Yesterday I took a ride down to Tucson to check out some cars at an auction and almost bought a 2001 Cadillac Deville. I have ben saving some stuff up for a donation to an animal rescue down there and figured I could kill two birds with one stone. When I got to the auction after the hour and 1/2 drive I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of drivable cars. I was expecting more junk than anything.
While there was a lot of SUV’s that I could of choose from there was only 1 or 2 that I would take home if the price was right. It was a different story when I got to one of the charity cars that was being auctioned off. Among all the junky looking cars was a 2001 Cadillac Deville that looked more like it just came out of the showroom then it did a 15 year old car.
The car was a beautiful silver with a little flake and a pinstrip that looked like it was done yesterday. The only thing cosmetic that the car needed was a new tail light cover.
The guy looking at it in front of me was a mechanic and while I was standing there he started it and drove it 2 or 3 feet in each direction. Only thing he had to say was the air condition needed some freon. It was nice that I didn’t have to test it at all and could sit back and watch him go around the car.
I was going to drive down again this morning but decided to bid online instead. I limited my bid to $1800 figuring that any more than that I could get one similar and know the history of the car. It ended up selling for $1850.
I really just wanted to get the auction experience down since they run these auctions up here in Phoenix. The next one is next weekend and I bet I will be at that one live if I see something in the catalog that gets my interest.
Vinnie,
The Northstar problems weren’t cleared up until the 2002 model year so, in a way, you saved yourself some possible future trouble by not out bidding the other guy. I have seen a lot of pre-2000 models I would have loved to own and, probably would have but, the Northstar problems always stopped me.
You’ll find something better later on. 🙂
That is what I had in my head, at 1800 I might take a chance because I saw how clean the car was and I saw it running. Out here in AZ they have plenty of places to swap out an engine if need be but why deal with that headache.
So, Vinnie, are you planning on staying down there in Arizona or are you going back to New York? I can’t imagine you feeling comfortable outside of the city but, I guess, stranger things have happened…. LOL My friend, who lives(d) in Manhattan, went down to Boca Rotan to care for his mother until she passes away. He still maintains his apartment in Manhattan but, never uses it unless he’s up visiting his family. I think he is liking Florida but, because he’s a native New Yorker, it is my guess that he will return home once his mother is gone.
I plan on going back to NYC. My girl loves it out here though so we will see.
Just a quick question for Wayne Johnson. Wayne, you say that Cadillac cleared up the Northstar problem in 2002. Does that mean they fixed the head bolt problems and therefore the head gasket problems? I’m assuming that is what you are referring to.
Thanks.
Ted
Ted,
From most of the sources I have checked, that is indeed what I meant but, the Northstars, even after 2002, were notorious for oil leaks until the 2005 model year. From what I have researched on the subject, 2005 was one of the best years for the Northstar engine as most of the problems were, at that stage, cleared up. It’s a shame G.M. waited so long in doing anything about those problems since the Northstar was basically a good engine. I owned a 1998 Eldorado ETC which developed the head gasket problem. It was a nightmare. Such a shame too since, in all other respects, the car was beautiful. It was maroon in color and fully optioned out with everything that was available that year.
Hi Wayne,
Sorry about being so late in replying, suffice it to say that it was not intentional, although seven months should be inexcusable, However, thank you for that info, it’s really appreciated. I, too, was a huge fan of the earlier model years and the Northstar engine and have had an Eldorado and two STS’s developing head bolt problems in the one STS and the Eldo. Oh well, c’est la vie. and have a Happy 2017.
Regards,
Ted
Vinny, Good advise there from Wayne, and pay attention to the mileage. The Northstars can get pricey to maintain after 100K, especially if they have not been properly maintained up to that point. That was my draw to my recent purchase of the 03 STS with 22K on the clock.