[AnTon1325]

ok so i just graduated from college and i'm about to get a job that requires about an hour travel to work ... now i just wanted some opinions on whether or not i should get a cadillac as my first car

the car i have in mind is a '92 Brougham


I've only got about 4 thousand to spend on a car and i would just really hate to go buy a neon or a cavalier ...

so would any of you suggest getting an early 90s cadillac, or should i wait till later to buy one?



um i just moved the thread to the proper place ... but i guess i should add some more info

I don't really have a mechanical background, but i am willing to learn anything and i'm a fast learner


so i guess my question is what kind of problems should i expect/prepare for and how much i should be prepared to spend in maintenance and fixing problems


thanks to caddycruiser for showing me the right place to post this




Daniel

 

[Guest]

As long as you find a well maintained one, its a rock solid choice. One of the if not the cheapest powertrains to service and very reliable. Gas mileage of course will be a drawback but which is more punishing? A cavalier or higher gas bill? I'd rather pay more for gas than be crunched up in a no class Cavalier.

 

[caddycruiser]

Yep ....your welcome.

Same experience here. We have a '93 with the older TBI 350 and in the over two years and 15k miles we've owned it, only minor things like new front brake pads, an EGR valve, and now a new front ball joint are all that it has required--pretty good for a 12 year old luxury car, in any book.

Actually, there was an oil leak early on, coming from the seal around the oil pan, I think, but we had that fixed pretty quickly and easily too.

BIGGEST benefits to these cars:
-Gorgeous
-Huge
-Built and run like tanks
-Regular gas only
-NO fancy electronic suspension or other failure prone gadgetry
-Good fuel mileage, at 20mpg better
-Did I mention, C-H-E-A-P to maintain, especially considering so much of the car is the same as the mass market Caprice's

They're getting harder to find as the years pass and some of the more well used examples move into the scrap pile, but if you can find a color and option combo you like for the right price, JUMP on it! :cool2:

 

[krimson_cardnal]

All good advice - I'm coming out of a 1989 Brougham - one really great car, a real car so to speak. My Cadillac service tech loved it too, but his advice, and I'm not meaning to pull anyone out of the forum, but it was to get up into the NorthStar engine. Just picked up a 96DeVille for a song and am loving it.

But an older Bro, well maintained is one heck of an automobile. Just need to realize what owning a 15 year old auto might mean.

Buy a deal look for quality - it certainly beats car payments.

Folks in this forum won't steer you wrong... be brave. An old friend once told me to buy a used Cadillac - you'l never waist money on another car. So far he's right.

 

[fullserviceman]

I see an 87 brougham in my area for sale which has low miles and looks cherry from what i have seen for $1000.. how are the olds carbureted 307's??? Is that about the only difference between 1987 and 1992?

 

[Night Wolf]

I see an 87 brougham in my area for sale which has low miles and looks cherry from what i have seen for $1000.. how are the olds carbureted 307's??? Is that about the only difference between 1987 and 1992?

1992 would have a Chevy 305 with the 350 an option, both are TBI.

the 1987 will have the computer-controlled carburator 307.

the 307 will never die, never fail, and hardly ever give you problems.... all this comes at a cost... that cost is pathetic performance.... yeah, I know, you may not be a hot rodder... but with the 307, you have to be careful merging on a freeway... the car wont accelerate fast enough, going up a big hill, stay out of the passing lane, because the only car getting passed will be you.

I would personally get a '90-'92, of course I would go all out and get a 1992 with the 350 option, but that is more money.

Any of them will treat you good.

the 200R4 in the 80's Broughams is a rather crappy transmission though, the average lifespan on then is 120k-160k miles.

 

[Guest]

I had an 87 and thought it was a great car. When I test drove my 91 with the 305 though, it was a night and day difference. Not only was it quicker but it felt completely different, rode softer was quieter and had a lot cosmetic differences that I liked. Since then I swapped in an 87 L98 350 and did a few mods and made it more fun to drive. :lildevil:

 

[90Brougham350]

If you can find it, the 90-92 Broughams with the optional 350 are the way to go. There is little difference in the gas mileage from the 5.0, and the 0-60 time is 4 seconds difference. Plus, when you bring it in for service and the mechanic sees it's got a 350 Chevy, he'll be pleased.

Brian

 

[Leloz]

I have owned three thus far and they are great cars. Make sure you find one that was well maintained. I just sold my 1991 with 113,000 original miles for $3600. It was in great shape and now belongs to another fellow enthusiast. This appears to be a good deal:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990...4577203973QQcategoryZ6152QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-1...4577459881QQcategoryZ6152QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[vanaisa]

If you like more square look cars, go for 91-92 Brougham, if newer look, choose 93 FWB - both are good and reliable cars and serve you long time, if you maintain them well :yup:

 

[cmgrafmc]

I've had nothing but trouble with my 1989 Brougham. I appear to be the only one, though.

Gas mileage is a big drawback but you're paying for style. Right now, I have to run premium and even then it's still knocking. (And yet everything...EVERYTHING...checks out perfectly.) The point is, it's $30/week in gas, and my commute is half as long as yours.

I'm going to pick up a little VW bug for my commuter and keep the Brougham as my cruiser/weekend driver. And if I need to, I can put the VW in the trunk of the Caddy and have both wherever I go! =)

Great cars if you get the right one. Mine just seems to be going through a phase. =( I prefer the looks of the 80's but the power/quieter ride of the 90's...

 

[N0DIH]

I picked up my 94 LT1 Fleetwood Brougham with the towing package (V4P) for $3800. So keep that in mind when you are looking. Don't pay extra for low miles, often low mileage cars are maintenance headaches. The age seems to have more effect on the car.

I get 19 mpg back and forth to work, with 3.42 gears. And a light to moderate foot. 20-30% city mileage, rest is country backroads. The 91-93's should be similar, the LT1's kept the mileage same or higher and got 50-60 more HP.

There is a 94-96 I have seen on the classifieds on this forum for $2800-$2900. So shop around. Depends on which style you like the most. There seems to be a big division on the 93-96 body style to the 92 and older. I like both.

 

[AnTon1325]

Thanks to you all for the advice


by time the time I had made my decision and went to look at the car it was gone ...


it was a tan 92 brougham:suspect:

 

[Guest]

If you want an inexpensive, reliable, and decent-performing RWD fullsize GM - you really should look at the 91-up Chevy Caprice. I'm not trying to speak against Cadillacs at all but they do have more complicated systems than Chevy's do; no a Chevy is not a luxurious car but they are incredibly well-built and stand up to lots of abuse.

Just be sure you at least get the 5.0, preferably the 5.7, and absolutely avoid the 4.3 V8 (yes I said V8)

Richard

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

yeah i've heard bad things about the 4.3 V8. My uncle has one in his '95 Caprice and says its the slowest thing ever. 200hp/245 lb/ft is not good. I wonder why they only used this motor in one car? It seems like a waste of time/ money to design and use the 4.3 V8 in one car.

 

[gbuster4u]

I just purchased a 1992 Bougham and it rides great. The only problem is milage of around 12 miles per gallon. If the person who is selling this knows how to reset the internal alarm, please let me know.

ok so i just graduated from college and i'm about to get a job that requires about an hour travel to work ... now i just wanted some opinions on whether or not i should get a cadillac as my first car

the car i have in mind is a '92 Brougham


I've only got about 4 thousand to spend on a car and i would just really hate to go buy a neon or a cavalier ...

so would any of you suggest getting an early 90s cadillac, or should i wait till later to buy one?



um i just moved the thread to the proper place ... but i guess i should add some more info

I don't really have a mechanical background, but i am willing to learn anything and i'm a fast learner


so i guess my question is what kind of problems should i expect/prepare for and how much i should be prepared to spend in maintenance and fixing problems


thanks to caddycruiser for showing me the right place to post this




Daniel

 

[caddieboy]

I just purchased a 1992 Bougham and it rides great. The only problem is milage of around 12 miles per gallon. If the person who is selling this knows how to reset the internal alarm, please let me know.

You might want to have your car looked at. The fuel economy for 92 Broughams is about 16 in the City and 25 on the highway. (Avg is 19 if you do 45% city and 55% hwy) Unless one idles all the time for long periods and are really heavy on the gas and brakes, 12 would be tough to reach.