I've always thought Fieros and 3rd gen Fbodies were worthless when compared to other vehicles in a similar model year- but this car takes the cake! I saw one today and was like what the hell, never heard of it before.

Cadillac Catera

Apparently they were plagued by oil cooler and timing belt failures according to wiki. They are so dirt cheap that I'd consider picking one up for a DD, hell a luxury car built within the last 10-14 years that can be bought for $3k with 60k on the clock? Wow!

Doesn't look half bad:

Yeah, the last time I was in Holland I saw them all over the place. They were badged as Opel Omegas. I guess technically it's the other way around, the Cetera was a rebadged Opel Omega.

I believe the Cetera is rear wheel drive, and it was kind of supposed to be in response to the BMW 3 series.

I might be totally wrong on this, but the chassis looks very similar in design to the Holden Manaro / Pontiac GTO... I'm wondering if they are related somehow.

"It's the Caddy that zigs!"


Think 90's reincarnation of the Cimmaron....albeit a much nicer one. It is essentially a throw-away car......buy it cheap and toss it when it breaks. It's not worth fixing when the engine pops.

quote Originally posted by mrfiero: "It's the Caddy that zigs!" Think 90's reincarnation of the Cimmaron....albeit a much nicer one. It is essentially a throw-away car......buy it cheap and toss it when it breaks. It's not worth fixing when the engine pops.

It's not THAT bad... heh... it was made in Germany I believe, and I know it's rear wheel drive too. Plus the fit and finish inside is vastly superior to much of what was available in other GM cars during that time.

It's throw-away becuase the parts would be insanely expensive to get if you decided to keep it going.

Yeah made in germany, it weighs in at 4850lbs

Looks like a nice car to beat on and use as a DD. Hell its the same price if not a small bit more than a cavalier or sunfire of the same year or mileage.. But you get RWD and all the luxury options.

I've seen them all over the place. You have to do a double take especially from the back because they look nothing like any Cadillac made during it's production run. They were popular when they were still relatively "new" (as in a few years old) around here because it was a good way for those wanting the Cadillac name to get into one of their cars due to the massive value drop they suffered from. While most were not able to afford turn of the century Devilles and Sevilles and such they could get into a Catera for about half the price of a higher end Caddy. Pretty much if an older person didn't hold onto their Catera the only other example you find are bastardized ones with large wheels.

[This message has been edited by Fiero84Freak (edited 11-15-2011).]

Ugh those wheels leave me w/o words

Remember the Cadillac Cimarron?

quote Originally posted by Wichita: Remember the Cadillac Cimarron Cimarron, by Cadillac?

Why yes, Yes I do. Best $500 car I've ridden in/owned!
edit: I think I've put about 10,000 miles on it, sitting at 96,000 and all I've done to it is new plugs and wires, alternator (1000 watt amp killed the old one), and new HVAC controls. I'm thinking the brakes will be next...







Yes, this system cost more than twice what I paid for the car, and has made me invest in a new alternator as well.


Oh, and it currently needs a bit of a nose job after loaning it to a cough*female*cough roommate who put it in the ditch, and a small incident I had with a deer. Someday I want to paint it all white!



(She took out the header panel, I just took the very bottom passenger side corner)

[This message has been edited by 1988holleyformula (edited 11-16-2011).]

'Cadillac' roughly translates to: One that doesn't know what their dollar is worth?*
*Applies to new car buyers only.

[This message has been edited by 85GT3.4Track4spdCar (edited 11-16-2011).]

That price is too high. Do some research, average is $1800.

At first glance I thought it was a Hyundai.

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: I saw one today and was like what the hell, never heard of it before. Cadillac Catera

It was very heavily advertised for awhile, maybe a year or so. It was the commercial with the animated duck from the Cadillac crest logo. But I suppose if you're still young, you might not remember those commercials.

Actually, I'd rather have a Cimarron.

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: They are so dirt cheap

There is a reason for this. And 3 grand isn't cheap for an orphan like that. You can get a real caddy for just a bit more if you shop around a bit.

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 11-16-2011).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Why not just get a Cavalier of the same year instead? Would be cheaper and they are the same car.

But then it wouldn't be, you know, a Cadillac.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: There is a reason for this. And 3 grand isn't cheap for an orphan like that. You can get a real caddy for just a bit more if you shop around a bit.

I inflated the price a bit

http://newjersey.craigslist.../cto/2657137306.html

92k @ $2000 obo

http://newjersey.craigslist.../cto/2680858440.html

73k @ $2350 obo

For a luxury throw away car- cheap as hell.

The Cimarron is ugly as hell IMO, and doesn't seem to have any luxury to it. Plus its FWD.

From what I remember reading about, Cadillac actually lost money on every single one of them sold. Apparently it had something to do with the car being made in Germany, but still needing some assembly once it came to the US.

I also remember reading a while back that the Cadillac Allante was even worse. It apparently took a trip to like two other countries before final assembly in the US. I think they also lost money on every single one of those too...

I guess the chassis was designed by Pinanfarina (spelling?) and part of the chassis was also made in Germany or something (even though it's FWD)...

I had one that i regretted buying. It drove great and had a lot of nice options. Engine parts were EXPENSIVE as they are all German made. I had the car at the dealer more than I care to admit for warranty work. After the warranty expired and AFTER the timing tensioner recall as done, it started a real bad engine knock. I drove it til it quit, then pretty much gave the car away to a neighbor who had the engine rebuilt and is still driving it.

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: The Cimarron is ugly as hell IMO, and doesn't seem to have any luxury to it. Plus its FWD.

quote Originally posted by User00013170 Why not just get a Cavalier of the same year instead? Would be cheaper and they are the same car.

Find me a 1986 Cavalier with all leather interior, power captain's seat, and power everything else, for $500. Plus the 2.8 is actually pretty peppy when you step on it! Not saying I wouldn't own a Catera over mine for the fun of the RWD, but I doubt it would be as reliable.

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work] I guess the chassis was designed by Pinanfarina (spelling?) and part of the chassis was also made in Germany or something (even though it's FWD)...

Yup, saw this at a dealership, and had to do a double take.





I thought maybe someone put it on there as a joke, but then Wiki confirmed it for me.

[This message has been edited by 1988holleyformula (edited 11-16-2011).]

Benn seeing a lot of these caddys in the junk yard lateley.

Not a bad car dynamically, but they had severe reliability problems with the drivetrain and electronics. I would stay away from them.

Just an aside.....with a bit of surgery to the tracks, the Catera's power seats will fit in the Fiero. You end up with manual front/back movement but a power reclining seat back.....and Cadillac leather seats.

Took me a couple of days to get it all worked out but it was worth the effort.