Hi Gang,

Thanks for allowing me to participate in the discussions. I am a brand new member. I believe in the power of wisdom from forums such as this. Here is my dilemma:

My 2002 Mercury Mountaineer lease is up in August, this year. My last payment is July 10th. Since I will be approx. 10,000 - 15,000 past allowable mileage, and my buyout is good, I plan to exercise the buyout and not pay for excess mileage. I will give this vehicle to my wife to use, and purchase another for myself.

After much consideration, I have narrowed my choices as follows based on my allowable budget. I would finance the vehicle for 4 years. Here goes:

a. Certified Pre-Owned Cadillac Deville, DHS or DTS. Year: 2002 or 2003. Mileage: 30,000 (not to exceed). Prefer 15,000 - 20,000 miles max.

b. New 2004 CTS with 3.6 liter engine. Options not to run price any higher than $35,000.00.

c. New 2004 or 2005 Toyota Avalon XL (Yes, I know this is a Cadillac forum).

I could be happy with a., b. or c. I am 51 years old. My occupation requires me to address the "image" factor; although I don't need a new Mercedes 500. I work on occassion with mid to upper level corporate clients and visiting VIPs.
I am also in post mid-life crisis. I am conservative, but enjoy a good time, and routinely throw caution to the wind, depending on my emotional state at the time.

I need a vehicle that will be reliable and dependable, since I'm going to be making payments on it for 4 years, and then trading in. I average 20,000 miles per year on a vehicle.

I fell in love with the Deville; however, some of my friends say it has an "old man" image; whatever that means. The "old men" I know have lots of "old money". So, I'm not sure that comment bothers me. Besides, I'm not 18.

The CTS is quite sassy and comfortable. It seems to have higher sex appeal. Just my opinion. Some think it's angular look is ugly. Again, I could live with it; although I like the style of the Deville a lot.

The Toyota Avalon is quite conservate and is a "safe" bet; however, it doesn't combat my post mid-life crisis. I am told that a well taken care of Toyota Avalon will last 400,000 miles! I wonder how many miles well-taken care of CTS and Devilles last?

Ok, I'll shut up. Your comments are welcome.

Welcome, to me an Avalon would be out of the question because when you want to have fun ever you just cant. Period. A CTS is nice but in my opinion more for the younger crowd w/ the handling and all. I would say the Deville only because it can be fun when you want it to but when you want a great cruiser with good power and decent to good gas mileage its the way to go. The Deville is the best of both worlds in MHO. They will with care last to about 200k (at least that is what I have found). But with any problem including Avalons you will have your problems, w/ certified though you will have a warrenty too.

I have heard of devilles reaching 300,000 plus. General Motors engines are very valuable.

Sry, RELIABLE, can't type tonight

Welcome Trump!

Glad to have you as a new member with us! You have answered you own question, and the answer is given three times:
(1)Choice "a" for you was (a. Certified Pre-Owned Cadillac Deville, DHS or DTS.)
(2)"I fell in love with the Deville; however, some of my friends say it has an "old man" image;"
(just step on the gas and your age goes from 51 to 18!) and
(3)"although I like the style of the Deville a lot." Your words my man! I share what you mean about "image" factor in our occupations. And besides can you fit 4 full sets of golf clubs and 3 of your closest firends in a Toyota? I think not!
Happy cruising in your Deville/DTS!
:welcome:
Paul

Image Involved?
- must go for Deville then, but only since a Fleetwood isn't one of your options...

Welcome aboard, Trump! And thank you for signing up! Let's see.. I like the Avalon too! So I know where you're coming from.. I love the XLS...

I could be happy with a., b. or c. I am 51 years old. My occupation requires me to address the "image" factor; although I don't need a new Mercedes 500. I work on occassion with mid to upper level corporate clients and visiting VIPs. I am also in post mid-life crisis. I am conservative, but enjoy a good time, and routinely throw caution to the wind, depending on my emotional state at the time.

Your occupation requires a DeVille over the CTS and Avalon.
If you routinely throw caution to the wind - you definitely need a DTS.

I need a vehicle that will be reliable and dependable, since I'm going to be making payments on it for 4 years, and then trading in. I average 20,000 miles per year on a vehicle.

Well. Dependability goes to Toyota.. But the DeVille really isn't far behind.. I believe it's the most reliable Cadillac..

I fell in love with the Deville; however, some of my friends say it has an "old man" image; whatever that means. The "old men" I know have lots of "old money". So, I'm not sure that comment bothers me. Besides, I'm not 18.

The DTS is NOT an old man's car...

I think the CTS is a little too cute/sporty for you. Who told you Avalon's last 400,000 miles?

im 23 and im currently looking at a 2000 deville dhs in silver , and i drive a 94 right now

old mans car ? i think not , esp in the DTS , what a awesome car

dont listen to anybody , go with your gut , the guys gave me hell when i got my 94 , after seeing it and seeing me with it they reailzed it fit me , something i knew all along

you mentioned how the car fits your job , problem with the avalon it is blends in way too well with everything on the street , and with the ford 500 coming in a few months it will really blend in (darn near twins) . but dont get me wrong , its a great car . ive driven my share of them , they leave me thinking " a lexus with something missing " if your looking into long camrys (what i call them) i like the es300 best

the cts is too small to use for cleint entertainment , the DHS is a nice blend of your avalon needs and cts wants (unforetuantly most expensive too)

Go for the DeVille. My 19 year old son gave me greaf about driving an old man's car until I dusted his Cutlass Supreme. He's changed his tune now.

I would definately go with the Deville.

Toyota is a typical car in my opinion, I dont like how quiet their engines are, or the noise they make, especially at idle.

I have never driven a Cadillac before, but the newer Deville's look great. They have the LED brake lights, big V8, all kinds of neat safety features. One thing I like about the Devilles is the bench seat in the front and back of the vehicle. I have read literature online of a Northstar V8 in a 2000 Deville hitting 0-60 in 6.5 seconds on MotorWeek, I dont think your Avalon can do that.

About safety, now, Toyota is good, as is Cadillac. The Avalons average 3 stars, as do the Devilles. But how accurate are these results? On the link below this, I did a search for a 2002 Deville for safety ratings, the driver got 1 star, the year before the car got 3 or 4 stars, and the year after that got 3 or 4 stars as well, thats a little strange.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Search.cfm

But, the Cadillac is not an old mans car, I would say a Buick or a Camry/Avalon is. Not to mention, Cadillac sounds more classy as well, and a bigger trunk.

get a DTS...very nice image factor, yet fast and fun to drive because it is is sporiter version of the deville. There you go, problem solved.

A CTS is nice but in my opinion more for the younger crowd w/ the handling and all.

Wouldn't that solve the "old man" and "midlife crisis" issues? Then again, would they be solved with a young car? Dunno.

When I was 26 years old, in 1972, I ordered and took delivery of a new 1972 Sedan deVille. Triple black, paint, vinyl top & leather.

The neighbor on our right (and I quote) said, "It looks like a funeral car ~ why on earth would you buy THAT?" In 1974, her 15 year old daughter gave birth ! Right in the middle of Jr. High.

The neighbor on the left, said, "That's an old person's car ~ why would you buy THAT? " Later that year, her 20 year old son was arrested on a series of break & entries, to support a heroin habit.

The one across the street asked "Why I bought such a gas guzzler with gas at $1.37.9 a gallon?" I had allready known that her hubby had a girlfriend and that they could be seen every Thursday night at "Quincey's Bar & Grill". (Ran into her son last year, he drives an economical Navagator!!! :hmm: )

I told them all the same answer, "I bought it because I like it" period.

Moral:-- Never care what other think, in most cases, they are not as good as you, and they should worry more what YOU think of them!!

Buy the deVille. A Cadillac like a Lincoln are ALWAYS respected.

Buy the Deville. YOU will be happier for it and you already love it.

The CTS is too polarizing for your purposes, although I have yet to have anyone say something negative about mine!

The Avalon is a true yawner. NOT the kind of statement you want to make, unless the word "boring" comes to mind when people think of you.

I am in a similar situation that you describe....

Company car, 20,000 per year, mid-level executive selling to high level execs. I demand a performance sedan.

The primary difference's may be...
I work in the automotive marketplace dealing with all the global automakers and Tier 1.
A performance sedan is a personal requirement for the exact reasons you mentioned in your initial post - FUN TO DRIVE!

The vehicle that best fit my needs was the CTS - performance, performance, performance. This may not be your primary consideration. But in my company the company vehicles for NA Sr Management are...

President - ' 04 Mercedes 320E
Western Region Sales Manager - 02 Acura TL
Eastern Region Sales Manager - '02 Lincoln LS (six speed manual)
Director of Automotive Markets - '04 CTS (3.6l 6-speed manual) on order.

Non-company cars...
VP Finance - 04 Acura TL Auto (loves it!)
VP R&D - '03 BMW M5

Toyota Avalon, good mode of transportation, says your VERY conservative, responsible, a good family man...BORING, UNIMAGINATIVE, THE GUY YOU LEAVE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT THE OFFICE, when all the hotshots are out.

Cadillac CTS, good car, says your very imaginative, creative, daring, a take charge kind of guy, sharp, and with that styling, very self confident.

Cadillac Deville DTS, your the CTS guy, grown up!!!

ANY QUESTIONS?

Toyota Avalon, good mode of transportation, says your VERY conservative, responsible, a good family man...BORING, UNIMAGINATIVE, THE GUY YOU LEAVE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT THE OFFICE, when all the hotshots are out.

Cadillac CTS, good car, says your very imaginative, creative, daring, a take charge kind of guy, sharp, and with that styling, very self confident.

Cadillac Deville DTS, your the CTS guy, grown up!!!

ANY QUESTIONS?


dingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingding! couldn't have put it better myself!

Avalon = :yawn:

CTS and Deville = :cool:

remember... if you want to trade whatever you buy back in after 4 years that the CTS and Avalon maintain their value better than the DeVille. the market for used DeVilles isn't exactly bullish. at this point (it's sort of young to tell definitively) the CTS maintains value excellently. and, whether it's true or not, the average used car buyer perceives a high mileage avalon as more reliable than a high mileage DeVille.

remember... if you want to trade whatever you buy back in after 4 years that the CTS and Avalon maintain their value better than the DeVille. the market for used DeVilles isn't exactly bullish. at this point (it's sort of young to tell definitively) the CTS maintains value excellently. and, whether it's true or not, the average used car buyer perceives a high mileage avalon as more reliable than a high mileage DeVille.


If you'r seriously basing your car choice on the above, then you deserve an AVALON


:yawn:

Why not also look at at a 02-03 STS, sport look then a DTS IMO,
Back in the 98 we became grandparents and were looking at a new car, look at camery and Grand Prix, a with a Camery would felt like grandparentd we go the Grand Prix GT.Avalon make you feel old

Kudos to you for narrowing your choices down to three excellent vehicles. The Avalon's interior fit and finish is superb, but the Deville has the greatest interior room and of course... the Northstar V8.

The Avalon's styling is completely absent of personality. Its the vanilla soy latte of automobiles.

And all three, when maintained properly, will run for hundreds of thousands of miles (well, I'm betting on the CTS, but folks in the livery business run their Devilles forever).

-Jesda

im a new member here so i dont really know whats going on but i just bought myself a 93' cadillac sedan deville its pearl white grey leather interior mint condition looks brand new not one scratch or dent only 58,070 miles on top of that i bought it all for 2500