Well I am in the market for an Allante for the summertime and was wondering which model year is the best. I'd perfer a 1993, just so my 2 Cadillacs can be the start of a collection of "last model years". I originally wanted a 96-98 Eldorado Convertible cause I fell in love with a white one with blue interior on CarDomain.com. But then realized afterwards that its custom. So then I was looking online and I found the Allante and fell in love with it. And the leg room is comprable to the my Fleetwood and head room is about .7 shorter but thats all good cause its a convertable (got this info from Consumer Guide). I'm about 6'6/6'7, so leg room and head room is my main concern when purchasing a car.

A 1993 as it has the Northstar V-8, with the hardtop in:-

Mary Kay Pink = 17 made
Pearl Flax = 88 made
Teal Green =151 made
Montana Blue = 149 made

Happy LOOOOOOking ! ;)

The rest are all too common for my tastes....black, white red, maroon, silver.

Pearl Flax Below:-
http://www.cadillacforums.com/photopost/data/2/1194Allante_1993_Pearl_Flax_Yellow_a.jpg

Mary Kay Pink Below:-
http://www.cadillacforums.com/photopost/data/2/2Mary_Kay_Pink_Allante-med.JPG

I personally like the "93" but you will get arguments from all Allante owners on what they like. The 1987 because it was the first year produced. The 1990 1/2 because it got a mid year change in the top latching mechanism and some other goodies. The 1993 because of the Northstar and last year produced.

I would be glad to assist you in your search if you like, as I always like to see whats out there and I really enjoy the hunt. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

It seems almost like there are two camps with the Allante, those that are on the 87-92 side of the fence, and those that are on the 93 side. Many argue that in typical GM fashion, GM "cheapened" the Allante in its final year of production despite giving the wonderful Northstar engine. For example the pre 93 has the true expensive Recaro seats where the 93 has the standard GM issue softies. Wheel caps on the 93 are plastic where they might be metal on those before... Honestly? I dont think it really matters.

The difference of the Northstar is enough to make up for those small differences IMO. Additionally, the interior and some of the exterior of the 93 just LOOKS more modern and pleasing to the eye in some respects. Those seats for example, despite being regular GM seats, are more modern looking and really the truth is overall its the same great car. My preference (not that it matters), a 1993 in White Diamond with Chrome Wheels. Hell yes.

Another point on Allantes, they seem to be GAINING value rather than losing it like most domestic cars of the same era. Check THIS (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=154333431&dealer_id=&car_year=1993&make=CAD&distance=any&max_price=&model=ALLANT&end_year=1993&advcd_on=n&min_price=&address=67202&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1993&color=&cardist=540) out, this car may be in tip-top shape, but this guy is asking 34 grand for it, rediculous, but someone just might pay it.

I own an '89 with the 4.5.

I do like the Northstar. A lot. However, if you check prices, it tends to come at a premium, whether because it is the Northstar, or because '93 was the final year of Allante production.

If I could pick any Allante, I would be torn between a '91/'92 and a '93. By '91/'92, as with most model runs, just about all of the production issues were sorted out, and all the refinements had been integrated into the line. With '93's, you're getting newly revised electrical and other systems, and the first-year run of the powertrain.

The performance differences between the 4.5 and N* really weren't that vast, especially when you consider where the torque peaks are. As the saying goes, HP sells cars, but torque wins races. While the N* had 295HP @ 5600RPM vs the earlier Allante's 200HP @ 4400RPM, the N* torque peak of 290lb-ft occured at 4400RPM, vs the 270lb-ft @ 3200 RPM of the 4.5. When you add it that the '93 Allante weighed 300lbs more than the previous model years', I don't know if the extra $$ you pay for a Northstar is worth it if you're only looking for performance.

I can tell you my 4.5 barely, if ever gets wound up to 5600 RPM. It probably would get up there if I drove at 100MPH, but I don't spend much time up there, even though the Allante can easily do more. I'd easily give up 20 lbft to get my torque peak 1200rpm lower, especially with 300 less pounds to haul around, but I'm an old-school pushrod guy at heart - I want my torque and I want it down low in the RPM band where its usable at a stoplight.

The Recaro seats in the pre-'93s are also pretty darn awesome.

I do like the colored softtops and some of the colors that came on '93's...

I did some research before I bought one and the deciding factor for me was the brake system. That's why I bought a '93.

Well I am in the market for an Allante for the summertime and was wondering which model year is the best. I'd perfer a 1993, just so my 2 Cadillacs can be the start of a collection of "last model years". I originally wanted a 96-98 Eldorado Convertible cause I fell in love with a white one with blue interior on CarDomain.com. But then realized afterwards that its custom. So then I was looking online and I found the Allante and fell in love with it. And the leg room is comprable to the my Fleetwood and head room is about .7 shorter but thats all good cause its a convertable (got this info from Consumer Guide). I'm about 6'6/6'7, so leg room and head room is my main concern when purchasing a car.

keeping in mind that '93s are plentiful, and the avg life of cars is under 15 years, '87 to '90 are getting hard to find .. so, read up on the differences:


KEY LOCKED COMPARTMENTS - 1987 to 1989? No locks on ‘90 to ‘93?

IGNITION VATS - Introduced in the 1989 model year as an extension of the theft resistant system. A chip / resistor in ignition key.

SALES BROCHURE - The 1997 Cadillac marketing catalogue/brochure shows on it’s first entry, the Allanté as the “New Spirit of Cadillac”. A Silver/Maroon, sporting factory alloy wheels, and RED Accent stripe was photographed topless, in front of the Music Center in Los Angeles California for the catalogue /sales brochure.

1st PRODUCTION UNIT / 1st SALES UNIT - The earliest production Allanté known to have been sold is believed to be VIN# XHU100106. A Silver/Maroon with Black (Repainted) Accent Stripe and Digital Cluster, built in December, 1986 and sold in Florida. However, this was not the first production Allanté built. About 100 production units were not sold as they were used for testing, crashing and various purposes.

ALUMINUM TOP - Model years 1987 to 1989 were sold with both the canvas and aluminum tops. The aluminum top become an option for model years 1990 to 1993. Design of latches changed on Feb 1990 (90 ½ models) and those tops are known as the Phase II and were used until the 1992 model. In 1993, the Phase III top was introduced, the 1993 car now had no faux vent window, and the difference on this top is the weatherstripping only. There is a consensus that for 1993 models, 330 cars were produced as dual-top cars (xPU10xxxx) but a total of 618 Phase III hardtops made in all.

SOFT TOP - Manual latch operation for 1987 to 1990, powered latch from 1990½ to 1993. Equipped with glass rear window and electrical rear window defrost.

MAP LIGHT - With the powered latch design, the MAP light design changed in 1990½.

TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL - used in 1987 to 1990. In 1990 ½ the air bags made their appearance instead of the telescoping wheel.

FUEL TANK - Baffles inside the fuel tank were removed for model year 1993 creating sloshing sounds behind the occupants on some cars. Probably a cost savings or design flaw.

MINI COVERS - With the Phase II for the 1990½, the shape of the mini-covers changed. In models 1987 to 1990 ½ the mini covers were stored inside the soft cover boot well. On 1990 ½ the storage of the mini-covers was shifted to a pocket behind the seats.

SEAT BACK POCKETS - These were a Phase II introduction on the 1990 ½ Allanté. The pockets were designed to hold the new style mini-covers used to cover exposed hardware of at the boot cover.

COACH WORKS - Corrosion resistant zinc coated treated steel?

CHROME STRIPS - Not true chrome since these are Stainless Steel. These strips are found on the bumpers on all models. On the 1987 to early 1990 models, there is also a strip on the leading edge of the hood and fenders framing the headlights, none on 1990 ½ to ‘93..

WHEELS / RIMS - Early models 1987 & 1988 had 15" alloy rims. The 1989 to 1992 models had 16" alloy rims looking identical to the 1987-1988 wheels except for their size. The 1993 models had the two different 16" rims - an standard alloy and a chrome-over-aluminum alloy. Both had a similar “bullet” design, but the factory chrome units have a ridge around the bullet. Model years 1987 - 1992 had aluminum caps with riveted wreath and screwed on crowns. The 1993 had a cheap plastic cap with imprinted wreath and crown

ALUMINUM PANELS - The aluminum top as well as the other two aluminum body parts, the trunk lid and the hood lid, are said to have been manufactured in Switzerland.

OIL LIFE MONITOR - Installed on model year 1989 to ‘93? This unit determines the frequency of oil changes based on algorithms of usage.

SEATS - The 1987 -1992 were equipped with the outstanding leather, multi-position Keiper-Recaro seats made in Austria. The 1987 - 1988 seats had multiple segmented panels for the bolsters, and the switches top side next to the seat. The 1989 -1992 had single piece panels for the bolsters, switches facing sideways next to the seats. The 1987-1988 models had a seatbelt hoop attached to the headrest, it vanished with the 1989 models. Due to cost reductions, the 1993 models dropped the Keiper-Recaro seats and received economy old-man seats.

BOSE STEREO SOUND - The DELCO-GM / BOSE Symphony Sound System was used in the 1987-1990 models with a 100 Watt system, and in the 1991-1992 with a 200 Watt system. The 1993 model dropped the BOSE in favor of cost reduction and was shipped with an economy sound system that sounds anemic on a nosier car.

QUIET CABIN - A claim in the sales brochures of the early models was that with the top down, the advanced aerodynamics allowed for a normal conversation at 55 mph - with the “FAUX vent window”, model years 1987 to 1992. The FAUX window vanished with the1993 models, cost savings again, more road noise.

HO ENGINES (High Output) - The 4100 (170 hp) was used on 1987 - 1988, the 4500 (200 hp) was used on the 1989 to 1992, and the 1st ever 4600 (270 hp) NorthStar was introduced in the 1993 on the Allanté pace cars. The 4.1 and the 4.5 used the std blocks but had, among other things, unique pistons, crankshafts, manifolds, etc. The NorthStar was the 1st generation and has shown the usual growing pains.

LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY - A technological advance was the Exterior Lighting System. The exterior lighting system in model years 1987-1992 Allanté is one of the truly unique and advanced features. The system allows a bulb that has burned out, or is in failing mode, to be replaced with another available bulb by the BCM. For example, if the LOW headlight on the driver’s side burns out, the fog lamp on that side is turned on and the driver alerted to the failed bulb via the DIC, Redundancy is also applied for rear lights, stop lights, etc. The lighting controls actually serve to program the Body Computer Module (BCM) with your desires for the way things should be, but the BCM actually calls the plays. All of the exterior lights (and inside courtesy lights) are turned ON and OFF by small electronic devices called Output Switch Modules (OSM) by what you desire, understanding that the light unit you expect may or may not be the one turned on by the BCM as it substitutes failed bulbs or filaments to accomplish the job desired. And of course, reports failures (and in some cars failing but still working) of filaments or bulbs to the driver via the DIC.. This technological advance was deemed to extravagant for the 1993 model year and cut in favor of cost reduction..

ABS III, Bosch - Used on 1987 - 1992 Allanté. System employed, among other innovations, a nitrogen charged accumulator to control braking, skidding and stopping. Reliability is dependent on maintenance and it is said to have one of the best stopping records ever. BUT it has to be maintained.

ABS/TCS SENSORS - It is believed that the 1992 Allanté had a change in wheel’s sensors, at least as far as the ABS/TCS speed sensor pickup is concerned.

TAIL LIGHT ARRAYS COLOR - For 1987 - 1992, internal lens colored keyed in a complimentary color to the car’s color. Some of the known are: SILVER for red cars and others for which SILVER would be the best compliment; BLACK for black cars, BEIGE for the beige metallic cars, blue for Blue cars. On 1993 all cars went to the Silver, a cost reduction.
TAIL LIGHT ARRAYS - Displayed the Silver strips for all 1993 models; Black, Silver Gold, Beige, Blue, etc ... for 1987 to 1992 models.

TAIL LIGHT ARRAY BULBS - later

TRACTION CONTROL - Installed on the 1990 ½ to 1992 Allanté models. Traction control is an electro - mechanical enhancement to the basic Bosch III ABS. 1993 not?

STRUTS - Model years 1987 - 1988 had passive struts, 1989 to 1993 had electrical driven variable damping struts. Availability of OEM replacements on the later, terminated. However, the passive struts can be used after disabling the SDD messages on the DIC.

AIR BAGS - Installed on the 1990 ½ to 1993 Allanté models.

EXPRESS WINDOWS - Installed on models years 1989 and on.

DOOR LATCHES - The door latches on all 1987 to 1992 Allanté are identical, with the sturdy tapered pin which locks the door to the body perfectly. The door latch on a 1993 Allanté is identical to the cheap economy 1997 Lumina latch - a cost savings.

EMBLEM-NORTHSTAR - The Northstar fender emblem was placed on the 1993 models. Some units display a sticker, some display the metal emblem.

A 1993 as it has the Northstar V-8, with the hardtop in:-

Mary Kay Pink = 17 made
Pearl Flax = 88 made
Teal Green =151 made
Montana Blue = 149 made

Happy LOOOOOOking ! ;)

The rest are all too common for my tastes....black, white red, maroon, silver.

Pearl Flax Below:-
http://www.cadillacforums.com/photopost/data/2/1194Allante_1993_Pearl_Flax_Yellow_a.jpg

Mary Kay Pink Below:-
http://www.cadillacforums.com/photopost/data/2/2Mary_Kay_Pink_Allante-med.JPG

as collectors go, cool to own one of those .. i think ... :rolleyes:

as daily or frequent drivers go, there IS a reason :bighead: why so few of those colors were made ...

as speed demons go, maybe the Teal would be good, but stealthy colors keep the blinking red light from off our behinds .. and speed demons :devil: these cars are ...

So by reading that really long post a 93 isnt all that its cracked up to be. I'm now thinking 92 is the way to go.

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.

So by reading that really long post a 93 isnt all that its cracked up to be. I'm now thinking 92 is the way to go.

sorry for the long post .. but then, those are FACTS, not opinions ...

u may also want to check this next thread dealing with parts and cost of such:

http://66.34.30.72/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=talk;action=display;num=1068665462; start=

lol






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I would base my purchase decision on several things. Year model being down the list quite a ways. Make sure that the vehicle has a documented service history. (much more important for pre-"93" models with the Bosch brake systems. Improper maintence of the brake system in earlier models could cost you some serious money if the brakes fail, and if they do fail you will not be able to stop. Do not drive an Allante with the brake warning light on if you value your life and the life of your passenger. They are a great brake system if maintained properly, and easy to maintain if you purchase a pre 1993 model.

Mileage would be a second concern only if you plan to resale the vehicle, otherwise its not that important to me as long as the care has been maintained and appearence is OK. There are several high mileage Allantes out there that I would be proud to own. Most Allante owners are cultish about there cars and take care of them better than their own childern.

I would suggest that you look at Ebay to gauge the going rate on Allantes. Check current auctions and concluded auctions to determine market value. Many owners try to sell there cars on the Allante specific web sites and are asking a fourtune for them. I would not pay $30,000 for a low mileage Allante when you can pick one up for around $20,000 on Ebay. Maybe less if you are patient. Chris and Stealth were right on target with there comments, however the final decision is up to you.

Whatever you decide, make sure you are happy with your purchase and have done your homework. You can get advice here or the AAG web site, and many owner that might happen to live near a vehicle would be happy to look at it with you to ensure that you get a good one. I am a member of the AAG, and the cost of the membership pays for itself in the knowledge base of the members and their experience. It would pay you join the group and get involved in their organization. I bought my 1993 based on personal preference, but I think I would have been just as happy with a pre 1993 model. I like the "Old Man Seats", but wish I had the Bose Stereo. I like the Northstar, but could live with the 4.1 or 4.5L engine. I encourage you to spend some time on the AAG site and do as much research as possible before you make up your mind to buy. Lots of good advice out there, but remember that many of us might be just a little one sided as to which year model to buy. Just make sure that YOU are happy with whatever you decide upon.

I would base my purchase decision on several things. Year model being down the list quite a ways. Make sure that the vehicle has a documented service history. (much more important for pre-"93" models with the Bosch brake systems. Improper maintence of the brake system in earlier models could cost you some serious money if the brakes fail, and if they do fail you will not be able to stop. Do not drive an Allante with the brake warning light on if you value your life and the life of your passenger. They are a great brake system if maintained properly, and easy to maintain if you purchase a pre 1993 model.

.........................







AJB,

do read the thread link above ...
Allante North is partially correct .. partially ...

ABS system needs does maint, and so does the brakes pads and the tires and the trans and the top and the ...... . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . .

cost?

accumulator: rebuilt about $300, used about $50
Master cyl: rebuilt w/ accumulator: $1000, used $150
high press pumpt: new $250, used $30, rebuilt $ ??

trust me, been there, done that ......

==========

more critical in my opinion, on both the 4.1 & 4.5 engines, is COOLANT maint .. if THAT has been compromised, the seals will fail and now you got MAJOR BUCKS, no IFs, NO buts .. $2,000 is not uncommon here .....

and the '93 NorthStar has its history of seal issues, but u gotta do your homework there, repairs for that can exceed $4,000

in ALL the cases above, if u know what u are doing you can check, test, verify integrity of system BEFORE u buy .. OR buy cheap and assume some of the costs will hit you (that is the way i do it) and budget it in the purchase price ....

lol

Id still say stick with a 93, and if not a 92, the negatives in that post above really seem to be quite minor quirks and the car overall has a more modern look and feel in some of even the "cheaper" components. Of all the negatives on the 93,the only thing that would be a major consideration for me is the lack of the Bose stereo which is absolutely rediculous to be missing on a car of this level. On the flip-side of the coin, extravagances like that customized Lighting System would actually be something id run from rather than desire, as those are exactly the kind of electronic components than begin to exhibit failure after a number of years and are difficult to find and expensive to repair. Agreed with Allante North* however that if youve got two cars in front of you, and the 91 has a better service history, condition and less owner hand-offs thats a no brainer, also agreed that this kind of car is quite a responsibility to keep running in any form, just like the Buick Regatta and some other semi-unusual GM cars around that time. Definitely need to have patience and dedication to keep these guys in tip-top shape.

Whatever year you get you will love, take your time!

Items new for '93 model year.

Road Sensing Suspension
Speed Sensitive Steering
New design rear suspension with dual short/long a-arms
New Bosch ABS brake system with larger front and rear rotors
New 2nd Gen Traction Control
Equal length drive axles to reduce torque steer
Spoiler added to front fascia
Larger fuel tank made of plastic added
Side mirrors moved forward for better rear vision
Auto dim interior mirror
Cup holder added to center armrest
Door latches changed to new design so 93 now meets 97 side impact standard
Seats orthopedically designed to have better lateral support
Seating area wider
Seat controls redesigned to replicate seat position for ease of use


I haven't mentioned the drivetrain because the new engine and transmission are pretty much a given. Oh, and the 93 does have locking compartments.

i didnt want to let the cat out of the bag too early but i now know which one to look for 89-90 , i want the tilt telescope wheel ....been on the prowl for a few weeks , fell in love with a 93 white diamond tan interior for 15k with 44k ont he clock but i really dont want to much of a car payment (wanna stay around 10k)

im still thinkin about getting the 93 tho , i guess ill go reseacrh northstars a little

I'll tell you one thing, the seats in my 93 Allante are a heck of a lot more comfortable than the ones in my 98 Seville.

I have been looking at the Allante's for over 4 years now. I would not buy the 1993 model. The last real Allante was built in 1992. In 93, they changed the seats, to a more Cadillac soft seat. They changed the motor to the North Star which was a good thing, except it's not really needed except over 75 mph. They changed most of the dash to look more Cadillac and they also softened the suspension. ekkk

buy a 92, you'll love it!
Ed

The 93 seats are firm and very supportive. They're easier to adjust since you don't have to look down to see what button you're hitting. The suspension on 93's was changed to an active system. Not softer, just different. The brakes are pretty much trouble free and are larger than earlier models. The dash is the same as it's always been. Having the Northstar, I've found it's easier to get the dealer to work on it since it's still a current drivetrain system.

I did research too and am quite happy with my 93. If you really want to choose for yourself, try as many as you can and see what's best for you.

I'm going to stick my nose into this.

1st, I own a '93 so I'm biased.

After reading literally over 1000 posts from Allante owners of all years I've come to the conclusion buying a low mileage '93 is the only way to go.

Reasons:
1. No droopy visors! Seems to be a big problem in older models. The '93 uses Eldorado or Seville visors so replacement is easy to come by whereas older Allante's used a unique visor. Replaements are not available to my knowledge.
2. Northstar engine (parts availability excellent)
3. The tranny (best of all years produced for Allante); an excellent performer
4. The seats. Controls are straight forward unlike the Recardo's; 3 switches instead of 6 or 7- too many to go wrong. '93 seats are full leather Eldorado seats so all parts readily available in junk yards cheap.
5. Northstar engine (doesnt' require the critical care as previous years)
6. Brakes. Standard Cadillac disk brakes. Older years are VERY costly to maintain plus finding someone who can do the job right isn't easy. Any brake shop can take care of '93 brake system.)
7. Cupholder in center console (most everyone who owns an older Allante wish they had that feature.
8. Speakers. Not Bose but standard Cadillac. They do not have the multi-amplifer replacement problem that is common on all previous year models and quite costly to repair.)
9. Northstar engine. More HP than all previous models.
10. No vent windows. (Cleaner look)
11. Exterior lighting system. (Less complicated than previous models)
12. The seats. (Personal opinion. I don't like the looks of the Recardo seats; especially if they have that large plactic loop guiding the seatbelt. I don't like the plastic seatbelt retractors on the the '98 and newer Sevilles either.)
13. The headrests. Two way adjustable. They also kinda match the overall appearance of the Allante which to me is square-ish. The recardo headrests are curved which don't really match the square corners of the interior. Again, personal opinion).
14. The seatbelts. (I hate seatbelts when they don't fit over me properly. On the '93 they fit perfectly! Very comfortable. Plus they don't hold you to the seat if you want to move forward or reach to the passenger footwell.
15. The Northstar exterior emblem treatment. (Still seen on today's Cadillacs)
16. The top cover. (Personal opinion: I like the looks of the domed top cover vice the flat deck cover, or sculptured looking cover.)
17. Older models are more likely to have split, discolored or curled dash on top.
18. Pre '93s seem to have a problem with soft top wearing a hole on either side just aft of side windows.
19. Some '93 have color matching tops. I also like the material used on the '93 tops. Its cloth like. I honestly don't know if the same material is used on older Allantes.
20. Suspension. If you like the basic Cadillac ride, the '93 duplicates it quite well in the city but stiffens up nicely as you move past 40mph. The car is VERY stable at speeds above 100 mph. Actual top speed on the '93 is 145 MPH. I don't know about earlier versions.
21. The Northstar engine. It was an Indianapolis Pace car and was the only pace car ever (up to that time) that did not require ANY modifications to the body, cooling, engine or brakes before going on the track. Pace cars must be able to take the cars around at ~120 MPH before they hit the starting line.
22. When the '93 was designed Cadillac did not expect it would be the last year of production therefore their latest technology in electricals, suspension and powertrain when into it.
23. The wheels (I believe early models had 15" wheels). Only the '93 had the factory chrome wheel option.
24. I installed the SuperChips super chip and a K&N filter which raised the Northstars HP to over 305; possibly more.
Some people like to say the '93 was slightly cheapened by the loss of the BOSE system and the replacement of the Recardos with standard Eldorado seats but its my opinion that only reduces the longterm maintence of the vehicle by the fact that parts for those items are readily available and cheaper to replace/repair. I guess its a tradeoff.

Remember, I'm biased towards '93s because its the only Allante I've owned, but I've owned many Cadillacs over the years and this one so far is overall the coolest one of them all (the '62 convert w/buckets seats is a close second though).

Since I became an owner only one year ago I've had no serious issues or repairs required. I've had to replace the rearview mirror but that was at no cost. I had to replace the CD player but that is common on older Cadillacs and Buicks (they used the same model).

Overall I have absolutely no complaints.

My brother has owned 3 Allantes; an '89, a '90 and currently owns a '93. If you asked him I believe he'd say his favorite was the '90. He bought it new off the showroom floor at the time.

Scroll through posts at this link http://www.allante.com/discussion_frm.htm
You might begin to see a pattern emerge that fits your liking, or not.

..rickko..

well one thing is for sure i want to avoid the bose audio system at all cost

I found an 1987 today for $7000. I'm going back to drive it on Saturday. The car looks real good even though the paint is a little faded, the interior looks good. Looks real good under the hood. The dealer is telling me that the 4100 runs strong. I'm looking forward to Saturday! This pic is not the car, just one I like. Hardtop included........Tom
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/nycapdistcadlasalle/2001GP/Swanson%27s%201988%20Allante.jpg

Hello and welcome ThomasO, :welcome:

There are many Allante owners on the AAG Board that might join you when you look at the one you found if they live near you and the car. Let us know where you and the car are located and maybe someone will offer to join you when you check it out. If that does not work out, then try to determine as much vehicle history as you can thru maintence records and history codes.

Also try to determine from the seller if he/she maintained the brakes and cooling system.

Good Luck,

Don

Thanks A. North, as it's turning out, I may not get back there till next week. Something has come up and I think I will be out of town, so it will now be next week I believe. I live in Asheville, NC. and will go check out this car ASAP. If anyone lives in the area, I'd be pleased to have them come along. Thanks again for the suggestion........TomHello and welcome ThomasO, :welcome:

There are many Allante owners on the AAG Board that might join you when you look at the one you found if they live near you and the car. Let us know where you and the car are located and maybe someone will offer to join you when you check it out. If that does not work out, then try to determine as much vehicle history as you can thru maintence records and history codes.

Also try to determine from the seller if he/she maintained the brakes and cooling system.

Good Luck,

Don

So, did any of you guys that were looking at Allantes pick one up?

I own an '87 Allante and love the car... it's a slick looking convertible with great styling.
But, the '87-'89s were a bit maintenance prone.
Things got better in '90, '91, and '92.
Most Allante aficionadoes consider the 90.5 model to be a great car! Not quite as "finished" as the '93 was, when Cadillac began to get it right.
I'd say, if money's an issue get the 90.5, if not, I'd get a good, low mileage '93 model.
Check out the Allante Appreciation Group on the web. They have a great site at: allante@pointers.com or www.allante.us
It is certainly a unique machine and will get lots of stares and folks strolling up to ask, "What the hell's that?"

Cheers... Misty145

"Design of latches changed on Feb 1990 (90 ½ models) and those tops are known as the Phase II and were used until the 1992 model."

This is my first post. I've been lurking for some time while I was hunting for an Allante. I am happy to say that I purchased a 92, champagne/neutral with 84,000 miles Sunday and I'm on my way to California tomorrow to pick it up. :D I live in Vancouver BC. This site has been a great help in deciding what year to buy. After reading all the info, particularly in this thread, I decided on the 91/92. I am already looking for a hardtop for the car as we get a fair amount of rain here. My first question to all of you is will the earlier tops fit my car because of the different latches?? :hmm:
Thanks very much
Harvey

Welcome and Congrats on your new to you Allante! Older tops can be converted to fit your Allante, but you should try to get one year specific if possible for best fit. You might want to lurk on the other Allante specific web sites for more information. Lots of good people and advice to be had there. Be prepared to give her the once over several times when you get her home. They just love attention and will bite your wallet if left unattended. Most of all, drop that top and feel the wind blow through whats left of your hair if your like me. Lets see some pics when you get her all cleaned up and ready for the road.

I made it home this afternoon. 1350 miles, 64.5 mph and 23.4 mpg. I'm pleased with the mpg considering the speed. What a GREAT handling car. I never drove one on the highway until Wednesday when I picked it up. I am very impressed. I spent 13 hours in the car yesterday without any back pain or tiredness. I attribute that to those great seats. Anyway, the car has a few "Allante quirks"...cd doesn't work, speakers buzzy (static) and the trans doesn't like shifting back to OD after it kicks down to third. The car was from the LA area so the interior needs a good cleaning which I will do tomorrow. Once she's all cleaned up I'll post a pic or two. By the way, yes I am of the age where the wind has no hair to blow. Sure saves a lot on brushes and combs! LOL Thanks again to everyone's assistance with their posts. I wouldn't have bought an Allante without it.
Cheers
Harvey

I made it home this afternoon. 1350 miles, 64.5 mph and 23.4 mpg. I'm pleased with the mpg considering the speed. What a GREAT handling car. ..., speakers buzzy ...
Congrats! Sounds like you had a great trip!

One tip on the speakers. I've heard from a shop that that is the audio sub-contractor for the Cadillac dealers in my area for Bose speakers in GM cars this one mantra- Don't use them until you get them fixed. The more they are used, the worse they'll get and the more expensive it will be to repair them.

Apparently, that static noise you hear is the first sign of them failing. In the beginning the repairs are fairly easy, only a few components need replacing. If you continue to use them they will eventually require entire modular (amplifier I think) replacements which gets real spendy.

Hope you enjoy your new car as much as many of us Allante owners enjoy ours!

Good luck!
..rickko..

I just posted my 1993 Pearl Red Allante in the classifieds section. Will upload pictures this weekend.
Gary

Hi, this is a great thread. I am pleased with the amount of knowledge that the many owners have. I was the Allante lead development engineer thruout the life of the car. A case can be made for selecting many variants of the car. In my mind the most collectible car is the 93 with the Northstar. It is too bad the car was stopped for economic reasons (GM was bleeding red ink at the time.) We had the 94 ready to go with power soft top, revised interior, more structure, revised chassis tuning and more overall refinement. A little known fact is that about the last 300 -93 cars were built with the structure enhancements and revised tuning because the 94 bodies were already in the line when the car was cancelled. The easiest way to tell if you have one of these is that the upper half of the body mounts were urethane (Yellow brownish in color). As a road going pleasant sport touring car my choice would be the 91-92 car because by that time most of the cars problems had been addressed as we contiued to refine the car each year. My advice would be to find a well cared for car that fits the price range that you can afford and enjoy it! Catera V

I just found this site and have learned a lot about my '92 Allanté already. I've had the car about 3 years, and enjoy it a lot. I joined the Allanté Owner's Assoc. shortly after buyin the car and learned that my VIN indicated the car originally came with a hardtop (has an R, not an S). After searching some on eBay, I found one the right year & colors (Black/charcoal). I think it's the original one for my car, since '92 was the lowest production year (less than 2000) due to the '93 Northstar being introduced early in the year in order to be the Indy Pace Car.
Anyone reading this thread and looking to buy an Allanté will of course have decide on their own, but I do love my Recaro seats. Besides the "Monsoon" stereo I've heard in VW Beetles, I've not heard any other factory system that sounded any better. Not to say they don't have problems, but AllantéSource.com is a GREAT resource for keeping costs down on maintaining these Italian "exotics"!!
By the way, both my glove compartment and console have locks. I do miss a place for a cup. The somewhat difficult (but very compact) top mechanism, along with the price that came from the longest production line in history, with 2 Atlantic flights involved, probably were responsible for the demise of these essentially hand built cars. Too bad that '94 didn't make it, and the retractable hardtop model I've found online would probably have saved the line.
Looking forward to more comments here.

Stealth:

93 active struts are expensive, but still available.
The V4J 93's have a fully baffled fuel tank.
Both the painted and chrome 93 wheels have metal center caps.
93s have a fully integrated traction control.
The Allante Northstar systems are rated at 295 HP.

Is Teal Green the same as Polo Green on the '93? If not, how many Polo Green?

No, teal is a different color. About 150 teal green were produced in 1993, versus 960 polo green.

Just to point out one of many things that i could in this thread, in reguards to the N* vs. the 4.5, and the bose. first the bose is an easy fix and sounds real good when working, not like todays cars, but not bad at all for the time, i replaced all 4 amps in my car last year not too hard. and as far as i know all parts you need for the 4.5 are still around and readily avaible, dont forget they may still make northstars, but there a completly different engine today than they were in 93, also from what i know they can be semi prone to oil leaks. The 4.5 had been around for many years when the allante got it, and by that time it was a trouble free engine, as was said before if you want to go over 100mph consistently id say go for the N*, but otherwise i think the 92 and earliers are the better choice, esspescially is $$ is a consideration. Just a side note, the techs at my local dealer when i first was talking to them about my car were glad it had a 4.5, because if it ever had a problem as they said those engines are way simpler to work on.

Gents thanx for all the information I was able to review on the beloved Allante--I need a summer ride & cannot find a better value--Since my daliy driver has Northstar in it, I want to stay with one so a 93 is for me! I wanted to know if a code can be found and were it is that will tell me if the car has the V4J improvements (last 300). Also do any of u know were I can find one with low miles close by-- I live north of the Windy City--I am ready to buy now and color is not that important other than no teals please!
thanx!
847-217-1976

I've got a 1993 I'm getting ready to put up for sale it's polo green with tan interior and 34000 miles PM me if interested.:)

please email me at leb714@aol.com the specifics
the site would not let me PM u

Thanx Larry B

My 93 is always for sale.... 63k miles. Black. See the signature block... email darren@siddled.com for more info.

Re - your V4J comment.
V4J was not limited to the last 300 cars. As far as I know, more that 1/2 of the 93's have the V4J update. To find out, look under the spare tire in the trunk well at the RPO sticker. If the car is V4J, that's where it will be noted.

I've read a few comments that there were other, mostly suspension related, changes in the last 300 or so cars. Those were buildouts, so I guess it's possible that they got "improved for '94' " parts, but I've never heard of any confirmation of that as fact. I keep that one in the myth category until proven otherwise.

Steve

I've owned a '92 (new) and two '93's. (Down to one '93). I loved all of them, To argue about which year is 'best' is kinda like trying to decide whether to marry a blonde, brunette or redhead before you meet them! (Allante's are somewhat like women, lots of work - but lot's of fun, they can be demanding, and sometimes they won't talk to you, (or run properly).

I agree that maintenance is the issue. NOT year or miles.

I have seen some 'hanger queens' that were not driven for months, and I'd prefer one that has been driven some, (and maintained), to a low milage car that becomes your worst nightmare. (Kinda like a beauty queen without makeup).

I do track Allante prices, and in my opinion NOW, (May 2006), is the time to buy, as prices are starting to escalate rapidly. Choose the color you like in a well maintained Allante and enjoy the heck out of it. (Just don't forget to change the fluids and buy it a card on your anniversary!)

20413I have a cheap one in san diego for you, yes, the best year, 1993, 103k miles, no accidents, needs minor tlc

cant believe this thread is still running ..
suggest you read the 1st page of this thread.

so, again, better? better at what?

like Brian B. said, it is like a woman.
better in the kitchen? in bed? in socials? at sports? etc..
havent met one woman that is better at all those.


from another thread:

i guess i gotta put in my two cents ..
sell the 81 T-Top Vette? is she CRAZY?
never mind that, strike that. let her have both and see what happens.
i know for one, i wouldnt sell a vintage Vette.

buy an Allante, keep the Vette.
which model? the 1992 hands down.
even the Allantesource's Dick super mechanic has done
a turn due to the serious and expensive repairs on the '93's.
he recommends a '92 as myself and many Allante owners do.
and i own a '88.

historically, the '92 was the best of the best - fact, not opinion.

the '93 was the start of a new generation that never got
off the ground and only succeeded in introducing the Northstar.
GM punched out tons of '93's, so they are easy to find,
and lots of owners stand by them.
the '93 in a track, will only run side by side
against a '92, until they hit about 130mph and then the
'93 will move forward. if you need that, then the '93 is the one,
if not, consider the OEM package of each model, consider the
history and cost of repairs and i know which one will win.

one last comment? at 60mph, the '87s to '92s, will stop faster than
the '93s by a couple of car lengths. how much is THAT worth?

the '87s to '92s stop straighter than ANY American car
made prior to 2000.
the '93s are avg at best in stopping.
how much is any of THAT worth?










.




by Allantesource
Aug 30th, 2006

There is a definite reliability gap between the early Northstars and the 4.5's.
Now that GM is not replacing Northstars under warranty, that alone is a real
good reason to opt for a Phase 2. The head bolt problem is expensive to fix,
not to mention the oil leaks and the plenum issues.

One interesting note from CKucia at the beginning of this thread is that the Northstar car has 300lbs of extra dead weight than the 92 car. Additionally, the torque of 270lbs peaks at a much lower rpm than the N* car. Stealth, you also provided some amazing facts at the beginning of this thread which leads me to ask.....Has anyone provided a power-to-weight ratio of the 92 v/s the 93 car? The N* wins in track tests overall, but only past 50 or 60 mph. Three hundred pounds is a lot of dead weight to be lugging around!

This is an interesting thought since most street racing only go to alittle over 60mph...

What was the 0-60 and 1/4 mile for each year of the Allante?

i believe the racing stats are somewhere, i will hunt them
down when i get a chance.

i also believe that the gas tank in the '93 is a bit larger to compensate
for the lower mpg, which is in part due to the extra poundage C.K. pointed out.

REPLY #5 & #7 offer hard facts about the different model years
from '87 to '93.

to the untrained eye, hood down, they all look the same, they all call
attention, but as i said before, unless you are spinning them rpms high at
double digit speeds you will hardly tell the difference.

i do love the clean engine compartment of the '93 N.S., but there are
other things around the car that keep sending me back to the '91/'92.

there is actually no significant differences between
the 90 1/2 to '92 Phase II models.

on the other hand, picking up a nice Hard Top '88 in this Feb 2007 can be done for under $3,000 where as my Hard Top equipped '92 (i wish) runs about 3X that and the '93's even more, much more. i can buy enough '88s to hand off to each driver of my family for the price of one '93, unless its a high mileage (100,000 miles) and no Hard Top, where the '93 prices plummet severely.

let me point out to the "collector" minded that recently several 3,000 mile
'93s have SOLD for around $25k to $30k. these cars were LIKE NEW
and someone shelled out around $60k for each, only 13 yers ago. investment?






.

I'm still miffed as to what you mean by extensive and expensive repairs on the 93's. Other than the early n*'s leaking what else? Caddy replaced my whole engine complete under warranty in the summer of 2k. That was only an EARLY 93 problem. With the JCS data base we can determine those from the rest. But seriously, what else?

G.A.R.Y.

ok .. who are you refering to?


I'm still miffed as to what you mean by extensive and expensive repairs on the 93's. Other than the early n*'s leaking what else? Caddy replaced my whole engine complete under warranty in the summer of 2k. That was only an EARLY 93 problem. With the JCS data base we can determine those from the rest. But seriously, what else?

G.A.R.Y.

your '93 already got all those things fixed under warranty.
good fortune smiles upon your '93. a definite keeper.

can i get a '92 with a NorthStar? I would like that.
or
can i get a '93 with all the goddies of the 90.1/2 to '92s? i woud like that.

ok .. who are you refering to?




your '93 already got all those things fixed under warranty.
good fortune smiles upon your '93. a definite keeper.

can i get a '92 with a NorthStar? I would like that.
or
can i get a '93 with all the goddies of the 90.1/2 to '92s? i woud like that.

It was in one of your threads, I'll look later. I'm just starting to get used to OUR new site, I'm starting to like it.

G.A.R.Y.

I have to admit that 92s can be expensive as well, other than the Bosch III. Namely, the first edition strikers for the softtop are too wide. Softtops have a tendency to fly back at 70mph with a passing semi. GM apparently learned of this fault and provided free strikers of a narrower rail as of 1999. If you are running around with first edition strikers in your 90.5 to 93, you might run into an expensive softtop repair or damaged trunk lid if your not careful. I was lucky and none of my car body was hurt. However, my softtop doesn't fold in the boot well anymore. Looks like it may have to be removed for a temporary solution. In the meantime, I have the second version strikers on order. Having the wrong strikers is nothing to fool around about. I made it two years without them and now I'm paying the price.

all cars are expensive to fix.

luckily the '88s dont have the top issue and dont think i will ever use the spare.
maybe it is time i dump my spare soft top in ebay. maybe i will dismantle it and
sell it in pieces (canvas is shot), linkages and such. the crate uses too much room.
last summer i put on the hard top and havent felt like taking off.
specially since i got another ragtop to drive, with a powered ragtop.



doesnt anyone remember why Cadillac made 7 different models over
the 7 years of production?





.

Well according to the auction in Palm beach this weekend, the 93 is the one to own. For the purpose of this post I'm not saying it's the best (altough I think it is) allante, but it does command the most money. No surprise there.

Well I am in the market for an Allante for the summertime and was wondering which model year is the best. I'd perfer a 1993, just so my 2 Cadillacs can be the start of a collection of "last model years". I originally wanted a 96-98 Eldorado Convertible cause I fell in love with a white one with blue interior on CarDomain.com. But then realized afterwards that its custom. So then I was looking online and I found the Allante and fell in love with it. And the leg room is comprable to the my Fleetwood and head room is about .7 shorter but thats all good cause its a convertable (got this info from Consumer Guide). I'm about 6'6/6'7, so leg room and head room is my main concern when purchasing a car.

Word on the street is that the 93 is a much more reliable car than the earlier models.

Ed

Actually the z06 is more reliable, nice car dude!!

Any Allante is the best to buy, can be had as a servicable vehicle from $3,000+ to the $20,000 that some N* bring. My old buddy Flacko93 says that the initiation fee for belonging to the Allante community is $2,000 (repair cost after purchase) and I'll bet he isn't to fasr off the mark! Speakers, brakes and other initial costs are there but well worth the effort.

As some of you know, we have a reasonable facsimile of the Allante window sticker being set up for your down loading and personalizing with your info. Good enough for local car shows etc. but certainly not an exact repo. Free for the asking, so if interested just ask!. as part of that project, we are looking for all option pricing by MY. Any help would be appreciated!

Having owned a 87, 91 and now a 93, I believe the 93 is the ONLY one to own.
All the reason stated, especially those posted by Rickko.
Buy a 93 and you will be very pleased.

didnt we say that the best Allante is the one you own?
all you have done is confirm that.



Having owned a 87, 91 and now a 93, I believe the 93 is the ONLY one to own.
All the reason stated, especially those posted by Rickko.
Buy a 93 and you will be very pleased.

Having owned a 87, 91 and now a 93, I believe the 93 is the ONLY one to own.
All the reason stated, especially those posted by Rickko.
Buy a 93 and you will be very pleased.


This is a good post to be on top, don't y'all think?

Walter:

All 1990 Allantes had the driver's side air bags, so the early 90 steering column (probably) doesn't telescope either.

JCS

Having owned a 87, 91 and now a 93, I believe the 93 is the ONLY one to own.
All the reason stated, especially those posted by Rickko.
Buy a 93 and you will be very pleased.


I still think that this is a good post to be on top. And JCS, good to see you at a different arena, even if it's this one.

.




my '88 doesnt overheat, at any speed.

.

a garage queen it is not.

.

she collects road rash by the day.

.


did i mention, never overheats?










.

Dear Stealth

And your point??? I've had my 93 for 13 years and never once overheated. You can't possibly drive yours any harder then I drive mine. I'm sure we both put them through their paces. Having said that, you have a great looking older person's car.......................LOL

hey buddy ...

it is pretty hard to overheat a car, any car, sitting in the garage .. no?

At any case, i was actually referring to a different car than yours.
you jumped into someone else's shoes.

my guess, yours, is far from the avg maintained car.
I wouldnt expect yours to overheat at most speeds.




.

hey buddy ...

it is pretty hard to overheat a car, any car, sitting in the garage .. no?

At any case, i was actually referring to a different car than yours.
you jumped into someone else's shoes.

my guess, yours, is far from the avg maintained car.
I wouldnt expect yours to overheat at most speeds.




.


Okay, I don't wanna be in someone else's shoes. As far as being maintained, you are correct. As for garage queen, I would prefer resting in another part of the country. A (I know you didn't say this) garage queen (to me) is someone that has access to the car everyday but never drives it. Mine doesn't live with me, but only for the time being. Can't wait to fly up and drive it back after the appropriate arrangements have been made. I will still defer to Dunitalls post on this subject.

G.A.R.Y.

Okay, I don't wanna be in someone else's shoes. As far as being maintained, you are correct. As for garage queen, I would prefer resting in another part of the country. A (I know you didn't say this) garage queen (to me) is someone that has access to the car everyday but never drives it. Mine doesn't live with me, but only for the time being. Can't wait to fly up and drive it back after the appropriate arrangements have been made. I will still defer to Dunitalls post on this subject.

G.A.R.Y.

huuhhhhhh ?

i said "queen" ? you read what is not there my friend.

ohhh no .. not on yours, would i ever say that.
many others, yes .. not on yours.
i know where yours is, and why.

you and i been around each other too long to know better.
and that on at least three different sites ...

Having owned a 87, 91 and now a 93, I believe the 93 is the ONLY one to own.
All the reason stated, especially those posted by Rickko.
Buy a 93 and you will be very pleased.




16,761 ('87 to '92) Allante owners disagree with 4,670 ('93) owners.
SPECIALLY for the reasons the Rickko stated or should i say avoided.

the day WILL COME, as the numbers change with attrition,
when all these silly arguments become unimportant.

I dont believe for a second, that on the end, the '93 will reign as the one to own.
not for a second. The early NorthStar continues to fight a problem of
reputation and that is not going away any time soon. just like the early
4100 which 25 years later, people shy away from it - but none of those early
4100's ever made it into any Allante. So, the Allante was exempt.

the future IS ALL ABOUT REPUTATION, and NUMBERS - meaning
quantity and condition of car.

funny thing is, that the more people go with the N* misconception, the part'g and
scrap'g of the early Allantes by the hundreds, accelerates - on the long run, THAT is
good for the early surviving units. again, the future will be about QUANTITY ..
nothing less, nothing more.

Allante prices have all but plummeted in the past couple of years .. and some
early units are now closing and exceeding some '93 units in price .. wowww ..
we didnt see that coming?

of course, if you definition of "best" is a very narrow definition of the
0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds, well go with the '93.

however, if we are talking broader definitions, that is still to be decided,
and there are 8 different models competing, some may even say 9 models.
















..

Stealth

Look at my post again especially the part between ( ). I know you didn't say garage queen.

Additionally, as you know, I disagree stongly with your prediction regarding allantes, I am not alone. Car show hosts and radio show hosts and the experts they interview are all in agreement (as far as I've heard) that the 93 will be the allante that will appreciate in value, if any of them will one day. Remember I sold my 92 and kept the much better running 93. LOL.

Stealth

Look at my post again especially the part between ( ). I know you didn't say garage queen.

Additionally, as you know, I disagree stongly with your prediction regarding allantes, I am not alone. Car show hosts and radio show hosts and the experts they interview are all in agreement (as far as I've heard) that the 93 will be the allante that will appreciate in value, if any of them will one day. Remember I sold my 92 and kept the much better running 93. LOL.

somehow, i never figured you as one to follow the "experts".

there have now been several '92 models selling at about the same
price as the '93, for similar condition and mileage.

All models are dropping in price, but seems the '93s are doing a little
bit faster.

What i know about collections is that the only things that
count are quantity and demand.

Only time will tell ...

My guess, when all that happens, i will not be in possession
of one, any year.









.

Most of my commenting is just bantering, and fun. However when it's time for quantity to be the reason for appreciation there won't be that many 93's left either. And I stongly agree with you that I will not own any year Allante by the time that happens, unless I move back to Bucks county and start driving her again.

hey, you know it, i know it .. some still hang on.

IMO, a H.D. or Indian scooter has a better hold value and future value.
no?

Interesting stuff....

Well I am in the market for an Allante for the summertime and was wondering which model year is the best. I'd perfer a 1993, just so my 2 Cadillacs can be the start of a collection of "last model years". I originally wanted a 96-98 Eldorado Convertible cause I fell in love with a white one with blue interior on CarDomain.com. But then realized afterwards that its custom. So then I was looking online and I found the Allante and fell in love with it. And the leg room is comprable to the my Fleetwood and head room is about .7 shorter but thats all good cause its a convertable (got this info from Consumer Guide). I'm about 6'6/6'7, so leg room and head room is my main concern when purchasing a car.


last model?

1990 was the last of the Phase I
1992 was the last of the Phase II
1993 well .. it was the the Phase III

compare the differences of each.
do a Google on < Allante XYZ Facts >
post #7 by yours truly, in this thread, has most of the facts

I'm stuck .. dont want to go the '93 and dont want to go back to the Phase I cars. That leaves '91 & '92 for me.

Im looking for one now too, Looks like 92 is the best to buy from what I have read..........

Im looking for one now too, Looks like 92 is the best to buy from what I have read..........

I'm not trying to screw you up, however I had a 92 and a 93. I sold the 92 and kept the 93 for 14 years. If you have time and money and are mechanically inclined and THINK that the 92 may be worth more in the future then go for it. I don't believe that any of them will be collectibles however from what I have read and heard the 93 has the best chance.

The question of collectivity will not be answered in a very long time.

however .. let me add some comments ..

PHASE-I Allante -
- The Allante 4100 engine is darn good, better, more reliable, and more powerful than any of the other 4100 engines in the Cadillac fleet.
- The transmissions aint so hot, a solenoid can bring the car to a halt. Solenoids are no longer avail.
- The floppy visors issue is enough for me to recommend against the Phase-I cars. I learned to hate that about my car, I removed mine in frustration.
- The soft top quirks is also enough for me to recommend against the Phase-I cars. A huge pain in the a** if you use the soft top.

PHASE-II Allante -
- The 4500 engine is cheap to replace and cheap to repair .. and powerful - for some unk reason, GM underrated it at 200 hp.
- The transmissions kits are available.
- These cars still have the full range of electronics, on-board diagnostics, technology.
- If you like KP-Recaro seats, the 1992 is the end of the line. After that, you have to go to MB, Lexus, BMW or others to find them.
- If you understand the Bosch III ABS, the fastest stopping ABS in the auto industry, the 1992 is the end of the line and it has the added TRACTION CONTROL.

PHASE-III Allante -
- The Allante Northstar is NOT cheap to replace or to repair .. and powerful at 295 hp, properly rated.
- The car has less electronics, some think that is a plus. I for one, do not agree.
- If you like Seville seats and stereo, that is what you get here.
- Has the Seville ABS
- OEM soft top strikers fail to hold the top .. there is a replacement recall. Check, replace if needed.

On the street, driving with a 4500 or a Northstar, insignificant differences .. the differences show up at the top end of speed. We know the Northstar Allante will exceed 150 mph, the 4500 Allante will not.

if you get a 1993 ...
1. get a 1993 V4J .. I for one, would not touch an early pre-v4j .. How do YOU tell? Open the trunk, go into the spare compartment, there is a label ( Service Parts Identification ) to the left .. with a bunch of codes .. look for the V4J code.
2. I would not touch a 1993 Allante without a full compression test and verification of headgaskets AND proof that the recalls on the heads and plenum have been applied. NOT with a 10 ft pole. An engine repair can and often exceeds the value of the car.




In case it was missed, read a couple posts above, the mentioning of the " Allante XYZ facts " ...














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I have a 1987 and 1993 Allante and the brake system on the 87 is much superior to the 93. The 93 brake system is a disappointment on a car of this caliber. If you have to make a panic stop and you stomp on the brakes, the brake pedal feels like it is attached to a shock absorber and there is a slight delay. Whether you push very hard on the brakes or push with less force, it takes the same time for the brake pedal to go down and engage. :banghead:
My 88 Eldorado also does the same thing so I believe it's the technology, not a faulty system. They should have used at least a hydroboost system. My 82 diesel Suburban has this and there is no delay or mushiness like my 93 or 88 Eldorado. I bet in a panic stop from 30 mph, I could stop faster with my 82 Diesel Suburban.

The 1993 Northstar engine is also plagued with head gasket problems. The root cause of the problem is has been traced to poor aluminum material that corrodes over time which then causes the head bolts to pull out of the block. Many times, the bolt holes are so badly corroded that the whole block has to be scrapped. If you're lucky though, timeserts can be used but this at best is a bad aid. Anyways, the best thing a Northstar owner can do to slow down the oxidation process is to change the coolant very frequently. But even this doesn't guarantee that one is not going to have the problem. It's just a matter of time before the head bolts will pull out from the block.

But overall, I'm a happy owner of my 1993 Allante. I bought it used and for much less money than the new price so I'm willing to accept these deficiencies. When the head gasket goes, I'll probably part the car.

I have a 1987 and 1993 Allante and the brake system on the 87 is much superior to the 93. The 93 brake system is a disappointment on a car of this caliber. If you have to make a panic stop and you stomp on the brakes, the brake pedal feels like it is attached to a shock absorber and there is a slight delay. Whether you push very hard on the brakes or push with less force, it takes the same time for the brake pedal to go down and engage. :banghead:
My 88 Eldorado also does the same thing so I believe it's the technology, not a faulty system. They should have used at least a hydroboost system. My 82 diesel Suburban has this and there is no delay or mushiness like my 93 or 88 Eldorado. I bet in a panic stop from 30 mph, I could stop faster with my 82 Diesel Suburban.

The 1993 Northstar engine is also plagued with head gasket problems. The root cause of the problem is has been traced to poor aluminum material that corrodes over time which then causes the head bolts to pull out of the block. Many times, the bolt holes are so badly corroded that the whole block has to be scrapped. If you're lucky though, timeserts can be used but this at best is a bad aid. Anyways, the best thing a Northstar owner can do to slow down the oxidation process is to change the coolant very frequently. But even this doesn't guarantee that one is not going to have the problem. It's just a matter of time before the head bolts will pull out from the block.

But overall, I'm a happy owner of my 1993 Allante. I bought it used and for much less money than the new price so I'm willing to accept these deficiencies. When the head gasket goes, I'll probably part the car.


read the other thread .. "selling off the 1993 models"

It seems almost like there are two camps with the Allante, those that are on the 87-92 side of the fence, and those that are on the 93 side. Many argue that in typical GM fashion, GM "cheapened" the Allante in its final year of production despite giving the wonderful Northstar engine. For example the pre 93 has the true expensive Recaro seats where the 93 has the standard GM issue softies. Wheel caps on the 93 are plastic where they might be metal on those before... Honestly? I dont think it really matters.

The difference of the Northstar is enough to make up for those small differences IMO. Additionally, the interior and some of the exterior of the 93 just LOOKS more modern and pleasing to the eye in some respects. Those seats for example, despite being regular GM seats, are more modern looking and really the truth is overall its the same great car. My preference (not that it matters), a 1993 in White Diamond with Chrome Wheels. Hell yes.

Another point on Allantes, they seem to be GAINING value rather than losing it like most domestic cars of the same era. Check THIS (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=154333431&dealer_id=&car_year=1993&make=CAD&distance=any&max_price=&model=ALLANT&end_year=1993&advcd_on=n&min_price=&address=67202&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1993&color=&cardist=540) out, this car may be in tip-top shape, but this guy is asking 34 grand for it, rediculous, but someone just might pay it.

I have always liked this model and seeing that the prices are getting pretty low on some of those I think I might look for a '93. The Northstar makes all the difference to me.

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey

I have always liked this model and seeing that the prices are getting pretty low on some of those I think I might look for a '93. The Northstar makes all the difference to me.

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey


Advice on a 1993 Cadillac Allante ?

Buy a later V4J model (code in spare well). The pre-V4J I would strongly advice against, expect for parts or buy very cheap (under $4,000).
Check the coolant .. if you spot gel/mud like material, run away .. dont walk.
DO a Compression test, check headgasket integrity
Review the maintenance record.
Inspect the $2,000 tail lights, INTERNALLY for melting or cracks (moisture issues).
Inspect the $600 headlights for cracks and moisture issues.
Inspect the $800 Digital Dash.
Codes .. codes .. codes.
Buy a 60,000 to 150,000 mile car.
stay away from the 20,000 to 30,000 mile garage queens.
Dont pay over $6,000.
Do the rest of the standard inspections.

But more important, dont get caught up in the misguided ideas of some
Allante owners with claims of $25,000 values .. The 1993s are being traded
more than any other model year, CHEAP .. the old timers website gurus
owning 1993 models are selling them off - those are facts. You can ask why,
you will get a lot or rationals but at the end it doesnt change the fact,
the 1993 Allante cars are being dumped. Most mint like 1993s are going for
under $9,000 . some well below that.

And so are the 1987 1988 1989 1990 1990.5 1991 1992 models, just at a slower rate.
More 1993 Allante cars are sold / traded than all of the other 6 year models put together.

As gasoline goes over $4 / gallon and heads for the $5 by Thanksgiving, expect more of these
cars to go on sale. This morning, 91 octane fuel was $4.13 in So Ca .. 87 octane $3.86

All in all, I found around 700 Allante cars FOR-SALE in one week period ..
it is NOT a typo .. I found 700+ Allante cars FOR-SALE ...
Where to LOOK?

craigslist.com
YAKAZ.com
Autotrader.com
Ebay.com










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Allante cars to buy?
read this:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-allante-forum/131854-time-buy-cadillac-allante-here-sale.html




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