1980 Cadillac Seville Elegante review from Switzerland

Head gasket blew after 20'000 due to thermostat and/or water pump failure

New valve lifters

Bushings and kindred spares had to be replaced in the "gear lever" controls

Foot operated parking brake cable had to be replaced

Minor repair to the electric equipment of the driver's door

Air conditioning computer had to be replaced

Ignition computer had to be replaced as well as several electronic probes + ignition cables to plugs

Hydraulic jacks of the boot replaced

New front brake rotors + pads

Minor repairs to electrical circuitry (headlamps)

New wheel cap (1 piece)

Diode replacement on the alternator

Lock replacement of the glove box

Excellent previously owned car the purchase of which cost me $ 6000 back in 1997

I drove it all around Europe (Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Switzerland) without major troubles. Never let me down on the roadside !

I kept a speed of 75 miles per hour on freeways.

I did 18 miles per gallon (average) or less

Its one of the most comfortable cars in the world.

Highly appreciated by very old passengers (and myself, the sole driver): very very quiet, very soft and smooth running as if you were on a magic carpet...

A real danger to mention: it's so comfortable that you forget you are driving a very heavy car and you may feel drowsy after a few hours driving on the highway, whatever music you may be listening to.

Highly conspicuous vehicle and not recommended if you intend to rob the next downtown bank...

Not very popular with (underpaid) French customs officers at the border who still consider it, wrongly, as a status symbol and can get fussy.

One regret: I wish I could have bought it in 1980 when it was brand new !