Hi, I am interested in buying a Catera but am nervous after reading some info on this car. MSN autos ranked the catera the worst reliable car in the 90's and from what i've read from some users, they seem to agree. Questions that I have: Do you really have to drop engine to change spark plugs? What's the cost for changing plugs? Also, what is required for a 60,000 or 100,000 mile tuneup? DOes this car have a timing belt or chain?

Im interested in getting a car that's different from the usual "camry" on the road. But i own a camry with no problems and also own a Taurus SHO which is more rare and I know why now. It needs its 60/120k tuneup which is more than the car is worth. What should I expect to spend for normal tuneup maintenance and what parts go out prematurely and how much to fix them? I have about $8000 cash to spend and want to own the car outright, but for $8000 I can afford regular yearly maintenance within a reasonable rate, but I can't afford a huge monthly repair bill and I need something reliable. I can put up with windows not going down or a/c problems, etc.. but i can't have the car in the shop all the time.

I almost bought an Audi A4 but then heard about the 60K tuneup which costs almost $1800 parts and labor and was told that the A4 costs about $4000 a year in maintenance due to AWD and 16 poorly designed control arms so I decided against the A4. Now im looking at a SAAB 9-3 convertible or a Volvo S40 but came across this Catera today and now Im asking questions. After owning my last GM, an Oldsmobile Aurora, I swore to never put a GM vehicle close to my house again, but now Im interested.

What's the difference between the regular Catera and SPORT?

Please help in steering me in the right direction on this issue!!

THanks!!

No you dont have to drop the engine to change the spark plugs
It has a timing belt.
I think differnce between regular and sports model is different kind of suspension and i am not sure about gear ratios,i am sure a senior member will chime in with his opinion soon
Hope it helps

Hi,

I bought my 2000 Catera Sport last year in July with 33.000 miles. It was
traded in by the original owner to a Mercedes dealer I do business with.

Now it has 48.000 miles and I have done the following:
-Front brake pads
-4 new tires ( it still had the original ones)
-2 oil changes Mobil 1 0-40

NO problems whatsoever. One of the most reliable cars I had in a while and
I had a lot. It's fun to drive too.
I took all the ugly Catterac emblems off and replaced them with Opel badges,
the grill is changed too.

The sport package has a different suspension (identical to the Euro Sport
package) 17 inch wheels, rear spoiler (SUPER ugly) sport seats and fake
aluminium trim. Mine also has Xenon lights, Bose, cold weather package and
sunroof.

What they told you about the Audi A4 is a big load of bull***t.

My wife had one now for more than two years. It's a 01.5 A 4 1.8 TQ Avant.
It gets Mobil 1 0-40 every 7.000 miles, had brakes and rotors replaced at
80.000 miles, the timing belt, tensioner and waterpump replaced at 90.000 miles (cost approx. US $ 800.--) and the motor mounts replaced at 95.000 miles. Whoever gave you these figures never ever owned an Audi or was
taken to the cleaners by a bad dealer or repair shop.

Nevertheless keep in mind, a Catera was not meant to be a race car. It's
not a good idea to put some monster pling-pling 20inch wheels and a supercharger or turbocharger on this car. If you like this kind of "tuning",buy
an Acura or Honda instead. They take the abuse much better.

And like most European cars, the Catera needs regular oil changes and maintenance. If you cannot afford the several hundred dollars at 60.000 miles
to change the T-belt, tensioner and waterpump, don't buy one.

With regular maintenance an Opel Omega(rebadged Catera in the USA)
should be a very reliable car. Keep in mind, these cars are used as police cars, taxi cabs and government cars in some European countries.

Good luck and best regards

I got my 98 Cat in 2000, with 42 000km (lease return)... I'm up to 147 000km... have had the normal maintenance done BUT blew the transmission last year, had it rebuilt... had some suspension work done on the front... but aside from that, nothing out of the ordinary.

I don't regret my purchase.... and even with the major repairs I incurred it is still less expensive to own than my previous 92 Maxima SE .

They CAN be great cars, some seem to be moneypits, some great vehicles that aernt too bad reliablilty wise.

My big problem with them is the lack of a 5 speed(my sister who drives ours doesnt seem to mind)

If i were you id go with the A4, im not a huge AWD fan, even though i live in real snow country, i like oversteer which only a RWD can do. the A4's are good cars, they have their share of problems sure, but id bet less than the cateras... Also with the suspension, i remember when i was looking at them they made an aftermarket kit, about 500$ with stronger parts that should last forever or just about, not too bad. Also go to other places beside the dealer for service, a place that you know with alot of BMW's, Saabs, and so on in the parking lot will be more expensive than some others but way less than the dealer. Also learn (if you dont know how to already) how to change oil and whatnot, you will save big bucks on any car with easy stuff like that.


Just my $0.02