Overview & Reviews
Owned by General Motors, Cadillac is America's most prestigious domestic luxury automaker. For most of its existence, the company was known exclusively for its cushy, senior-friendly sedans, but in more recent years the automaker has revised and expanded its lineup in a successful effort to attract a new, younger generation. Cadillac's roster now includes SUVs (its Escalade is a favorite of both rappers and suburban moms), a crossover and even a high-performance wagon.
Born in 1902, Cadillac was founded by Henry Martyn Leland, a manufacturer of automotive components. He named the company after a noted French explorer who discovered Detroit in the early 1700s. Leland helped create one of the company's earliest offerings -- the Cadillac Osceola, noted for being the industry's first concept car and the first closed-body car made in America. Only one Osceola was made, but it helped spark a trend; closed bodies caught on and spread like wildfire through the industry.
Cadillac quickly gained a reputation for specializing in precise craftsmanship and for using standardized parts. The success of early Cadillacs like the Model A and the "30" made the brand a sales success, so much so that the automaker was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The marque became GM's luxury division, and its list of innovations grew. Cadillac was the first U.S. auto manufacturer to produce a V8, the first to use thermostatic control of a cooling system and the first to offer dash-controlled headlights. During the 1930s, the brand earned a strong reputation for producing powerful and smooth V12 and V16 engines.
Soon after World War II, Cadillac history hit a high point as its tailfinned and chrome-laden cars became the epitome of American postwar automotive style. Cadillac's tailfin took its cue from Lockheed's P38 Lightning Aircraft, and was the brainchild of designer Frank Hershey. Vehicles like the Coupe de Ville and Fleetwood El Dorado made Cadillac a staple in upscale neighborhoods and among the Hollywood set.
By the 1960s, Cadillac's flashy tailfins had given way to a new styling cue: vertical taillights. This attribute was in evidence on one of Cadillac's most successful new cars of that decade, the Fleetwood Sixty Special. The Fleetwood offered luxury features that were cutting-edge for its day, such as fold-down writing tables, footrests and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.
The gas crunch of the 1970s, however, started a downward trend for the company. Cadillac's Titanic-sized behemoths that ruled the highways in previous decades were increasingly out of touch and out of favor. Cadillac responded to the changing times by downscaling the dimensions of many vehicles in its lineup. Despite this smart maneuvering, the automaker's fortunes suffered in the late '70s when it unveiled a diesel engine that quickly earned a reputation for spotty performance.
The 1980s saw the redesign of the Seville, a vehicle whose unique bustle-back styling sparked a trend and inspired its share of imitators. That decade also witnessed the rollout of the Cimarron, a small car that was essentially a rebadged Chevy Cavalier, the latter an economy car not exactly known for excellence. Understandably, the Cimarron never caught on with the public. Things got worse when Cadillac launched a series of underpowered, unreliable V8s during the first half of that decade that, along with the notoriously unreliable diesel, cost the automaker thousands of customers, millions of dollars and immeasurable damage to its reputation.
By the early '90s, Cadillac started a major turnaround as it brought out redesigned, stylish models with vastly improved engines. Shortly after the new millennium bowed, the company adopted its "Art & Science" design philosophy. With styling cues that included sharp, almost severe lines and stacked headlamps, Art & Science was first seen on Cadillac's 1999 Evoq concept roadster. By the mid-2000s, this bold new look had reinvigorated the company's sales, and was seen on hits such as the Escalade SUV and the CTS sport sedan.
This fresh styling, coupled with improvements in performance and overall product quality, has done a great deal to help Cadillac recover much of its previous status. Today's Cadillacs, which include coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs, are known for offering powerful engines, chiseled lines, sharp handling and a full accoutrement of luxury features.
User Reviews:
Showing 391 through 400 of 4,788.00-
garbage - 1999 Cadillac Catera
By jose - October 18 - 9:47 amI had this car from like new. It had about 16,000 miles. It ran like a champ but then one day it decided it was time to retire. It has 74,000 miles on it and I already had to replace the transmission, starter, ac motor, ac fan, all in 1 month. It started leaking oil not a small leak but a leak that had me adding oil every morning and washing my driveway.
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This is not your mothers Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac CTS
By doc - October 15 - 9:05 pmI like this car generally. At first ride I was impressed with the handling and performance. However, over time, the ride seems a little harsh over imperfect roads (which most are around here). I like the look of it and the fact that it represents at least one American car company that is attempting to compete with the imports. I know there is a trade off with ride and performance but I was expecting a smoother riding car since, after all, this is a Cadillac. I like the volume control on the wheel. I dont have the problems with it that others have expressed.
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rear axle issue - 2008 Cadillac CTS
By car groupie - October 14 - 10:26 amThe rear axle vibrates at 55 mph and the factory says they are working on a fix. This has been going on for 90 days. In another 60 days without a fix we will post a web site GM wont like, but it will be truthful.
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Good for 16 years - 1991 Cadillac Deville
By I dont know - October 11 - 1:03 pmI love my 1991 DeVille for comfort, beauty, smooth ride. I save money on hotels because it is so comfortable I prefer sleeping in it to sleeping in a hotel bed. The gas mileage was fine when I got the car used in 2000. But see the favorite feature below. Cadillac repairs are notoriously expensive no matter who does them but until the car was 16 years old, I needed almost no repairs. It was super. Then, at the 16-year and around 100,000 mile mark, the car started to self-destruct, one part at a time, so that I kept sinking money in being reassured that each repair was the only apparent problem. So be really careful if you own or are looking at one of these models now.
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CTS Sport - 2007 Cadillac CTS
By boomr46 - October 10 - 12:13 pmFirst Cadillac Ive ever owned - picked it over an Infiniti M35 due to dealer location. Sport model with 18" wheels, limited chrome and spoiler definitely turns heads. For the most part it performs up to its looks which is pretty decent considering its weight and 255 HP. Interior is much improved in the 2008 but very plasticky in the 2007. (Not up to previously owned BMW 740i, Mercedes SL, Jag XK or even Chrysler LHS). Ride is stiff but not uncomfortable handling very good braking powerful. Standard 18" summer sport tires abysmal in fall/winter which led to all-season replacement after 4000 miles (at my expense). Overall mileage of 19.2. Next vehicle? Accura or Lexus mid-size SUV.
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Love My SRX - 2004 Cadillac SRX
By moveebuff - October 7 - 6:38 pmWe went to the Lexus dealership to test drive a RX300 and while they were getting it ready, I spotted the SRX and asked to take it for a test drive because I loved how it looked. Bought it right after the test drive. Just love driving it. I love the versatility of the 3rd row, the sunroof is amazing. Second row is slightly higher (theater seating) which pax really like. Great sound system. The only negative is the paint on the roof rack is peeling. I also had a leak in the jack storage compartment which the Lexus dealership paid to have fixed. I would never buy a brand new SRX because of the cost, but this one was 3 years old and had depreciated to $22k. Looks brand new!
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Keep the SLS alive! - 1998 Cadillac Seville
By Marv - October 6 - 8:08 pmI bought this 1998 Cadillac Seville SLS, May of this year. I have had older Cadillacs, and loved them all because of their reliability, performance and ride. I owned my last Cadillac around 1993. I was ready for another one, and I found a good one, after much searching, with some disappointments with dealers trying to sell me lemons but when I test-drove my Seville, I knew it was the one for me. I always have loved Cadillacs because they are unique in style. The Seville raised the bar for me. I never knew Cadillac made them with the style and performance similar to a sports car. When I drive it feels like a Corvette! (Ok, similar, not exactly :) ).
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Fun to drive difficult to maintain - 1997 Cadillac Seville
By Darrell - September 30 - 8:43 pmI drove a Cadillac a few times when I was in my teens and wanted a Cadillac ever since, then last year I brought a 1997 STS. I love the car, its a hoot to drive very powerful and comfortable to drive. Its in great looking condition but my disappointment comes in with the reliability.The one time I had it any distance away from home my wife and I was on a bus. trip and after coming out from the hotel when we checked in the alternator quit this was after I had replaced the starter but before the headlight control module gave out. last week we went to an anniversary dinner with our children and when we arrived at the restaurant the security problem code came up and two days later it refused to start. Its at the garage now with a fuel pump problem that the tech found while trying to fix that security code problem. I am sure when I get it back something else will go on it. I love the car and love to drive its a real beauty.
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Northstar oil use - 2000 Cadillac Deville
By JB - September 30 - 8:42 pmFor every one that posted a note about oil consumption, a quart or so every 2000 miles or so is somewhat normal. Excessive consumption can also be related to piston rings being stuck due to "babying" the engine. One relatively easy solution is to find a clear stretch of road, place the car in second gear and accelerate quickly up to ~ 70 mph, then coast down to 40 mph (no braking!). Do this 3 -4 times. It will help keep the piston rings floating free and seated against the cylinder walls, reducing oil consumption. Dealers and knowledgeable mechanics can also perform a chemical cleaning.
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Nice ride but - 1995 Cadillac Deville
By tjh - September 28 - 8:14 pmBeen a Caddy guy for 10 years. Car runs great, but in two years I changed the alternator twice, the water pump twice and now its the a/c compressor and the heater core needs to be replaced. Car has been nickel and diming me, but when it is running, it runs great.
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