Beater car opinions?

"Arben72" (arben72)
03/27/2014 at 01:47 • Filed to: None

So my father was looking for a car to replace his rusted out 1990 Nissan Maxima. I found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

It's a manual. I know nothing about older cts's so are they reliable? Any known issues and should he be worried about getting one with higher miles? He doesn't expect a honda but doesn't want a yugo.

DISCUSSION (14)

Your boy, BJR > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 01:51

When I worked for cadillac, one of these was my shop whore. It proves the saying "a gm car will run like shit longer than most cars will run". She weren't pretty, or sounded nice, or smelled nice, or drove nice, but 250k trouble free miles of pure abuse won me over.

wiffleballtony > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 01:56

What is the budget? How much is that CTS? Hard to give an opinion without those. Outside of that I don't really trust GM prior to 2008.

Arben72 > Your boy, BJR
03/27/2014 at 01:58

I like a car that can be used and abused. The only bad things I've heard about them is the transmission failures (but this is a manual so it should be good). I heard the motor is bullet proof though.

Arben72 > wiffleballtony
03/27/2014 at 02:01

Well his budget is that he's also looking at a 991 turbo s so that isn't an issue. He just doesn't want to cause jealousy (which could hurt business) and needs an around town car that's not new, preferably 'Murican, and comfortable. That cts is 5,000.

wiffleballtony > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 02:27

That is a good price for that CTS in my estimation. However, if he is looking at Porsches why waste his time with a meh CTS?

Arben72 > wiffleballtony
03/27/2014 at 02:34

Beater to not put off potential customers, the nice cars stay in the garage unless he leaves town. When someone see's you pull up in a 200k sports car they think differently of you then a 10 year old Cadillac. He lives in a smaller town and jealous customers could be an issue. He was also considering a ram ecodiesel but didn't think it was worth it for something he'll barely drive.

superwonhundred > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 03:53

If it has the 3.6l ly7 engine be weary of known timing chain failures due to bad design. At 161k it should have already been serviced but I would definitely want to see the service records for proof.

Storz > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 07:08

Run away from the CTS (or any 3.6l GM car) I bought an 05 CTS with 52k miles on the ODO and at 58k miles the car needed all new timing chain and gearset, which is no longer covered under warranty. The day I got it back after having the timing chain work done the CEL came back on in the dealership parking lot, I pull back into the service bay and they scan the car.

The light is timing related so long story short I leave the car and find out two day later that the reluctor wheel is broken off the crankshaft (its a press fit, middle of the crank) and that I basically need a new crankshaft and connecting rods.

Car was one huge unreliable nightmare. Avoid at all costs!!

Storz > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 07:09

Def not a bullet proof motor, the GM 3.6 liters have HUGE timing chain issues

Storz > Storz
03/27/2014 at 07:10

I should add that I've had 24 cars ranging from domestics to Japanese and European cars and the CTS was BY far the least reliable. It was also one of the more expensive vehicles I've ever purchase with the lowest mileage. My 150k mile Land Rover Discovery had fewer issues.

Arben72 > Storz
03/27/2014 at 13:49

Thanks for the info, this appears to be the 3.2l v6. Do you know of any issues with that motor?

Arben72 > superwonhundred
03/27/2014 at 13:51

Like I said to someone else it's the 3.2, does the same apply? I appreciate the info.

wiffleballtony > Arben72
03/27/2014 at 15:16

That makes sense. The Cadillac is a good choice I think.

Storz > Arben72
03/30/2014 at 09:17

I think the 3.2 is immune from the issues of the 3.6