Looked/test drove an 02 STS today

turnne · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 08:49 PM

test drove a blk/blk 02 STS today with 63K miles

Car was at an independent dealer lot near me

very clean...HID headlights and factory XM radio( which I didn't know was an option)...manufactured 04/02...so I guess it would have all the latest and greatest updates, including the Mag Ride

a couple of issues though....across the screen in the dash it read
"check brake pads"
"check vehicle security system"

are these big issues?

The dealer said they had just done brakes on the car and that it needed a sensor for the brake warning issues ..and that they would be replacing that

he said he didn't know about the "check security system warning"

other than that car looked very clean...ran and drove well..he is asking $12,995....thought I would offer $12,000

thoughts?

Warren

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 08:52 PM

Run the DTC's and you'll find out what is causing the check security system warning.

CadillacSTS2003 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 08:52 PM

nope
doesnt mean its a magride at all
vin is needed
and checking under the trunk spare tire cover for F55
oh and CODES for you problems would help....

**Playdrv4me** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 09:25 PM

Id hold out for a 2003, 12000 isnt all that cheap.

submariner409 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 09:59 PM

January '02 was the break point for MagneRide. Anything with a VIN sequence date after that should have been laid down with F55. There are a few threads concerning just this earlier last summer. The security warning will come and go depending on battery voltage and how the car was last locked. Figure on 1 a month. Go to www.kbb.com and enter the best guess you have for vehicle condition and pull trade, private, retail sales. That should put you in the ballpark. Dealer-wise, 12k is in the ballpark for retail excellent. In any event, make sure the brake pad warning is taken care of.

BTW, 04/02 was near the end of run for the year builds. 03's were being stamped out in the end of June '02.

**Ranger** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-07, 10:14 PM

Assuming that the brakes really HAVE been changed, the sensor "kit" is no big deal. It's just a wire with a plug on each end. $25 at Rockauto if I recall correctly.

turnne · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadillacSTS2003

nope
doesnt mean its a magride at all
vin is needed
and checking under the trunk spare tire cover for F55
oh and CODES for you problems would help....

I looked under the spare tire cover...to see if there was water...not sure where to look for the Mag ride stamp

here is the VIN 1g6ky54932u270782 of the car

Warren

**Playdrv4me** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turnne

I looked under the spare tire cover...to see if there was water...not sure where to look for the Mag ride stamp

here is the VIN 1g6ky54932u270782 of the car

Warren

"F55" will be an RPO code grouped in with all the others if it's a Magnaride car, it is literally a STICKER located ON the tire cover itself when you lift it up.

submariner409 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 10:54 AM

The spare tire cover will have 3 or 4 stickers on it. One will have a slew of 3-character codes in 3 or 4 rows. Those are the RPO (regular production option) codes and may be read by downloading the RPO code list from the top of one of these forums. F55 is MagneRide.

The bottom of the sticker will have a 3 number/2 or 3 letter code like "U379 BC/CC" or some such..that's the paint number and process (color)-(BaseBoat/ClearCoat)

The last 6 digits of your VIN are quite a bit later in the production sequence than my late '02 F55 car, so the one you're looking at is a F55 suspension also.

CadillacSTS2003 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 11:17 AM

thats a magride
its after the break point
12k is pretty good
i paid 16,500 for my 03 fully optioned minus W tires and Nav with 45K

mfhorn1 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 01:05 PM

Car went in-service in PA in 2002 as a leased vehicle. 5/11/05 at 35,018 miles it was reported at auction in MI and then went to OH, reported at auction again in OH 7/27/05 with 36,660 miles. Since then it has been titled and registered in Northfield, OH.

turnne · #12 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 02:16 PM

cool...and what difference will the magride make versues a non equipped one

what differences will i notice versus the same year model with that feature?

Warren

CadillacSTS2003 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 02:25 PM

the thing will handle like a friggen pace car
no more active struts
magnetic fluid controls them
they read the road 100X faster than the older struts
do a search i posted ALOT of info on this

vacuumbed · #14 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 03:31 PM

Warren,
This is too funny!!!

We both signed up on this site at about the same time, looking for a 2002-2003 Seville STS to buy next year.

Next thing we know, were both looking for a 2002-2003 Seville STS now!

I'm so tempted, I'm having a hard time waiting for next year...lol

submariner409 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-11-07, 04:25 PM

turrne, The MagneRide system was introduced in mid '02 on the Seville in order to groom the sensing rates , then it also went into Corvette. It is now also used in some Ferrari and Lamborghini models. It consists of struts and shocks filled with a synthetic fluid with suspended ferrous (iron) particles. The fluid density is electrically controlled by sensors which change the fluid to a jelly-like substance and back to fluid instantly. The result is, when the stability and suspension control systems sense "aggressive" driving conditions the suspension hardens and the car, even at 4,000 lbs, flattens out and becomes much "stiffer".