and shape as the 14 grill?
@@christopherflorez1460 no mods,fits perfectly
Struts fail I love that thing
Have you had any issues with reliability of the car? What about Servicing?
I'm probably not the best person to ask about that question. I bought the car brand new in April of '15 as a leftover '14. I just over 4 years I have only put on 6200 miles. My 4 year bumper to bumper GM warranty has just expired. I did have some warranty work done on the side mirrors and the 12volt battery but that was about it. I have the car serviced at a dealership that only sells Cadillacs. They have 1 factory trained mechanic for the ELR.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 wow! I cannot believe you bought the car brand new for 40 Grand. That is an incredible deal. I am going to test drive one and if I like it I'm going to plan on buying one, it's going to cost me about 25 grand for one with between 30 and fifty thousand miles on it. Thing I like about the car is it's absolutely stunning on the outside, the interior is extremely luxurious and beautiful, and it gets incredible mileage. And, most of my trips are less than 35 miles, so most of the time I will be able to avoid using gasoline. That's incredible. Thank you for your reply. That garage must have cost you a hundred grand by the way...
For me I am partial to 2 door coupe styling. The ELR is probably the last effort in this category for quite some time or maybe never for GM. A plug in with style and for the price I couldn't pass it up. I know I will never go back to an all gasoline vehicle again after driving this. Spring and summer driving I consistently get 42 miles on a charge. I truthfully enjoy this car and you will too. Thanks for the comment on the garage. Makes me feel good but no it didn't cost 100k LOL
How much was that grill??
Well, hate to say it but it was $480. I did it to save the original and because I liked the way it looked
Well it is OEM so the price is fair... my next question, have you replaced anything during your time of ownership or are you looking for anything soon??
Replaced? like in warranty ? Not really looking to replace anything Andy.
@@carsandwhatnotsenior4279 just in general like wore out parts of any kind...
No, not yet Andy but I only have about 7k miles on the car.
Doesn't seem to be driven much. At the time of the video the ELR didn't 6,000 miles on it.
It isn't driven much. None of my cars are. The ELR has 6800 miles on it.
“Looks like a minivan”?? What a strange perspective
What's with the porn soundtrack from the late 70s?
I just came from a Doug demuro videos where he totally destroys the car
Look Chris, everybody is going to have different opinions about cars. My thought process on this car told me to buy it. 1) plugin hybrid - I like electrification on cars 2) the style appeals to me- 2 door coupe, frameless glass, sleak profile. 3) price- $34500 with discounts and tax credit for a brand new car. ( I didnt include taxes). 4) I liked the car and in the end thats what really counts- not what Doug Demuro thinks.
I agree. My opinion is that this car is really good and I want one
Generic demonstration of features but little about the way it feels; Are you happy with it?...You complained twice about the price but you bought it anyway....Interesting disco-era garage though, like the turntable.
The price was too high for what the car provided. But not at the price I paid for it. With the tax credit it came to around $34k ( not including taxes). I wanted a taste of the future and I think this plug in hybrid provided it. Plus, 2 door coupes ,if you like them , are scarce (outside of sport cars) . I dont drive much but the car has a confident feel. Typical of GM handling if you have any experience with GM cars. Disco era? Where do you see the mirrored balls and DJ station?
For as long as you've owned the vehicle, you don't drive it much. 😃I have a few more miles on mine. 😎
Yeah, not many miles. Its put away in late October and brought out in April. Still enjoy it if even just looking at it through winter. Can't stand the road salt here.
One cheapo hood prop gets in a mechanic's way a lot less than a fancy-schmancy pair of hood struts does.
GM couldn't market water in the desert.
I have to agree. It's a shame
Lose that license tag holder on the front of it, at least I would it looks horrid on there like that...