Cadillac Seville

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Cadillac Seville

IN BRIEF

The first Cadillac engineered to be built in both left and right hand drive models the Seville was officially sold in the UK, as well as Japan and South Africa and was built in GM’s Hamtramck, Michigan plant. The 4.6-litre Northstar V8 came with 275bhp in the SLS model and 300bhp in the STS versions and drove through the front wheels. A sensible modern Yank classic.

TIMELINES

1992 All change for a name that first saw the light of day 60 years ago and resurfaced in 1975. This time however, the Seville was front wheel driven and featured a special 4.6-litre ‘Northstar’ engine which cut its cylinders and the 200bhp it delivered to aid economy.

1998 Power was upped to 300bhp and by then was introduced into the UK via selected Vauxhall dealerships in RHD form.

DRIVING

The STS is a refreshing change to the normal Audi/BMW/Merc option and superbly comfortable to drive. While no drivers’ car a good one is pleasingly responsive to accelerator input for a large saloon, and of course with discs brakes all round, it stops well too. Interestingly, the V8 engine and exhaust note doesn’t roar or burble when you put the pedal to the metal, it screams more like a Ferrari!

The Northstar name also eliminates bodyroll making the handling quite good. The interior has every luxury appointment you could want, there’s even a waste paper bin in the front passenger footwell!

BEST MODELS

It’s easy to say that the later 300bhp STS has to be the prize pick, but given their rarity you have to go on condition above all else. The STS offers incredible value for money, makes a fine cruiser with a hugely impressive technical specification, but when it all goes wrong it won’t be cheap to remedy. However, you won’t need to purchase spark plugs very often, it’s recommended they are replaced every 100,000 miles!

VALUES

Short and sweet this bit; expect to pay little more than £2000 for a top example and a grand or less for a run-of-the-mill example; www…dreamrides.co.uk has a 8500 mile from new example at £2995. Given their cheapness and scarcity and prices of parts a scrapper is worth buying for spares alone which will become scarce over time.

BUYING ADVICE

The Northstar engine blows head gaskets if coolant levels drop. Otherwise the Seville is pretty much bulletproof – service intervals are every 100,000 miles and the four-speed automatic (the only option) is very strong.

Naturally, being a Cadillac most came loaded with toys like a massager in the seat, heated mirrors and rain sensitive windscreen wipers, so check that it works as intended since electrical problems are not unheard of. Excessive oil consumption may be down to a build up on the piston rings, which means an engine strip down although a TerraClean might decoke it for just over £100.

The galvanised steel body shouldn’t pose too many rust problems and the bumpers are plastic, though the normal areas for body corrosion will be around the arches, and lower door skins. As with many high tech luxury cars, there’s an awful lot of electronic gadgetry onboard, (there’s over 100 fuses!) so it’s well worth taking your time in ensuring everything is working okay. The STS isn’t exactly DIY user-friendly.

Components are also very expensive so during a test drive ensure the car is handling well, that the adaptive ride is working and if there is a fault, the chances are that a light will come up on the dashboard “Service suspension system.”