1990 Cadillac DeVille Coupe from North America - Comments

Initially, the car had a pretty rough idle which I didn't notice until I paid for it. I decided to take it to Cadillac to get this taken care of and also to make sure that it was in good shape overall. I was concerned that this might be a very serious problem, like a bent valve, bad cam, or other serious wear-related issue. As it turns out, the car had recently had three fuel injectors replaced, and there was some thought that if the old injectors were bad that they may have damaged the computer. The computer was replaced and the rough idle was 75% corrected (expensive, but well worth it). I attribute the remaining 25% to the fact that the engine is transverse-mounted and that the car is getting into the high mileage range. I also understand that this particular engine is know for a slightly rough idle. The car cruises so wonderfully though that you wouldn't know at all.

Other than this, the only thing that has broken was the alternator. This is typical for an older car though and wasn't that expensive.

I own several cars, all performance cars, and I wanted something for the winter. I did want a Cadillac as I had never owned one before, but I had no idea just how great this car would be.

It looks very nice to begin with as it is well made and it has good paint, etc. The interior is quiet and comfortable, not boat-like at all. You feel very connected to the car, but without feeling every tar strip in the road like in the Camaro. Of course, the trade-off is less maneuverability at high speed. Performance type handling in these situations is not ideal, but this is not intended to be a performance car and in normal situations handling is more than adequate.

Otherwise performance is outstanding. I still mourn the passing of the full-sized rear wheel drive Cadillacs, particularly the Coupe De Ville, but this front wheel drive Caddy really moves out. I doubt that any Cadillac made since the early 1970s high-compression engines (Northstar excluded) has guts like the 1990-1993 cars. 1990 was when the 4.5L went up to 180 horsepower from 155 in 1988 and 1989. With 180 horsepower, this car will do 0-60 in the 9-second range, and the quarter mile in the 16-second range. Not bad for a big car.

The best part is that you can cruise all day at 75 and still get almost 23 mpg. Yes, this is true, I keep track of every tank and the mileage is incredible and seems to be going up. The worst mileage I have ever gotten with this car is 17 mpg, and my current average with a mix of city and highway driving is 20.

12-18-2002 Update:

The car now has 145,000 miles. The brakes were making noise and I took it in to have it checked out. The rears were fine and the fronts just needed pads and some minor hardware only, total $130. This is amazing to me considering the car was bought used with 126,000 miles and has had almost 20,000 miles put on in the last 14 months. Other than this it's still going strong, it still looks nearly new and it recently got 27 MPG at 70 MPH on a 700 mile trip.

I happened to fall upon this website looking for a new gas tank for a 1990 coupe that was just given to me. The car looks like it's in great shape (cosmetically) but was sitting unused for more than a year (hence the rusted gas tank and $31 worth of fuel leaked into the street). This triple black honey has (and I'm not kidding) 328k and she still purrs like a kitten. I was amazed at the gusto off the line she had despite sitting all that time. no slouch I must say. The front struts are shot and the rear air shocks both blew on the 20 minute ride home (again from sitting) so the air pump in the engine compartment runs constantly. The brakes have about 2 weeks till contact with the rotors and the idle kicks into high a soon as you just touch the accelerator sending the car flying to 55 mph with foot OFF the gas! Well, the fuel tank I can grab for $100 delivered and the Monroe replacement shocks will run around $200 for the set of 4, the new brake pads around $40 and I can do all the labor myself, it's the self-accelerated engine and no kick down response to braking that's preventing me from committing. Could it be something as silly as the throttle position sensor, or does that only affect RPMs at a standstill? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I think I'll see this one through as I'm getting spoiled by the power and luxurious ride. All in all, if this car hums like this at 328k, what the heck did it do in 1990! Thanks.

Hi my first car was an old Deville (1988, with 140k miles on it. I bought it for $800) and you're absolutely right it's a wonderful car. I used to do a lot of road tripping and I sure do miss putting that big old man on cruise control at 80 and leaning back in those fat velvet seats. Also as a person who moved around a lot, I loved the ample space (me, an entire apartment's junk, two cats, and a grandma went 2000 miles on one trip without ever feeling cramped.) I drive a Pontiac Sunfire GT now (which is a very enjoyable little car) and it's better for performance driving and gas mileage, but there is nothing like the security of riding in a big powerful car like the Deville. It had plenty of pep too, for weighing like two tons more than most other cars. It was no problem at all to gun it up and pass big trucks and stuff. I put almost 50k miles on it during the year I owned it, and it was one hell of a reliable beast. If I weren't a college student living in the city I never, EVER would have sold it. I definitely plan on getting another Caddy, maybe a smaller sportier one, when I can afford it.

I have owned a 1990 Coupe DeVille for three years and it is now pushing 100K miles. Likes include a dual ashtray, lots of lights, 6X9 rear speakers, you're not sitting too close to passengers, and the trunk is big enough to hide a sub woofer box with two 12 inch speakers.

Dislikes include, but not limited to, a truck rolling back-words and denting my hood, cracked grill, scratched chrome and an enormous headache.

Overall the car has received many compliments and I am satisfied.

I had my 89 Cadillac given to me by my brother in 2002. Great looking car. The paint is starting to chip in 2004 and I have had a problem with the oil pressure light coming on at a standstill. I self diagnosed the computer and have 3 codes, refrigerant low, something to do with the poorly charged A.C. and throttle position sensor malfunctioning. I replaced both front struts recently due to hitting a curb. Along with the struts I replaced the lower ball joints, the brake calipers (due to a broken bleeder screw), brakes rotors. Now finally the transmission is stuck in first gear due to someone tampering with my car. 2000.00 bucks the transmission shop said to R&R the transmission Other than the clanging in the rear when I hit bumps and the cracked drivers side door panel shes a smooth ride. More like a pimp-illac than a cadillac. The only complaint that I have is that some auto shops figure that since I drive a Cadillac they figure that I have a lot of money to blow on it.

I just bought a 1990 Cadillac Deville, the car runs great, it has 77k original miles, and one owner. It still has the original owners manual, and the spare tire has never been used!! The only problem is that the passenger window doesn't work, and the other windows only roll down using the diver's controls. my only other problem is that the rear suspension is very weak!! if I put 3 people in the back the car looks like I have 2 people in the trunk. also, if the car is loaded and I hit a bump, is sounds like the suspension hits, or full contracts!! other than that it's an awesome ride!!

Standard of the world? Cadillac? You talk as if this car's a Lexus or something!

Cadillac's are the standard of the world silly. Who wants to pay for a Lexus when you can find a great one owner Cadillac for 1/10th the price. I have had 3 Deville's and now drive a 1990 Eldorado I found on Auto Trader for $1995.00 and it's a one owner, too! I have had a 1989 Coupe DeVille, 1991 Sedan DeVille, and a 1992 Sedan DeVille. All of them ending up with over 150,000 miles and running great when I purchased a different Cadillac. Now mind you, I'm not a die hard Cadillac owner, but the older I get, I'm 50 now, the better I like them. Although, I would take back all my 1960's Chevy's in a second. I only have one left. My Grandma's 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS in mist blue. Well, thanks for letting me bend your ear.

I too have had to replace a lot of suspension parts on my Eldo due to it having 119,000 miles on it when I got it, but I didn't mind since it is the rare bright red with a black Biarrtz top on it with beautiful black leather interior. Thanks again for your interest. Robin L.