This spring I plan to buy a new everyday car. At least new to me.
Luckily, I live north of cream puff central South Florida and it looks like the 2003-2007 cream puff Cadillac market is coming into its own with many nice late model, low mileage, garaged cars available for really low prices. I love a big ride so one of my short list options is a Cadillac Deville or DTS as these were obviously popular given the current cream puff availability indicator. Plus they have particularly nice prices ($5K-$9K) in the 2003 - 2007 model years.
Having never driven one, I thought I would first check-in with owners and request some info on your experience, particularly in the following areas:
- How is the ride? I'm interested in the Cadillac ride from those who know what that is, and I'm wondering if it was achieved with front wheel drive . I already have a late model sporty car to go out in when I want some top down fun and I don't want a car that drives and handles like my wife's FWD minivan, or a FWD car with lots of steering torque.
- For those that maintain them, how is it for maintenance? When I buy cream puffs, my goal is to get them up over $200K so I want a car that can last when it is properly taken care of.
- What are the major problems that you have had, or should be watched out for when purchasing?
Any other info or advice is appreciated and will help me whittle the short list down on models, years, etc.
Joe,
I bought a 2007 DTS with 40,000 one owner miles on it earlier this year.
Before I bought it I spoke to a Northstar specialist that worked on my 99 Eldo.
He said by 06-07 Cadillac had addressed the Northstar issues with leaks and head gasket issues.
There are always exceptions but so far mine has been trouble free and I love the ride. So do some of my Cadillac buddies and the car is everything I want in a late model driver. It's actually only a weekend driver as I have a van I drive during the week for work.
I'd look for a spiffy one, maybe the DTS luxury model.
Good luck
Brian
If you're going for that generation of Northstar, do not go below a 2004. In 2000, GM lengthened the head bolts by 1" in response to the numerous head gasket failures. It helped, but they were still a fine-thread bolt. In 2004, they changed to a coarse-thread head bolt and that pretty much solved the head gasket issue.
With the Northstar engine, be prepared for coolant leaks and oil consumption. Some have neither, and some use a quart of oil in 1000mi. Your results may vary. Other than a misfire issue that required a single coil pack to be replaced with an entire coil cassette (upgraded design), I'm quite happy with the performance of the Northstar. Ample power to move the car along and gas mileage is much better than the Town Car the Deville replaced.
Window regulators go on a fairly consistent basis. I had one pop in my 04 Deville, luckily, it took about 1/2 hour to do the job from start to finish, and I got a new aftermarket regulator with motor for $57. There are two types of window regulators in these cars - ones that have failed, and ones that haven't failed yet.
As far as ride quality goes, having had a Town Car and a Deville, the advantage definitely goes to the Town Car if you want a soft, full framed car ride. The Deville feels very heavy in the front end whereas the Town Car felt a little more balanced. The Deville rides much more firmly than the Town Car did and cabin noise was much less in the Lincoln.
When the day comes to replace the Deville, I hate to say it, but I may go back to a Town Car. I can sacrifice the additional HP for a bit more comfortable car.
Quote from: Manbat on December 29, 2014, 10:54:05 AM
- For those that maintain them, how is it for maintenance? When I buy cream puffs, my goal is to get them up over $200K so I want a car that can last when it is properly taken care of.
Up over $200K? That's a lot to spend on maintenance. ;D
Kidding aside, I'd recommend going 2006 or newer. You should be able to find nice examples with under 75K miles for under $10K, most likely a 2006 or 2007. Ride and handling are subjective but one or two test drives will answer that for you.
If you want RWD, there’s always the 2005+ STS. It's a smaller car than the DTS but still with pretty good interior room.
They're okay...with the potential HG, oil consumption and other assorted odds & ends. Much better reliability than 4100 and once HG redone w/ updates, you're usually good to go. I have a local shop (experienced Cadillac trained tech) who does them for me for ~$1,500 but a lot of places want double that - if they'll accept the job at all.
2000+ Cadillacs seem to be either super great or go broke keeping them alive & sorted.
By all means, only pristine examples should be considered, preferably elderly owned, gently driven. One gander at the interior should bear witness to that in about 10 seconds.
Supposedly the newer the better but I've seen HG fail as recent as '06 - but none later than that - as of this writing.
One other consideration might be an STS w/V-6 which is really a much better engine with none of the issues associated with the Northstar and hardly any difference in horses.
Good hunting.
$200K, maybe that was a Freudian slip. HaHa.
As always, you just can't beat opinions from the folks who know best. Great information but I didn't get that "yea, its a really great car" feeling from the posts. Sounds like a 07 or later for a Deville, which I guess makes it a DTS, is best.
I'm also guessing from the posts that the STS with the V8 Northstar would suffer from the same HG problems, so probably 07 or later or V6 if one is to be considered. I think I'm just a V8 RWD biased-for-no-rational-reason kind of guy. I better get out and do some test driving.
Let me be more enthusiastic, I LOVE mine and would highly recommend it as a driver.
Brian
Thanks Brian. That's a nice looking vehicle.
I bought my 2002 DTS when I retired in the summer of 2002. It is black with black leather, 102,000 miles. Burns a quart of oil in 800 miles. I do the coolant reconditioning with pills every two years. Replaced the seal on the left drive shaft. It stays up North every winter, and I drive it in the summer. It is fast, quiet, and beautiful. If I could find something I liked as well, I would have replaced it. I look forward to the new LTS, but the jury is still out on that, pricewise, and everything else. I have replaced three window regulators also, but as much as we bitch about Chinese stuff, the advent of their regulators makes the job a lot cheaper. The only trunk emblem I left on the car was the Cadillac crest. It looks like new, and I can't wait to get home to drive it.
I have been driving Cadillacs since 1970 and have owned several. I now have 3, I bought a 2009 DTS in April of 2010. I love mine. I drove it from Oklahoma to Los Angeles in September of 2012, over 4,200 miles and never added any oil. I believe it is the best riding, quietest Cadillac I have ever owned. I have just had regular maintenance done on the car. I would buy another one if they still made them. For that reason, and due to my age, I hope this is the last car I have to buy, as I cannot find anything being made today that I would ever consider unless it was a Bently for Roll Royce and those are way out of my price range. I plan on keeping mine for many years.
Guy Moore CLC #12650
2009 DTS
1994 Concours
1989 Sedan de Ville
1976 Oldsmobile 98 Recency
Bought a 2003 DTS with faux ragtop roof, fewer than 44,000 miles and brand new Michelins in April 2014 for a negotiated price of $7,400. It now has a little over 50,000 miles, with no major issues to report yet. Have spent less than $800 total on a seatbelt regulator repair and a ride height sensor repair. Unlike my 2001 Eldorado ESC, which sadly was totaled last March, this car doesn't burn oil, at least not yet. My Cadillac dealer uses a synthetic oil that calls for 6,000 miles between changes rather than the usual 3,000.
Love the ride in the DTS...it rides like a Cadillac should. Gas mileage is around 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway due to the 300 HP Northstar and axle ratio. Hope that helps.