Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46
I'm a 33 yr old with an '00 deville. Extremely comfy and fast, but that does no good when its overheating from a combustion leak. At 140k I used Thermogasket to seal and it worked for about 9k miles (I drive about 100 miles per week day). Now I have a cadillac that is not worth much, but not worth enough to spend 5k on an engine swap. I'm going to try Thermogasket again and if it works trade it. It's a shame that my 66 galaxie has to take me to work and back now b/c my caddy can't perform. Man this sucks...
I own a '99 Seville SLS. I make payments on my SLS, but I can't drive my SLS, because it needs new head gaskets ($4000.00). Cadillac made a mistake somewhere, therefore no wonder people don't buy American cars. Got to go; I can't miss the bus.
You want to drive the second most powerful front wheel drive car ever made, you want to do-it in luxury, and feel good driving something above most of the cars around, well you have to pay for it. People buying a Cadillac don’t look for a cheap impersonal mean of transportation.
I bought my ’97 STS almost 3 years ago with about 55 K on it, I was only looking for ’97 STS period. I used the car ever since as a daily driver and I enjoy every single part of it. Now it has about 105K and runs excellent to say the least. Of course I had my fair share of issues with the car (struts, water pump, fuel pump, etc.), of course it uses about 1.5 quarts of oil between changes, but also has 300 HP, power everything, looks and s.o. I cannot complain about anything on this car, is one of the best ever made and I plan to keep it forever.
Should you buy a Cadillac, if you want performance and luxury YES YES YES, if you are more the concerned about the budget character, maybe you will be better off, the only thing GM can do without is another confused customer who bought the wrong car for his needs. If you want to buy a budget car there are plenty of cheap boring but reliable cars out there. Keep in mind everything comes with a cost, either money or luxury power and beauty.
Also remember, a person not having issues with the car will most likely not bother posting a positive comment, but the 5% of the unlucky owners are most likely the ones posting comments (negative), and this is what you read. So for every negative comment you see, 15 other owners are happy with their car.
A proud Cadillac owner.
My 97 Cadillac Seville SLS (129,000 miles) is in the garage today. I had to put a new radiator on it last year. I put a new alternator on it 6 months ago and a new battery last month. I never know when it will start, something zaps the juice out of my battery. I can jump it and it will run fine for 2-3 days then one morning when I'm leaving for work it won't start. I am thinking it is a shortage somewhere but decided to take to the garage hoping they will fine out what the problem is and it won't cost an arm and a leg. I have decided to sell it once I have it running dependable again. But I have enjoyed this car, great ride and powerful. I will miss it once it is sold.
The guy with the 97 Cadillac SLS with the battery going dead every few days! Disconnect the disc player in the trunk, that will cure your problem with the battery going dead!!!
I have a 97 SLS and I love it. This car looks great in pearl and runs like a race car. I bought it with 75,000 miles in 2005 for $8K.
The only work I have had done was regular maintenance:
The front brakes at 90K miles and the rears at 108.
I put new Michelins on it at 93K and wish I had gone for Vogues because it looked better with them but it rides and handles great.
It uses a little oil but I get it changed every 2,000 miles. The dealer I bought it from gave me this good advice.
A tune up at 100,000 was costly because they require platinum tipped plugs and wires but it runs like a top.
100,000 miles was also the lucky number to have the transaxle fluid and filter changed for $125.
I have to get the engine fuel rail replaced but its a recall item and will only cost me some time
I should admit that I am a fan of Cadillac. The first car I ever drove was my Dad's 65 coupe. The first I owned was a 70 coupe with a great back seat. Later on I had a 70 Fleetwood with an even better backseat. The newest, nicest was a triple white 78. I sold it to buy an engagement ring, but then my new wife let me buy a 68 convertible, which I have had ever since.
I just bought a 1997 Cadillac SlS, for $2800. It has 116,000 miles on it. It needs new front shocks and the "Problem with Auto Theft" warning keeps coming on and I cannot find anyone to reset the computer. Besides that, it seems to run like an absolute dream. Gas Mileage, it lacks in comparison with all these small cars driving around here in Indiana, but for a 97 and after a week of driving it around without new shocks mind you, I feel like I've done really well. Did I get a good deal? Please let me know.
I bought a 97 STS Cadillac about 1 year ago. It had about 120,000 miles on it when I bought it.
Although the exterior had some blemishes, it seemed to run fine and the inside was great.
After about a month of owning it, I had to do a tune up on the car because of arching in the plug wire. $500 later I drove it home.
Since then I have had to replace the water pump, the brake fluid sensor, mass air flow sensor, brakes/rotors on the front, the key less entry, and recently the oil leak that they are known for was fixed. This design from Cadillac is really a disappointment as they come in two halves and they didn't put enough bolts around the engine to properly seal the two halves. It is a costly repair as it requires the entire engine compartment and tranny to be pulled. Once it was pulled, I had to replace 3 out of 5 motor mounts, several gaskets, and some pulleys. Might as well fix it right if you're going to do it at all.
I agree with many of the comments on the excellent power and smooth ride. I think there could be more interior room, but it isn't bad.
The last repair is the gaskets for the water pump housing. Make sure you replace them when doing the water pump... even if it isn't required. It costs more, but you won't be paying for the same job twice.
Overall I like my Seville. I have found that I have put about $4000 into it and this last repair will be the last one. I certainly won't be buying another one with the two half Northstar. From what I gather this has since been replaced with a one piece block and eliminates the problem.
If you're looking to buy one, be careful and do your research on it. They are nice to drive, but very expensive to fix.
I've always loved Cadillacs, and have owned 3 of them. Unfortunately I'd agree with other comments that the older ones are the better ones! Too bad Detroit doesn't take more pride in their supposable "flagship" of a luxury car. I can't say not to buy one, but I also can't say to buy one. Just beware!
I have a 1995 Cadillac SLS. It has been in the repair shop for a new water pump, thermostat, and 3 times to figure out why it is overheating after about 5 hours of highway driving. No one has been able to figure it out. I had it tested for bad head gaskets at the Chevy dealership and they said it is not a head gasket issue, thank god. I have only had this car for 2 months and I don't know what else to do.
To 17 May 2009 Comment:
I, too, have had similar problems. My car continually leaks coolant. About half every few days. Not leaking on the ground as far as I can see. There is no condensation on the passenger side of the vehicle so I don't think it is the heater core.
I had a one year warranty but did not realize it was the engine thought it was a slow leak in the radiator. Wrong. Replaced head gaskets but still leaking. Replaced water pump, radiator, etc.
I am wondering if it could be the water pump gaskets, I haven't checked that yet. I just put dye in the radiator and going to take it to a different mechanic and see if it is something minor. If it is major, I am going to trade. However, it is hard to find a newer model car even that has the ride, safety and luxury of the 97 Cadillac Seville STS. I love this car. It is the Touring Sedan and it is just perfect except for this coolant issue.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any retired Cadillac mechanics that might have some insight to this issue? I find that I am not the only one with this problem.
One more question. My oil looks fine, it is not milky and it appears to be normal. One mechanic over the phone said that doesn't mean there isn't a leak of coolant into the engine. Is that true?
Help.
I have a 1997 SLS and am having the same problem with my coolant system. Have already replaced the water pump thermostat and the belt for the pump, and bout two weeks later got the check coolant message. Brought it to 2 different mechanics, and both could not find a problem. Went on a trip this weekend of 140 miles and it overheated; had to get towed home. Someone looked at it and said maybe head gasket, but just had an oil change and it's not milky and the spark plugs don't have the white junk around them. Don't know where to turn.
Also dash cluster electrical problem; still trying to solve as well.
Don't want to have to get rid of the car, like the car, but need reliability.
I have a 97' Cadillac SLS and I have been having a problem with the engine cutting out. It usually happens getting off the freeway going slow. The engine will shut off and I'll be able to pop it in neutral and restart it right away. I only have 60k miles on the car. Any help would be great. Thanks.
My 1995 SLS, I've been driving it for 2 years, about 34,000 of its 120,000 miles. The cars looks great inside and out! I really enjoyed driving it, but probably won't be driving it anymore. The Northstar engine all of a sudden sounds like all 32 lifters are clicking and clacking. What a shame, What could have happened? Regular oil & filter changes, mostly highway miles. Changed all hoses, coolant, tablets and thermostat when I bought it. I would like to fix it, but probably won't.
For the guy with the car shutting off after driving on the high, it's your fuel filter, it's clogged up.
Um here's my two cents: it seems like 3/4 of everybody who owns one of these cars has had to do the waterpump to fix overheating. I know the one guy said that Northstars have a problem with pulling the head bolts out of the block, which is bad, but is it perhaps the overheating that is causing a lot of the head gasket (and probably warped head) problems? Overheating is BAD! Bends stuff and makes your oil very unslippery.
I would think that if you bought one of these cars, it would be good preventative maintenance to change the waterpump before it blows up if they are a known weak point of the engine. If it overheats stop friggin driving! A tow truck is cheaper than an engine.
I'm not busting anybodies stones, but a little bit of desire to learn about the machine your operating is IMPORTANT. I've spent some time doing emergency road service on trucks on the side of the freeway with cars going 70 mph 3 feet away from me, your LIFE may depend on your vehicle, so look after it!