1987 Cadillac DeVille HT 4.1 DFI
Summary:
A good car that still performs like it's namesake!!
Faults:
I have replaced the following parts on this model car, since purchase... also note that I drove the car at 225,000 miles from MI to AZ, one way:
Air Leveling system.
Front Struts.
Harmonic Balancer.
Alternator.
Battery.
Sound System (Aftermarket, speakers on pass side blown)
Front and Rear wheel alignments.
4 new Goodyear tires.
CV boots, right and left side.
Front and rear brakes, also repaired parking brake sensor.
I have had numerous oil changes and oil supplements added for lube qualities, car tends to lose about 1 qt oil every 2500 miles, no oil leaks present. Valve covers were replaced and oil level sensor replaced.
General Comments:
Despite the money invested on keeping this car on the highway, the car in general has been very reliable.
Most repairs have been basic maintenance on a typical car with this amount of miles and years.
Surprisingly, the car has a perfect idle, shifts smoothly, and starts on a dime, even in the cold winter months.
The performance overall is semi-responsive, obviously not racing adequate, but the infamous downgraded HT 4100 has held it's own on successive occasions.
Gas mileage is near perfect, averaging 16-19/mpg in city and up to 26/mpg on the highway.
The body on the car is fair, a light metallic powder blue that when waxed, still shines as bright as a newer car.
The downfalls to owning this car: It's an 87, and with the years, the car has accumulated a lot of wear and tear.
Overall: Despite the age and miles, this has been one of my favorite and most comfortable cars to drive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 22nd March, 2003
11th Jul 2005, 22:49
I also have a 1987 sedan Deville. Purchased it in 1995 with 125,00 miles. Prior owner had not maintained engine very well and engine was blowing oil into intake. Made a real low offer based on oil problem which was accepted. Had the engine totally rebuilt at 130,000 miles after finally confirming rings were problem. This car has been a pleasure and has been fairly reliable. It now has 250,000 miles and I have replaced the AC compressor, starter, radiator, heater core, one windshield, two sets of tires, brakes, and plugs. As I do most of my own auto work, expense has been reasonable. Normally get about 22 mpg around town and 26-27 on highway. One bit of advice to Cadillac owners - Cadillac dealers can be expensive, charging about twice the bill of local repair shops. So get a price from the local shop first to compare with the dealer's price.
28th Feb 2007, 16:25
Hey! Well My baby is out of the shop. I tossed my 4100 and replaced with a 4900 remember this is a 1987 with 1991 fleetwood engine in it. Now it runs proper. I changed the alt start batt and it runs perfect.
20th Jan 2005, 15:32
I owned an 87 Sedan deVille from 1993 to 1995. The car ran very well, had a smooth ride and decent performance for a scaled down boat with a smallish engine. The one problem I was never able to figure out was that the passenger door latch was extremely fussy. If a passenger pulled on the interior handle before or just during my pressing the power door lock switch to unlock the door, the door would become "frozen" where no amount of locking or unlocking the door or trying the inside or outside handle would open it. I finally realized that if I pulled off the interior trim panel and worked the latch up and down by hand a few times I could get the door to open. It would then work fine again until the next time someone had their hand on the latch while I was unlocking the doors. After fixing it 5 or 6 times I finally traded with the door permanently "locked". (let the dealer figure it out... it was a GM dealer).