5th Apr 2007, 10:18
I recently became the owner of a 1999 with 59K miles on it. It needed a new gasket, tires, brakes, rotors. About 1900$. Then a valve in the back of the engine began spraying coolant on the engine, creating quite a stink and consuming about a gallon every three days. About 750$. Finally, the wipers busted. Replaced the wiper "transmission" and everything. About 650$.
Upset? Nope. I love it. It rides like cotton, takes off like a rocket, and the Bose Stereo keeps me rocking...
You need some money if you want this car… but then, the same goes for my wife and I’m loving/keeping her too.
Parvenu.
26th Feb 2008, 17:15
I hate my 97 Cadillac Catera. I fell in love with its beauty. I never knew it would have so many problems.
20th Mar 2008, 08:52
I own a 1997 Catera.
Yes it is very expensive to fix. I needed outer tie rods on the front of my car. $132 for the right, $136 for the left, just in parts.
My head gasket also blew at 71,000 miles; the cost to fix that is absurd.
I paid $5,200 in July of 06. It had 54,000 miles. Now it is only worth $2,500 with a good head gasket.
The car handles excellent on the other hand though. System is great. Very roomy interior. Large trunk. Good power.
This really is a great car if you have the money to fix everything that goes wrong. If you don't have the money, don't buy it. There are a lot of things that go wrong with the car. I only wish I had the money to fix it.
Not good on gas. Only about 14-16 city miles.
31st Mar 2008, 12:25
I purchased a 97 catera in 99 and discovered that it has a family of gremlins. It's an electrical nightmare, that does what it wants. We repaired the lights, the trunk latch, the front seat motor, brakes and the door that would not let us out or in. service guy used the window, which now leaks. Now the key won't exit ignition without shifting gear back to reverse and then to park. Oh forgot to mention sunroof opens and closes on it's own. Now the coolant, engine, ABS and tc lights are all aglow. This car is in the shop every holiday, even presidents day since we got it. Handling excellent, it looks beautiful,but it's a piece of junk with gremlins and that's the truth.
26th Feb 2007, 15:12
I am amazed that US drivers have had so much problems with this car. As for wheel alignments going back to their own german setting on their own... ROFLMFAO... does that mean then that the German cars never need to be aligned or do they mysteriously realign to American settings.
As for them being unsafe and crap... google this... "lotus omega"... these cars were tuned by Lotus and hit nearly 200mph in the UK and Europe and sell for about $50,000.
Oh if only the Germans could stop building crap like BMW's Mercedes and Audis and build something superior and outstanding... like a Dodge Neon and Buick Century.