CD Article: Cadillac Catera, 1997-2001

[CD_Editor]

Used Vehicle Review:


A rebadged version of the European Opel Omega, the Cadillac Catera was "almost unbelievably unreliable", at least in its first two model years, reveals Contributing Editor, Chris Chase. "This is one car I'd probably avoid," he says.
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[ovr50]

Former neighbor's mother had one of those Cateras. A total and absolute POS in every way. She finally got rid of it and bought a Honda Accord.

Barrie would have had a fit, but she did the right thing. 

[Honda Owner]

Trading a Catera for an Accord is indeed a wise move. However, if anyone really wants a Catera, I would advise the optional sack cloth and ashes package.

[ktm525]

I have no doubt that most Caterra's were POS but my father had a 97 that was completely reliable until he got rid of it 5 years later with 120k km on the clock. It did seem to eat through tires but at least GM covered 3 complete sets. Once they got the proper alignment specs the tire wear seemed to settle down. I took the Catera across the country and was quite impressed. It didn't have a ton of power but the V6 had a nice snarl, the suspension was somewhat buttoned down (euro style) and with the super comfy seats it was great at eating up the miles at high speed.

It probably blew up the day after he traded it in.

ps. If you are shopping Cateras the 97 is the one to get. GM did some serious decontenting through the years.

[stickshift]

ps. If you are shopping Cateras the 97 is the one to get. GM did some serious decontenting through the years.

Sweet! More stuff to break!

[airbalancer]

ps. If you are shopping Cateras the 97 is the one to get. GM did some serious decontenting through the years.

Sweet! More stuff to break!

Should that not be less stuff to break

[ktm525]

ps. If you are shopping Cateras the 97 is the one to get. GM did some serious decontenting through the years.

Sweet! More stuff to break!

 

Mostly replaced nice soft leather on the doors etc with craptastic plastic.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Dunno about reliability, but remember being in the Caddy dealer when the then new CTS hit. Sat in the Catera and was impressed - roomy and solid. Sat in the CTS and it was a gimmicky cheap plastic joke. I much preferred the Caddy that Zigged and wondered how they were going to unload those CTS's  I still wonder.

[safristi]

..yeah Chevy Catera ......my Drunk Aunt designed it............MY bad...no Her bad.............I'll give ya 5 Golf Balls and two Gopher Pelts fer ONE......

[Arthur Dent]

They do look rather nice and had a lot of potential but the stories are pretty horrific. May as well go the whole hog and get a Maserati Bi-turbo.

[ktm525]

Dunno about reliability, but remember being in the Caddy dealer when the then new CTS hit. Sat in the Catera and was impressed - roomy and solid. Sat in the CTS and it was a gimmicky cheap plastic joke. I much preferred the Caddy that Zigged and wondered how they were going to unload those CTS's  I still wonder.

The Catera was definately solid, a porker whose V6 could just manage. It was a nice RWD package . As I said before it was a great high speed highway cruiser and the seats were good and the backseat had tons of room. Impressive for a car that size. I bet GM lost money on every Catera they sold. IIRC they took an Opel Vectra, loaded it with goodies and acres of leather and sound deadening material. 

Like Ford with Merkur I just don't think GM Caddy dealers knew what to do with the Caterra.

[safristi]

...U say Merkura...he says Catera.....LET's CALL THE WHOLE THING ORFF.....................oooh look they DID......................coffin closed.............

[Honda Owner]

Like Ford with Merkur I just don't think GM Caddy dealers knew what to do with the Caterra.

GM does not require its dealers to train sales staff or technicians to deal with new products. The stores really are independent. It comes from the days when many dealers were two bay garages and sold cars on the side. Ford operates exactly the same way.

Nissan, Honda and Toyota require dealerships to be trained in new products before launch Even service advisors need to know the specs of a product and pass a test before they can deal with customers.

[sailor723]

Like Ford with Merkur I just don't think GM Caddy dealers knew what to do with the Caterra.

GM does not require its dealers to train sales staff or technicians to deal with new products. The stores really are independent. It comes from the days when many dealers were two bay garages and sold cars on the side. Ford operates exactly the same way.

Nissan, Honda and Toyota require dealerships to be trained in new products before launch Even service advisors need to know the specs of a product and pass a test before they can deal with customers.

Interesting....That would go a long way to explaining the service I've had at the local Chev/Cadillac dealer in the last six months compared to the last five years when I dealt with Nissan.

 I still like my SRX ....I just wish the local dealership wasn't so slick and sleazy   There seems to be a big difference between import dealers and the old "big 3" when it comes to customer service

[ktm525]

Like Ford with Merkur I just don't think GM Caddy dealers knew what to do with the Caterra.

GM does not require its dealers to train sales staff or technicians to deal with new products. The stores really are independent. It comes from the days when many dealers were two bay garages and sold cars on the side. Ford operates exactly the same way.

Nissan, Honda and Toyota require dealerships to be trained in new products before launch Even service advisors need to know the specs of a product and pass a test before they can deal with customers.

Interesting....That would go a long way to explaining the service I've had at the local Chev/Cadillac dealer in the last six months compared to the last five years when I dealt with Nissan.

 I still like my SRX ....I just wish the local dealership wasn't so slick and sleazy   There seems to be a big difference between import dealers and the old "big 3" when it comes to customer service

It would also explain why the local Caddy dealer seemed unable and/or had the wrong specs trying to give the Catera alignment. It cost them 3 complete sets of tires before they finally got it right.

[Honda Owner]

It cost them 3 complete sets of tires before they finally got it right.

Since GM paid for the tires and not the dealer, they didn't care. If they get really bad, GM can pull a Cadillac franchise, but not Chevy or B-P.