By Josh RosenbergDue to extremely high car prices, both new and used, along with high loan interest rates, many shoppers have been looking for "older" vehicles to better fit the budget. We'll take a look here at some of Cadillac's possibilities.
Cadillac has undergone many changes over the years. Having lost some of its luster during the 1980's, and being type-cast as a "senior citizen" auto maker, in the early 2000's Cadillac began revamping its lineup with a decidedly more youthful, "edgy" style and recommitted itself to high quality construction and luxurious features.
The introduction and success of such acclaimed vehicles as the Escalade, CTS, STS and XLR put Cadillac firmly back on track ... and with a much wider audience.
As a few examples of the accolades, the Cadillac STS, SRX and various Escalade models were "Editors Most Wanted" award winners at Edmunds.com. The CTS was a "Best Bet" award winner at Cars.com. And J.D. Power gave top ratings to the DeVille and CTS for "Mechanical Quality", among others.
Features normally noted as superior include performance, handling, ride comfort, transmission operation, strong engines, electronic technology and luxury features.
Cadillac's fresh and sporty styling, performance improvements and overall product quality has gone a long way to help this auto maker regain its previous status.
But before going over the pros and cons of some of their models ...
Things To Do When Considering An "Older" Vehicle
Locate Lower Mileage Vehicles: They are certainly out there to be found with careful and patient shopping. Be willing to drive a distance if you have to.
Vehicle History and Maintenance: Ask for the vehicle history report (CarFax or AutoCheck) as well as documented maintenance and repair records. If not provided by the Dealer or private seller, it's usually best to move on.
Pre-Purchase Inspection: Have the vehicle independently inspected before making a final decision. This usually will cost in the $150-$200 range but is well worth it given the potentially thousands in savings over the long term.
And My #1 Price Tip: Please, always get online price quotes at auto sites such as CarsDirect.com and Edmunds.com (both, actually), whether looking for a new or used car. Competition among dealers for your business does amazing things to prices, and it's so easy. It really does make a difference.
And quickly, while we're at it, my #2 Tip is to always know the up-to-date trade-in value of your current car. You can get a quick and surprisingly accurate one at Edmund's Trade-In Quotes.
It's free and just takes a couple of minutes. I think what helps its accuracy is the inputs will include either your plate# or VIN# followed by many simple, but specific, yes/no questions. It really focuses in on the detail of the specific vehicle.
Mechanical Problems And Reliability
It's also extremely important to consider possible mechanical problems and reliability when buying an "older" vehicle. And Cadillacs, while extremely attractive and with exceptional driving performance, have a history of having more mechanical issues than average. Maintenance costs are also higher than average.
While a vehicle's mechanical history will vary, often tied to its mileage and how regularly the owner maintained it, problems with older Cadillacs have included issues with its transmission system such as rough shifting, grinding or shaking, and slipping gears.
Also, there have been other issues such as the infotainment system having faulty controls, as well as poor Bluetooth connection and faded cruise control buttons.
This is why it is extremely important to find the well-maintained vehicles out there ... and they are there. So, try to limit yourself to those driven less than average miles. Also, ask for the vehicle's maintenance records to verify it was well-maintained as well as its vehicle history report.
And most importantly, get a pre-purchase inspection. They are in the $150-$200 range and are well worth it.
Older Cadillac Favorites
Okay, here's a few of our favorites:
Cadillac CTS: With its stunning design and development on Germany's famous Nurburgring test track, the CTS is a sport sedan aimed right at the heart of the competition.
While most definitely a luxury car, the CTS quickly became Cadillacs most popular vehicle because of its sport-oriented driving dynamics. It actually has a manual transmission as an option and was really the only domestic vehicle that could compete with the European and Japanese entry-level luxury sedans.
The first CTS generation was produced from 2003 to 2007. Initially, it was equipped with a 3.2 liter V6 engine that produced 220 horsepower. In 2004, this engine was joined with a still more robust 3.6 liter V6 that was good for 255 horsepower. Also new in 2004 was the Cadillac CTS-V which was really a world class super sedan, powered by a 400 horsepower 5.7 liter V8 engine.
The second generation Cadillac CTS was introduced in 2008 (and carried through to the 2013 model) and was significantly enhanced in terms of both refinement and power. Again, two V6's were offered. The base engine was a 3.6 liter that produced 258 horsepower, while the optional 3.6 liter direct-injection (DI) V6 generated 304 horsepower.
Both engines were mated with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. This CTS is also available in either rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive forms (AWD models come with the base engine and automatic transmission only).
Overall Pros: More spacious than similarly-priced competitors, excellent handling, attractive and high-quality interior in post-2007 models, lots of high-tech features, available all-wheel drive.
Overall Cons: Subpar interior in pre-2008 models, less agile than smaller rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G35, poor rear visibility.
Cadillac Escalade: There's many compliments to be said about the Escalade ... actually, too many. Car buyers have said it all, however, by simply making the Escalade the best-selling luxury SUV back then. From its "attitude" to its power, size and features, the Escalade was the standard-bearer in the large SUV segment.
The third Escalade generation was produced beginning in the 2007 model year and through 2014, with only minor changes consisting mostly of new standard features and options.
Under the hood of these Escalade models is a powerful all-aluminum 6.2-liter V8 engine that pumps out a robust 403 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. There's plenty of acceleration nomatter what the circumstance, the ride quality is smooth and quiet, the handling is much more nimble than you'd expect, passenger room and cargo space is at a premium and it's loaded with all the latest technological gadgets.
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The earlier generation Escalade was produced for the 2002 through 2006 model years. It's actually this model that originally boosted Cadillac's reputation with younger buyers with its unique and edgy new design, as well as its surprisingly good handling for such a large vehicle.
This generation is powered by a 345-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 that made it one of the most powerful SUVs on the road. The interior of these Escalades, however, are not as upscale as the current generation, but most will be satisfied with all the soft leather and wood trim.
Overall Pros: Unmistakable design, lavish interior, loads of power, surprising road manners, high-tech features, abundant passenger and cargo room.
Overall Cons: A few cost-cutting interior materials in pre-2007 models, poor fuel economy, no fold-flat rear seat.
Cadillac SRX: The history of the Cadillac SRX is really a tale of two vehicles. The first generation was produced from 2004 through 2009 as a midsize SUV. Designed with sporty good looks, it shared the same platform as Cadillac's CTS sport sedan.
The SRX was nearly totally redesigned, however, for 2010 and was produced through 2016. This version is smaller, less expensive and is built on a front-wheel-drive platform related to the Chevy Equinox, but still has much to offer.
The first SRX can comfortably accommodate four 6-foot+ adults due to a roomy second row. Some used SRX models can also be found with the optional two-person fold-flat third-row seat, something that can't be found on competitors like the Lexus RX 330, the BMW X5 or the Infiniti FX35/45.
The smaller, second-generation SRX was an appealing entry in the compact luxury SUV segment, offering impressively nimble handling, sporty looks and a well-appointed interior that is extremely quiet. There were no third-rows, however.
Overall Pros: Capable handling, powerful engines, lots of features, sporty design, attractive interior (particularly post-2009 models).
Overall Cons: Some lower-quality interior materials in pre-2010 models, limited rear visibility and tight rear headroom in post-2009 models.
Cadillac STS: The STS was introduced in 2005 and produced through the 2011 model year. It was a gigantic step forward in technology, performance and refinement as a replacement for the Seville. This is a powerful luxury sedan with nimble handling and plenty of comfort and roominess.
Initially, the STS was equipped with a 255-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Used shoppers should note, however, that it was replaced for 2008 with a 302-horsepower V6 coupled with a six-speed automatic. Also notable is that until 2011, a 320-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 mated with a six-speed automatic was also available.
The STS got a midcycle refresh for 2008 which included a sportier design, a more luxurious interior, a number of high-tech safety and performance options in addition to the more powerful V6.
At the outset in 2005, there were two models differentiated by their engines, with the V8 coming standard with the V6's optional features such as heated front and rear seats, automatic wipers, driver memory settings and a heated steering wheel. Beginning in 2010, the V6 came in Luxury Sport, Luxury and Premium models, while the V8 was offered in Luxury and Performance versions.
Overall Pros: Relatively low price in the luxury sport sedan segment, powerful engines, agile handling for a large car, sporty design, available all-wheel drive, optional Bose audio system is outstanding when you can find it.
Overall Cons: Some find the front sport seats too firm and there's also some lower-grade interior plastics.
All in all, an older Cadillac can possibly make a good choice as a way of dealing with the very high prices of used cars today. But due to possible mechanical issues in these older vehicles, which are something standard to be on the lookout for in all older vehicles, it is essential to get an independent pre-purchase inspection as well as the vehicle's history report.
Also, please shop carefully and patiently for those with below average mileage.They're still out there.