Considering a 2002 SLS -- Opinions wanted

[ryannel2003]

A quick search of AutoTrader reveals that very, very few '02 SLS's came without a body colored grille. I saw only 2 or 3, but it seems like most came with the fogs and body grille of the STS.

EDIT: Turns out, the name of the package was T1S, which included the body colored grille, foglights, and possibly chrome wheels.

EDIT x2: Here you go:

RPO Code Explanation/Description
T1S RSION SLS EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS

[submariner409]

gdwriter, 2001 or 2002, Pretty close to the same car. The "shimmy" seems to be dependent on the phases of the moon and the barometric pressure. My 2002 has no shimmy or anything else up to 132 mph fuel cutoff. Never has, Eagle or Cooper tires. A CARFAX is a mixed bag - it's a voluntary reporting site, so the only things you'll see are registrations, sales, and emissions testing......Maybe a service, but nothing else. ("Hey Honey, I smashed the SLS......please report it to CARFAX !) Yeah, right. Better to have a sympathetic GM dealer run the VIN through the GM VIS system in order to find all the warranty and recall work done. The VIS will also give you an idea of where the car originally was sold......as in: New Orleans? SLS will give you 25 - 28 mpg highway on regular, 14 - 18 in town. I would guess that the speed limiter is set at 112......check the tire rating on the door sticker. Nice cars.....fun to drive. SLS has more of a "Cadillac ride" than STS. The grille color and fog lamps were generally part of a standard dealer floorplan package, so the car you're looking at was probably ordered by the original buyer, not the dealer. OH....Have the dealer send you the RPO list from under the spare tire cover. Run the codes through www.cadillacfaq.com/rpo/index.php

hueterm, Entirely different subject for an entirely different thread, but a new FPR from RockAuto is around $45 + or -. Piece of cake.

[hueterm]

Yeah, it was a semi hijack -- thanks for the info.

gdwriter -- good luck w/the car -- hope you get it if you like it.

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by submariner409

Better to have a sympathetic GM dealer run the VIN through the GM VIS system in order to find all the warranty and recall work done. The VIS will also give you an idea of where the car originally was sold......as in: New Orleans? SLS will give you 25 - 28 mpg highway on regular, 14 - 18 in town. I would guess that the speed limiter is set at 112......check the tire rating on the door sticker. Nice cars.....fun to drive. SLS has more of a "Cadillac ride" than STS. The grille color and fog lamps were generally part of a standard dealer floorplan package, so the car you're looking at was probably ordered by the original buyer, not the dealer. OH....Have the dealer send you the RPO list from under the spare tire cover. Run the codes through www.cadillacfaq.com/rpo/index.php

409, thanks the response. It's always helpful to get insights from someone who has one of these cars.

I've already gotten a GM VIS report from Cadillac Tony, which was very helpful. The car has had more than 30 warranty repairs, including replacing both the power steering pump and front motor mounts twice (IIRC, the front motor mounts are a weak point on these cars). Ignition and starter switch and steering column and a window regulator have also been replaced. The last claim on the report was in 2005 at 42,000 miles, and since the mileage is now twice that, I'm a bit leary.

The car was originally delivered in Las Vegas, and it was an early 2002 model, so that might account for the front end; the grille and fog lamps may have been a running change.

Looking around some more, I found this 1999 SLS with 67,000 miles in Portland for $5,950. So I will likely look at it as well.

[SPreston2001]

No stay with the 2000+ models. I would take a second look at the 02. Some of the parts you mentioned that have been replaced are common problems with these cars. Consider yourself lucky that the repairs have already been done before you receive it. If it hasnt had any problems since 05, then all the factory gremlins may have been ironed out. Atleast you know the car was properly maintained. The 02 will have more features/options than the 99 and also have the redesigned headbolts.

[hueterm]

Plus the N* changes... And the blue looks better than the green.

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by SPreston2001

If it hasnt had any problems since 05, then all the factory gremlins may have been ironed out. Atleast you know the car was properly maintained. The 02 will have more features/options than the 99 and also have the redesigned headbolts.

I don't know that it hasn't, since the report only covers the warranty period. I doubt the selling dealer has the rest of the maintenance history.

I'm still more inclined to the '02 because of the improvements made to the Northstar in 2000. And I do prefer the blue.

I've come across a few more 2000+ Sevilles in the area and am checking prices and mileage on them. Still haven't heard back from the dealer selling the '99.

[orconn]

My wife's 2002 SLS has the silver painted grill and no fog lamps, so I think the body colored grille and fog lights was an option group. Seems to me I heard something to that affect about the 2002s. The big selling point to me is the color. I'd say definately take a look. If its meant to be the car will still be there on your day off!

[SliceOfLife]

Originally Posted by ryannel2003

A quick search of AutoTrader reveals that very, very few '02 SLS's came without a body colored grille. I saw only 2 or 3, but it seems like most came with the fogs and body grille of the STS.

EDIT: Turns out, the name of the package was T1S, which included the body colored grille, foglights, and possibly chrome wheels.

EDIT x2: Here you go:

RPO Code Explanation/Description
T1S RSION SLS EXTERIOR ENHANCEMENTS

I got a printout from the GM Vehicle Inquiry System (http://gmvis.gm.com) which lists the code as:

T1S - SLS EXTERIOR - CONVERSION CODE

But it also lists:

T96 - FOG LAMPS
\

[gdwriter]

OK, I'm getting really close to doing this. My credit union has pre-approved me for a loan @ 9.65% for 36 months. If I were to pay, say, $7,500 for the car, the monthly payment would be ~$240. My goal, however, would be to pay the car off in two years.

I'm leaving work early today to look at the White Diamond '01 SLS.



I never did hear back from the dealer selling the '99, but I did find a White Diamond '02 at a dealership in Vancouver WA just north of Portland, plus this one about an hour away from where I work. Of the three, it's the cleanest. The interior looks brand new:









The White Diamond '02 in Vancouver isn't as clean inside, and their asking price is $1,000 more. And the blue '02, while a gorgeous color, had 30+ warranty repairs, which is some cause for concern. The Vancouver '02 has the fewest warranty claims with 7, and the '01 has 14. Not great, but not horrible either, and less of a concern than 30+. Also, the '01 is being sold by a Cadillac dealer and was a trade-in on a new Cadillac. I've talked to one of the salesmen, and he will be able to pull up service records on the car.

Assuming I can negotiate down to at least $7,500, that's just $1,500 more than the blue '02, and it works out to less than $50 more a month and about $250 more in interest. Not that big of a difference; this car just strikes me as a smarter buy.

I know that I don't need this car, and it's been nice not making car payments, even though I can easily afford the ones on this car. But I am not trading Cruella in. First, I wouldn't get anything for her, and if the Seville turns out to be troublesome over the next few months, I'll simply sell it and go back to Cruella. My 17-year-old niece loves Cruella, and I'll probably offer to give it to her in a few months should the Seville prove itself reliable.

So the odds are now probably 75% in favor of a new Cadillac being in my garage tonight. I'll let you know.

[ryannel2003]

Of the 3, I like the white diamond '01 Seville the best. The interior looks absolutely immaculate, and the fact that it was traded at a Caddy dealer means it was most likely serviced there its whole life.

Good luck!

[SPreston2001]

Ok so you found both a 01 & 02 white diamond sls? Which interior is pictured in the pics above? I would go with whatever car is shown above barring it runs as good as it looks.

[ted tcb]

The above car is very clean ... the link you provided shows that even the headlight lenses look good.
Interestingly enough, one picture shows a bunch of wires under the back of the front seat ... like to know what that's
all about.

[gdwriter]

I bought the '01:



Took it for a half-hour, nearly 30 mile test drive. Got in a couple of WOTs. As much as I loved my 4.9, I'm already loving the Northstar. So smooth, with a nice sound when you get on it. The whole car is incredibly quiet. And all the toys work, and the temperature gauge never budged from top dead center and the blend doors worked perfectly to the dash and floor vents. I've already set up some of the personalized controls for the memory seat, locks, etc.

And this sucker is clean, just like the pictures show. The White Diamond '02 was pretty clean, but not as immaculate as the '01. You'd never know it was eight years old. It looks practically brand new or two years old at the most. I don't care what all the critics say about GM interiors, this is awfully damn nice. Not as nice as a new CTS, but certainly as nice as it's contemporary competition.

Will post more pictures in the Lounge.

[Ranger]

Congratulations. Nice car. My favorite color.