Looked/test drove an 02 STS today

[vacuumbed]

Perhaps the biggest lesson learned here with these cars is to be picky about a used one. Don't buy one that has been molested.

[turnne]

Originally Posted by vacuumbed

Perhaps the biggest lesson learned here with these cars is to be picky about a used one. Don't buy one that has been molested.

I think there is more than that lesson here

It has been pointed out you can't consdier the value if you enjoy the car...well honestly there are cars out there that I could enjoy a lot more that are about the same repair costs( or less) that would have been in the same ballpark price as the STS was new( but..yes a lot more expensive used) ...the BMW 540 comes to mind
And from what I have seen in the junkyards there must be a lot of people that look at what the repair costs are in ratio to what the value is of what they are fixing

Just for grins last night I looked at extended warranty quotes

all of these are based on the same coverage...same compnay..02 model cars with 60K miles
36 month 100K( total odometer) mileage warranty...whichever comes first from the date or purchase

2002 Cadillac STS $4200.00
2002 BMW 745 $5100.00( I currently own an 00)
2002 BMW 540 $5100.00
2002 Olds Aurora 4.0 $3400.00( I currently own an 01)
2002 Jaguar XJ8 $4300.00 add 800.00 for supercharged models
2002 LS430 $2300.00


some of these numbers I thought were eye openers...the two GM cars warranty costs represent about 35% of their retail value...and that Lexus number is just incredible for their top of the line model which is full of electronics and complexity



Warren

[rippypartsmaster]

Thought I'd chime in with the official GM prices
Fronts are the same number # 88955399 $977 each !
Rears are cheaper, but not by much:
RH # 22400278 $867
LH # 22400277 $775

not sure why there's a price discrepancy there on the rears

[turnne]

Originally Posted by rippypartsmaster

Thought I'd chime in with the official GM prices
Fronts are the same number # 88955399 $977 each !
Rears are cheaper, but not by much:
RH # 22400278 $867
LH # 22400277 $775

not sure why there's a price discrepancy there on the rears

so let me make sure I understand this...by the time you need to replace the suspension..it was at about 98K on my Aurora...you will spend about $4000 to get the "mag ride" back which was one of the big reasons the car was so pleasurable

However at that point..I am citing the 02 I am looking at and judging my driving mileage parameters and what the car is worth today...the car then would be worth between 6000 and 7000 dollars..and if there is anything else wrong you could easlilly spend more on the car than it is worth in fixed condiion

am I understanding that?

do people really drop $4000 in $6500 cars?..or is that a Cadillac thing

I have driven Mercedes cars for several years( a few different models) and it takes years( more than 10 usually) where the repair $$ is any significant amount as compared to the cars value

if that is the case I understand why there are a lot of Cadillacs in the junktyard....I don't think a lot of people would make those investement decisions


Warren

[Ranger]

The Magna ride struts should last much longer than the CVRSS struts. Since there are no moving parts, I would expect them to last as long as any other strut.

[turnne]

Originally Posted by Ranger

The Magna ride struts should last much longer than the CVRSS struts. Since there are no moving parts, I would expect them to last as long as any other strut.

well for that repair/replacement price versus the cars most likely future value at the time they need replaced

they should last a minmum of 150K miles( or more) or average driving..ie...the average life of the transmission or engine in the car if it has been maintained


Warren

[submariner409]

Old history, Ranger, but I re-read that post and should have said ".......selectively changes from fluid to jelly and back depending on......" or some such.

Still a neat system. Curious the way we wonder about the cost of strut/shock replacement and then duck into another thread about turbos, wheels, TV's, Nav systems and crate engines.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

You guys think you got it bad? $4,000 for all four new CVRSS struts?

I can top that.... $4,000 for both rear shocks on my Mercedes S320, and they're not even active.

[vacuumbed]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

You guys think you got it bad? $4,000 for all four new CVRSS struts?

I can top that.... $4,000 for both rear shocks on my Mercedes S320, and they're not even active.

Man...just stick with the copper Sedan Deville in your profile. Rear shocks at Auto Zone for $14.99 each with a lifetime warranty.

[turnne]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

You guys think you got it bad? $4,000 for all four new CVRSS struts?

I can top that.... $4,000 for both rear shocks on my Mercedes S320, and they're not even active.

what?!!...did that include a new transmission?

what year S320 do you have...I used to have a 1992 S class for many years
Those bilsteins on those cars regularly last 250K miles or more before they get bad
And even if you replaced them that sounds about 3 times the price you should have paid for just replacement of the rears...
The S 320 had passive suspension..you had to go up the S500 to get the air leveling ones in the rear


Warren

[Cadillacboy]

I didn't know a MB W140 cost that much to replace the shocks to new ones ......No misspell ,right ?

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Originally Posted by turnne

what?!!...did that include a new transmission?

what year S320 do you have...I used to have a 1992 S class for many years
Those bilsteins on those cars regularly last 250K miles or more before they get bad
And even if you replaced them that sounds about 3 times the price you should have paid for just replacement of the rears...
The S 320 had passive suspension..you had to go up the S500 to get the air leveling ones in the rear


Warren

Oh, I've got the auto leveling ones, but they're not air, they're hydraulic. That was the one reason I wanted the S320, so I wouldn't have those, as they were an option on the 320 and 420, but standard on the 500 and 600...guess I should have done more research on that particular car. Oh well though, from what I've heard, even the Hydropneumatic suspension is made to last more than 200k.

[vacuumbed]

Warren,
I found an 03 STS for $12,900 with 95,000 miles, which is like 23K miles yearly. They won't really budge much on the price, and the carfax on it shows it had 3 owners.

I think I'm gonna wait until next year. I bet I could buy the same car next year for the same or less money and less miles.

[CadillacSTS2003]

millage while playing a HUGE factor in weather youll pay how much their asking, usually doesnt affect the price as much now-a-days

[turnne]

well let them sit on the car then

it seems on these cars mileage play a huge factor in what its worth
cars over 80K seem to have a huge disproportionate drop in value

its not like there won't be another that comes along shortly

btw has anyone paid the $2500 to 3000 to have suspension replaced on say a 99 or 00 model year STS?

Its hard for me to get past the ratio of the car repair cost to what the car is worth( fixed)



Warren