2001 Cadillac Catera 3.0 Liter V6 from North America

Summary:

Underrated car - Great Buy!!

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

So far I have been very pleased with car as a daily commuting car. The car was like new when I purchased for $5,000. Since purchase I have replaced the set of tires with larger 245's verses 225's, and enjoy a very smooth and quite ride. Great stereo especially with XM radio addition. The car averages 21 MPG to date without any oil usage or leaks, and air-conditioning blows very cold. I did read a number of horror stories and bought a 24 month/ 24,000 bumper to bumper warranty through Acura. Yes Acura!! I would not hesitate to recommend the car to someone else, and this is the first used car I've purchased in 20 years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st June, 2007

2001 Cadillac Catera from North America

Summary:

We love our Catera in spite of problems.

Faults:

We have had a master cylinder replaced, also a problem with the heat/air system; however that isn't a major problem.. We can deal with it..

Just recently our ABS, traction and check engine light all went on at the same time.. Huge problem.. The brain.. Just got it out of the shop to the tune of 1900.00 Wow..

Not a fun thing for a couple of seniors, however we still love the Catera and the way it handles.. Looks great. We're just hoping that no more problems occur. If so, we will have to find a new home for it..

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th June, 2007

2001 Cadillac Catera 3.0 liter from North America

Summary:

They shouldn't have built this piece of garbage

Faults:

First the oilcooler went bad, then the oil leak.

The oil psi sender went bad on the car. That is just the start. This car is really the worst thing I have ever bought. Nothing but a pain in the rear.

The biggest money pit.

General Comments:

Anyone know how I can get rid of the car? I can't keep spending money on this piece of garbage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd August, 2006

2001 Cadillac Catera Sport 6 cylinder from North America

Faults:

I have spent $3000 on repairs since purchasing this car two years ago. The car is excellent in design, but poor in quality. Being German built, I thought the reliability would be better, but this has been a big disappointment. The electrical system is spooky, things work one day, and not the next, and then start working again... One day the car simply stopped. After towing it to the dealership, they replaced a couple of sensors, but my sense was they were not sure either. Brakes, valve cover gasket, tie rod adjusters, seat warmer, have all been repaired or replaced. Despite all this, I am still a General Motors fan, and will likely purchase another Cadillac when this one runs into the ground. I am writing it off as having lost the "lemon' lottery.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th April, 2006

21st Apr 2006, 11:40

The Catera, while built in Germany, was really built to American low quality standards unfortunately.

In my opinion, the Catera was a step in the right direction for Cadillac as far as developing a 3 series-sized competitor with European roots.

But the marketplace felt differently and anyone who swam against the tide was burned by the Catera's horrible reliability. Sad.

The new Cadillacs (STS, CTS, XLR, Escalade) are hideously ugly, overpriced and way too large. Plus, as usual, their resale value drops like a stone. And you would have to be mentally deficient to pay $100K for an XLR-V.

That said, they are selling reasonably well and Cadillac, a division GM was thinking of killing off like Oldsmobile, may be one of the few survivors when GM is broken up.

16th Jun 2006, 07:25

If the Catera suffers from poor quality (and I've not seen much evidence that it does), don't blame it on "low American standards of quality". When was the last time you looked at the repair records of Mercedes or BMW? They're far worse than Cadillac ever was. In fact, I was excited about purchasing a used Catera until I learned it was German built.

19th Dec 2007, 18:51

If the car is so bad, why is there a yellow smiley face?