Got a Saab & selling my re-badged Vauxhall Omega!!

[CateraSport2000]

It's kind of a sad and happy day. I'm a Catera nut from day 1 and have a gorgeous 2000 Catera Sport that I will soon be selling on Ebay. I'm the guy that completely rebadged his Catera as a Vauxhall Omega. In fact, I picked up most of the parts in person from a Vauxhall dealership in Reading, England.

Now that my certified warranty has been up a year, I was suffering with little problems I fixed while making payments. I wanted to get something else that was under warranty and also cool and unique like my Cat. So, I picked up a 2004 certified Saab 9-5 Aero yesterday. Once the windows are tinted and a spoiler is affixed, it will be almost as cool as my Cat but my Cat will always hold a special place in my heart. Wish I could afford to keep and garage both.

Just in case there are other crazy people like me that would be interested in this car, I would love for it to go to someone who appreciates it and will cherish it as much as I have and take good care of it. Here's the description I'm putting on ebay, please critique if you'd like:

2000 Vauxhall Omega MV6 Sport – Must See!

Overview

If you like to stand apart from the masses and want to drive an “exotic” car that serves as a conversation piece, look no further than this 2000 Cadillac Catera Sport that has been professionally re-badged into a British Vauxhall Omega. This one of a kind automobile was built in Germany and sold throughout Europe as an Opel Omega and in the UK as a Vauxhall Omega. Here in the USA, we had the Cadillac Catera (the Caddy that zigs!).

This immaculately maintained “Omega” has 79,000 miles and is a former Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle. All service records are available on this 2-owner vehicle and will be given to its new owner. This car features the desirable SPORT package which includes: Sport tuned suspension, 17” rims, Xenon (HID) headlights, rare Recaro sport bucket seats, rear spoiler, aluminum interior trim, and extended rocker panels.

Features

This rear-wheel drive luxury car has the following features:

• 200 HP 3.0L V6 engine
• Automatic transmission with sport and winter modes
• Automatic dual zone Air conditioning (vents for back passengers as well as the glovebox)
• BOSE 8-speaker CD/Cassette/AM/FM stereo system with 2 subwoofers built into the trunk. An amazing system that must be heard to be believed.
• Sunroof
• Heated leather seats
• ABS and traction control
• Cruise control
• Keyless entry with 2 keys & 2 remotes
• Alarm system
• Dual front and side airbags
• Power windows (auto up and down on all doors), power locks
• Fog lights with cornering lights
• LED rear brake light and LED rear turn signals (very cool!)
• Split folding rear seat
• Daytime running lights and auto-on headlights with twilight sentinel
• Auto dimming mirror with garage door opener buttons (Homelink)
• Dual cupholders that are hidden and pop out of center armrest
• Storage pockets hidden in each door that pull down at the touch of a button
• Three power outlets (2 up front and one in the rear)

The Conversion to a Vauxhall

Every single Cadillac badge on this car has been removed (12 total!) and replaced with OEM Vauxhall parts and badges. The following parts of this car have been changed in the conversion process:
· Grille replaced with Vauxhall Omega grille
· Rear panel (a spare I bought) professionally sanded down and re-painted with “Griffin” badge affixed.
· “Vauxhall” & “Omega MV6” lettering on lower trunk.
· All 4 wheel center caps replaced with Vauxhall caps
· Engine cover replaced with Vauxhall “Ecotec” cover
· Steering wheel badge covered with Vauxhall Omega badge
· Rubber “Vauxhall” floor mats installed up front
· Vauxhall Door sills on all 4 doors
· Vauxhall First Aid Kit in the trunk
· “Another Inchcape Car” sticker in the back window from a dealership in Reading, England
· 2000 Vauxhall Omega Owner’s Manual kit & brochure

This car attracts a lot of attention and curious looks from other motorists. If driving a unique “British” car isn’t your thing, I can convert it back to a Cadillac. All original Cadillac parts will be given to winning bidder. This car is truly one of a kind and more unique than most any “elite” brand. Even people at the dealership wonder where I imported it. When people in BMWs, Mercedes, Maserati’s, and Aston Martin’s are asking you about the car, you know that the re-badge is convincing and is garnering attention.

Additional upgrades:

• Windows tinted with SolarGard tint (13%) with a lifetime warranty
• Ceramic brake pads (almost new!) on all 4 wheels and Brembo rotors up front. This results in no brake dust!
• LampGard headlight covers. These are optically clear covers that go over your headlights to protect them from pitting and yellowing.
• K&N Air Filter
• PIAA silicon wiper blades

Maintenance/Condition

Most people would be hard pressed to believe this car is 7 years old. It is in excellent condition for its age with only a few minor blemishes/imperfections. It is garaged at my home in the evening and my parking garage at work during the day so it hardly ever sees the sun or elements. The black interior is like new with soft and supple leather seats. This car has been immaculately maintained and given the best service possible. Never smoked in!

Maintenance:

• Brand NEW Kuhmo tires with a 4-wheel alignment
• New struts and right side outer tie rod
• New serpentine belt and pulley tensioner
• Timing belt replaced at 63,000 miles
• Oil cooler replaced with redesigned version 1/31/06.
• Comprehensive Automatic transmission service completed at 55,500 miles (5/05)
• Power steering flush at 55,500 miles (5/05)
• Air cabin filter replaced at 59, 170 miles (8/05)
• Oil changed every 3,000 – 4,000 miles at dealer (Dimmitt Cadillac)
• Fuel regularly treated with Valvoline SynPower Fuel System Treatment
• Washed regularly and waxed with Dri-Wash ultra-ion waterless car wash/protectant.

I have complete and meticulous service records on this car since I bought it in June 2003 (28,000 miles) and will give them all to the winning bidder. A printout of all warranty work performed (since new) will be available to the winning bidder so you have all the information you need directly from GM. No mysteries with this car.

Summary

This vehicle is perfect for that unique person who can appreciate a good German automobile and also likes a British marquee. This is unlike any GM car that is built in America import lovers will be more than satisfied with the quality and attention to detail. You will be hard pressed to find a Catera that has been as well maintained and loved as this one. This is truly a one of a kind car that will turn heads.

So, that is what I drafted for the ad. If you want some pics, I posted a Craiglist ad here: http://tampa.craigslist.org/car/269826093.html. There's also some pictures up on this website: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/use...deofBlue|12674. I have more pics I'll post later.

Thanks for the feedback. Gonna miss my Cat! My parents have a '97 so I'll still be lurking around here.

Jeff

[guardian]

It's a very cool car. I hope you will take this question, which is prompted by rather a burning curiosity:

When you register your car with the State of Florida is it as a Catera or as a Vauxhaull?

Without really knowing I assume you register the car as a Cadillac Catera. This makes me wonder what happens if you ever should be stopped by the police. They look at your Cadillac Catera registration and then at the car, which clearly is not identifiable as a Catera, at least not outwardly. Of course the VIN would be OK, but still. If I were a cop I would for certain have questions AND concerns.

[CateraSport2000]

Good point Guardian.... It's registered as a Catera and I've never had a problem with police or anyone. You'd think I would! My brother is a cop and said it wouldn't be a big deal... people de-badge their cars sometimes and other things. Also, it's a nice looking car and cops don't tend to bother them around here.

The only time I had even a hiccup was when I had the car towed by GM under warranty for a bad crankshaft position sensor. The slovenly tow truck guy was like "I'm here to pick up a Cadillac and this ain't no Cadillac." After I explained he got the picture.

[Resilient]

I just wanted to say I love the post-advert for it... it reads like a wish list of things I can and want to do....

[rinverso]

the look is very exotic, i especially love the front grill. can these items be purchased on the internet. i'm in florida also, with a 2001 cat recently purchased. thanks, robert

[elvin315]

Originally Posted by rinverso

the look is very exotic, i especially love the front grill. can these items be purchased on the internet. i'm in florida also, with a 2001 cat recently purchased. thanks, robert

You might want to check out this earlier discussion regarding body kits and other mods.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...its-found.html (Any body kits found?)

Elvin

[CateraSport2000]

I got the parts from a dealer in Reading, England (Inchcape Vauxhall). Only catch is that I actually picked them up in person when I happened to be over there. I had a friend that placed the order and took me over to get everything.

There is a site that will ship to the US and I've had good experience with them. Visit this site: http://www.vaux-world.com/. I dealt with Jason and he was quick to ship some parts I had been looking for (door sills).

It didn't cost as much as you think... even with the awful exchange rate against the pound, parts are still cheaper than buying from a Cadillac dealer in the USA.

Jeff

[CateraSport2000]

Wahoo! Finally listed it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadil...spagenameZWDVW

[rinverso]

best of luck, that is an awesome car. wish i had waited to purchase mine last month. unless you want to trade a 2001 with 58,000 miles.
all the best, robert