I have been having some concerns about buy Cadillac again. First, I love Cadillac! I read about them during the day, and dream about them at night. I get excited about buying a newer one in a year. However, I am starting to have some concerns. I own a 99 STS with 128K and it keeps having things go wrong. First it was the head gaskets ($4,000), then the radiator, the water pump ($900 for both), power window motor ($400), now the alternator ($900). Lucky for me it has only cost $300 from extended warranty deductibles. I have also replaced the struts with passive ones for $150 opposed to $1,600 for active.

My thoughts are is Cadillac as great as I believe they are?? My friend has a honda accord, a 1996 at that with 140K, he has have none of the problems I have had. Few problems if that. While he does agree my car is much cooler than his, why must everything break on mine? What does everyone else think? It Cadillac really improving from the dark days of the 1980s and I just got bad luck with mine? I am seriously thinking about a 05 STS, but… I don’t know. Maybe I am just disappointed. That is it, I am not mad, just disappointed.

Karma?

I put 107K on my '97 Deville before I sold it and never had a problem. My duaghter is selling her '99 with 40K on it (to move up) and so far it has been trouble free as well. Many others here have 100-200K with few problems, but there is always the problem child.

Yeah it sounds like your having some bad luck. If you're doing head gaskets at that mileage the car has either been abused or not maintained. Alternator at that mileage is not normal either. I'm not sure about water pump and radiator but I would guess that was also related to an abused coolant system.

I have driven several pre N* Cadillacs to well over 200k with very few problems and sometimes none to speak of. The N* is a high performance engine therefore requires some special maintenance tasks.

I would get out of the car and buy something 2001 or newer.

I got the car with 95K on it, and with that many miles, you have a lot of time for someone to abuse the car. I can say one thing, since I have gotten it, i have cared for this car like a child. I just need it to last 1 more year so I can get a 05 STS V8. (Pay off this car, pay raise, and lower cost of 05 STS) I wish I had the money for a newer one, but I think at this point I can risk it. I mean, what else can go wrong, the PCM?? (Knock on wood)

Oh don't say that. I learned that there are many things that can go wrong with a car. You'd be amazed. Well I wish you all the luck with the current vehicle. Another year isn't that long and go for an 04 or something if an 05 is a little much. There are some great used cars out there, you just have to look.

I scored my 01 with only 24k on it. I was actively looking for a DTS for a few months and I really wanted black but the deal was right so I had to take it.

Yeah it sounds like your having some bad luck. If you're doing head gaskets at that mileage the car has either been abused or not maintained. Alternator at that mileage is not normal either. I'm not sure about water pump and radiator but I would guess that was also related to an abused coolant system.

I have driven several pre N* Cadillacs to well over 200k with very few problems and sometimes none to speak of. The N* is a high performance engine therefore requires some special maintenance tasks.

I would get out of the car and buy something 2001 or newer.

No offense codewize, but not every Caddy that has its headgaskets replaced has been abused or not maintained properly. Oh how I wish that were true. My husband takes better care of his vehicles than I ever thought anyone in their right mind would.

But back to the OP at hand. I know exactly how you feel....we are in the same exact position. At 38k miles, we had the head gaskets replaced ($3,500), a week later the ignition wire went out ($425), prior to that the window motor and before that the window switch. Fortunately for us, our mechanical breakdown insurance has picked up the tab for everything (zero deductible). Actually, we had to pay $80 on the head gasket job because they R&R the thermostat and it took two containers of coolant and the MBI only pays for one (found out this is standard). We are selling our 2000 ETC as it has 39k miles on it and still has 3 years/60k more miles on the awesome warranty. But I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.

I still see them on the road and stare....LOVE the Crimson Red. But we have gone through this with two Lincoln Mark VIII's and the repairs are just nightmares. But trying to get my husband to part with his Mark VIII is just not going to happen anytime soon.

Bottom line....no one that I know that has a Toyota/Honda EVER has any of the problems that we do. So I went ahead and bought a new Solara and I LOVE it. I'm told that if I buy an extended warranty on this car, it will be a waste of money (but I'm suffering from past history with the American cars and I'm a bit gun shy so we probably get it just for a peace of mind).

Good luck w/your decision. We are at the same crossroads. I know when we do sell it, I will have very mixed emotions. But quite frankly, I'm tired of being in the shop...and maybe we just have those "unusual" Caddy's.

Dawn

There was another post on this forum concerning the thread depth as a problem with the head bolts. GM is aware of this issue, and is apparently instructing dealerships to monitor 1999 and newer vehicles with these engines. So if you get a 99 and newer car from dealer, there is a chance that GM will take responsibility for the repairs. That is my assumption anyway, and yes you will probably need to argue with them about it at the time.

I have been driving the 1994 STS all week (with possible blown head gasket), even with this strange condition, I am able to drive smooth 80-90 mph on freeway (just have to ease up to speed), and find it much better ride than any honda I ever rode in.

At just over 6 feet tall, I find that even the wifes new Mercedes SLK is not as roomy and comfortable to ride in. It is more fun to drive, but after an hour, I get to feeling cramped inside. She admits the older Cadillac has the best ride and comfort as well.

The Service manager at Cadillac suggested the 2003 and newer Cadillac models because they have yet to replace a head gasket on one of those.

Just my 2 cents worth...

No offence taken. I certainly wasn't trying to imply that was the case. Rather I was trying to say that, yes these extremes seem like exceptions to me, a long time Cadillac owner. I'm not saying that Cadillacs never have problems and I'm not saying that some aren't always problems but I think those cases are rare.

In defence of purchasing a Honda or other such vehicle, when GM does file chapter 11 I'm sure you won't feel a thing in your heart to know that there will never be another decent domestic vehicle made.

I'm not bashing Honda or anyone else because I believe that they are very dependable cars. However I don't see ANY affordable import with heated, massage, air conditioned seats or a 650 watt BOSE system in it. Not to mention one of the worlds most renowned engines.

I will personally go bankrupt fixing Cadillacs before I ever park a Honda in my driveway. No one listened in the 70's when everyone was talking about 'buy American' and 'stop importing' now maybe we're all awake and see the domestic financial failings that WE have caused in our great nation.

Wake up or we'll soon be saluting the Japanese flag.

Ah, nice to know I am not alone.

Cadillac, in fact ALL of GM has steadily been improving on quality over the past few years. The newer the model you buy, the less problems you're going to have..

I really hope so. See, I purchased this one with 95K miles on it. That is a lot of miles someone else can abuse her. The next one I get with have about 30K and certified preowned. That is much less time for abuse and even if something does go wrong, I am covered. Cadillacs certified preowned program is really one of the best and really the way to go.
I am in the market for a 2005 STS with the 1SG package...

What exactly will they take responsibility for? Head gaskets, stripped head bolt threads?

There was another post on this forum concerning the thread depth as a problem with the head bolts. GM is aware of this issue, and is apparently instructing dealerships to monitor 1999 and newer vehicles with these engines. So if you get a 99 and newer car from dealer, there is a chance that GM will take responsibility for the repairs. That is my assumption anyway, and yes you will probably need to argue with them about it at the time.

Just for the record I'm sure if you perused the import boards they're full of their own problems. In addition I know a guy who has an 05 Z06 Vette with 6000 miles on it and it's already had the rear main seal worked on and a new trans.

My in-laws have an 05 Toyota Prius that's been back to the shop 3 times for recalls and battery problems.

All cars have problems including imports. At let me tell you something else. When I replaced the O2 sensor on my Brougham and it was $16 I almost fell over when my daughter replaced hers on her Honda Accord and it was $130.

I have had a Cadillac from the last 3 decades all of them ran well into 200k and 2 of those I still have and still drive.

What exactly will they take responsibility for? Head gaskets, stripped head bolt threads?

If your head gasket blows, and the company that sold you the car knew it could happen, but failed to inform you before you purchased, wouldn't you want them to be responsible for repairing the head gasket?

I dont need to defend my patriotism. I gave the best part of my life serving this great nation (23 years military of which 17 years was spent away from my family). I served so we can have a right to freedom of choice, freedom of expression, and all the other liberties which you and I can both appreciate. Just because I buy one foreign car for the woman whom loves me, does not make me enemy of this country.

If GM is having problems, then they need to become more competitive. The other car manufactures are doing it, so can they.

Nobody is questioning anyone's patriotism... at least I hope not.

Rfishing, your head gasket story was truly heartbreaking, and I feel for you, man.

If it's any consolation, back in 1989, I had almost the exact same thing happen to my Toyota Supra... they charged me $2000 to replace the head gasket, it was okay for a few months, then the same symptoms reappeared.... then they claimed it was something else. I traded it back to another toyota dealer... which I admit, was morally a little iffy, but hey, they screwed me, I screwed them.... Obviously I was a lot younger then, didn't make money like I do now... it destroyed me financially. I got really lucky with the RX-7 I bought, it ran good long after it was paid off, and I got back on my feet....

After that I got a Trans Am GTA and an old Eldorado for winter, and I've had nothing but GM ever since.... they've been pretty good to me. But obviously, not all GM has been good to everybody. KymbaKitty's story is particularly frightening.... And as far as GM being "better now", I wonder... a friend at work just dropped $2000 into his wife's Malibu.... head gasket & other issues.... scary. Has like 40k on it.... this guy is a Vietnam Vet, member of the VFW and the American Legion... his patriotism is not in question. But he has stated that he is done buying american cars.....

There are problems with all cars, but this head gasket thing is quite illuminating, in that it reflects how GM handles problems... deny, deny, deny. By stepping up and doing something about it, they could have engendered a truckload of customer loyalty... but that opportunity is gone now.

These are complicated questions. And let's not pretend that GM hasn't moved huge portions of their mfg to Canada & Mexico, because they have.

NO company is perfect. I guess my heart agrees with Codewize, but at times, I'm not sure if GM has shown the loyalty TO the customer that they are asking for FROM us, the customer.

My Tahoe has been fabulous. Most reliable ride I have ever owned, period, no contest. But then, in that sort of product, big fleet buyers are the key. And they demand reliability and ease of repair. And GM clearly "gets" that... obviously, lots of people in my union workplace have full size Chevy trucks, and there are no horror stories. Batteries and Brakes, that's it. ( I suppose I'll get flamed with chevy truck horror stories now... sorry, just my anecdotal evidence of a small sample of people ) So, GM is CAPABLE of doing that.... why can't that "trickle down" to everything they make??? Why doesn't that philosophy pervade the company?

It would really be devastating if they do go under, because we don't make anything here anymore. We've outsourced and offshored so much, we're in a real pickle. We're becoming a nation of lawyers, accountants, and web bloggers.... Our trade deficit is approaching 7% of GDP, which should be ringing the alarm bell for everyone....and it's not just the feds, state gov'ts, County gov'ts, city gov'ts, are all drowning in debt. Wages are flat, prices are up, and for 5 years or so, the whole country has been using home equity as their personal ATM to continue financing their lifestyle... it can't go on forever. A negative personal savings rate can't go on forever.

Sorry about that rant. I hope GM survives, I really do. If they deserve to survive, (sigh), I guess you have to answer that yourself....

No I'm certainly not questioning patriotism. All I'm saying is that one Honda here and one Toyota there is why there are 10 zillion imports on the road.

GM certainly made some real POS in the 80's and I believe they now make some very high quality vehicles but yes all companies and all cars have their own problems.

I also agree that GM is in financial trouble because of management but the rapidly depreciating sales are not helping at all and that is due to US the public buying import cars.

As far as being competitive, I think they are. They're not trying to compete for the mid class $10,000 car that runs for 6 million miles.

Their target, at least with Cadillac is the high end Euro sports sedans. Are they in that arena, I think so. Are they as good, maybe not. I think the STS and DTS are nicer than any Benz I've driven at $100,000.

GM EXECS - If you listen to the public feedback and the public has reason to believe that your bettering the vehicles, we'll sell more cars. You have to regain the public trust.

No offence taken. I certainly wasn't trying to imply that was the case. Rather I was trying to say that, yes these extremes seem like exceptions to me, a long time Cadillac owner. I'm not saying that Cadillacs never have problems and I'm not saying that some aren't always problems but I think those cases are rare.

In defence of purchasing a Honda or other such vehicle, when GM does file chapter 11 I'm sure you won't feel a thing in your heart to know that there will never be another decent domestic vehicle made.

I'm not bashing Honda or anyone else because I believe that they are very dependable cars. However I don't see ANY affordable import with heated, massage, air conditioned seats or a 650 watt BOSE system in it. Not to mention one of the worlds most renowned engines.

I will personally go bankrupt fixing Cadillacs before I ever park a Honda in my driveway. No one listened in the 70's when everyone was talking about 'buy American' and 'stop importing' now maybe we're all awake and see the domestic financial failings that WE have caused in our great nation.

Wake up or we'll soon be saluting the Japanese flag.

Currently, we have a 2000 F-150 XLT, a 98 Mark VIII, a 2000 Eldorado Caddy and a 2006 Toyota Solara. This is our first NON American car....ever. We have had a Town Car, another Mark VIII, a Corvette, a Mercury Cougar (first brand new car for me in 1994) and a Camaro, and even a Ford Topaz.

It was a tough decision to make to get a non American car, because, as you can see, we hadn't yet. I went to test drive a Honda and it was not for me. Cheaper, yes. But it did lack some of the creature comforts that I am used to. I do have heated seats in my Solara, although unnecessary where I live. I also have navigation, etc (I have every option available on my Solara), but again, it was not an easy decision. (Memory seats was the only thing I had to give up.)

Posters aren't going to admit it in this forum, but you may be surprised how many Caddy owners have a car other than an American car parked right next to our Caddy (even if it is our husband or wife's car). This was not the case for us until a very short time ago, but given the PM's I have rec'd, I am definitely not alone....people just don't want to say it and be labeled "non American."

I'm not saying it is for everyone and three of our four cars are American. I'm just saying that I am trying a foreign car after all these years and I may have a great experience or an awful one...time will tell.

Dawn

It is always sad to me to see a Cadillac owner jump ship. I think you just got a bad apple. Best of luck to you Kitty.

It is always sad to me to see a Cadillac owner jump ship. I think you just got a bad apple. Best of luck to you Kitty.

Very nice post Patrick....enjoyed reading that, seriously.

It is not so much jumping ship, but just different phases in ones lives. I loved my Caddy for a very long time--still do. But seasons change, people get new cars, etc. What I want in a car in my 30's is different now that I am in my 40's and my husband in his 50's. He's a diehard Mark VIII fan and some day he will also have to "jump ship," if that is really how you have to look at it.

New day, new direction. I will always remember my Caddy just like the way I feel when I see an older Corvette. I didn't "jump ship" everytime we sold a vehicle...you just move on and try other things and it is what it is...

One of the reasons we sold the Caddy (sold her today actually) is because we knew we would have a huge carrot with the transferrable extended warranty that goes with her. But I had a blast with that car and I don't have awful horror stories that will live on....there is time and a place and it was time to sell for a myriad of reasons.

I'll probably still check this message board from time to time because, well, I don't know, just because.

Anyway, we could get into a really ugly debate about who's keeping whom rich at the gas station relative to our American cars....but I'm as guilty as anyone because we will never buy a car because of its good/bad gas mileage. Just not one of our top ten and probably never will be.

Dawn

I guess everyone (especially me) looks at things from their own perpective. I bought my first Caddy when I was 26 and have never driven anything else, never will. I just hate to see anyone leave the "family" with a bad taste in their mouth (not that I could blame you). Perhaps "jump ship" was not the right choice of words. Hope you didn't take offence to it as none was intended. Hope you enjoy your new ride Kitty. Maybe someday you'll come back and have the Cadillac expirience as it was intended to be. Best of luck to you.

It's always been a crapshoot when buying cars, whether they were brand-new-out-of-the-box, or that pristine, shiner-than-a-new-penny used one down at the corner lot. I've had 2 cars that were the penultimate POS: one was a Chrysler. The other a Datsun 510 (remember those?!?!?). Did it sour me on the entire line of those 2 companies? Nope. Although Datsun's current incarnation as Nissan - or any other Japanese car manuf. for that matter - is no longer of any interest to me.

As Ranger alluded to in his post and in my own opinion, once you get into Caddies, the rest are just,,,,well,,,modes of transportation. I'm on my 2nd Sedan Deville now and honestly can't ever see going with another choice.

They are so comfortable. They make me feel safe. They cost me at the gas pump. They make me feel safe. Repairs can be costly, but what car worth having doesn't have issues in that regard? Oh, and did I mention they make me feel safe?

We are creatures of habit and are also influenced by what we were exposed to growing up. How many car owners out there are driving wheels that came from THE SAME MANUFACTURER that their Dads and Moms drove?

GM families. MOPAR families. Ford Forever families.

Dad drove Pontiacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles. My guess is that all those years I spent washing and putting a SIMONIZE gleam on those bastions of GM Excellence, rubbed off on me when it came time to enter the realm of car ownership.

If he could have afforded them, he wouldv'e been into Caddies, I have absolutely no doubt about that.

I am sorry you feel that Caddies are becoming too much of a gamble right now, Benjamin Simon. Perhaps in a few short years, when you've had a chance to sample some of the other modes of transportation out there -we'll see you back in the fold, happier than ever. And we look forward to that day!

Best of luck.

I know that im new hear and I will catch flak for this but I just cant stand the patriotism bs that comes out when people dont buy American. It is absoluty ridicilous.

I am first and for most an economist, and because of that some people wont agree with my opinions, but you can not deny that they have merit. The pro-American stance is only a a reaction for one to protect thier jobs or security. There is really nothing more to it. In this day and age there is no room to protect failing industry with tariffs, lobbying, and empty rhetoric to make others feel guilty about the one thing that they are looking out for, themlseves. At the end of the day it all comes down to what effects the wallet the most. If someone can buy a honda or toyota for cheaper then a caddy, and only give up a few creature comforts, but in return has a car that will last twice as long and have half as much maintence then more power to them.

I agree with other people here when they say that if GM cant compete then they need to go. I have no sympathy for ineffecient industry and poorly run companys. Do I really believe that GM will go away, no. Will they take a hit larger then what they have already taken, yes. And before anyone says that I dont have any interest in GM sticking around they would be wrong. It may seem as though I am contridicting myself, but I do own an STS and a two chevy trucks...and love all of them.

It is true that all car companies have problems with their products. I work at a honda dealership and I can tell you every major problem with every model that honda currently sells. Maybe you did get a lemon and so you moved on. I would too. I say to you that bought the toyota instead of the caddy, good job. You are an example of why GM is having so much difficulty and instead of chastizing you, I applaud you.

Heres to unbrideled competition and a world market:alchi:

I bought a 1997 ETC Eldo around half a year ago, and to me there is no other car I could have got for the 5 grand I paid for this one and had such great performance, comfort and reliability, the car has 84k miles on it now, I hope to take this car up to 200k. I also have a 1993 Eldo with a 4.9 litre which currently has 123k on it and never had any major problems with it. From what I see with model year 2000 and below Japapese products, you just are not going to get the value, price, comfort, power that you are with a car that is in the same class a cadillac is. Maybe you will get that with a newer Japanese Car, but be prepared to pay through the nose for it.

Heres to unbrideled competition and a world market:alchi:

I'm sure your unbridled support of the free market would include a complete lassez faire deregulation of the oligopoly known as the oil industry. No?

I'm sure your unbridled support of the free market would include a complete lassez faire deregulation of the oligopoly known as the oil industry. No?


I have to say that this would be best served in another topic since it will detract from the discussion of buying another caddy or GM product in general. But if you really what to know what I think about the oil industry then by all means we can discuss it.

Yea, I did pay 9500 for my STS 2 years ago. Even after all of the repairs, it is a great buy. I was looking at a MB E class at the time and I was going to have to pay 8 K more, with the same miles! And to be honest, the STS was just cooler. I got an extended warr. so the cost has been very low on me. I really feel the 05 STS v8 I get will be a great car. By saying that, it is not that I think my 99 has not be a great car, I just wish it would be have been better.

I was hoping to trade in the older Seville STS, and get a brand new one STS. She did not like the dashboard design, and that is only reason she did not buy it. Go figure.

All I can say is wow. The dashboard design????

I'm on my third, and maybe not last Cadillac.. I am keeping my 99 for a winter car. I've given my wife permission to replace it, she wants another Wrangler, maybe Rubicon.. I drive a Ram 4wd to work and back every day now, I can save some gas but I've only got a 5 mile commute. The only cadillac I can consider now is the CTS-V, but I am very gun-shy. Way too much money to keep the STS up to date so I am fixing only what needs to be done for inspections and will run it in to the ground....

Yeah the dash design has been bashed for a while on those. I am a big STS fan but I wouldn't buy one because of that either. It's ugly, cheap looking and poorly laid out. Nice car, bad dash. Go for the DTS at that point.

I was hoping to trade in the older Seville STS, and get a brand new one STS. She did not like the dashboard design, and that is only reason she did not buy it. Go figure.

Why? Are you looking for a race car or a luxury car?

CTS-V = Race car
CTS = Affordable Luxury Sedan
STS = Luxury sport sedan
DTS = Luxury car

What's not to like? and of all things why a Jeep?

I'm on my third, and maybe not last Cadillac.. I am keeping my 99 for a winter car. I've given my wife permission to replace it, she wants another Wrangler, maybe Rubicon.. I drive a Ram 4wd to work and back every day now, I can save some gas but I've only got a 5 mile commute. The only cadillac I can consider now is the CTS-V, but I am very gun-shy. Way too much money to keep the STS up to date so I am fixing only what needs to be done for inspections and will run it in to the ground....

The rubicon is a neat vehicle in its own right, but its not practical for anything unless you are going on trail rides and dont want to build a jeep yourself. If you like the look of it i would suggest buying a regular wrangler and then just adding rims and MTR's with a little lift. It will have about the same effect.

I tried to buy one once since I am big into trail riding and such, but for 30 grand I could build my own rig to be much more capable for 2/3 less money. Plus at 30 grand the plastic windows and cloth seats leave much to be desired.

We've owned two previous Jeeps.. Well four if you count my Grand Wagoneers.. We had to trade our last Sahara for the STS we have now, her job required lots of highway driving and I talked her in to the STS. Well 6 years later, two new jobs with no real commuting miles and no car paymants, she wants the Jeep back.. her call.. Easy money for a two year old one. So I am keeping the STS for me (she's trashed it inside and out, but I can fix all that).. She knows nothing about Jeeps mechanically so I figure find her one, has to be blue, automatic, get ME the Rubicon package in it for when my 12 year old son and I "go for coffee" on weekends.. Win-win I think.. And I still have my Ram for towing snowmobiles..
As for the CTS-V, That is all I would get rid of the STS for.

I will personally go bankrupt fixing Cadillacs before I ever park a Honda in my driveway. .
(or toyota, hyundai, etc.)
that's how I feel, I don't care, coolness counts for alot.

don't care about your 100,000 warranty, or whatever ....I'll just fix cherry as she needs it, and enjoy no car payments..and the coolness I feel.

kp :thumbsup:

(or toyota, hyundai, etc.)
that's how I feel, I don't care, coolness counts for alot.

don't care about your 100,000 warranty, or whatever ....I'll just fix cherry as she needs it, and enjoy no car payments..and the coolness I feel.

kp :thumbsup:

And THAT is why this is such a great country....we both get to enjoy what we like and live in the United States--together!

I'm enjoying no car payments too though.

Dawn

I have been having some concerns about buy Cadillac again. First, I love Cadillac! I read about them during the day, and dream about them at night. I get excited about buying a newer one in a year.

We all have been there. Cadillacs have been the premere luxury car for years and we all have admired the body styling and lines.

However, I am starting to have some concerns. I own a 99 STS with 128K and it keeps having things go wrong.

My thoughts are is Cadillac as great as I believe they are?? My friend has a honda accord, While he does agree my car is much cooler than his, why must everything break on mine? Is Cadillac really improving from the dark days of the 1980s and I just got bad luck with mine?

Ok now to the good part.
I have had 3 Caddys. The technology has gone from fair to unbeleivable as i bought to newer years.
Cadillac uses technology to do everything and they do it with the most parts.
If you are going to have troubles, it will be with a Cadillac. It has the most parts to wear out.
My Mechanic beleives that Cadillac has gone over-technology and that it will bite Caddy in the long term. Remember, most of all this new stuff like the magna ride suspension, has only been short term tested, and you, the owners are the guinny pigs for the long term testing. GM has always done this.

My Caddy came with a warranty and I swear everytime it went in the shop, that warranty was paying for some kind of very big buck maintenance or repair. Not complaining, just making a statement.

Now if you have been reading the forum here for awhile, you will acknowledge all the comments about trying to find "cheaper" parts or "after market" parts that cost less. Ok, I don't want to look like a bad guy here but puting in cheaper or aftermarket parts affects the cars perfomance. NO? Ok, one aftermarket part didn't have connections for the ride control electronics. So the connection had to be dummied up to clear the codes. Sure they only paid $500 rather then $1000 for the part, but the computer is getting dummied readings and responds to that. Problem is, if you keep being cheap on the parts and keep dummying up the sensors to clear the codes, the car will begin to ride like a Vega.

Surely, we all want a car that will run forever and never need repair, but reality is at least $2000 maintenance and repair a year, on a GOOD car that does not break down. And If you get a Cadillac with a NorthStar engine, you are now gambling that you won't have an oil pan seal leak, Head gasket leak or any of many other interesting costs that will dig DEEP in your wallet.

Cadillac has always been a rich mans car and repairs, PROPER REPAIRS, have always been costly.
Somehow, the owners have gone from the rich and/shameless to a more moderate class of family member, and this is where the search for cheap and aftermarket parts comes into view. Few want to pay the cost that cadillac wants for these expensive parts and are willing to criple the computers control to save a few bucks. They will say the ride doesn't change but if enough of the computers sensors are bypassed and you are driving an expensive Chevy.

You are doing the right thing to think your future buy out and ask for suggestions to help you decide. You are looking at another fine Cadillac car, I am also a fan of the Seville, I like its looks. And you are right, the Cadillacs have gotten better over the design years, and much more complicated.

Getting a trouble free Caddy is a 50/50 shot. There are great ones out there and if you go for the newer Caddy, I hope you get the one that the little ole lady only drove to church on sundays after going to the drag strip. (just kidding about the drag strip). But maintenance and upkeep won't change and remember that these cars can have problems that the lesser cars have never had designed into them.

Sorry this is rather negative, it is true however. If you are going to go into an expensive luxury car, you have to accept the expensive repairs as well.
Should you opt to go with aftermarket parts and bypass computer sensors, know that the computer will be unable to respond as it originally did, but then, you will save a couple of bucks. its up to you to decide if it is worth it in the long run.

One up side I have found, my Eldo gets decent gasmileage, kinda makes up for the warranty issues spoke of earlier.


Think through all the options before you decide to get, or not, your next newer Cadillac. There isn't anything else like one, as a fine automobile and a costly repair ticket.

Smile! When you are down, you can only go up!

Mine has 202,000 it is a 99, I pick up an '04 in the am. Cadillacs don't owe me a dime!!!!!

I'm self employed and doing well. I am NOT concerned about job security 1 single iota. There are several trades I can fall back on if the computer industry suddenly goes south.

I'm not saying to save the world now. I'm saying we broke it 20 years ago and it's probably to late. Yes the bottom line is important, obviously with a bad economy. If we didn't give Japan and China and now India all of our money we would all have good jobs and wouldn't give a crap about the bottom line, like we do. We only feel that way because the economy sucks.

Your not going to convince me that any import will last longer than a domestic car. If you maintain them both properly they will both last a long time. Maybe you can just treat imports like crap and not worry about it for a while but eventually they'll break and cost twice as much to repair. I currently own 3 Cadillacs made over the last 3 decades, Two of them are over 200k and both run like new and look much newer than they are.

Hondas do run for a long time and I believe I already stated that I think they're great cars. However they ride like crap, most of them have no style and they don't do much better at the pump than the Caddi, so what's the point?

I know that im new hear and I will catch flak for this but I just cant stand the patriotism bs that comes out when people dont buy American. It is absoluty ridicilous.

I am first and for most an economist, and because of that some people wont agree with my opinions, but you can not deny that they have merit. The pro-American stance is only a a reaction for one to protect thier jobs or security. There is really nothing more to it. In this day and age there is no room to protect failing industry with tariffs, lobbying, and empty rhetoric to make others feel guilty about the one thing that they are looking out for, themlseves. At the end of the day it all comes down to what effects the wallet the most. If someone can buy a honda or toyota for cheaper then a caddy, and only give up a few creature comforts, but in return has a car that will last twice as long and have half as much maintence then more power to them.

I agree with other people here when they say that if GM cant compete then they need to go. I have no sympathy for ineffecient industry and poorly run companys. Do I really believe that GM will go away, no. Will they take a hit larger then what they have already taken, yes. And before anyone says that I dont have any interest in GM sticking around they would be wrong. It may seem as though I am contridicting myself, but I do own an STS and a two chevy trucks...and love all of them.

It is true that all car companies have problems with their products. I work at a honda dealership and I can tell you every major problem with every model that honda currently sells. Maybe you did get a lemon and so you moved on. I would too. I say to you that bought the toyota instead of the caddy, good job. You are an example of why GM is having so much difficulty and instead of chastizing you, I applaud you.

Heres to unbrideled competition and a world market:alchi:

If we didn't give Japan and China and now India all of our money we would all have good jobs and wouldn't give a crap about the bottom line, like we do. We only feel that way because the economy sucks.




ho-hum...


This really bugs me. Makeing statements like this is ass-backwards. It is ridicilous to say that with out foreign markets we would all have good jobs. The reason that American "jobs" go over seas is because companies can cut labor and produce the same product, therefore increaseing profit. A perfect example of this is GM's situation right now. The Unions and the workers demanded such high rates of pay and compensation that GM is now ham strung. GM is also, i believe but not positive, opeing plants in Mexico because the labor is so much cheaper and less organized. Americans pay rates are so high, because of the standard of living, that the companies just cant compete with the others that can produce at a cheaper cost.

Honestly I really dont care if jobs do go over seas. This may seem callus and cold, but probably everyone here supports this notion and doesnt realize it. I enjoy buying products at a cheap price realtive to what they might be if those same products were produced state side. It doesnt matter what the good is, cars, food, shoes, whatever.



Also, any car will last a long time if you do maintence on it. It is the cost of the maintence that is the problem. At over $1000 for new struts on a caddy, a honda accord, US model, complete assembly is $150-200. I like caddy's new and old, but there does come a time to draw the line for the return on investment.

Coolness does count for a lot.

I also had no car payments for 5 years after the Brougham was paid off. Nice feeling. I'm back to reality now :(

Yes it's great that we can all enjoy the freedoms that we choose. That's what this country is all about. Don't take these statements wrong. I love the USA but these aren't intended to be patriotic pressuring or anything like that. I don't play politics either. I'm just making statements.

A lot of things have been said in this thread, some I agree with and hadn't thought about, some I half agree with depending on other factors not mentioned, and some I feel are just piss poor attitude. But again we are all entitled to freedom of speech and I don't judge people on there beliefs or feelings. It's their right to have those thoughts during an adult discussion or debate. I'll stick with the statement I made after my first Cadillac when I said "From now on I will always have a Cadillac in the driveway."

There is certainly a lot going on here though. This is two very highly debated threads I've started in the last few days.
:stirpot: