1999 Cadillac Deville

[Camu Mahubah]

Hello fellow Bitogers!

I am in the market for a used car. I was driving through town when I found a 1999 Cadillac Deville for $6995. Car has 90 thousand miles. I decided to take it for a test drive and it ran good. All fluids look good. I don't have access to maintenance records though. Anyone own one of these cars? I haven't heard of any Dexcool gasket issues with the NorthStar. What can you tell me about the NorthStar V8?

I got the guy down to $5700. I have seen a few at about 5 grand so I know if I can always try and make him take $5000. He might. I don't mind paying $5000 if these cars are known to be reliable and trouble free. I'll go take some pictures right now so you can tell me whether it's a good buy or not. Back in a few...

 

[Chris142]

They are not very reliable at all.
Lots of problems with the AC.

Changing the water pump is a real challenge. It's got it's own belt on the dr side ran off the camshaft and you need special tools to change it.

Wait till you get to put a serpentine belt on one.


90K means that it's ready for a trans.

Lots of computer related problems and gremlins.

My favorite part about these engines is that the starter is under the intake manifold. A perfect place for an electrical component.........They don't do well in a hot environment so lets put it in the hottest place possible.

IMO one of the worst cars built.....A step above a Taurus I guess.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Wow, 6995! Better check Craig's list and the classifieds again, because I have seen Caddilacs in that vintage for much less money than that. I agree with the other poster, that I would pass on this one.

 

[duaneb9729]

i was looking on the cadillac forums a few nights ago trying to find out why there was water in my dads 85 caddy oil and was very surprised to see the feed back on the northstar engines, head and intake gasket leaks and so many other problems, it truly looks like a car to stay away from. this is the web site i went to, http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/

my dads car has a whole 46,000 miles on it!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Wow! I guess I'd better not buy this car! From what you guys say!

 

[kd5byb]

Originally Posted By: Chris142

IMO one of the worst cars built.....A step above a Taurus I guess.


Really? Our '88 Taurus wagon with the 3.0L taught two kids to drive and went 120k with one alternator, a water pump, a fuel pump, a fuel pump cut-off relay, one total A/C failure (compressor?), shocks, plugs/wires, a starter, two or three batteries, and a starter relay.

On second thought, I get your point...

Trans and engine still strong though...

later,
b

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

My FIL has had the following experiences with Taurus:

1986: 300K miles
1992: 290K miles
1997: 200K miles

And my own:

1993 Sable: 200k miles

[censored] cars really. Worst part about them is the trans...each example needed a new trans at 100k.

Back on topic:
I had always heard the Northstar was a great engine, this is certainly surprising. I can also reflect what others are saying on price...I see 36k miles Caddillacs only a few years old selling for less than half the original value and it drops steeply each year. Most folks seem to get rid of them once the warranty is up.

 

[andyd]

front struts are 'spensive too.

 

[mrsilv04]

For starters, doesn't a '99 Sedan DeVille require Premium gas?

That's enough right there for me to say "no".

IMHO, find a Buick Park Avenue in the same vintage. If you can find one that has already had the intake redone, then you're looking at a 250,000 mile car.

I put my folks in a '99 PA with 46,000 miles on it, about a year ago. It had been owned by an elderly couple in their 80's, who traded it for a new Lucerne. Outside of one light door ding, it was the same as new. Still has the smell of leather inside. Didn't pay a whole lot more than what the dealer is asking for this DeVille.

The PA gets 30+ mpg on the interstate burning 87 gas.

 

[SuperEd73]

One more thing to put onto the pile would the the Northstar engines tend to have oil consumption issues as well. I've read many auto forums that question why the engines eat oil and everybody says it's normal. It's a 9 year old Cadillac. Lots of electronics and mechanical parts are due to go bad. I'd stay away.

Ed B.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: kd5byb
Originally Posted By: Chris142

IMO one of the worst cars built.....A step above a Taurus I guess.


Really? Our '88 Taurus wagon with the 3.0L taught two kids to drive and went 120k with one alternator, a water pump, a fuel pump, a fuel pump cut-off relay, one total A/C failure (compressor?), shocks, plugs/wires, a starter, two or three batteries, and a starter relay.

On second thought, I get your point...

Trans and engine still strong though...

later,
b
How about the Power steering lines on the 86 and 92? They go from the pump and wrap around the engine over to the steering rack. Major $$$ labor involved there lol.

 

[Steve S]

Cadillacs are overpriced Chevrolets.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Cadillacs are overpriced Chevrolets.
Not quite. Nothing really interchangable between Chevy and a Cad.

Back in the 90's Caddy was having engine problems so they stuck 305 Chevy's in a few models. People threw fits because they wanted a Cad engine and not a Chevy..........Little did they realize that the Chevy drivetrain was much better than a Caddy drivetrain.

The Northstar still has the tag on the core support telling you to use stop leak in the cooling system or it will leak coolant into the engine.