Cadillac Catera Luxury

Cadillac Catera Luxury 

DESCRIPTION

The Catera is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 with 200 hp and a 4-speed automatic. ABS is standard.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 291-300 of 341  
[Mar 22, 2001]
Margaret
Model Reviewed: Catera

Strength:

Traction control

Weakness:

Where do I begin. Numerous problems from engine oil leaks, relays being replaced twice, stalling problems, tires needing replacing at 23,000, shifting problems when car is cold, windshild cracking, cadillac company not being helpful with problems.

DO NOT BUY OR LEASE THIS CAR! I have never been more unhappy with a car in my entire life. Cadillac should be ashamed to even put this car on the market.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Mar 19, 2001]
Janet Winslow
Model Reviewed: Catera

Strength:

Interior is comfortable and attractive. The exterior is sharp - sport package helps here. Paint is deep and applied well. Quiet. Good handling. Makes me feel special. Onstar and medical on demand.

Weakness:

Needs CD storage space. Interior floor mats should have a clear plastic to put over the rug - the light colors are attractive, but I worry about dirt and staining down the road. Cruise control should be in the wheel.

Although I don't have much experience with this car, I am very happy with it and hope to continue to be. The dealership folks seem very nice and we hope to have a good relationship with them for warranty checks. I especially like the appearance inside and out.

Similar Products Used:

97 Sebring Convertible traded. Catera is nicer, but newer after all. Have been happy in the past with the Chrysler product, but they are too expensive at this point for a repeat buy of the vehicle.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
3
[Feb 22, 2001]
Thomas J. Maher
Model Reviewed: Catera

Strength:

The Bose Radio is Fantastic, the luxury is also good.

Weakness:

Where should I start. The transmission is the biggest problem, when it is cold it revs to 4000rpm before it shifts. Also I had a knock comming from the right fromt tire assembly when I made right turns, and is sounded as if it was comming out of the steering wheel. Plus numerous other problems, including the sun roof opening and then closing by it's self.

Terrible - never again. Who wants to start a class action suit??? contact me at tom@tommaher.com

Similar Products Used:

I compares to nothing that I have ever used in the past.....

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Feb 22, 2001]
Stone

Strength:

None

Weakness:

This car has been plagued by so many problems in the last six months, I wish I had known about the Lemon Laws out here 90 days ago. Timing chain breaking ON A SIX MONTH OLD F#CKING CAR and various electrical problems. I never would have expected this kind of poor workmanship from a Cadillac, but nowadays with the crappy economy and everyone here in the US trying to "make a quick buck with the least effort possible", it's no wonder this company is cranking out crap.

Watch out for this one. I hate to sound like the stereotypical domestic-automobile basher, but this car has been one disappointment after another. Thinking back now, I could have put all of this money towards a downpayment on a REAL damned luxury car, not a pseudo-cheese.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Feb 21, 2001]
H Madrid

Strength:

Good looking car, nice drive, nice stereo and comfortable.

Weakness:

Major problems for a car with the name "Cadillac" attached.

We purchased our vehicle with only 52,000 miles, after 5 months and only 4,000 miles we were left stranded on the highway because of the timing chain going out, valves and camshaft will also need to be worked on, car pulls to the right, engine runs a bit hotter than normal, transmission is not quiet and vibrates a little when idling, rear passenger door handle broke off, expensive key to duplicate: it will cost you a liitle over $80.00 to cut. Overall, I would suggest to anyone out there shopping for a Catera, dont buy one, spend your money on a better, more dependable car.
When ours comes out of the shop this week I am trading it in for something else, if you happen to see a cranberry colored one (red) on the shoulder of a NM highway, it might have been mine, but only good thing about this is I am not the one waiting for a tow truck this time! Dont get a Catera!

Similar Products Used:

With any other vehicle that spends much time in and out of the shop, seriously!

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 19, 2001]
thomasina white

Strength:

radio

Weakness:

weakness all over the car.

the 1997 cadiliac is not a very dependable vehicle. majority of the time it is in the shop having some type of service. plus you have to have some type of bank accoutn or good credit to keep a car like this, so i advise anyone who's thinking about purchasing a catera to read these review before making a decision. this is not a poor man car.

Similar Products Used:

1970 pacer

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[May 16, 2001]
Matt Hoebener

Strength:

Like the looks and the handling am worried after reading alot of the problems I will have to keep a close eye on the car it has 36, miles on it and is driving well but it does need vibrate at 80.

Weakness:

cup holders give me a break that realy sucks.

I love it so far its loaded with all the goodies lets hope it doesnt put me and my fam in the poor house. Hell I just moved from there !!

Similar Products Used:

dont have a sim I have a dodge avenger which i kept just in case and from reading all this I might need to use it alot (I realy hope not)

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jan 11, 2001]
Patricia M. Skrandel

Strength:

The Audio System and the feeling of being a fully powered car

Weakness:

The electrical system circuitry where the fan that cools the engine is linked into the same circuit that turns the a/c and radio on. I told the dealer I would need a new starter since I had to start the car repeatedly till all three system turned on. Well they fixed that, then the alternator had to be replaced which I was in MI on vacation and they said my battery was marginal but I insisted on a new one, but I was given a used but better battery to drive 1400 miles home on. We made it but went back into the dealer because the battery was drained again and they replaced with a new one. My drive train went out and they replaced that, then the trunk release, another trip because the Sheriff stopped and told be my passenger side back lights were not working, so they fixed that and when I went to pick up my car I drove it away and at the office the battery again failed. My next point of interest, which I am hoping someone will respond to is that during this cool spell here in FL we had a bright hot day and on arriving home with my son and grandson, we came into the house to change and I went out to watch my grandson on his scooter. I was standing alongside my car, when I heard a load crack, just by turning my head I saw a crack in my back window, it widened before my eyes, I called out for someone to bring a camara and we took pictures of the crackling glass as it started to bulge and move across to the driver's side. We told the children to move away from the sidewalk behind the car because the bulge looked like it was going to blow. My pictures show the original crack which I heard and its progression. My problem is that the dealer says that my bumper to bumper warranty does not cover glass. Well this was clearly a stress situation which is a defect in the car structure, or as I told the dealership, if an elephant sat on the roof of my car would the glass fall outward. My insurance company Nationwide fixed the glass at the dealership the next day but unfortunately they did not use tinted glass in our sunny state. When I picked my car up I drove to Publix and with $194 worth of groceries in the car it would not start. Cadillac Customer Road service was great, came right out, looked at the battery, said the terminal was leaking and fixed that and installed a new battery, the best of service I had to date from Cadillac.

I am a legal secretary and I can not stand to waste time having my car in the shop so many times. No battery should fail that many times. I just talked a man with a 2000 Catera he is leaseing and he said he has not had it that long but he had to have all the tires replaced under warranty. So the end line is "if you don't have the full factory warranty on a Catera sell, sell, sell before it runs out" The other factor is when you can tell from looking at my color pictures and know that this glass fractured from stres which is a defect of the car and it does come between the bumper to bumper warranty it is hard to believe which such evidence the supervisor from this area will not except that I saw and there were witness and picture to prove the car has a defect or was in a rear end collision which was not disclosed on the pre owned car. Cadillac customer service from OR (?) (I addressed my letter to Detroit) is calling me back tomorrow so if you have had a glass problem please contact me at JFSPA@msn.com or jjrsjr@msn.com before 2:00 when she is calling back to advise me what she has found out from the engineering standpoint of a defective stress situation with this car. Thanks if you can help, please contact me.

Similar Products Used:

My last car was a brand new 1990 Cadillac Brouham rear wheel drive, which was comfortable never in the shop overnight and I gave it to my daughter who is now enjoying it. I told her I would trade her but she does not want the car payment.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 05, 2001]
Renee
Model Reviewed: Catera

Strength:

The stereo and thats it!

Weakness:

Everything but the stereo!

This car just keeps on springing up new problems. Since I submitted the last review I have an oil leak and now some kind of problem with the drive train or it could be electrical, add that to the wearing tires, window problems, moonroof problems, coolant problems, water pump, valve problems, and you have got an absolutely useless piece of crap that you have to pay $800.00 dollars worth of property tax (A nice SC benefit) in order to drive it back and forth to the shop. Since my warranty ran out 1500 miles ago I can't afford to have it checked.....at least not by the so called "service department" at the dealership. The car looses power, like it has been shifted into neutral, while I'm driving. The city, the interstate, everywhere. This could be potentially dangerous. If you are thinking about buying a Catera...... Think again!

Similar Products Used:

Every car I have owned has been more reliable than this one. My 1974 Dodge Duster was a better car and I hated it!

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 06, 2001]
Jason Leonelli

Strength:

Comfort, handling, sound system, radio controls in the steering wheel

Weakness:

Brakes, Slight pull to the right, lack of power, no center console

I wouldn't recommomend this car unless you want to visit your local
Cadillac dealership on a weekly basis. I find that there is a lot
of problems with the Catera. I am one of the lucky ones, I had
a dead battery within 24 months, my brakes just went out at 28,000
miles, (instead of the average 20,000 )
My car pulls to the right, but I have been lucky enough to not have
any tire ware. The car is great minus these little problems. With
the $600-$800 brake job that needs to be done, it looks like I am
going to get myself a Hyundai because my down payment on the next
Cadillac I was going to get is gone for silly repairs done on my Catera.
Hopefully GM will come to it's senses soon about what is happening
on these cars. I have started to do reseach on it and found that
there are tons of cases including leaks, batteries, brakes, and especially
I have seen a lot of tire ware problems and the dealerships will not
take responsibility on it.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
Showing 291-300 of 341  

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