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The Avalon used the Camry chassis, only lengthened, right? They call it new because they're used the newer Camry chassis vs the previous Avalon which used the previous Camry chassis.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Now a nice CTS or DeVille is a sweet ride with style..........
Does anyone here EVER give a camry a 2nd look?......(chuckle)
Heck......I see the old generation late model SLS/STSs in the paper for a HECK of a deal ......loaded V-8s too...........Quite the bargain !
Zapper1 - I liked the Caddy and a lot of things about it, like the looks, size, and the 275HP Norstar V-8. I didn't enjoy having the few problems that I had, that went unresolved by the sole dealership in my area, nor the way the car depreciated. Maybe I got a bad one? It happens. I'd consider a Caddy in the future, but I was ready for a change. The Avalon isn't for everyone, but it was a great decision for me. It is built off of a modified Camry chassis but it is definately not a Camry. The front bucket seats and center console in the Avalon were a draw back for me coming from the DeVille with a bench seat, but many other attributes of the car were favorable. The back seat in the Avalon feels bigger than in the DeVille with more leg room, and the seat backs can recline several inches. Also, that hump in the center of the floor in the back seat of the Caddy isn't present in the Avalon. The trunk is smaller, but still substantial in size. As for the six cylinder engine...it puts out 280HP and something like 260 ft lbs of torque, and is estimated at 22 mpg city and 31 mpg hwy! It performs equal to or better than the Norstar did in the DeVille, in my opinion so far.
One thing to keep in mind though, the Avalon is not built to compete with the DeVille, and costs about 60% as much. However, it provided me with a big car feel like the Cadillac did, and has an engine that is reminescent of the Norstar. It isn't as "plush" nor is the ride as "soft", but it appears to be a luxury car worth considering.
- Transmission mount
- Exhaust manifold
- Struts & shocks
The car also leaks quite a bit of oil and I am told that to fix this would be very expensive.
Anyway, I want to sell the car and am wondering if these things should be fixed first, and what a fair price would be?
Thanks for any help.
Chris Milligan
bear and troublefree for 6 yrs. and 120k miles.
Your not talking a dealer mechanic are you? Sometimes all those service guys see is BIG $$$ on a older car repairs or don't want to mess with it.
Tranny mount...Hmmmm........Cracked manifold.......Bad exaust pipe donut gasket maybe?...Muffler shop will check for free.
Are you showing any trouble codes ?
I am a current Cadillac owner and have had DeVilles befor. The most recent was a 93' new program car.
I am getting rid of it only for upgrading and getting a different col;or.
Can anybody tell me what I can expect for future problems or noted known resistance if any?
Would like to here from any one about this car.
Thanks,
Propdr
If you can research the car's service history, try to see if these have been replaced. If not, if the car suddenly dies, then re-starts immediately, without setting any codes, it's these sensors.....
Use the long-life, 'orange' coolant, as recommended. (Do not use 'green' coolant.)
Put in the 'pellets' that Cadillac recommends. There usually is a sticker on the plastic cover at the front of the motor that gives the GM part number for these. Put 6 pellets into a radiator hose, do not put them into the tank under the 'radiator cap'.
Yes, Northstars are known to have head gasket problems. Not all of them. Many, many can go 200,000 miles without this happening. Changing the coolant every 3 years or so (even though the maintanence interval is 100,000 miles), is about the only thing that can be done to help reduce the possibility of head gasket problems. The 'pellets' are a sealant for leaks, and may stop a gasket problem from starting.
2000's are well known for a problem with 'crank sensors'. There are 2 sensors, both should probably be replaced. If they fail, the car will suddenly stop running, stall out. At any speed. The car will usually restart without anything needing to be done. But, a car going 'dead' at any speed is not a good thing. If you should know where the car previously was serviced, at a Cadillac dealership, they can pull all the service records for the car. The crank sensors might have already been changed. A redesign was done on them, so replacements should not fail. If I had a 2000, with unknown service history, I would have the crank sensors replaced.
It is a complex car, with complex electronics. You may have problems.
The DTS has, I think, the 300hp motor, rather than the 275hp motor. This is a very powerful, smooth car that will give excellent milage - about 26/27mpg at 75mph with AC going (or better). It can run on regular or mid-grade gas, with probably less power, and you might hear a 'ping' before the knock sensors retard the timing. But it will run on less than premium gas, and will not harm the motor.
Northstars are also known to burn oil. If you apply frequent 'wide open throttle' (WOT) applications to the car, it will reduce or almost eliminate excessive oil usage in many cases. And it is loads of fun. I'm not talking about driving it on the freeway up to 90mph. I'm talking about getting the car warmed up, and from a rolling start (no need to actually strain the car with a dragstrip start), floor that sucker and wind it out to the 6,500rpm upshifts in the first 3 gears. You will be doing about 95mph at that point. If the car has been 'babied' all its life, you will probably see a cloud of black or brown smoke come out of the exhausts when you do this. Do this several times. Do is every few weeks.
You are not 'seating the rings'. What happens is 'babying' the car allows the rings to 'stick' in the grooves. And oil will blowby and be burned. WOT will free up the rings and reduce blowby.
Buying the car used, someone else has taken the huge depreciation in value that occurs in a Cadillac in the first year. Drive this sucker for a few years, then consider it a throwaway. Sell it for a few thousand dollars and move on.
At 100,000 miles, change the plugs and wires. Use only AC Delco plugs and factory wires. These, especially the wires, are expensive, but aftermarket will probably cause problems (wires). It's then good for another 100,000 miles.
The car has a very extensive self-diagnoistic system that an owner can access through pushing buttons on the dash and getting readouts on the dash display. There are other places on the internet that will tell you how to enter this 'diagnoistic' process, and tell you what the 'codes readouts' mean. If you want to work on the car yourself, purchase the factory service manuals. Do not buy anything else, it is a waste of money.
forums..........................
Hopefully you had you Caddy inspected before you purchased it. A wise move with ANY used vehicle.
Head gasket problems.............HA-HA !!!!!!!!!! Shows ya what some posters DON'T know ! (But think they do)
My 90 DeVille went 130k miles from NEW and scoffed at repair shops !
My 96 DeVille N-star went 100k miles from new also and the only repair
was a new fuel pump at 90k. NO head gaskets either......................
My 03 DeVille just purrs............................
I run my Caddys HARD too...........Not afraid of a stop light drag or a WOT
event.................
Ask those Ford boys how much a timing belt(s) change costs in their v-8s
at 90k. A N-star uses chains that need no replacement !
Read back thru these forums and see how many N-star head gasket probs.
you find.........................HA!
BOLIVAR is correct..........The new electronic gadgets on a Caddy or ANY
$pendy new luxo barge are complicated and big $$$ to fix.
But thats the price of admission to the club !!!!!....................good luck !
helminc.com
That's who supplies the ones list in the owners book in teh glovebox.
I've bought manuals from them for cars since 1967.
Don't know if you'd find them on auction sites on the web or not.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Overall though I am quite satisfied with the car, its performance and comfort. I will admit that the Chrysler dealership treated me better when I owned a Chrysler LHS. But when a car functions well you shouldn't have to spend much time at the dealership. I always did my oil changes at the dealership when I owned my Chrysler but avoid the local Cadillac dealership whenever I can. From what you stated I should with a little bit of luck get a long and enduring performance from my present 04 Deville.
I STAND BY THE REST OF MY POST.....................NUFF SAID !!!!!!
But if thats the only issue I have in 5 yrs. & 100k plus miles.......ME HAPPY ! :shades:
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
Does anyone have any info on the upcomming model year that can assist me in my decision?
My 03 has been just fine with no problems except for a quirky cruise
control.
With the price of gas I sure am loving 25 mpg plus average (as long as
I can keep my foot outta it !) V-8 powered luxo barge.
I could NEVER imagine driving anything else...............
WELL a N-star powered SRX would be nice tho !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shades:
I think its us OLD timers fumbling with those goofy steering wheel buttons !
I liked my 96s set up with the big "hooks" under the steering wheel center
and the stalk button better.......................
I had the dealer check it out once............Annoying for sure but I can live
with it..................
My 04 Chevy trucks cruise is always dead on no matter what even towing !
But it has the easy to use turn stalk controls.................
I blame it on the steering wheel buttons......................
Anyhoo.............If thats the only issue I have in my 5-6 years 100k plus
miles I will continue to be a happy Cadillac owner and will prob. purchase
another !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........................
tires/wheels off another new truck.
Problem solved..........
Just have them swap a whole set of rims tires off another 05 and then go from there.
Were the Vogues a dealer add on item? If so somebody prob. messed up on the
balancing or you could have a bad wheel or tire.
You didn't happen to clobber a curb or big pothole did ya ?
We won't tell............................
When my service manager was trouble shooting minor out of balance on my LeSbre with Michelins, he said the Michelin replacement was the cure. I had bought the LeSabre model because it came with Michelins, always my tire of choice for replacements for 38 years.
Follow your dealer's advice.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
years of ownership. Today I found one of the head gaskets is leaking and the
transmission has a selenoid problem all of which could cost $ 6,000 to repair. I'm considering a 05 DHS but wonder about reliability. I like to drive my cars over 200,000 miles if possible. I would appreciate your opinion.