1988 Cadillac Allante from North America - Comments

I spent a little over $500 on brakes a couple months after the purchase last June.

The radiator had a leak. A new one was about $200 which I put in myself.

I just found out that the original oil plug had been stripped out and an expansion plug was used in its place. I had a new plug tapped since the expansion plug was beginning to leak. The cost was $40.

The convertible top pull-down motor broke. Dick Hussey from AllanteSource charges $200 for a rebuilt unit, which is an excellent price.

The paint is showing bad signs of weathering. The clear coat is all, but gone on the upper right edges by the trunk and hood. The hood itself is losing its luster badly.

Owning an Allanté was always a dream, and when I found mine for the price I couldn't resist. The engine performs like it hasn't lost a beat, and the handling is unsurpassed from any other car I've been in.

My transmission has seen better days since the shift point at 40 is a little slow, but I was still able to beat an 86 Mustang 5.0 in a 1/4 mile.

I recently purchased an '88 with 16k, and I must admit, I have never driven a car as comfortable, reliable, powerful, and as performance oriented. Every where I go, not only do heads turn, I'm also asked to sell. No! The car has the analog dash, which I much prefer. Cadillac had a winner with the Allante, and I am happy they stopped making them, as I can see this car becoming one of America's most desirable classics yet. I wish I could find out how many total cars were built.

In '88 they made 2,569 units.

Interesting you made that comparison since

i own a BLACK '88 Allante and a RED 5.0 MUSTANG GT.

I love BOTH, but I call the Mustang the BEAST,

it easily leaves the Allante in the dust,

the Allante easily pulls away in the comfort and

styling areas, not in speed.

BTW, come and meet other Allante guys

and show off your cars or get help when things go wrong.

http://www.cadillacforum.com/forumid_44/tt.htm.

.

The Allante was a competitor for the Mercedes SL, not a Ferrari or Porsche. In fact, Car and Driver ranked it higher than an SL, although Mercedes changed models the next year.

Since my comment of 26th Mar 2007, 07:08, I have added a 2nd car as the '88 is failing badly - hey, it cheap to buy. You name it, the suspension, the electronics, the ABS brake system, the transmission. The engine is solid, the rest of the car is yikes. I am now using it for parts for the 2nd one. One other thing, the value. Unbelievable drop. The '93 cars have dropped from $20k to $5k in two years, the other years one can find as low as $1,000. Drive it until the wheels fall off and sell the headlights which is about the only thing worth selling. What an embarrassment for GM to have the Allante bear the Cadillac name on it. Why some nit-wit would pay more than a couple thousand? you got me.

My next car is going to be a real Cadillac, like the STS-V or the CTS-V. Enough of this fake Italian glory.

Love my 88.