[caddieboy]

I have a question regarding very low mile 90-92 caddies. A while ago I saw one for sale with 13,000 miles advertised that the shocks had been replaced. Another with 50,000 miles with a new rad replaced.

Any questions I should ask on parts that need replacing. Which seals may have erroded? Any standards regarding fluid replacement and should I be worried if fluids weren't changed often (by time versus milage since the low mileage). I'm looking at a 92 Brougham with just over 15,000 miles.

What questions should I be asking?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jon s]

The factory shocks on those vintages were not great and many mechanics /Dealerships would "sell" owners on a new set. Fluids other than oil were probably not changed on this vintage low mileage vehicle, but it would be smart to flush the transmission when/if you buy one. Also, flush the oil (hot). As to seals, unless you see a leak, leave a sleeping dog alone. Have the car State emissions tested to see if it passes or what sensors/other parts may be bad. That should do it over and above the normal body checks for damage/bondo/rust, etc. Also pull a wheel and look at the brake/calipers. Good luck!

 

[caddieboy]

The factory shocks on those vintages were not great and many mechanics /Dealerships would "sell" owners on a new set. Fluids other than oil were probably not changed on this vintage low mileage vehicle, but it would be smart to flush the transmission when/if you buy one. Also, flush the oil (hot). As to seals, unless you see a leak, leave a sleeping dog alone. Have the car State emissions tested to see if it passes or what sensors/other parts may be bad. That should do it over and above the normal body checks for damage/bondo/rust, etc. Also pull a wheel and look at the brake/calipers. Good luck!

I'm not sure what I'd be looking for with regards to the brakes and calipers. I'm still a newbie but soaking up all this forum has to teach. I'll probably flush all the fluids unless there's documentation to show it's been done recently.

Thanks for your advice. I'll ask if this guy was sold on new shocks or not.

 

[DopeStar 156]

Quite frankly on any low mileage older car you need to go for the rubbers. Tires, belts, hoses, gaskets, anything rubber on the car is gonna show the age of the car since they crap rots regardless of the mileage on the car.

 

[jon s]

Quite frankly on any low mileage older car you need to go for the rubbers. Tires, belts, hoses, gaskets, anything rubber on the car is gonna show the age of the car since they crap rots regardless of the mileage on the car.

Not true! My 1958 has 36 year old tires (radials) and the hoses are 15 years +. No dry rot or cracks or deterioration! If the car is garaged and maintained, rubber parts last a lot longer than you think! If a seal or gasket is not leaking, why would you want to change it? A non-garaged car is another story.

 

[brougham]

Just look at what you normally would. If you really want to know if it has any problems take it to a garage to get them to check it. Tires will crack and hoses will get hard or need to be changed too but not always. If it doesn't leak anything don't bother changing any seals for no reason but plan on doing it because stuff like that is usually more of a problem on really low mileage cars then normal ones.

 

[caddieboy]

Car Value

This is under the hood of a 20k mile 92 Brougham.

Has a factory Astroroof and spoke wheels, white with red d'elegance interior, grey/silver trim, located a few hours drive from my home. Has the 350 chevy in it.

I'd appreciate any feedback in terms of the value of the car. Asking price is $13,000, probably negotiable down to 10,000. I like that it's located not far from home. I have been looking at cars in Florida and California but shipping would be a bitch and seeing the car in person has advantages. Plus, up North it's harder to find rust-free low mile caddies. Also consider it has the options I want (except for red leather interior, would have preferred white).

I'll be looking at it on the weekend, but it's in apparently great shape except for slight weathering on the plastic by the taillights and old grannie scuffs on one of the front corners, all easily replaced/fixed I think. Garaged and never winter driven. I'll report more once I've seen it.

I also welcome comments regarding red over white interior. I like the look of the white interior, but unsure of maintenance and the pros/cons over a darker interior.

 

[caddycruiser]

Re: Car Value

This is under the hood of a 20k mile 92 Brougham.

Has a factory Astroroof and spoke wheels, white with red d'elegance interior, grey/silver trim, located a few hours drive from my home. Has the 350 chevy in it.

I'd appreciate any feedback in terms of the value of the car. Asking price is $13,000, probably negotiable down to 10,000. I like that it's located not far from home. I have been looking at cars in Florida and California but shipping would be a bitch and seeing the car in person has advantages. Plus, up North it's harder to find rust-free low mile caddies. Also consider it has the options I want (except for red leather interior, would have preferred white).

I'll be looking at it on the weekend, but it's in apparently great shape except for slight weathering on the plastic by the taillights and old grannie scuffs on one of the front corners, all easily replaced/fixed I think. Garaged and never winter driven. I'll report more once I've seen it.

I also welcome comments regarding red over white interior. I like the look of the white interior, but unsure of maintenance and the pros/cons over a darker interior.

Sounds like an AWESOME car. As far as the interior, while I'll admit the white is a little more rare and gorgeous, it would probably be one of the hardest interior colors to maintain if the car is used regularly--even a little dirt build-up, and things would start to look a bit yellow or grimey. Check out a few Caddies on Ebay from time to time with white interiors and you'll see what I mean, even if they are maintained caringly.

On the other hand, the red is not only more distinctive and, IMHO, beautiful than your typical gray or beige, but also easy to maintain--not an easily soiled "light" like white/beige/cream but also not nearly as bad from a fingerprint and dust respect as something like black or dark blue would be. Actually, in all of the cars and all of the colors we've owned over the years, the red interior has to be about the easiest I've ever had to keep looking great--dust isn't very noticeable, the red carpets stay cleaner looking longer, and the red leather seats don't show much of anything (i.e. dirt, anything spilled, etc.).

In truth, I have noticed how the deep red interior can suck up quite a bit of the sun's heat on a summer day, but since the outside of the car is white, it isn't nearly as bad in this respect as say, something like our black/black 300M was.

So, I'd say, if you can get the price down to a level you like and are comfortable paying--jump on it. These cars are only getting rarer everyday, and finding such a low mileage "classic" Fleetwood with the 350, Astroroof, and such a nice color combo is next to impossible already.

 

[caddieboy]

Re: Car Value

So, I'd say, if you can get the price down to a level you like and are comfortable paying--jump on it. These cars are only getting rarer everyday, and finding such a low mileage "classic" Fleetwood with the 350, Astroroof, and such a nice color combo is next to impossible already.

Thanks for all the info on the interior. I would be using it regularly so I think it would be better than the white. Not huge on the Red, but I've grown accustomed to burgundy interiors on the two caddies I have now, so the red will probably grow on me too. And having low maintenance is always nice, even though I would be babying this car like it was sucking on a soother. Leatherique baby!!!

So is $10,000 a reasonable offer for this vintage low-mile? I'm comfortable paying it as long as there are no unexpected surprises, and I can't imagine any on a grannie-driven car. I see lots of similar cars for sale asking around the same amout. Being the last production year and rare upgrades I think it's not an unfair offer. It even has the Original Uniroyal tires with gold trim and writing. I'll probably keep the rims and tires off the car and maybe use them if I show the car at events etc. I noticed a bit of rust in the above picture, but it looks like that's normal surface rust and no9thing to worry about.

 

[caddycruiser]

$10,000 seems good to me, but then again, I'm always a little MORE generous than usual when thinking about the values of these cars.

But still, for the mileage, options, color, and model year, I'd say that it's quite accurate.

Anyone else have an opinion?

 

[CaddymanTom]

Howdy, Just wanted to give some tips on the white interior. My Eldorado has a white interior and i must say it takes a lot of care to keep it clean. Granted it is a convertable but still takes a lot of work. I use leather CPR i found at walgreens and it seems to do the trick nicely. My Brougham has a dark blue interior (which i know some on here don't like) I love it. I use the same cleaner on it and it keeps it soft and new looking. Just thought I would let you know

 

[caddieboy]

Howdy, Just wanted to give some tips on the white interior. My Eldorado has a white interior and i must say it takes a lot of care to keep it clean. Granted it is a convertable but still takes a lot of work. I use leather CPR i found at walgreens and it seems to do the trick nicely. My Brougham has a dark blue interior (which i know some on here don't like) I love it. I use the same cleaner on it and it keeps it soft and new looking. Just thought I would let you know

I appreciate that Tom! I think I'll be getting this car and I'll live with the red interior. The leather should still be in good shape or easily restored to new if it wasn't maintained. 20,000 miles isn't a lot of sitting. The back seats are probably mint. I've heard good things about Leatherique in the forum about caring for caddies. I think it was a sticky.

Thanks again!

 

[caddycruiser]

All this "leather talk" has me thinking I need to switch to a better leather cleaner and/or conditioner. Right now, I'm using Lexol based on what I had originally read about it, but I've yet to be impressed by it--the cleaner does a good job, but the conditioner doesn't seem to have much of any affect.

Regardless, the leather they used in these big Caddy's is some GOOD stuff. The seats in my '93 Fleetwood, despite 12 years of use, have some of the softest, most supple, and luxurious feeling hide of ANY car I've been in. They're "like butta" to put it simply

 

[CaddymanTom]

Caddyboy, It sounds like a great purchase! Make sure you post some pics so we can all see once you get it. I am wait to get my real wire wheels before i post mine. They were supposed to be here this week and I am impatiently waiting

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Re: Car Value

This is under the hood of a 20k mile 92 Brougham.

Has a factory Astroroof and spoke wheels, white with red d'elegance interior, grey/silver trim, located a few hours drive from my home. Has the 350 chevy in it.

I'd appreciate any feedback in terms of the value of the car. Asking price is $13,000, probably negotiable down to 10,000. I like that it's located not far from home. I have been looking at cars in Florida and California but shipping would be a bitch and seeing the car in person has advantages. Plus, up North it's harder to find rust-free low mile caddies. Also consider it has the options I want (except for red leather interior, would have preferred white).

I'll be looking at it on the weekend, but it's in apparently great shape except for slight weathering on the plastic by the taillights and old grannie scuffs on one of the front corners, all easily replaced/fixed I think. Garaged and never winter driven. I'll report more once I've seen it.

I also welcome comments regarding red over white interior. I like the look of the white interior, but unsure of maintenance and the pros/cons over a darker interior.

That is pretty much my dream brougham!!!

 

[CaddymanTom]

I know the feeling. Mine is triple Navy blue with the Astro-roof and wire wheel covers. Soon to be real wire wheels. That has always been my dream. Its so cool that we can have are dream cars!

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I looked at a really nice '90 Brougham d'Elegance last month. It was a medium brown color with tan leather interior, almost no rust, had the wire hub caps i prefer. $2995 But I wouldnt buy it because it's way too slow for my tastes. (307)

 

[caddieboy]

Re: Car Value

That is pretty much my dream brougham!!!

Mine too, except that I'd prefer the white leather interior, but as was said before, it just isn't as practical and easy to maintain. The tough part will be using the spoke wheels and original Uniroyal tires. I'd probably end up saving them for special occasions and try to find another set or different rims.

 

[caddieboy]

All this "leather talk" has me thinking I need to switch to a better leather cleaner and/or conditioner.

Read here for leather care:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4132

And visit this sticky!

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27551

 

[brougham]

White with white and red leather interior is one of my favourite colours for Broughams. White leather seats aren't that hard to keep clean. A friend of mine has had 2 Cadillacs with them and he never had a problem with it.