1997 Cadillac DeVille from North America - Comments

Engine replaced 10,000 km, due to broken crank from a defective harmonic balancer.

50,000 km, replaced blower motor.

80,000 km replaced battery.

90,000 km, new tires.

97,000 km, leaking heater core, probably due to the fact the original owner never changed the coolant.

It could use a tune up, since it still has the original plugs and wires, at 97,000 km. This may be producing an occasional Check Engine light to appear, likely due to an occasional misfire.

I bought this car specifically because it was in flawless original condition and was owned by a wealthy older man who maintained it well, but rarely drove it. It had spent much time in indoor storage.

He provided all service records which showed few problems had occurred, as noted above, but had serviced it regularly.

The engine performs very well, with ample acceleration. Its smooth, quiet and very responsive. Passing is effortless and makes for nimble performance for what it otherwise a big and heavy car.

The transmission is only a 4 speed, but the broad power band and great engine torque compensate for the lack of a 5 speed auto, like in so many of todays cars. Downshifts are quick and positive.

The ride is good for a Caddy. It is surprisingly firm, but still absorbs bumps and provides a smooth, but slightly 'floaty' ride. The rear shocks are a bit worn and do not quite have enough rebound damping. It bounces slightly over big bumps, especially with a heavy load in the car.

The steering is surprisingly light, at low speeds, but firms up on the highway. I think this is due to the 'Magnasteer' system. Still, the steering is a bit too light and numb, with less road feel than in other big cars (ie, BMW) It does make for easy low speed manovering and parking, though.

Steering motions at speed create a slight initial body roll. I suspect the sway bar bushings are too soft. Aftermarket firmer bushings would help. However, once this initial roll is done, the car does not roll much more, even in hard cornering. It understeers a bit in fast corners, but is predictable.

Brakes have a slightly squishy pedal, but work well.

The interior is good, with decent visiblility and big windows. Unlike newer cars, the roof line is high with great headroom, and the beltline is low, so the view is great.

The seats are pleasantly firm, (unlike traditional Caddys) but are a bit too flat and unsupportive for my taste. The driving position is excellent. Unlike many of todays cars, the steering wheel is NOT too far away. It's in my lap; I do not have to reach for it.

The trunk is big, with a low liftover height. However, the trunk floor could have been lower, for more room. Underneath the back of the car there is a big empty space. The trunk floor could have been dropped to take advantage of this space.

The car is completely squeak and rattle free and very quiet. It feels very rigid and solid, with no vibration.

I like the way this car is stuffed full of really modern features, that are common in todays cars, but were rare in '97, like stability control (Concours model), rain sensing wipers, side air bags. Also, there are lots of luxury features that are nice.

The factory stereo is exceptional. It sounds really good and has factory CD stack, subs and a big power amp in the back. It sounds better than most other car stereos, including all the brand name types.

I know these cars are notorious for what is really just a small handful of problems. I know about the oil burning and head gasket issues of the Northstar engine. I know the electronics and options may be troublesome in the future. However, I looked around for 3 months to find the best Caddy in this price range that I could ($7000 Canadian) to help reduce the likelihood of trouble.

So far, so good. The huge depreciation this car had, compared to the price of a new one can cover some repairs.

Nice review.

UPDATE:

I wrote this review about 15 months ago. Since then, I have driven 23,000 km pretty much problem-free, for a total of 120,000 km (about 75,600 miles)

Normal wear and maintenance work include replacement of the original front struts, spark plugs and wires. I replaced all 4 sets of brake pads and rotors. Parts were very inexpensive and the job was easy.

Both front seat heaters do not work anymore. From my research on-line I think the heater wires are broken, but can be repaired.

One power window switch on the driver's door stopped working (for the left rear window) The window still goes up and down but you have to use the switch on the left rear door itself.

Sometimes, after full throttle acceleration, the 'Check Engine' light comes on for about an hour or so. I have not checked the codes to find the problem. However, the engine still runs perfectly and mileage is excellent.

That is the sum total of all problems so far. Everything else is fine. I am still very happy with the car and with driving it. I still may go for a firmer front sway bar to help handling, as I find it's still a bit too vague and mushy for my taste. I do find inflating the front tires to 38 psi reduces understeer and makes the car more responsive, though.