Calling GON: am I crazy?

[14Accent]

I might be out of my mind, but I'm a sucker for a clean Cadillac. I won this lovely example for a whopping $525 (a touch over $900 with fees):

Clean title, 1 owner, 68k miles. Looks to be fully loaded for an SLS: cell phone, heated seats, sunroof, Bose CD/Cassette. I won't be able to pick it up until next Friday, and I'm hoping it'll be in good enough shape to make the ~70 mile drive home.

 

[PontiacHO]

Does it have the Northstar engine? Prone to cylinder head-head gasket-overheating problems. Test drive locally before hitting the highway.

 

[Rand]

Is that a northstar?

 

[supton]

Fears of its reputation would keep me away. But I'm not a mechanic and am frightened of simple repairs.

Good luck! Sure looks clean, and may make a cheap ride--even if it doesn't last, I bet the cost/mile will be quite favorable.

 

[cptbarkey]

Aw heck yeah, you would be Al Pacino straight from Heat. Who cares about that check engine light. Dump 5 jugs of head gasket in a can, then once she blows swap in a 212cc predator.

 

[emmett442]

Price is right. Even if it needed significant repairs, it's unlikely you'd exceed the resale if it's as clean as the low mileage would suggest.

 

[JavierH19]

What year

 

[AZjeff]

This car isn’t in Mr. GON’s wheelhouse unless it’s a salvage for some reason. It’s not wrecked and you didn’t say it was under water. No challenge for the master.

 

[Urshurak776]

That would of been a NO SALE from me without washer fluid.

 

[fantastic]

Never put head gasket repair in a bottle in the cooling system. Get a warranty to cover head gasket repair or self insure. Looks to be the Northstar which is a great engine and your a step ahead getting the detuned version which in my opinion would delay the head gasket repair further out. Love these Caddy's and as you've found can be had for a good price.

 

[Enthusiast]

For the price it's worth the risk. I hope it works out. When the head gasket blows, either replace it with a 3800 or cut your losses and move on.

 

[Kira]

Congrats(?)
You can see where someone kissed the LR bumper....too bad the lens is busted....good luck finding a replacement.

While I'm no big lover of the marque, a bargain of a nice used car is just that.

I regret passing on a well maintained, super strong running Cadu which was a coworker's dead dad's car. However, the vinyl roof was in tatters and the plastic trim "webbing" had shrunk causing it to pull away from corners. I didn't have the room though I wanted to do the cosmetic work myself.

I'm attracted to your car's simpler interior.
I hope it works out too.
Would a 3800 fit onto the trans? Would the vehicle's CPU/ECU etc. have to be changed?

 

[HoosierJeeper]

One of the best sounding engines. Worth the price just to hear it!

 

[14Accent]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys!

This will be my 5th N* car, no head gasket fears here. I have yet to have one fail on me, plus being a '95 this should have had green coolant in it from the factory. I'll obviously be doing a cooling system service with the correct GM cooling system tablets along with a complete go-through of the rest of the fluids. I also own the tools required to swap the water pump and all that, so that helps.

The rear bumper did take a smack, but I've already located the parts relatively close to me. These are FAR from "rare" vehicles, parts for them are cheap on the used market. I may not even bother fixing it until I decide to re-sell, should that happen.

 

[Enthusiast]

Just make sure isn't leaking. That was the problem with My former Lexus. Her nickname was "devil with a blue dress on".

 

[D60]

I liked the Caddy in Get Carter, but the interweb says that was a '98 Seville.

I think it was the Caddy that had a self-healing windshield in that movie -- they run him down and break the windshield and several seconds later the windshield is no longer cracked. Amazing technology!

 

[ryster]

Congrats(?)
You can see where someone kissed the LR bumper....too bad the lens is busted....good luck finding a replacement.

While I'm no big lover of the marque, a bargain of a nice used car is just that.

I regret passing on a well maintained, super strong running Cadu which was a coworker's dead dad's car. However, the vinyl roof was in tatters and the plastic trim "webbing" had shrunk causing it to pull away from corners. I didn't have the room though I wanted to do the cosmetic work myself.

I'm attracted to your car's simpler interior.
I hope it works out too.
Would a 3800 fit onto the trans? Would the vehicle's CPU/ECU etc. have to be changed?

There are actually rear taillights on eBay in the $100-$200 range for these. Actually should be pretty easy to find one.

 

[BobsArmory]

As I recall they ride very nicely. I'm a bit jealous.

 

[GSCJR]

Hopefully, this will turn out to be as profitable as the Buick. Good luck!

 

[JTK]

Yes