1999 Catera Sport??? Huh??

lakesidepark · #1 (**permalink**) 04-15-08, 06:47 PM

Saw a car today, at a parts yard, writing on windshield said 4K or OBO....obviously 'pre-facelift' that had catera sport rims. Didn't think there was a sport earlier than 2000. Can someone confirm this?

This car is also OBVIOUSLY not worth 4k. I looked out of curiosity. I may make an offer since it is lower miles than mine but I bet it is fubar under the hood. Saw the overflow tank and the battery fusebox inside the cabin. Tires are bald and two are flat. Hood latch is loose and in floor. Cover for under-dash fusebox is in floor. I'm sure there are gremlins lurking thruout.

I don't think they can believe it's worth 4K. And OBO ain't even close. I believe 0.5K tops and that's if the engine is good. Good for parts, or maybe as platform for all my GOOD parts, or simply to rip and strip for the heated seats and Bose.

But before I talk to them just want to know, as its another point on just how fubar the car is and how lucky they may be to unload it for 0.5K. FYI if it is a Sport it's still a .5K car.

todd2fst4u · #2 (**permalink**) 04-15-08, 06:53 PM

yes the 99 had a sport option

lakesidepark · #3 (**permalink**) 04-15-08, 06:57 PM

Thanks. That makes this car worth 0.501K

elvin315 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-15-08, 07:35 PM

The '99 Sport was a preview of the '00-'01. The suspension was stiffer than the base '97-'99 and was the basis for the base '00-'01 Cateras. The 19999 Catera Sport had contoured side skirts that flare out at the wheel wells compared to the standard flat ones. The grille was satin silver instead of chrome. Last, it had the trunk wing. The interior may or may not have satin silver trim in place of the faux wood. The wheels are 16 inch and I'm not sure if they're a Sport exclusive. Below are links to pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/72707643
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/72707632
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/73182464
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/73182472
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/73182473

Elvin

todd2fst4u · #5 (**permalink**) 04-16-08, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elvin315

The wheels are 16 inch and I'm not sure if they're a Sport exclusive.

they are exclusive. the center caps say "catera sport"

mrplease · #6 (**permalink**) 04-16-08, 05:32 AM

wow what a difference a year makes. the 2000-2001 sport cateras look WAY better...

elvin315 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-16-08, 10:28 AM

I don't know about that. Beauty's only sheetmetal deep. I own a 2001 Sport but can appreciate the subtle changes that Cadillac made to to the 1999 Catera in creating the Sport. I'd like the pre-facelift front facia better (except for the "bumper guards") if GM hadn't used variations of it on the Chevrolet Lumina, Corsica, and Beretta. Even the 2003 Impala has a hint of 1999 Catera. GM used it on Buicks and Oldsmobiles too. I like the side skirts on the '99 Sport better than the ones on my '01. The alloy wheels look better in the bare finish rather than painting them like on my '01. They'd be even better if they were 17 inchers.

The real deal is inside. I absolutely love the charcoal and black interior. Mine is charcoal and light grey. The contrast is bold but I prefer the darker colors. And those front buckets. Why they didn't carry over I don't know. Those are some serious sport seats. I think Recaro made them. If I ever find a set in my shade of grey leather, watch out. Get in my way and I'll trample you. Notice the lack of plasti-wood interior trim.

Like I said before, the '99 Sport had a stiffer suspension which was carried over as the standard suspension for the '00-'01 Catera. The '00-'01 Sports got an even stiffer setup. Cadillac introduced the Drive By Wire system in 1999 so the engines have the drooped snout plenum and coil on plug ignition among other things. Even the Omega didn't get them until the 3.2L engine debuted in 2001.

The little Catera group in Cadillac tried but without support the Sport was the last go at improving the Cat. GM killed the Catera/Omega V8. It had cooling issues that with a little developement could have been resolved. But the CTS was on its way, a car that had Cadillac's full support, so goodnight Catera.

Elvin

lakesidepark · #8 (**permalink**) 04-16-08, 10:30 AM

Whoa now I gotta check it out again. OBO may have just went to 0.4K. I don't remember a wing, faux wood, flares, or a satin grille, and I was checking it out with mime parked right beside it. The wheels were the only thing I saw.

If he scrapped a Sport and put the wheels on this one, no telling what else has been scrapped or swapped.

Thanks for the info and pics guys.

guardian · #9 (**permalink**) 04-16-08, 10:18 PM

There is more information on '99 sports within this forum, click below. [I know the OP personally

.]

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...era-sport.html (1999 Catera Sport)

callingmonroe · #10 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 08:41 AM

So Is mine a sport and I don't know it? I have the satin grille and the sport button?

callingmonroe · #11 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 08:42 AM

Is it?

todd2fst4u · #12 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callingmonroe

Is it?

nope, thats just the base model.
everyone has the sport button
the give aways here are the rocker panels, and the rims

elvin315 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callingmonroe

So Is mine a sport and I don't know it? I have the satin grille and the sport button?

Sorry, but I don't think so. From the picture your car has the wrong wheels, wrong side skirts, and is missing the rear wing. Hard to tell your car's color. Black or forest green? All sports came in Black, white, or platinum. Confused as to why you have a satin silver grille. It shouldn't. Can't see the interior but if there's faux wood anything in there, it's not a Catera Sport. All Cateras have the Sport button on the gear shift lever.

Elvin

guardian · #14 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 05:32 PM

Everybody needs to keep in mind just how RARE this model is. It is the rarest of ALL Cats.

Also, next year will be the TENTH anniversary of the production of this car. However many of these were surviving a couple of years ago when I first posted on this, for sure fewer still remain on the road today.

If you click on that link in my earlier post, there were a few lucky members here who posted back then that they owned one of these. For sure, the '99 Cat Sport is a rare and VERY cool car. Virtually nobody has ever seen one of these cars, except in photos. Most of us never will see one.

callingmonroe · #15 (**permalink**) 04-18-08, 09:48 PM

ok, I am wrong, I thought satin meant not chrome, my grille is like a bronze look.
Just hopeful and not catera savvy yet. Mine is the forest color! It has the woodgrain, I have added since the pic Mirror Pillar post and am waiting on the door handles and gas cover to be made at the machine shop. I will post a pic in another section later.