28th Oct 2004, 05:19

I just purchased a 1990 Cadillac Brougham D'Elegance in Moncton, N.B. It was previously owned by an older gentleman. He purchased it new in l989. It kinda bothers me that after reading some comments on some websites that people paid up to $4,500. He wanted $6,500 but I paid $5,800 not including taxes. The car is in beautiful condition. Not a scratch and the perma-shine has lasted as it should have considering the price that was paid to have it applied.

My concern is did I pay too much? I am a female buyer that was looking for comfort, stle, reliability and the such. I just hope that just because I am a woman I hope that didn't drive the price up!

28th Oct 2004, 07:10

Re the above comment, sorry, but Kelly Blue Book value for a private party sale for a 1990 Brougham in excellent condition (the top rating) with 50K miles (which you did not specify) is only...$2550.

A little research next time before you buy would help you from getting shafted--again!

20th Nov 2004, 09:16

The car has been in my family since 1995. It has had two owners from 1990 until present. Overall it has been a good vehicle. Its maple red with a vinyl top. The car has 229,000 miles on it and the motor, a 5.7L still runs well. It does need a valve job now due to some oil smoke coming out of the tail pipe when first started. It has had some minor work performed on it. I had to take it to the dealer for the motor work as no one wanted to "mess with it". It just needed a tune up plus some spark plug wires and a new wire going to the oxygen sensor.

The water pump failed after 220,000 miles and the air pump for the air shocks went out after 223,000 miles. I installed new Gabriel air shocks in the rear with new rear suspension springs. I choose to bypass the air pump because I would have to go after market for a new one. I just put max pressure in the air shocks and it was fine. On the front suspension I installed spring assisted shocks for towing trailers and a new sway bar. It did a good job of firming up the front end around turns. The dealerships parts are running out for this car and many parts you can no longer get. Try and go after market when you can on parts for substantial savings in cost. A few parts for this vehicle are the same as the Chev. Caprice in the same year.

Finally I recommend a good quality car cover for the rag top roof if you do not have a garage to keep it in.

8th Sep 2005, 11:18

I just bought a 1990 Cadillac Brougham as a first car. I have driven my parent's Chevy Corsica and this car is an unbelievable improvement. After taxes and such, I paid $527 for it. It does have some minor rust spots and the vinyl top is a little cracked and dry, but no rips. I've had this car for about a month and the only work I had to do was replace a section of brake line, but for the price, I think I did pretty good. It does hit pretty high in the mileage count though, it has a whopping 140,500 miles on it and it runs better than my parent's Corsica. But all the power seats, windows, locks and such work perfect. I'm very satisfied!

17th May 2006, 17:31

Regards making the poor girl feel cheated for having "over-paid" according to the never-wrong geniuses at KBB: Look, if you pay shy of six grand for a car that is BETTER than a brand-new Cadillac costing six times as much -- you're getting a good deal, aren't you?

Frankly, I'm leary of owning anything American-made after 1992: http://tinyurl.com/mvxnm

14th Feb 2009, 01:08

I had purchased my Caddy in 05. It had 28861 miles. I paid 4,750.00 for it. As of today it has 63000 some odd miles on it. Other than routine maintenance, I had to replace a water pump. It is by far, the best auto I owned. Me being 6'9" and 450 lbs. I have plenty of room. All I need is a t.v. and I would definitely feel right at home. The ride is smooth and the purring of the engine is soothing. Sure wish G.M. would bring that style back. Something like that will never get old.

26th Nov 2014, 20:12

I disagree, and believe that this previous commentator was too harsh on the lady. She "may" have over-paid a bit, but so what? The questions really are, "Does she like the car? Does this car satisfy her needs... and maybe some wants?" My guess is, "Yes".

When a used car is toward the extreme of the range of conditions, like a weight scale, it becomes harder to predict or state with authority. If this woman plans on keeping the car a long time, if she is fortunate by not having it hit or damaged in an accident, consider what fine VALUE she has. If she thinks of it this way... perhaps appreciating the colors and upholstery material, she is happy with a high-quality, reliable, desirable automobile. Considering its condition, she could wind up owning it a long time: a long time filled with pleasure of ownership and driving. Compared to what it sold for new, consider the fine VALUE that it is... for her. I'm betting that she agrees!

3rd Oct 2020, 01:58

Now it is 2020, and your car has lost none of its value. If you paid $5800 for it back then, you (assuming you kept the car in good condition) ought to be able to sell it for about the same dollar amount now... of course, dollars have depreciated since then. I have just purchased a 1990 Brougham base with 72k miles and a dented vinyl roof (not noticed when I bought it). It drives beautifully and quickly has become my favorite car. I paid $1500 two weeks ago, but it needed tires, some paint and minor body work like fillers, and by now I have nearly $5000 in it, but I would rather have it than a new plastic car! I saw one just like mine (without the little dent and with beautiful body in same colors as mine) now advertised at $6000. Brougham Cadillac is the way to go.

3rd Oct 2020, 13:27

Due to inflation, cash is worth about 1/2 now of what it was in 1990. So, if the price stayed the same, the asset actually lost half its value.

9th Oct 2020, 02:56

Or looking back you got a great car for less. Like a 69 Camaro SS; paid $3500, now the value is $40000. 80s.

9th Oct 2020, 21:49

Bought a beach home for $165,000 in the early 1990s. Now worth $750k. And got to use it. Not a car comparison. But both are tangible assets you physically can enjoy. Or look at paper and hope your health is good enough to enjoy the money in the distant future. It certainly isn’t the time for worldwide travel. I don’t think you are getting as much today material wise. Some haven’t seen raises in a long time. Time to have spent was 80s especially. 2020 with the pandemic isn’t a super prosperous time in most professions.

10th Oct 2020, 04:44

$3500 in 1969 is worth about $25000 in 2020 just due to inflation. So, being “worth” $40000 means the investment roughly doubled in value after accounting for inflation. Good, but not the 12x increase it may seem at first glance.

10th Oct 2020, 21:23

Very successful, saved and invested, bought 3 rental properties, had employer matching my contributions. And I bought a car. Such guilt. All the cruise nights, shows and quality time and hours. To me that is value. I’m not going to sit home and eat bologna and cheese and die at 90 with really a big bank account with 2 pension checks. Glad we traveled worldwide too because that’s not ever going to be the same.

11th Oct 2020, 16:39

Why not lease the car instead of buying? Some people on this site think leasing is brilliant.

12th Oct 2020, 17:18

Sounds like you're taking another trip down memory lane with all of your investments and cruise nights and so on, instead of discussing the inflation topic of older cars.

Now back to the Brougham on review. A car that is slowly climbing in collector's status being the last Cadillac with traditional classic styling cues.

12th Oct 2020, 18:36

Because of mileage limitations. And walking around the car a few laps and noting ever nick or scrape. And you write a check with no car as it’s theirs. If you have the cash, just pay it off, if you already paid everything else off.