Late 90's Caddy

[tgebes]

Hey Guys just want your opinion on these cars...

I'm considering getting a late 90's caddy with the small V8's, 4.6l northstar in them, for a work car (they are a steal around here $2,000 clean ~100,000 FWD). I don't want to drive my truck everyday through the salt they lay down here in the Omaha area.

My question is have you heard about things to look for on these cars? My old man mentioned that they occasionally lost head gaskets. Other than that I havent heard much. What's everyones thought?

 

[Mike L.]

Transmissions are pricey.

 

[chevyburnout1]

Headgaskets are common. I own one and luckily bought it from another mechanic who had just did the timsert repair on them. If the for sale add mentions anything about a radiator/waterpump replacement or cooling flush/new hoses I'd steer away from it. I've had a fair amount of issues on mine but I'm also a stickler about upkeep. Bought mine with 80k @ $3200. When you test drive make sure you take it on a long drive and watch the coolant temp.

I've had to do sway bar links and an a/c compressor. Had a few bad grounds which cause NUMEROUS issues on those cars. Repaired the driver's seat heater. Alternator went out and sent a/c voltage through the car. Now the BCM flickers the running lights randomly. Rear air shocks went out and are pricey. Still fighting a random ride height issue. At 106k now and three of the wheel hubs have play.

But... I still like the car. Plus its old and things will break eventually. Like I said I'm a stickler on maintenance. If I'm nice it easily gets 23mpg, if I'm mean on it it only drops to 19mpg. Can haul 4 adult males very comfortably yet still have a lot of get up and go. And the ride will make you fall asleep haha.

And yes I'm a white guy haha. Just came back from a camping trip this weekend. A few hunters up there had never seen a Caddy on 20's driving up their muddy jeep trail.

 

[chevyburnout1]

And so far no issues with my transmission either (knock on wood). Even after hot wiring one of the shift solenoids so I could disable the traction control haha

 

[ROGUE GTS]

My grandfather had one (insert old man jokes) and honestly it was more trouble than it was worth. Pretty bad fuel mileage, questionable tranny, broken motor mounts, lost a power steering line, air ride took a dump, and so forth. It was fairly new when he got it, and unloaded it with around 85k. His was a 94' but I forget which model, 4dr with the 4.6.

He got a later 90s buick after that with a 3.x v6 and while not as luxurious, it was an immensely better car, never gave him a problem, and honestly it was a peppy little thing. Sold it to a family member when he quit driving and last I heard it has 190k miles and going strong.

Lots of good inexpensive cars around. 99+ mustang gt can be found with low miles for a few grand, and they will run forever. Or go balls out with the Lincoln towncar, or even a crownvic.