Used 1999 Cadillac Catera Consumer Reviews
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Even in 2013 this car is fun!
tannermn, 07/30/2013
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car is a beauty. For the price range, it was hands down a better deal than any other car researched. This car does not accelerate as fast as the newer models today but once you get above 50mph, it can hold its own with any car. Rides steady at the 70 mph mark and at 80 on the freeways with no problem. Great car for cross-country trips. Gas Mileage is good-decent. Nothing spectacular but better than most SUV's. If you get a good deal on this car, its definitely worth it!
Loved it....
JIm, 10/08/2008
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Cat has reoccurring problems like all cars do. Mass Air Flow, Brake Sensors, etc but the '99 corrected MANY of the problems in comparison to the 97 and 98's. I purchased mine at 21K and had it over 120K miles and never did anything more than routine maintenance. It does go through tires though!
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See all 0 listingsValue, sport, comfort!!
THall, 11/24/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I found a gem 99 Caterra and I have loved everyday with it. Due to the mixed reviews I bought an extended warranty and have not needed it. Anyway, this car kicks. Mine has the Bose system, moonroof, etc. German entry level luxury at half the price of a 325 or Audi; its not rocket science to see what a bargain this vehcile is. Get the service manual on ebay and do most of the work yourself. Just did the front disk and rotors and it was a snap and less than half what the dealer wanted. Just take of it and it will take care of you.
My Cadi-Tera
TymeLess, 08/21/2007
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I loved it ever since I bought it. I bought it at 96,000 miles. It started having problems after 2 months. The coolant light had been on, then it went off, then it started to leak, then the oil started to leak. It over heats. My radio doesnt work, it comes on and off when it wants. My check engine light has been on. Something about one of the o2 sensors. Its really fast, I love when the V6 kicks in. Especially in Sport mode. It has good handling, love the air condition. I love the sound when the radio does come on,(I dnt have the one with the Bose stereo, nor the cd player.) I love the Catera, but it needs improvement. I shoulve done more research b4 I bought it. I hope to trade it soon.
Don't get it
zach, 04/14/2010
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Dont ever get this car. I put to much money into it. It's not reliable car at all. It overheats the oil leaks the ac doesn't work. I want to get this car out of my sight.
what have I bought
john doe sad, 05/16/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
well what can I say this car has been in the shop more times than i can count. I bought the car used with only 5,000 miles on it. I thought I was getting myself into a nice vehicle. What I found is that these things have more problums than you can count. Steering to door locks to timeing belts, you name it coolant leaks. See autoweb.com for more. I can say RELIABILITY can be less than 0!!!
Competitors have problem cars too....
laclas, 11/11/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Yes, MB "S" w/engine lights that won't go off, brakes at 10K. BMW's w/bad climate ctrl sys, recalls. Forget Lexus & Infinity with the "smoke & mirror" advertising. Catera = excel car w/VALUE. In 3 yr. my Sport has performed flawlessly. Fit/finish, excellent. At 53k miles its tighter then the 5 series that I traded with 32k on it. The Catera has excellent traction control sys, trans, climate control, intr comfort & storage (w/folding rear seat). I've tried 3 diff. dlrs while traveling. Great! I wish the CTS matched Cateras intr. fit/finish, comfort, & quality. The Catera includes "fine points" you don't find on Amer, Japanese, & newer German cars.
Zig Review
tom repp, 12/15/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Other than a few maintenance problems which the dealer pleasantly took care of it has been a great car. Most Cadillacs look like tanks and this one has some style to it.
Fun but non-reliable car
bdmparker, 08/10/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased used (20K) miles 2 years ago. Taken in 2 local dealership over 15 times since purchased. Car has cut out at stop lights/signs over 4 times & refused to start. Check engine light on, seat heat went out, power moon roof would not open, power window stopped working, coolant tank leaked, brake light switch defective so no brake lights etc. When car works, fun to drive. My warranty just expired so in process of looking for another car. Not a minute too soon because as of this morning, the car is stuck in my garage, refuses to start.
Worst Car Ever
floridacollegestuden, 02/14/2009
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought this car for $5000 with 60k miles on it or so.10k miles later I was forced to get rid of it for $100. It has been on the market for so long and no longer would run. I kept pouring money into it and it never would work. Worse car I ever owned. The Catera isn't even Cadillac. The Cadillac dealer in my town refused to work on them. They said it wasn't a real Cadillac. I will never buy any GM car again.
My First Cadilliac!
99Caddi.Girl, 01/24/2010
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
3 of 11 people found this review helpful
I just love my 99 Catera Sport!!! It hugs the road and takes the turn just fine like a GM car should. The inside is luxury with the heated leather seats and easy to reach controls. I have no complaints so for except for the storage area upfront. Not enough room for cell phones or anyother stuff. And the cupholder really should be inside of a console. Being all said....I just love my new baby!!!!
Don't buy this car!
zach, 06/27/2010
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I hate this car. I don't know why I bought this car in the first place. So many problems. The repair cost are getting close to how much a bought it for in 04. $4000. The a/c doesn't work at all. Leaks antifreeze. Need to put more in every weekend. Radio turns off and doesn't come back on. Check engine light is always on. It never goes off. Water pump is bad. The cooling system doesn't work. The fans don't kick in time to cool the engine. Gas in horrible in town. 190-210 miles to a tank. Bout 365 on the interstate going 65-70. The tires go bad in 10k miles. What else? Just don't buy this car. Listen to me and you will not burn a hole in your wallet to fix it.
A Very Under rated Vehicle
CFG, 04/24/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just simply a very under rated vehicle. Can compete with the best of the Japanese or European cars in the same price range. Have owned it for three years with no problems at all.
Too little too late
Jenken, 06/03/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Brakes replaced at 15,000 miles = $400+. Several warranty items replaced. Gas tank must be 5 gallons or else this is the thirstiest car I've ever owned. Poor engine/transmission match; the car wants to shift long before it should to maximize torque. As such the thing is SLOW. Fit and finish is sub-par for a $35,000+ vehicle. My lease is done soon and I will not consider the new CTS. Caddy may have done a lot to upgrade the new car, but I've already been turned off for good.
Fun at a great price
Has the Power, 09/03/2009
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased this car used with less than 30K miles on her. Have own her for 7 years and it is the most comfortable car I have had with lots of bells and whistles on her. She is a fun car to drive.
Lemon????
sally_d_00, 09/10/2009
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I bought my Cadillac Catera last year, I thought I was getting a steal. Little did I know, I was in for a huge expense. Within four months i had problems with the car skipping, then the sunroof would open on its own. Then within another three months I was paying for a Cylinder to be fixed. It was misfiring. BIG EXPENSE!!!!! But wait there's more. Last month, I had to pay for my seals to get resealed. $600.00. They shouldn't need resealed at 93,000 miles. Now, my steering wheel is acting up. It is clicking and LOCKED up on me while I was driving. I would NEVER recommend this car to anyone!! Ever!!
Great Bargain Luxury Sedan
Voltaire1313, 06/23/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Catera is a victim of poor marketing by Cadillac and biased reviewers. The build quality is on par with Mercedes and BMW. The new CTS may be quicker in the 0-60 but has a long way to go before it could be conisdered a serious competitor to either of the other European sedans when it comes to quality of construction. The interior is quiet and well layed out with the exception of the power window switches. The Catera is perhaps the best used car bargain on the market today. It is the size of a BMW 5 series or Audie A6 at only half the price.
Nice Car
igalburt, 06/27/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
GOOD CAR WITH THE EXXCELENT SOUND SYSTEM AND WITH THE GOOD PERFOMANCE.
PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
TSharpe, 08/20/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 1999 Cadillac Catera in June, 2001. To date, it has been in the shop at least eight (8) times. The transmission light stays on (though Cadillac can never figure out why), the radiator light comes and goes, the radiator has gone bad twice, the check engine light stays on (again, though Cadillac cannot figure out why), the tires go bad quickly and the front end alignment is always out of whack. Please, don't waste your money. I paid 20,000 and it is not only worth $10,000 on a trade.
Catera
R Knox, 09/27/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have enjoyed every minute of driving this car - it is pure road joy and great in traffic also
fun to drive
tjh, 06/05/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My 3 year lease is up this month. Will miss driving the Catera. Sporty drive from a solid car. Drove 35,000 miles during the lease. Warranty covered everything except oil change and tire rotation. Had a tire go bad and it was replaced at no cost. It is better than the 300 series BMW, but not quite up to the 500 series. We really snjoyed the drive, but not willing to pay the price GM is now asking to buy the car.
99 Catera
rvhjr, 01/02/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My 4th used Cadillac- first catera. We wanted a smaller car than the Sedan deVille. Excellent fit and finish and fun to drive. Great stereo although I haven't completely figured out how to use it. 27,000 miles and almost 4 years old when I bought it. We will put 60,000 on it in 4 years and then trade.
I still love this car
PowerChick, 02/24/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It is fun and comfortable to drive. In sport mode it has plenty of power. The leather seating and sound controls on the steering make this a wonder commute car.
Change the name to "Gremlin"
Kenr, 04/11/2005
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well, first, the transmission in my Cadillac Catera has been fixed three times and still doesn't work right. It starts out sometimes in a high gear and won't shift or do anything. Also, the a/c unit has been replaced twice and now the car just won't start sometimes and the repair shop can't get it to act up to diagnose the problem. Now it occasionally will start but run rough. The worst thing about the Catera is its depreciation. I paid $17,000 for it and now it's worth only $6,000, if you don't trade it in.
Cadillac Catera
bkc, 12/09/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The transmission shifts constantly the engine leaks oil the brakes squeak, the vehicle performs horrible when cold. All of the other things about this car I have read were true. Save yourself the trouble and stay away from these vehicles.
Where did all of the Gremlins come from?
unhappycateraowner, 06/06/2006
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought a '99 catera and ever since we've had it, it feels like it is driving us. it always wants to pull to one side or another. We have also been having transmission problems shifting improperly. The rear view mirror also has started smoking on occasion. My wife and I would never buy or recommend this car to anyone.
Tara is a fun to drive car
adelle, 06/27/2004
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I wish I had purchased Tara new. I know that the previous owner did not love her as I do, so did not take perfect care of her. I have tried to make up for this. She only has had minor problems but if you go to the wrong repair place life is hell. She needs dealer service, but so does any other luxury sports car. When you are driving this car it feels like you should be on the autobond...... She is a fast, very responsive car indeed. I wish the milage was lower as I drive alot and that takes down the value. She is garage kept and very loved. I can't believe how economical she is on gas. That helps in todays gas prices. I only hope others love their Tara's as
SPORT CADDY
MATTHEW, 09/01/2004
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is a fun car to drive. I have had plenty of complements on the interior and the sportiness of the car. The stereo system is amazing. The car is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever owned.
First and Last Caddi owner
Nick's mom, 10/13/2004
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought it used for $20,000 with 14,000 mi.It drove & handled great & had pep.The features were outstanding.But somehow, the constant mechanical problems tend to overshadow everything else. As a new mom, this car is not appropriate. The back seat is small and there is no storage. The cup holders stink and the glove compartment even more so. It starts very rough in cold whether(40s). I am on my 4th bose stereo because it constantly cuts out. The check light is on constantly and no problems can be detected. I am on my 3rd set of expensive tires due to cupping and slow leaks. I now have 73,000 miles and will trade before warranty runs out even w/ neg. equity
don't buy this cadi
Cadi doesn't zig, 04/01/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The first 36k were fine, after that nothing but problems. We have replaced the AC/Heat digital consol, timing belt, two head gasgets and the cigarette lighter in the past 6 months! The check engine light just came on two days after being serviced. The parts alone are outragously over-priced! It is hard to get to the problems that do exist because of the plastic coverings over everything under the hood. This car has been taken care of and serviced regularly.
Fun to Drive!
Siren, 03/05/2007
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I really enjoy this car. I bought it from someone who had already fixed all of its little problems (lol), so I got a great car for the money. It handles great and rides like a Caddy.
My first caddy
Brenda Lou, 05/14/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I am a first time cadillac person. Have only had it for a couple of months, but am enjoying the ride. No mechanical problems so far. I don't feel qualified to rate the quality or the reliability yet.
1999 Catera
johnfmoynihan, 03/09/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great used car value.
WAY UNDERVALUED !
RJB, 03/14/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CAR FOR THE PRICE (USED), THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR QUALITY IS "BEST". LOVE TO DRIVE IT, FAST.
1999 Catera
mello, 04/14/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have found this car to really be a fun car to drive. It's acceleration is good and has the power to get you where you want to go. I've gotten used to the styling to where I actually smile when I look at it. The thing that I find most annoying is the placement of the cup holders. I've driven many cars in my life and that should be the biggest problem I ever have. The service from Cadillac is excellent as I left my lights on and the battery died. They repalced the battery and sent me on my way. Now that's service, white gloves and all.
garbage
jose, 10/18/2008
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had this car from like new. It had about 16,000 miles. It ran like a champ but then one day it decided it was time to retire. It has 74,000 miles on it and I already had to replace the transmission, starter, ac motor, ac fan, all in 1 month. It started leaking oil not a small leak but a leak that had me adding oil every morning and washing my driveway.
My Best car ever
usfgrad, 05/28/2002
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this one used (8Kmiles)for 21K in 2000. What a bargain. Dang shame they stopped making em. You know its about the most affordable large German car out there.
Fun to drive
Cad's fan, 01/13/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Excellent car for the money.Good handling.
Good ride.
aletters, 10/07/2003
1999 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Fun entry level luxury sedan. It's a heavy little car and sucks a lot of gas to get going.