1988 Cadillac DeVille Sedan 4.5 V8

Faults:

My sad little Cadillac, but I love it. The things that were wrong when I bought it, are waiting to be fixed real soon!

Front rotors and brake pads are really bad.

The front right side tire is unbalanced.

Driver's side power seats motor is out, it won't move back or forward, but it goes up and down. It needs a new battery I believe.

I need a tune-up really bad, which is gonna cost me almost $800 really.

General Comments:

The car is beautiful, the exterior is beautiful; I damn near wash, and wax it everyday. I keep it a head turner.

It runs really strong. I love my 4.5; this baby has so much power, although I have to put a little money into her, I still love her.

I hate that the previous owner didn't take care her, I name her Joanna, and she's on her way back to when she hit the streets back in 1988. I named after my nickname, which is JoJo, so it's JoJo and Joanna forever.

I will never give her up or sell her for a buck. I believe she can make it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th November, 2007

20th Nov 2007, 19:13

800 bucks for a tune up? Wow, you must have some sort of agenda. I owned a 1988 seville with the same 4.5L engine. I got the spark plugs and wires replaced for $120. Another odd review about an older car.

1988 Cadillac DeVille Sedan 4.5L V8

Summary:

Okay for the first couple hours

Faults:

My Dad Got it totaled, and he repaired it. My mom drove it for three years and then parked it. In 2003, I took over.

Headliner was falling down.

Leaked/burned a quart of oil /2 weeks.

Engine was screwed up and hogged gas (7mpg) quoted $500 by dealer to fix/tune.

Went through brakes fast.

Parking Brake Cable Stuck- Brakes Locked. Cost almost 50 dollars for a release solenoid.

Wouldn't Go out of park one day parked at Safeway. dealer argued with me for two months, finally sold me the correct part to fix it.

A/C failed the second day I drove it.

The car overheated, but the temperature gage never showed any sign of it. Left me stranded on the side of the road. It blew the head gasket. I junked it.

General Comments:

All of the above events happened within 4 months.

Scrapyard didn't pay me a lot for it.

If you need a reliable car, this is not it.

If you need a cheap car, this is not it.

If you need a car to get you far, this is not it.

If you need a car to break down, this is it.

Went to a Toyota Pickup with 300,000 miles and have never looked back.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th October, 2007

5th Jan 2013, 19:02

I agree. The 1985-1993 Cadillacs were the cars that destroyed the brand's prestige and good name. They not only looked like cheaper GM cars, but they were also unreliable as hell. Ford, with their much more reliable Panther platform vehicles, especially the Lincoln Town Car, were able to overtake Cadillac in the sales race in 1988, holding the position until the very late 1990s.

In reply to 5th Jan 2013, 19:02

7th Jan 2013, 13:52

It is true these weren't great cars, but there was really only one reason - the little aluminum V-8. They were essentially the same platform that was extremely reliable and durable over at Buick and Oldsmobile with the 3800 V-6.

That said, I had a 1986 DeVille with the infamous 4.1 liter and I never really had any trouble with it, selling it on with no problems at about 140,000 miles. I had a 1992 Park Avenue which also had no problems (which is normal for those). Both drove reasonably well for a front wheel drive car - not enjoyable to drive like a rear-driver, but not terrible.

In reply to 5th Jan 2013, 19:02

7th Jan 2013, 18:26

Might want to check your facts. Lincoln did indeed outsell Cadillac in 1988, however Cadillac would outsell them in 1989 and all of the 90s. Don't have data from 2000 on.

In reply to 7th Jan 2013, 13:52

8th Jan 2013, 16:59

The rear-drive 4100 V8 was a nightmare, and it's such a shame because the DeVilles and Fleetwoods that they were used in (1982-1985) were beautiful cars. It's a good thing from 1986 and beyond, that they kept the rear-drive versions with the much more durable Olds 307.

On the other hand, the front-drive versions of the 4100 motor starting in 1985 were a lot better and faster, and as time went on, the 4.5 and 4.9 V8's only got even better. I had a 93 DeVille with the 4.9, and it was reliable for the most part.