NONE except its ability to seperate you from your hard earn moner

it very exsistence

HELP!!!!! Got this car over 2 years ago had only 38K miles...look good, sound good end of story..Brakes light switch went out Headlights blows every 4 months, Replaced Cam Sensor, 02 Sensor (NOT CHEAP) mass air flow sensor, idle arm, water pump, 2 batteries, heater control switch, Check Engine Light is a constant!!! WHY? car now has 60K miles NOW experiencing high readings on oil pressure gauge, low readings on Volt gauge, appear to have valve cover oil leak and some other sensor going crazy.....Cadillac should be ashamed of them selves to even have their emblem affixed to this piece of FECE... I'm thousands in the hole in each and everyday..I'm not sure if this car is going to start from one day to another..unfortunately my livelihood is based on my ability to get to and from work. A Catera is not the car you should depend on....Stop anyone that you know who is considering purchasing this piece of junk....Plus if you call a Cadillac dealership service department, they will treat you DIRT...just mentioning the word CATERA......

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Never in life have I ever owned a piece of Junk that I could compare this with

Looks great.

Mechanically a disaster. The cooling system, motor, tire wear, brake wear and so on and so on. Who designed this auto mechanically?

Explain to me how Cadillac can sell such an inferior auto and get away with it. Like most reviews on this site, I cannot drive this vechle more than five miles from my home in fear of a breakdown. The dealer service center acts as this is not a cadillac and they are annoyed when you bring it in for anything. They got their money, now go away is their attitude. Where are the Government agencies, state lemon laws etc, to protect us from such a situation. I have beem victomized by GM.I presently own 2 other GM autos and within the next 12 months I will own no GM autos and never will again. I always preach to buy American. Wrong again.

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Thank goodness I have never had a similar product to compare this crap to.

none

everything

Just to add to the list of things wrong with the Catera, here is a simplified list and costs associated with this car. New engine because of failed water pump at 49,000 miles. $200 deductible Headlight holders broke on their own to hold headlights in. $775 Purchased used engine with 17K miles to replace blown engine at 94K miles. $5,000 (includes installation) Engine tear down to determine why engine blew $195 Battery- twice $280 Engine light on - couldn't figure out why $95 Coolant leak $370 Generator assembly $695 - on warranty Oxygen sensor $350 - on warranty Outside temp sensor Replaced twice $350 Fuel filter replacement $55 Trunk part to fix light coming on $40 Now my ABS/TC lights came on and I would loose power steering and speedometer...I took it to the dealer and they told me that it was a speedometer module of which they replaced and then called and said that wasn't it and wanted $2000 to replace the steering computer module....this was after they charged me $350 to fix nothing. He told me my speedometer was off by 6 mph. Since then (two weeks) my temp control for air and heat doesn't work properly. You set it at 60 degrees its cold..go up to 65 degrees and its hot. Dealer said $1000 to fix module.

Looks Great.

Everything mechanical is a disaster. Trunk CD Player does not work. Dealers are unsupportive and run when you go in for service. Repairs are considerably more than for a Seville - item for item. Cadillac will not come forward and correct their design mistakes.

This car has been an absolute disaster. The water pump failed as we arrived home following purchase. The car had 64k miles. The water pump was on recall and Cadillac replaced the pump but charged for the Belt the water pump destroyed. $193. Car was purchased in Feb 04, Mar 04 had to replace the heater control value, $953. I believe the heater control value and some leaking oil cooler seals were related to the water pump failure. Mar 04, Cadillac could not determine why the car would randonly skip on cranking cold. Replaced the spark plugs, wires and coil park, $1000+. Problem was still there. Began to notice a red sticky liquid on the garage floor shortly after the water pump was replaced. We have not been able to enjoy the car one day since purchase. We never drive it farther than we can walk back (no kidding). The car is gold with tan leather - beautiful to look at. The damn thing will just not stay together. My five previous Cadillacs have been DeVills and Sevilles and have been great cars with MPG 28 or better. The Catera was just over 20 MPG the one time we were able to check it. I have not filled the tank in the past several months. I just buy 5 gal at a time and the Kelly Blue Book Value goes up and down with the gas level in the tank. I intend to sue Cadillac, the Selling Dealer and the Cadillac Dealers who have worked on the cars. The Cadillac Dealers do not appear to have properly trained mechanics for the Catera. The car is sitting in the garage now. We cannot drive. Water in the oil. The Cadillac Dealer wants about $3000 for head gaskets (if that is all that is wrong with the engine). If I were to spend that $3000 I would have spent more than the Kelly Blue Book Value on the car in repairs and have not driven it but 4,000 miles in 8 months. We bought the Catera as a commute car to keep miles off our Seville. The Seville makes the trip every day with better Mpg and much better comfort, and more pep, automatic windshield wippers, features, etc. If anyone has experience with a similiar engine problem (and no cooperation from Cadillac) would appreciate hearing what you got resolved and how. I would not recommend the Catera to anyone. Cadillac should be charged with Corporate Malfeasance. They had to know the Catera was a piece of junk just slammed together in Germany with an engine from England and Transmission from France. Never buy a low-end "Cadillac." Low-end Cadillacs have always been something else modified with the Cadillac Name on it. The Catera is not Cadillac Quality. This negative experience has turned me away from Cadillac forever.

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Cadillac Seville 1990, 1998 Cadillac De Ville 1988, Cimerron.

Looks, ride (when it's running), dual climate control

engine design flaws, transmission, squeeky glove box and the list goes on and on. Heck, it didn't have a cup holder when I purchased it. When I went to buy one it was $110.00. Give me a break!

What can I say? I have joined a long list of people who have gotten taken in by the Catera's looks only to be let down by it's dependability. (or lack thereof) I bought this car with 53,000 miles on it. By 59,000 miles the transmission blew and had to be replaced. By 68,000 the engine went. What happened was the water pump leaked (under recall) which put that new red coolant onto the timing belt. (under recall) The timing belt snapped most likely because the new style coolant eats rubber. (real smart move there huh?) Anyway since the Catera has an Interference engine when the timing belt snapped it left the valves open. Of course that means they got slammed and the valves got bent. Most likely the piston was slammed which is why they are saying the engine is shot. I am now told that it will cost Cadillac more to fix/replace the engine than what the car is worth so for the past 3 weeks my car has just sat at a Cadillac dealer while we are waiting on a determination from Cadillac as to what to do. The worse thing is I still owe on this car for another 4 years. Now I do have to say that the people at Cadillac (the office, not the dealership) have been very nice to date and I do hope that we can reach some kind of amicable agreement as to what to do about this car. I can not reccomend that anyone purchases a 98 Catera based on what I have gone through with mine. As I said before the timing belt, water punp and tensioners are all under recall. Lord only knows what else. The engine that came with the car is discontinued and the new engine they put in it causes the check engine light to stay on even though there is nothing wrong with the car. (a big no-no in the state of Pennsylvania because if the check engine light is on they cannot emmisions test it which means even if they put a new engine in the car I'll only be able to drive it for a couple of months until the inspection is due again) I'll keep everyone informed as to what finally happens.

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I never owned a luxury car before and most likely never will again. Too expensive to fix and maintain and is not dependable enough for the money spent. My 1997 Ford Aspire has been far more dependable than the Catera has been. dependable

It looks pretty in front of my house, just sitting there. People think it's a statue. It never moves.

If I list them it will take me forever.

When I think of the 1997 Catera I have, all I could think of is problems. Ever since I bought this car it has been breaking down. The whole engine has been changed. It still breaks down! I can't afford to fix it anymore, it just sits in my driveway, undrivable. If you have a 1997 Catera, don't bother fixing it. They will put the same bad parts in it, for a lot of money. It's a horrible car! It is worth nothing in the blue book. Don't bother.

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1996 Nissan Maxima - Excellent car!

Looks good and the stereo system is awesome.

Too many!! Lot's of thing have been replaced, water pump, battery 3x, timing belt, Hot water vacuum control, starter, motor assembly, camshaft housing, harness wiring engine replacement, radiator hose, lines for transmisson/transaxle cooler front repaired, bulbs, fan engine compartment relay, powertrain controller, core evaporator replaced.

This car looks good and handles great when it isn't causing problems. I've had this car for 14 months and it's been in for service 26 times. Most recently I moved to Tennessee where car inspections are required in order to get a vehicle registered in this state. My check engine light recently came on and I failed emissions. I took it to be serviced and found that it was due to a mass air flow gadget -$627 to fix that. Also, they say the head gasket is leaking and that will cost me another $2500 to fix that. I am so upside down on this car it's not funny. There's no way to get out of the payment on this car without coming up with thousands of dollars. And at the same time I can't afford to fix the stupid thing to make it legal in the state of TN. I just can't believe you spend that much money on a car and this is what happens. There should be some kind of protection for us guinea pigs. They make a bad product and still reap the benefits and we are stuck! I will not purchase GM again.

Fast on the highway, nice ride.

The entire car

I bought a 1997 Cadillac Catera from my father. I am really scared of the car. Its value is dropping by the minute. The car now has an inch or so of water behind the passenger seat and on the passenger floor. Lights are out all over the place

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BMW, Lincoln

Looks great, stereo sounds great (radio reception leaves a lot of be desired) and it is really a comfortable ride.

Mechanical and electrical problems, Gas milage, tire ware and you haveto have the oil changed at the dealer.

Where do I start? I have owned a lot of cars in my lifetime but none have let me down as much as this car. I have had $500 cars that were more reliable than this one. I bought it as a lease turn in. I figured that with a name like Cadillac as the manufacturer I would be safe. Was I ever in for a ride. Well, sort of. When it is running it is a lot of fun to drive. Unfortunately that is the exception rather than the rule. The brake lights have gone out twice, $250 to replace the switch each time, The cooling system flopped on me, $1000 to repair (of course it wasn't covered under one of the numerous recalls), The head gasket and valve cover gaskets had to be replaced, $1700, not to mention the day time running lamps, door locks, power windows, battery replacements, door hinges, and now the oil pump is gone. What has Cadillac done for me? Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. Worst part for Cadillac is I was the target they were trying to reach with this car. Youngish (late 30's) with a family, and looking to establish a loyalty to a brand. So where does this experience with my first Cadillac product leave me? I would say looking at a Acura, Lexus or Infinity for my next car. Not only have I given up on Cadillac but since Cadillac is supposed to be the flagship of the General Motors line, that pretty much excludes GM from my consideration. This is too bad too. The people that I deal with at my local dealership are wonderful to work with. Conscientious and caring and willing to do what they can to try to make me happy. Unfortunately, they are dealing with a poorly designed product and no matter how hard they try to keep it on the road for me, it isn't going to happen.

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Lincoln, Oldsmobile and Toyota

Everything: Great Power Great Luxury Awesome Bose Sound system Awesome Handling Loves the Curves Sport pkg. W/Brushed Aluminum Accents is SWEET No Problems, plus i bought the extended warrenty till 2007 or 100k miles so im worry free. LOVE THIS CAR

NONE --- Perfect DAMN SEXY SPORTY RIDE

Before i start, let me just say that i am a car guy, i love cars and have owned many in my day. I LOVE THIS CAR. The people who are Bashing this car, i feel sorry for, because there has not been one thing wrong with my Catera Sport. Its So Comfortable, Power Everything, Bose Sound, Sunroof, 200hp engine, Very peppy. You will seriously find your favorite road to drive down with the Catera Sport. It loves the Road, Highway Driving is incredible, 80-100mph and you still feel in Total control of the car, and OHH the Handling of this Fully Idependant Suspension car. It Loves the turns. Ok, First of all, Only Buy a 2000 or 2001 Catera, Preferably with the SPORT pkg. It gives you Bose sound, Sunroof, 17inch Sport wheels, Xenon Headlamps, Sport Tuned Suspension, Oil Cooler, Plus it looks 100times better than anyother entry level luxury sport on the market!!! Just remember to buy a 2000 or 2001. THIS CAR ROCKS IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE...AWESOME SOUND SYSTEM, GREAT ENGINE POWER ( especially near red line, REALLY PULLS HARD ), DAMN SEXY LOOKS, EXCEPTIONAL HANDLING, Damn dude, the feeling behind the wheel of this car is so sweet, you never want to stop driving this car. I love my catera sport, Cheers to all who own one... If your going to buy a Catera do yourself a favor and get the Sport pkg.

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2001 BMW M Roadster, 2002 Audi A6, 1999 Mustang GT, 1994 Camaro z28, 1996 Pontiac Trans Am, 1998 Mustang GT, 2001 Jeep Grand Limited