The STS is gone and I'm out almost $6K....

Lebowski · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 07:27 PM

On Monday I went to a local VW dealer and traded my '99 STS in on a 2003 VW Beetle GLS with a 5 speed stick with only 43K miles. There was a cloud of smoke/steam behind me when I pulled in so I didn't have to worry about telling them about the head gasket problem. They gave me $1500 for it on the trade in. (It was $53K new 10 years ago.) I bought it in November 2007 for $7350 and only put 2K miles on it. No more late model Cadillacs for me. No wonder GM is going down the tubes....

submariner409 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 07:34 PM

Something is skewed here; unless you got the Beetle for $1500, what's the cash difference to do either one of Jake's head stud jobs or a shop Timesert job on a Cadillac as compared to what you're in hock for with the Bug ?? (from your post I assume the Cad was paid for...)

dkozloski · #3 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner409

Something is skewed here; unless you got the Beetle for $1500, what's the cash difference to do either one of Jake's head stud jobs or a shop Timesert job on a Cadillac as compared to what you're in hock for with the Bug ?? (from your post I assume the Cad was paid for...)

He's out the money because he would rather play the victim than repair the Caddy. Also known as cutting off your nose to spite your face.

codewize · #4 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 07:44 PM

Yeah, wouldn't it have made more since financially to fix the car? For $2500 you could have been back on the road driving a car you love. I'd say the dealer made out on that deal.

Now don't blame 'late model' Cadillacs either. Yours was a 99 with how many miles? Pre 2000 known to be susceptible to that problem. Improvements have been made on 2 generations since then.

2005 + is considered late model at this point. 1999 is 11 years old any way you slice it and if you think a VW is going to be more reliable than a Cadillac I can tell you from experience you're dead wrong.

mighty_quad4 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 07:50 PM

agreed. my friends wifes beetle's door panels are falling apart. the headliner is falling not. not the cloth, the entire liner. the dash has about 4 rattles in it. the rest of the car is ok i suppose. seems an odd choice to pick a new beetle to replace a Cadillac.

**Ranger** · #6 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codewize

Yeah, wouldn't it have made more since financially to fix the car? For $2500 you could have been back on the road driving a car you love. I'd say the dealer made out on that deal.

Now don't blame 'late model' Cadillacs either. Yours was a 99 with how many miles? Pre 2000 known to be susceptible to that problem. Improvements have been made on 2 generations since then.

2005 + is considered late model at this point. 1999 is 11 years old any way you slice it and if you think a VW is going to be more reliable than a Cadillac I can tell you from experience you're dead wrong.

It CERTAINLY won't be more comfortable. I'd rather push a Cadillac than drive a Beetle.

Quote:

The STS is gone and I'm out almost $6K....

Could have fixed it for half that or less and still had twice the car.

chubbyranger · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:15 PM

Maybe he needs something to fit in a smaller parking space. I paid more for my STS and coughed the $4K for HGs, cams and half case. Am I over double upside down in my car? Hell yes. Would I drive a kraut blob instead? Hell no.

Lebowski · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codewize

1999 is 11 years old

You have the math skills of a 3 year old. The POS had 114K on it. The Kelley Blue Book trade in value on it in excellent condition was only $4900-pretty bad for a $53K car. Why dump more money into it? All of you know that the Northshit engine was a piece of garbage in '99 models. You've seen dozens if not hundreds of people coming on this site criticizing it. I just thought I'd add myself to that list. If I was rich and had money to burn like a lot of you guys it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me either....

chubbyranger · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebowski

You have the math skills of a 3 year old. The POS had 114K on it. The Kelley Blue Book trade in value on it in excellent condition was only $4900-pretty bad for a $53K car. Why dump more money into it? All of you know that the Northshit engine was a piece of garbage in '99 models. You've seen dozens if not hundreds of people coming on this site criticizing it. I just thought I'd add myself to that list. If I was rich and had money to burn like a lot of you guys it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me either....

Sounds like Destroyer has found a new friend

Necrosan · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:25 PM

Heh, who wants to bet he has that $6000 in a loan, also?

CIWS · #11 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebowski

You have the math skills of a 3 year old. The POS had 114K on it. The Kelley Blue Book trade in value on it in excellent condition was only $4900-pretty bad for a $53K car.

Oh give us a break, trade in value on any 10 year old+ car with over 100K miles on it is going to be crap, no matter what it cost new. Would you be feeling better if it cost 100K and was worth 10,000 for trade in ? Being rich and having money to burn... How about just learn to try and be smarter about your automobile purchases. My mother's 1999 Lexus just crapped some sensor and she's got to pay 900.00 to get it repaired, but she's not logging onto the Lexus forum and complaining because she recognizes it's 10 years old. According to KBB hers is only worth 5400.00 trade in now with that same mileage of 114K.

orconn · #12 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebowski

You have the math skills of a 3 year old. The POS had 114K on it. The Kelley Blue Book trade in value on it in excellent condition was only $4900-pretty bad for a $53K car. Why dump more money into it? All of you know that the Northshit engine was a piece of garbage in '99 models. You've seen dozens if not hundreds of people coming on this site criticizing it. I just thought I'd add myself to that list. If I was rich and had money to burn like a lot of you guys it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me either....

Boy,Lebowski, are you in for a shock when you find out what an "out of warranty" German car cost to maintain! And with the VW what the "trade-in" value will be in a couple of years ....... well, actually right now!

**Ranger** · #13 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lebowski

You have the math skills of a 3 year old. The POS had 114K on it. The Kelley Blue Book trade in value on it in excellent condition was only $4900-pretty bad for a $53K car. Why dump more money into it? All of you know that the Northshit engine was a piece of garbage in '99 models. You've seen dozens if not hundreds of people coming on this site criticizing it. I just thought I'd add myself to that list. If I was rich and had money to burn like a lot of you guys it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me either....

Wait a minute. You traded a Cadillac for a Beetle. Took a beating on the trade I'm sure. Could have fixed it for much less and still had twice the car. Doesn't exactly sound like math was your strongest subject.

98eldorado-lee · #14 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

Wait a minute. You traded a Cadillac for a Beetle. Took a beating on the trade I'm sure. Could have fixed it for much less and still had twice the car. Doesn't exactly sound like math was your strongest subject.

especially since consumers reports rated the bug very unreliable.

97EldoCoupe · #15 (**permalink**) 01-08-09, 10:14 PM

I stand by the Northstar V8. The few flaws that it has are nothing compared to what it's capable of doing. If you take a minute to observe the engine, how much engineering went into it to make it reliable- how well it performs and how little gas it consumes pulling these 4000lb cars, how the block was designed and machined...

50 HG jobs and well over 50 engines that I've taken apart and inspected. 3 had cracked cylinders, haven't found any since. 2 of those were Aurora 4.0s, one was a 4.6. Could be partially due to owner neglect and improper cooling fill procedures. One camshaft worn down and 4 lifters along with it. 0 warped heads - that's right - "0". Couple of engines with main & rod bearings worn down, loss of oil pressure at some point was the cause. When the owner drives with that oil light on, that can't be blamed on the manufacturer.

Yes they have oil leaking problems and HG failures. But we're talking 8,9, and 10+ year old cars here. They've already done their job and with a good refreshen- that's right not a rebuild, just new gaskets and seals and head studs, they're up to the task of driving another 200,000 miles.

Yeah, any engine's junk that doesn't last 100 years; that you can't pass on to your great-grandson when he enters retirement!!!!?????

So how many engines will have the original honing marks and very little wear on the cylinder walls after 200,000 miles? It was almost unheard of until the Northstar... the Buick 3.8 liter V6 and the Olds small block V8 are the only other two engines that I respect for their reliability. 403 Olds motors blew their HGs too, but they are well respected as engines that produce "Pure necksnapping torque".

I would sink 2-3k in the car any day of the week and continue to drive it before you'd see me out looking for another car. You really have to look at things differently- "I could have just as much problems with the next car I buy, at least if I fix the Caddy that's one repair that I shouldn't have to worry about again...".