My new to me car 1998 Deville

3533 Views 31 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Cadillacboy, May 28, 2007

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Discussion Starter · May 26, 2007 (Edited)

I bought this 1998 Deville a few days ago. My Fleetwood was totaled a month ago. I could not find a clean 1996 Fleetwood so I bought this 1998 Deville. I really wanted a Fleetwood but I like the Deville now, I have never had a car with a sunroof its pretty cool. I bought the car from a Cadillac dealer, it was a trade in. The woman who bought it there new traded it in on another new Cadillac. It has 67000 miles on it. I got the vehicle history report, only minor repairs, she even took it to the dealer for oils changes. The dealer had just got in a 1996 green Fleetwood but it was sold already, a buyer was on a waiting list to buy the Fleetwood for 6 months, it was a very clean beautiful green Fleetwood. I think it sold for 8200.00. I am getting on the waiting list for a clean 1996 Fleetwood at the dealer when they get one. East Texas has some good clean used Cadillacs without rust or flood damage. sorry to ramble on. TexasCadillac

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G

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 26, 2007

I want to install a CD player in my Deville, the radio only picks up country and western music, grrrr. Is it easy to put a factory CD player in? Or a aftermarket CD player. And I am not a fan of outside gold trim, can it be replaced with chrome trim? How long should this engine last if it is a good one? I know there were some dud engines before 2000. Any advice is appreciated on my Deville. TexasCadillac

G

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 26, 2007

What is the value of this car? I probably paid more than book value but I wanted a lower mileage car. They were asking $7500.00. I offered $7000 and they took $7200.00 plus tax and bs = $7700.00 drive out. I didn't even look up the book value, I had looked at so many ragged out Caddys and when I saw this one I liked it. I am happy with it and that's what counts. TexasCadillac

chubbyranger

· #4 · May 26, 2007

Trying to determine value based on the book is usually a waste of time for me. High retail for your car in the Northeast is $9100 on NADA; adjusting for reduced value because of gas prices right now I'd say you did OK. Its all relative anyway; you can always find one $500 cheaper on eBay but its 5000 miles away. I saw STSs with similar mileage to mine selling for $2000 less than I paid for mine and I don't really care. I had the money, almost no time to screw around shopping and a car in the color and condition that I wanted. Unless you mortgaged your dog or robbed a bank to buy it the fact that you're happy with it is what's important. Prevailing wisdom on these boards says to make sure the coolant is flushed every two years and to pay closer attention to both coolant and oil levels than you might with other cars. Northstars eat oil by design but should not use coolant unless there's a problem. The engines will go a long time with proper maintenance (200K plus from some accounts) but will blow up in 2-3 years if you neglect them. You should be able to swap in a factory CD player without a problem - check eBay there's usually quite a few. If you're going to keep it for awhile buy a factory service manual unless you only do dealer service. It will save you money.

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urbanski

· #5 · May 26, 2007

wow she's hot!

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jesh17

· #6 · May 26, 2007

Nice Deville, I would have paid that much for her.

Frost

· #7 · May 26, 2007

NICE CAR! You should be proud of that acquistion. There are 6 and 12 CD players that install int he trunk of your car - it probably is wired for it already. I know my '97 Deville was. Love the colour combo.

96Fleetwood

· #8 · May 26, 2007

Nice car!

You should have bought the 1996 Fleetwood I had for sale:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...2-bought-another-1996-fleetwood-brougham.html

The deal is not 100% finished yet, but if it falls through, I can let you know?

pompste

· #9 · May 26, 2007

TexasCadillac said:
I want to install a CD player in my Deville, the radio only picks up country and western music, grrrr. Is it easy to put a factory CD player in? Or a aftermarket CD player. And I am not a fan of outside gold trim, can it be replaced with chrome trim? How long should this engine last if it is a good one? I know there were some dud engines before 2000. Any advice is appreciated on my Deville. TexasCadillac

Sleek looking Deville--WOW!
I recently had a 12 disc cd changer installed in my 1995 Deville.I had it installed professionally----we agreed the best place to put the changer was in the trunk directly under the 3rd brake light.I went with an FM MODULATED 12 DISC CHANGER---it is wired through your stock radio-----sounds fantastic!

Playdrv4me

· #10 · May 27, 2007

FM modulators are an option, but I would recommend against this for optimal sound quality. Your factory headunit may be prewired for a factory CD changer that would be hardwired and sound much much better than an FM Modulated unit. Ive had enough of them to know they just arent great.

Your little Deville is very nice, and I agree with the others, for a Cadillac dealership purchase you did just fine, and all that matters is that you are happy with it.

Take care of the motor and it will last you along time, the single most important item of concern in that car is going to be keeping the coolant changed on time. If that car is a 98, it should have had coolant changes in 2002 and and in 2006 already. Try to get service records if you dont already have them to verify this was done. Good luck.

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G

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 27, 2007

thanks for the advice and compliments. It sure drive good and holds the road. What gas mileage do most people get with the same car? I am getting the coolant changed soon. And do these engines always burn oil? My car does not smoke or leak. I park in in a concrete floor shop so I will know if it gets a leak. TexasCadillac

Playdrv4me

· #12 · May 27, 2007

TexasCadillac said:
thanks for the advice and compliments. It sure drive good and holds the road. What gas mileage do most people get with the same car? I am getting the coolant changed soon. And do these engines always burn oil? My car does not smoke or leak. I park in in a concrete floor shop so I will know if it gets a leak. TexasCadillac

Yup, its normal for the Northstar to burn some oil. About a quart every 1 or 2000 miles I believe is the measuring stick for "normal" oil consumption.

Its good to take the car and really wind it out every so often, doing this will help keep carbon and sludge from forming. Its an engine that likes to go fast. :thumbsup:

chubbyranger

· #13 · May 27, 2007

TexasCadillac said:
And I am not a fan of outside gold trim, can it be replaced with chrome trim? TexasCadillac

Just lose the hood ornament and add a pair of chome-plated steer horns. :stirpot: Nobody will notice the gold trim after that.

jesh17

· #14 · May 27, 2007

chubbyranger said:
Just lose the hood ornament and add a pair of chome-plated steer horns. :stirpot: Nobody will notice the gold trim after that.

That's just too funny lol.

Ranger

· #15 · May 27, 2007

And do these engines always burn oil?

Read up on oil consumption in the Technical Archive at the top left of this page.

What gas mileage do most people get with the same car?

My '97 got as much as 30 on the open road with the cruise set at 70. To an from work (mostly highway) 24+/-.

Adam

· #16 · May 27, 2007

Beautiful Deville man! :thumbsup: Like Urb said, she's hot! Congrats on such a clean ride.

Frost

· #17 · May 28, 2007

Ditto on oil consumption with one big caveat: after I started adhering to regular WOTs, my oil stopped needing that quart every so often. The original owner was from the blue-rinse crowd and the car rarely saw any driving duties outside of Port Royal, Florida. So when I got my mitts on it (and after reading about the care and feeding of the Northstar, including the liberal use of WOTS), voila! No more oil probs. I get around 28 highyway and an abysmal 13 mpg in the city.

But man, talk about a comfortable 13 and 28!! I'd never change it for anything else in my price range = ever.

G

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 28, 2007

Frost said:
Ditto on oil consumption with one big caveat: after I started adhering to regular WOTs, my oil stopped needing that quart every so often. The original owner was from the blue-rinse crowd and the car rarely saw any driving duties outside of Port Royal, Florida. So when I got my mitts on it (and after reading about the care and feeding of the Northstar, including the liberal use of WOTS), voila! No more oil probs. I get around 28 highyway and an abysmal 13 mpg in the city.

But man, talk about a comfortable 13 and 28!! I'd never change it for anything else in my price range = ever.

...I don't know what WOTS means. I only think of wide open throttle but no S. Please help me understand. TexasCadillac

G

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 28, 2007

chubbyranger said:
Just lose the hood ornament and add a pair of chome-plated steer horns. :stirpot: Nobody will notice the gold trim after that.

hehehe...I had that idea of steer horns on the hood when I was 21 for my 1975 Eldorado but I drank a lot back then. LOL TexasCadillac...rollin

Ranger

· #20 · May 28, 2007

TexasCadillac said:
...I don't know what WOTS means. I only think of wide open throttle but no S. Please help me understand. TexasCadillac

You got it.
He means multiple Wide Open Throttles

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