Gentlemen, I wish to borrow from your collective expertise. Been considering purchasing a luxury car, something not too terribly pricey. Local Chevrolet/Cadillac/GMC dealer has 3 used Cadillac DTS' sitting on their used car lot. I like these car's but also scared to death of the Cadillac Northstar engine's. I would much appreciate your thought's on these good, bad, or indifferent. I have a strong hunch that a Toyota Avalon or a Lexus might be a much better choice.
2006-2010 Cadillac DTS
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I'm a fan of the bigger V8 Lincolns, Caddies, and Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Park Avenues. Yet, I too would be fearful of the Northstar. I've had good luck with the Lincoln 4.6L DOHC 4v and the Crown Vics/GM's. No Northstars for me.
In terms of long-term reliability this is all you need to know.
dashboard-light.com http://dashboard-light.com/vehicles/Cadillac_DTS.html
dashboard-light.com http://dashboard-light.com/vehicles/Cadillac_DTS.html
That era has a slightly better engine and trans....its the rest of the car that will fall apart.
GM had all the kinks worked out of the Northstar by those years, Good heavy duty 4T80E transmission as well.
The Northstar will always & forever have a bad reputation, Drives the the prices down on used ones.
General maintenance is very easy on these, I prefer to work on a Northstar compared to a Lincoln Continental with a Intech 4.6L, I won't even get into the AX4N transmission disaster.....That is akin to GM installing a 4T65E behind a Northstar!
The Northstar will always & forever have a bad reputation, Drives the the prices down on used ones.
General maintenance is very easy on these, I prefer to work on a Northstar compared to a Lincoln Continental with a Intech 4.6L, I won't even get into the AX4N transmission disaster.....That is akin to GM installing a 4T65E behind a Northstar!
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Lincoln AX4N transmission disaster.....That is akin to GM installing a 4T65E behind a Northstar!
My first AX4N Lincoln FWD (1997) lasted the full life of the car without issue (232K miles at 12 yrs old). The trans was flawless on the factory recommended Mercon. The engine seized on short notice shortly after I sold it, probably due to a water pump/coolant failure. The new owner knew the car was basically a parts car by then. I guess those frequent 25K-30K trans services helped along with the highway driving. I beat on that car pretty hard with frequent quick throttle downshifts. 85-90% highway miles.
Now on my 2nd AX4N (2002) and at 77K miles/16 yrs old no transmission issues noted on the recommended Mercon V. Since this one gets mostly shorter trips, the car will likely never make it past 130K miles in my possession....it would be 25 yrs old by then. I suspect the first owner did all short trips too since it averaged 3K miles per year prior to me. This one I rarely beat on. Despite all the warnings about the under-powered transmission/transaxle...it's worked for me.
Lincoln AX4N transmission disaster.....That is akin to GM installing a 4T65E behind a Northstar!
My first AX4N Lincoln FWD (1997) lasted the full life of the car without issue (232K miles at 12 yrs old). The trans was flawless on the factory recommended Mercon. The engine seized on short notice shortly after I sold it, probably due to a water pump/coolant failure. The new owner knew the car was basically a parts car by then. I guess those frequent 25K-30K trans services helped along with the highway driving. I beat on that car pretty hard with frequent quick throttle downshifts. 85-90% highway miles.
Now on my 2nd AX4N (2002) and at 77K miles/16 yrs old no transmission issues noted on the recommended Mercon V. Since this one gets mostly shorter trips, the car will likely never make it past 130K miles in my possession....it would be 25 yrs old by then. I suspect the first owner did all short trips too since it averaged 3K miles per year prior to me. This one I rarely beat on. Despite all the warnings about the under-powered transmission/transaxle...it's worked for me.
Originally Posted By: macarose
In terms of long-term reliability this is all you need to know.
dashboard-light.com http://dashboard-light.com/vehicles/Cadillac_DTS.html
That's a great link to book mark, thanks Macarose! Sort of a quickie Consumer Reports with easy access...and free.
Lincoln Town Car/Continental
I was very surprised that the Lincoln Continental rated #2 on the luxury car list Powertrain Reliability, just behind the Mercedes Benz. Cadillac DTS was a little better than average. If you want to bad mouth a Lincoln V8, then go to the Lincoln LS which is off the charts bad.
In terms of long-term reliability this is all you need to know.
dashboard-light.com http://dashboard-light.com/vehicles/Cadillac_DTS.html
That's a great link to book mark, thanks Macarose! Sort of a quickie Consumer Reports with easy access...and free.
Lincoln Town Car/Continental
I was very surprised that the Lincoln Continental rated #2 on the luxury car list Powertrain Reliability, just behind the Mercedes Benz. Cadillac DTS was a little better than average. If you want to bad mouth a Lincoln V8, then go to the Lincoln LS which is off the charts bad.
You servicing them goes a long way! In the mid 2000's I built transmissions at a shop that kept track of how many units were built that month on a white board, The Ford AX transaxles & Honda V6 transaxles were ALWAYS swapping 1st & 2nd place for the prestigious honor of being the biggest P-O-S. That's pretty bad in North Texas where two out of every three vehicles is a pick-up/full size SUV. The GM 4L60E, Ford AODE/4R70W, & Dodge 46RE battled it out for 3rd 4th & 5th. Followed by heavy duty units 4l80E, E4OD/4R100, 47RE.
Originally Posted By: HM12460
Gentlemen, I wish to borrow from your collective expertise. Been considering purchasing a luxury car, something not too terribly pricey. Local Chevrolet/Cadillac/GMC dealer has 3 used Cadillac DTS' sitting on their used car lot.. I have a strong hunch that a Toyota Avalon or a Lexus might be a much better choice.
A 2008-2010 Lexus or Toyota Avalon are of course the superior cars all around, but at a premium price.
I can't even give the DTS a win in the looks department with that shrunken front clip, from the A-pillar back it has the Cadillac lines however. Interior is nothing great either.
The DTS might be worth a gamble if you can wrangle a rock bottom price on late model, low mile example in excellent condition,
otherwise I'd pass.
Gentlemen, I wish to borrow from your collective expertise. Been considering purchasing a luxury car, something not too terribly pricey. Local Chevrolet/Cadillac/GMC dealer has 3 used Cadillac DTS' sitting on their used car lot.. I have a strong hunch that a Toyota Avalon or a Lexus might be a much better choice.
A 2008-2010 Lexus or Toyota Avalon are of course the superior cars all around, but at a premium price.
I can't even give the DTS a win in the looks department with that shrunken front clip, from the A-pillar back it has the Cadillac lines however. Interior is nothing great either.
The DTS might be worth a gamble if you can wrangle a rock bottom price on late model, low mile example in excellent condition,
otherwise I'd pass.
I see alot of high mileage Cadillac DTS for sale.
I think by 2007 they had all the kinks worked out by then they had such a reputation though they were pretty much ruined. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I would hesitate to buy a front wheel drive Lincoln. I have to agree the transmission on the 2002 Lincoln Continental was too light. I had trouble with mine and I had the car since new and it had fluid and filter changes every 25,000-30,000 miles. The transmission shop told me the AX4N was a troublesome Transmission and he even had two in there working on them when I was there. I have to believe him.
I think by 2007 they had all the kinks worked out by then they had such a reputation though they were pretty much ruined. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I would hesitate to buy a front wheel drive Lincoln. I have to agree the transmission on the 2002 Lincoln Continental was too light. I had trouble with mine and I had the car since new and it had fluid and filter changes every 25,000-30,000 miles. The transmission shop told me the AX4N was a troublesome Transmission and he even had two in there working on them when I was there. I have to believe him.
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