STS 1992 thru 1997

[Dasher]

I live in the Flint, Michigan area and though GM has about moved out, I guess we still have the old habit of changing cars often and I just noticed that the 1992 to 1997 STS's (which is the one I like the looks of best) has just about faded from the scene. I can't think when I last saw one.

Just wondering if this is true in other areas. I'd appreciate your comments.

[epricedright]

I think they all moved down south to Indy. I see them here all the time.

[Marika]

I live in the Flint, Michigan area and though GM has about moved out, I guess we still have the old habit of changing cars often and I just noticed that the 1992 to 1997 STS's (which is the one I like the looks of best) has just about faded from the scene. I can't think when I last saw one.

Just wondering if this is true in other areas. I'd appreciate your comments.

I have a 92, there are plenty of 92 ~ 97 here in New Jersey.

[JasonA]

I see probably one every other day here in southern North Carolina. They're not that common here, but they were never real common anyway that I can recall, even when new. The DeVille was always the sales getter.

The most common Cadillac here is the 97-99 generation DeVille, followed closely by the 00-05 DeVille. Following that, rather distantly, the 98-04 Seville. Then it's probably a pretty even split between the 92-97 Seville and 92-02 Eldorado. Then the rest, like older Sevilles and DeVilles. Pinehurst and Southern Pines is right around the corner, two very affluent retirement communities. DeVilles are the vehicle of choice around here.

I can't argue with your opinion of the 92-97 Sevilles looking the best. They're so distinctive and classy looking, with just the right balance of hard creases and aerodynamic flow. They look so stately in some angles, and so muscular in others. They're wonderful pieces!

[Dasher]

Well now, Jason! You said it far more poetically than I did.

[ted tcb]

I probably see one or two per week, in a small city of about 30,000 people.

Checking your local autotrader gives you a better clue. When I purchased my 97 STS in 2004, there were quite a few to choose from, doing a province wide search.

My search of a few moments ago shows 7 cars for sale in a province with a population of over 12 million people.

Most of these 7 cars look tired, with mileage over 160k and multiple owners who have probably never heard of coolant flushes.

I suspect these low numbers will further diminish ... people are picking up these cars for 3 - 6k, and driving them as beaters ... we all know what happens to neglected northstar engines

I should've kept my one owner 97 pearl STS with 75k for my wife ... I agree with one and all, still a very graceful yet muscular vehicle which looks unlike anything on the road.

[tjtjwdad]

I see them quite regularly myself, the STS more than the SLS. I see more DeVilles, (thru 99) more than any other followed by the 00-05 models. After that I see the CTS and Eldorado's followed by the Sevilles and then all the rest.

As far as looks, I'm kinda split (I have a 01 myself). If it's a dark color I like the front end of the 92-97 model (I'm not crazy about the contrasting bumper guards on the 92-97 model in light colors). I defiently like tha back end and the instrument cluster of the 98-04 model over the 92-97 model.

In any event be it a 92-97 or 98-04 Seville you got a fine ride!

Jim

[JasonA]

Jim, the instrument panel of the 96-97 cars is very similar to the 98+ models. I suspect you're talking about the 92-95 cars, which used an older style light cluster.

[keith_99_sts]

Jim, the instrument panel of the 96-97 cars is very similar to the 98+ models. I suspect you're talking about the 92-95 cars, which used an older style light cluster.

I would guess a lot of them end up needing expensive repairs and get parted out. If the car is worth $3K and the head gasket needs fixing (timecerts, >$2K), is it worth it to fix it or buy something else?

My '99 STS still has some value, but in a few years I'll be in the same predicament. I already get transmission code P0741 and I know that's a big labor bill to fix. If the head gasket goes in a couple of years, the car will cost more to fix than it's worth. Then there are the $$$$ active shocks that will wear out.

It's a shame, because it is a nice car, but the depreciation is so severe that we end up in this situation.

[JasonA]

I might be crazy, but I don't take into account the depreciation when it comes time to consider repairs. If I put more into the car than its market value, that doesn't really matter to me...because any money I put into it will still be far less than the payment on a new(er) one, and I get the added value of driving my dream car (ever since I saw the '92 STS in Motor Trend when I was 13, this Seville has been my dream car).

I figure even if I had to put $3000 a YEAR into this car, that's still about $250/month...about HALF of the payment of a newer Cadillac that I'd want. I plan to keep this car for a LONG time, so the repair costs are equivalent to a very small monthly payment when you consider them over time. But so far, this '97 has required an average of probably $100-500 a year in REPAIRS, so I figure I'll be ahead, financially, for a very long time to come still.

[cadillacjeff7777]

Well, there in one less SLS in existance in Michigan. I live in Cedar Springs, MI (Just north of Grand Rapids) and my 95 SLS got stolen last Thursday night and was found by the police the next morning totalled on a telephone pole.

[ted tcb]

Jim, the instrument panel of the 96-97 cars is very similar to the 98+ models. I suspect you're talking about the 92-95 cars, which used an older style light cluster.

I agree that the design of the tach and speedo are similar between my 97 and 99, but that's about it.

The 98 and newer designs use the electrluminescent instruments ... probably the coolest part of the car.

Turn the key, and the steering wheel motors towards you while the full gauges light up.

Start the car, and you briefly see all the red needles swing to the right, then back to normal ... then the

tach, speedo, and fuel guages light up, floating against a black sky.

I actually look forward to turning my key in the ignition every day.

[Poobah]

Since I was a little kid, I've noticed that, regardless of the make, cars tend to be fairly plentiful until they approach ten years old. After ten years, they just seem to vanish.

[ted tcb]

Since I was a little kid, I've noticed that, regardless of the make, cars tend to be fairly plentiful until they approach ten years old. After ten years, they just seem to vanish.

Its also a result of production numbers. The roads around here still have many 15 year old Taurus', Sables, Accords, Camrys, Cavaliers, Sunbirds, and mid size GM products.

The high end, low production vehicles are increasingly rare simply because of simple logistics ... relatively few were sold originally, at least compared to standard fleet and rental car sales.

Proportionately, I suspect more STS's have survived because they likely enjoyed better service, reflecting their owner's original outlay of cash.

Now that these cars are dirt cheap, basic maintenance like coolant changes are probably overlooked, and the declining numbers on the road are the result.

I'd love to see Jason's car on the road 10 years from now, with 300k on the Northstar. If he keeps the car, with reasonable preventative maintenance, it could happen. If he sells it cheaply to some young kid who just gasses her up and pounds on it, then this SLS will likely disappear .

[BSchlossmann]

A few years ago, I used to see a lot of Eldorado's on the road. In the last few weeks I have only seen one other, and I was wondering your same thought.

Where have have the Eldo's gone ??

[JasonA]

I'd love to see Jason's car on the road 10 years from now, with 300k on the Northstar. If he keeps the car, with reasonable preventative maintenance, it could happen. If he sells it cheaply to some young kid who just gasses her up and pounds on it, then this SLS will likely disappear.

Thanks ted tcb. That's why I could never sell this car.

I plan to keep it for a long long time. It'll really start to NEED suspension work in the next 50-100k miles, but so far, so good. The struts still don't leak, and provide reasonable damping. The ride has gotten a touch floaty, sure, but still very safe. And this is a Cadillac -- I don't mind a touch of ride float.

It will get some maintenance work in the next month or so, after the holidays. Spark plugs and transmission fluid. Both are still original, but still working fine. I'm doing this work as much for me as for the car. I enjoy doing this type of work, and I'm sure the car will benefit from it too.

I'm always on the lookout for my next Cadillac, and I think it'll be a DeVille. I really like the '06 DTS, and I think the '97-'99 DeVille is my favorite of all the modern DeVilles. The '00-'05 generation is still growing on me, slowly. I'll see what's out there when it comes time to purchase, probably anywhere from 2-5 years from now. But whatever it ends up being, I don't think it'll be a replacement for my beloved Seville. Everytime my parents come to visit, mom wants to drive it (it was her car years ago) and she still remarks about how much she loves that car, and how well it drives.

Have a Merry Christmas all!

[Spurlee]

A few years ago, I used to see a lot of Eldorado's on the road. In the last few weeks I have only seen one other, and I was wondering your same thought.

Where have have the Eldo's gone ??

A few months ago I used my ElDorado to take my friend out to buy a new DeVille. We went to 3 or 4 dealers and at every one they wanted my El Dorado in trade. Seems the popularity went up when they stopped making them. One guy said they ship them to Florida and make convertables out of them.

I'll keep mine until someone makes another "personal luxury car" as they used to call them. I've has STS's, SLS's, 2 Mercedes and 2 El Dorado's. By far, the El Dorado is the best car for me - unique styling, big performance and good mileage. A great highway ride.

Scott

[tjtjwdad]

I like the new look of the Deville as well. The 00-05 is not a bad looking machine, nor the 96-99 model years.

One thing that is puzzling to me though is the fluctuating HP ratings of the DTS. One year it's 300, then 290 and I believe the other day i saw it was 292.

Hmmmm

[JasonA]

The L37 engine was always marketed and rated at 300 hp. Recently, when SAE published a slightly revised rating procedure, some manufacturers have voluntarily tested some of their engines under that new procedure.

Officially (at least from GM's media site), the L37 engine now makes 292 hp and 288 lb*ft of torque (down from 300/295). The horsepower of the LD8 engine is unchanged at 275, but the torque has fallen slightly to 295 (from 300).

I'm sure the "290" hp rating that was mentioned was an approximate or rounded figure. As far as I know, the official rating was 300, until recently when it was "revised" to 292.

Some makers/engines have really taken a "hit". I think one of Toyota's V6 engines fell from 230 to 209 or something like that. The new SAE procedures are also why the new supercharged V-series STS and XLR suddenly found a "jump" in their rated power outputs just prior to release (from 430 to 469 or something similar). No mechanical changes, just procedural changes in the testing procedure.

I don't know the details of the changes...I wish I did.