Faults:

When we purchased the vehicle we quickly noticed that the air conditioning wasn't working. So we got that fixed, along with the emergency brake cable and the back brakes (VERY EXPENSIVE).

The sun roof doesn't work anymore - turns out it'll be $1100, but they will be able to do it for cheaper.

The Oil light sensor needed to be replaced - turns out the mechanic replaced the wrong sensor, so we ended up getting two for the price of one.

General Comments:

This vehicle is a great, fuel efficient Cadillac. Especially with the price of gas (being 1.50/Litre), you can get at least 500 kms to a tank.

The leather seats and the outstanding Bose sound system have really proved to be the best features in this vehicle.

I really don't care what people think about these vehicles, when driven properly and cared for accordingly these things can really last. There is only 95000 ORIGINAL kilometers on my Cadillac, and let me tell you, they are well driven KM's.

I have only seen about 3-4 Catera's in my city, and all of them have withstood the test of time. There have no rust, or any form of body wear.

I have no reason to get rid of this vehicle, I mean, why should I? The motor has PLENTY of life left in it.

Faults:

I bought the car with a blown head gasket. That was $1200. Got a major tune-up, that was $200. The availability of the parts are limited because they are "cadillac" parts. I don't think it takes 1-2 weeks for a head gasket to be delivered.

General Comments:

I bought the car from my mothers co-worker back in May. It had slight front end damage and the head gasket was blown. I had it towed to the shop 2 days later. That was May 3. ITS OCTOBER 12!!! THAT WAS 6 MONTHS AGO!!! After they changed the head gasket & did the major tune-up, it was "leaking oil" so they tried to charge me $2700 more dollars for a new engine. A class action lawsuit was filed and that was about a month ago. All they had to do is replace the engine. Ever time the shop say its gonna be ready, they push the date back and say, "I wanna give it back to you just right. I only drove the car once!!! Every time I call up to the shop they say the engine is in, but a hose keep causing them trouble. In the process my rims were stolen & (they were replaced with the chrome ones) they left my window down numerous times while it was outside while the shop was closed. And come to find out they didn't even have licensed workers. When I get the car back, if I get my car back, Imma be scared to drive it because they probably jimmyrigged it! lol.

Faults:

Wheels permanently out of alignment.

Excessive tire wear (I get a flat about once every 2 months)

Bad ignition switch.

Heater blower never turns off, have to pull the fuse out every time I turn off the car, otherwise bye-bye battery.

Warped Rotors.

Loose trunk hinge.

Struts are almost destroyed.

Oil pressure, battery, and coolant gauges have all failed.

Radiator/coolant line touches the battery! Had to install heat shielding after the heat killed a brand new battery.

General Comments:

The Catera is essentially a run of the mill, no frills car built and meant for German consumers IN Germany, not America! GM did virtually nothing to modify it to US usage, except cramming in as much electronics and trinkets as they could to sell it off as a "luxury car". It's as if someone took a Ford Escort and tried to pretty it up to pawn off as BMW 3 series.

This car has constantly failed me. I have had to pull off the highway literally at least 8 times to change blown out tires due to an unfixable flaw with the wheel alignment. I've had the wheels aligned twice, but they go back to the original German Autobahn settings, which are not compatible in the US.

The struts are nearly at their end due to normal driving in the Midwest, I don't live in the mountains, I don't off-road, there is no excuse for this at all.

I would only recommend this car to a masochist, err.. I mean mechanic who has a lot of time and enjoys problem solving. This car handles terrible in the snow, it is simply NOT SAFE. I would never drive children in this car. I'm getting rid of it, Thank God, for a Dodge Neon. That should say a lot, what other "luxury" car would anyone gleefully sell to buy a Neon?