allanta

[Don Berg 20417]

I am thinking of buying an Allanta .Do you think it will be a colletable car down the road. The 1993 is one of the better ones to get ,but what is wrong with the other years? Which year would be the best?  Thanks Don

[Otto Skorzeny]

In a nutshell,  the 1987 - 1988 Allantes  were equipped with the worst engine ever put into a Cadillac, the HT4100. The 1989 - 1992 Allantes had a larger (4.5 litre) version of this engine.

The 1993 model is equipped with a Northstar engine.

This gentleman specializes in Cadillac Allante parts and might be able to answer some of your questions.

Tom Rohner Allante Parts                       
San Diego, California
619-807-8770

[don20417]

I am thinking of buying an Allanta .Do you think it will be a colletable car down the road. The 1993 is one of the better ones to get ,but what is wrong with the other years? Which year would be the best?  Thanks Don

Thanks Otto I will give him a try  Don

[D.Yaros]

Timely topic, as my wife has/is bugging me about an Allante.  She wants to step up (quantum leap is more like it!) from a Corvair.  I have been studying/looking quite a bit.

My investigation has limited my interest to either a 1992 or 1993; preferably a '92.  Why?  the '92 was the last year for the Recaro seats and top shelf audio package.  In '93 Cadillac was in cost reduce mode.

My preference would be for one which is not red or white.  Those colors are quite common.  Silver or green would be my choice.  The tan interior is darn nice, especially with the green exterior.

Another preference would be for the analog, vs. digital, dash.  I do not know the reliability of the digital dash, but do know it is an expensive repair!

I do not believe the first gen Allantes had cd players; another drawback.

As for the Northstar engine, yes it has a pretty good rep, now.  However, remember that 1993 was the first year for this engine.  There is an old adage that says stay away from first year production.  I suspect there is a reason for such a view.

Interestingly, I have found that Cadillac did, in fact, put the N* in some late run 1992 production models.

[76eldo]

You guys will find a very informed and active message board at the Allante Club website:

http://allante.us/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

I recently sold my 92, shortly after buying my 93.

I was very lucky to find a Pearl Red /Natural interior 93 with 13,000 miles on it.  My 92 had 105,000 miles on it.

I bought it with 102,000 miles on it, and it needed a tuneup, as any 100,000 mile car with original parts will need.

From my observations, in the 2 years and 3000 miles I owned the 92, here is what I replaced:

1.  Full tune, cap,rotor, wires, plugs (normal maint.)
2.  Injector went bad, causing a miss in #5
3.  Injector went bad causing a miss in #1
4.  CD player replaced
5.  Radio receiver/pre-amp died
6.  All 4 Bose units died
7.  Pass side top pull down motor had stripped gears
8.  Battery dead from lack of use, replaced.

So far, in my 93 I noticed that the seats are extremely more comfortable, the audio system sounds great, and I enjoy the extra 100 horsepower.
As far as having a first year Northstar, it's 16 years later, no leaks, no problems, but all of these engines will need sensors replaced at different times.

The 91/92 cars run great, and have the more "advanced" top over a Phase 1 (87-88-89 and first half of 1990).
Phase II hardtops are less expensive that a 93 top for sure, but I don't need one.

Whatever you decide, they are great cars, and a bargain at today's prices.

Brian

[D.Yaros]

Brian,

I do find interesting your comment that the 93 is more comfortable.  The seats do not look anywhere near the quality and comfort leve of those in the 92?

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

For what it's worth, I owned a 1991 Allante for about five years, and didn't have any problems with it, except for an occasional dead battery when the car would sit for a couple weeks or more.  The car had plenty of power, was comfortable on long trips, and generally performed well. 

I understand why some collectors gravitate toward the 1993 model (final production year, only year with the Northstar engine), but I think the difference in desirability between the 1993 and the earlier models with the 4.5 litre engine has been overstated.         

[D.Yaros]

Rjich,

I am sure it is a matter of preference, so arguing in favor of one over the other is sort of like "tilting at windmill."  There were far fewer 92's made (1931), which should make them more valuable than the 93 model.

One can clearly see a major difference in the seating between the 2 years with the 93, IMHO, coming out on the short end of the stick in that comparison!

I suppose the rarerest of rare is the 92 with a N* engine.  Yes, there were a few of them made at the end of the 92 production run.

[76eldo]

The comfort of the seats is a matter of personal preference for sure.  The 93 has basically an Eldorado seat.  All I can tell you is that my wife hated the 92 seats because they are really firm, and she said she felt like she was sitting on a folding chair.

The earlier models have Recarro's which are more exotic, and have more available adjustment, but to me the softer Eldo style seat is more comfortable.

The 93's with the Northstar have about 100 more horsepower, completely different suspension, and at very different cars than the 87-92 cars.

I know that in the Allante club there is some bickering between the 93 guys and the 87-92 owners, but after owning both, I much prefer my 93.

Granted, my 92 was a 100K car, and the 93 is a 13K mile car, and that might have a lot to do with it.

To me, having owned both types, the 92 rode more like a C-4 Corvette, and the 93 rides like a miniaturized Eldorado.  Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.  The 93 is fast, corners and handles extremely well, and I like it a lot more.

As far as 92's with a Northstar, there's much more to a 93 than bolting in a northstar where the 4.5 belongs.  I would have to guess that any "92 Northstar" was an early build 93, somehow titled as a 92. 

I have never seen a 92 (faux vent windows, Recarro's, Bose) with a Northstar.

Any Allante, if properly maintained, is a very special car, and I like all of them.  They are a real bargain out there right now.

There's a beautiful 91 in Delaware, Silver with maroon int, 31K miles on it for about $9,000, and he can't seem to sell it.

Brian

[D.Yaros]

Brian,

Do you have a link for the MD '91 Allante?

[76eldo]

Here is a link.

Sounds like an exceptional car.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/1426935209.html

Brian

[D.Yaros]

Here is a link.

Sounds like an exceptional car.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/1426935209.html

Brian

Well, I followed the link.  The description does sound good, I agree.  It also refers to pictures, but I sure did not see any?

Does not the price seem a bit high for a 91, even with the low miles?

[Greg Powers]

The Allante is a great driving, "fun" Cadillac, but keep your wallet open. The car was so advanced with all the computer controlled systems and all the miles of wiring that it is a dealer or specialist only car for any serious repairs. I spent several thousand dollars on the Bosch Braking System alone. If you drive the car frequently, it is very reliable. Allowing it to sit around could cause another level of issues. The tops tend to be problematic and wind noise is rather common.(I know, who rides in a convertible with the top up). To the real issue of the collectible value of the car, only time will tell. Look at all the cars of the sixties and seventies that still are just old cars. If your looking for a convertible that is sure to appreciate in value and still a good drivable car, my money is on the mid-to-late 1960's Cadillac convertibles. As always though, if you ask more people you'll just get more opinions.-Greg

[76eldo]

The price is a bit high for a 91, but the ABS system was recently replaced, and you are going to pay a premium buying a car from the original owner with mileage in the 30K mile range.  The ABS is the scariest part of owning one of these, and it's already been done.

Keep in mind that 91's and 92's are basically the same exact car, and all Phase II top parts from 90.5 through 92 are the same.

It's worth a 20% premium or so to get a car that was bought at around $55,000 and maintained like an expensive car.

A "normal" 91 Allante may have 3 or 4 owners, and not all of them may be knowledgeable enough or have enough money to keep the car out of the corner gas station's service bay.

He has been trying to sell the car for a while, and may be flexible regarding the price.  For some sellers, it does matter who the car is going to, and if they get a feeling that the car will be appreciated and cared for in the same way, the perspective new owner may get a break on the price.

With or without the hardtop would make a big difference too.

If the possibility of having to sell it in the short term and need to get all of your money back is a consideration, it may not be a good car for you, but in my experience, buying a nice clean low mileage car really pays off in the ride, the appearance, and I just like getting all of the "as delivered" goodies that he has for the car.

Brian