Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Cadillac Catera 97 - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By _catera97_ - April 18 - 11:10 am

  This is an amazing car. Yes it has a few problems we are going to have to work on. But my dads psycho ex girlfriend parked it in the grass and took the chip out of the key. Thats the reason for most of the problems. It is a 15 year old car, so yes its going to have other problems to. But before it was taken off the road because of the crazy psycho it was running fine. The ride is smooth just like a Cadillac should ride, the Bose stereo system is beyond amazing and the speed and look of the car fits my personallity to a key. This car is one of the most amazing cars I have ever seen.

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  Reliable, but can have costly repairs - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By map64 - October 21 - 5:54 pm

  Bought in 02 with 36K miles for $7K ($32K new in 97. 136K miles/9+ years later, cant complain. Spent $800 on leaking oil cooler, timing belt/tensioner warranty replacement, $300 on timing belt replacement at 106K miles, $70 twice to replace heater control valve and $100 on oxygen sensor. Got climate control module for $25 to replace defect. Serviced spark plugs, trans fluid and brake pads. The timing belt is due to be changed in the next 10K or so. The only annoying thing to me is the electrical gremlins like the TC/ABS lights and the radio shutting off if the volume is too loud. If you do the work yourself, this can be a fun car to own because it has never left me on the side of the road

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  Must have got the one diamond amongst the broken glass. - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By jlblack - June 18 - 3:14 am

  While everybody else hates this car, I love it! I bought last year for $2000. I immediately had to buy a new radiator for it for $200 that I installed. I was quoted up to $750 for one, so call around when buying parts. I abuse this car! The sport button is on half the time, I take corners at above twice the recommended speed. This car is glued to the road. It sails at 90 mph with no problem. If you can work on cars yourself and want cheap luxury then this is the car for you. For what I paid for it if a major repair comes up then its off to the junk yard, but until then, get out of my way! You can buy a Haynes repair manual for an Opel Omega from the UK. Same car. I did.

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  Paying for the name only - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By mary - September 9 - 2:00 am

  This car is a great ride. Thats it. I can not find anyone to fix whatever is wrong. Dealers laugh at the cost to fix it. It runs for a week and then quits. Over and over again. I feel like driving it through a dealer window, but bought it privately. I will stick to Toyota from past experience. I thought since the motor was made in Germany that it would be a good car. I was wrong! This car needs to have permanent retirement in a junk yard. I would feel guilty selling it to anyone as gullible as I was. I should have known better (what was I thinking not buying a Toyota?).

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  Too much fixing - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Nash - December 16 - 7:11 pm

  I recently to have a look at a used car it turned out 2 be a 1997 catera. I fell in love with this car the moment i saw it..it was so beautiful inside out and in great condition 4 a 1997. The owner was selling it 4 $3500 and he was sad..so sad because he kept repeating how much money he spent on it to keep it running. I am sorry for him and glad i didnt buy it.

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  The Money Pit - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Charlie - July 18 - 1:08 pm

  Since the purchase, this car has broken down once a month. Each time we take it to the dealer (usually via tow truck) the repair costs range between $1500.00 & $2000.00 We bought it for $22,000.00 in 2000 and have spent $16,300.00 in repairs since. GM will not even talk to us about this car, and parts are now hard to get. This is by far the worst car we have ever owned. We looked around to see what they are selling for now, and see that top dollar is $3000.00. We are donating it to the Kidney Foundation, and the tax receipt deduction for our income tax will be more than what we can sell the car for!

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  So Sad for Cadillac - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Kimberly - June 4 - 9:28 am

  Bought this car used for my daughter. HUGE mistake, looks are deceiving! It wasnt enough that the salesman saw us coming and I paid nearly $3000 for what the car was worth, Ive put so much money into repairs that I could have bought myself a BMW! Two months after owning it, the trans went, then a sensor that controls the gears, then the whole dash went out, brake lights which was electrical. It was $850 for a tune up, a hose that cost $700, several electrical problem, too many to mention. I am now selling it, really cheap!!!!! And yes, Ive lost money on this car big time!

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  Money pit - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By jJason - May 27 - 1:19 pm

  I bought this car with 35,000 miles and have had it for about 7 yrs. Ive sunk so much money into, with having to repair and just general maintenance, because everything on it is so expensive. Its a wonder I never got rid of it and now I almost cant afford to. Ive had to replace the engine after it blew, the A/C and it still has problems, the cooling system because it was getting oil in it.

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  Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By dinoscaddy - May 16 - 3:23 pm

  This thing is the worst car I could have bought. Air doesnt work, leaks oil, radiator fan doesnt work, climate control not working and it only has 87,000 miles. JUNK!

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  Parts? - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By ldunlap - April 4 - 3:25 pm

  Bought for my son in college. Nice looking car but expensive to keep up. Parts are hard to find.