[ckucia]

Here's something else to consider.

While generally '93s are more expensive, its because they are currently holding their value a bit better. That may or may not be the case in the future, but if you think you may be turning the car around a few years from now, then future resale value would be important.

I think '93s will always hold their value to a certain extent because they are the last of the line and many people like the idea of the Northstar. Market price is not necessarily determined by fact, but by perception. The general perception is that the 93's are "Better", and that's going to drive the market price.


Also, and this may be differernt now, it was possible to get a third-party warranty on '93s recently. Now that they're going on 11 years old, that may not be possible. If that's important to you, then the model year would be an important consideration.



Personally, I think the Allante is a great car no matter what year you get. You can pick them up (in running condition) for as little as 5k all the way up to above 20k. To the non-enthusiast, the various years are indistinguishable from the others.



Keep in mind though, with all Allantes, that these cars were very high-tech for their time and have complicated and unique systems. Parts are often hard to come by because GM discontinued them years ago. Don't plan on taking it to the Cadillac dealer for anything other then standard mechanical work unless you know a really good one who is willing to work with used-part suppliers (you can find them on the Allante board). All the guys who were specially trained by Cadillac 18 years ago to work on Allantes have retired from the dealership in all likelihood and the dealership probably chucked out the service manuals years ago.

If you are comfortable doing mechanical work and are patient, then the investment in a service manual will help you keep repair costs down. A lot of the mechanical pieces are shared with other Cadillacs of the era, so those parts (suspension, engine, brakes, etc) are reasonably affordable and obtainable.

Also, most of the parts, if they work, are at minimum 11 years old and max 17 years old. They aren't going to last forever.

There's a great support group over at the AAG board. Lots of guys willing to help, especially if you've previously searched the archives for the answer.

Just know what you're getting into. It wouldn't hurt to have a backup vehicle. My '89 is a daily driver, but I have an old pickup for those times when something breaks and I have to wait a few days for it to be shipped to me so I can fix it.



Lastly, as with any "exotic" vehicle, the Allante requires regular maintenance. The parts are high-tolerance and the materials used are less common than in other cars. Also, keep in mind that in the era this car was designed, fuel economy was still a huge consideration and GM was still struggling to react to the new marketplace. The engine is a mixture of aluminum and cast iron. It needs regular coolant changes and the use of inexpensive supplement tabs to prevent corrosion of the internals and the head gaskets. The brake system requires periodic fluid replacment to prevent corrosion of the aluminum parts. The ABS system was very advanced for its time, but it was never used on any other vehicles, so the parts are very expensive. Don't expect to go to the junkyard and be able to buy a fender or a door and hoods are going for several thousand dollars in good condition.

Keeping an Allante on the road requires a whole different mindset than that of something like an old Chevy sedan. Probably closest to that of a 90's Corvette owner but without the ready availability of parts and no aftermarket.