1998 Cadillac Seville STS review from North America

I complained about excessive oil consumption at around 47,000 miles and the dealer performed an oil consumption test that endured over two oil changes. They confirmed that the vehicle consumed 1.2 quarts of oil every 1000 miles, but said that this was normal and showed me a GM product bulletin.

My 6-CD changer also had to be sent to GM for repair as it ate up my CDs and jammed. The cost was a fixed charge of $249. I was told it is made by Nakamichi. For all I know, they could have simply replaced the unit rather than to repair it as no explanation was given by GM as to why it broke.

Other than the transmission case cracking at 55,000 miles, and the rotors needing resufacing at 75,000 miles, mechanically the car has been running well.

Unfortunately, there are annoying finish and interior items that have broken, such as the dashboard warping at the windshield due to heat, the plastic seat belt retainers cracking, and the plastic rivets to hold down the wheel well walls popping.

The Seville STS is a great highway car, looks upscale, has great lines and good power. Having owned a 1995 BMW 740i before getting this one as a company car, I can see that Cadillac was trying very hard to give the STS the kind of exuberance that the Germans have given to their 7 Series. All in all though, if I had $50,000 in 1999, I would have bought a BMW 540i. Besides, at least the dealer would treat me like a BMW customer. At the Cadillac Buick Chevrolet dealer I patronize only because it's near my home, they treat me like a Chevy customer rather than a Cadillac customer. I constantly tell them that and they constantly reply that they treat all their customers the same (yeah, lousy).