Used 2004 Cadillac CTS Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Heavey maintenance car with many pattern problems
When this car gets over 75,000 miles there is a 50 percent chance that the headgaskets will fail and need replacement. 741 coce on the transmission, that is an intermittent or stuck off position of the shift selnoid in the transmission. $ 20.00 part $ 2000 dollar job. 171 and 174 codes . 174 most likely will be an intack leak after the throttle body. You will need to get a gasket set and replace the throttle body coupler as well. Cheap but labor intensive. You have to remove the plenum for the gaskets first taking off the Fuel rail etc etc. When you do this you will see were your starter is located. After 100,000 miles or 150, stretching it you will have to replace the double plat plugs. Front is ok to to do , the back by the firewall could be a pain in the butt. While your at it change the coils if you could afford it. You may start to develop oil leaks . Many of the O rings around the sensors dry up and start to leak slightly. The oil filter adapter leaks on these cars, usually needing a new gasket or possible new adapter and gasket. While u have that off, u might as well change the crankshaft sensors located in a tough spot right above the oil filter adapter using new o rings to stop those little oil leaks that are starting at this mileage. Also changing the crankshaft position sensors will assure you that they wont fail and leave you stranded without notice. Piece of mind. The cars are just heavey maintenance. im a mechanic that changes the oil regualrly using good sythetic oil and filter. I use my caddy, but it could be a pain in the u know what. the parts are made realy light of aluminum and these days they are not even madein the states. Many now are made in asian countries and many mechanics will tell you they are having problems with the quality and reliability of the electronic sensors etc. Even a/c delco is stamped made in China etc. Timkin Hub bearings are now made in Korea. Not bad but the old american made lasted longer. Just be ware what is going on in this industry. Be cafeful. It's not just Cadillac it's all of them. Make them cheap and light and sell them for high profit. Be well everyone good luck. Write to Gm in Detroit and tell them to make their cars here parts here putting American men and women back to work.
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Awesome car
First of all there is more than one trim level and engine option. I have the top trim level one with the upgraded 3.6 L and the gold emblem package. Love every thing about the car I have bought other cars since this one but love it so much I kept it and still use it. Here 9 years later and about 180,000 miles she is still running strong and fun as hell to drive. I remember when I first test drove it I was in disbelief it was a caddy. I remember the devilles, sevilles, and fleetwoods, big floaty land yachts, but this is small and sporty, something I used to think wasn't in Cadillacs vocabulary.
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- Base SedanMSRP: $4,500144 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $8,500387 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $3,950434 mi away
Can't Get Enough
I was warned about buying a Cadilac but I read so much about what GM had done recently and that the plant that the car is built in had won numerous awards when competting with all the manufacturers so I bought American! Well, I can not be more happy. I have let friends with BMWs and other cars drive it and all you have to do is look at thier faces after they get out of the car. They know what I now know. Cadillac is back and they can compete with anyone. Don't take my word, go test drive and will have the same face my friends have after they drive it.
Lots of Perfomance for the Dollar
I'm very happy with this car! The V6 the 5-speed is a blast. Everyone who rides in it is surprised with the style, ride and sportiness. Driving is fun again
CTS
This car is comfortable both in city and highway driving. For the size, comfort and power I think that the mileage is respectable. I have had two E-Class Mercedes, a Lexus SC400 and LX470 and three Corvettes in the last 10 years but for some unexplainable reason I like this car best.
Fun Ride
Bought the '04 CTS Sport used in June '09. Had 86k at the time. Fun car to drive. Great performance. So far had to replace the water pump, and throttle body at about a $700 a clip. Seems to go thru tires pretty quick too. Put a new set on about 12k ago and they won't last until next inspection April '12. Overall, got a great deal on this car. Paid about $11k. Still can't believe I paid that amount for such a sweet ride. Very reliable. Have taken on long road trips and love the performance.
Great car - beats Japanese hands down
Best car I have owned in 23 years. Goes still rides like the day I drove it home from the dealer. No squeaks, bumps, rattles. Stiff, solid ride, lots of power. GM - lose the goodyear RS/A tires. Pirelli or Michelins please.
Can't go wrong
This car has it all, styling, comfort, and power. I never thought I would buy a Cadillac, but after I test drove it, there was no reason not to. It beat the BMW 530i and the Mercedes E320 in the 0-60, 1/4 mile and slalom. Extremely comfortable seats. Best car I've had.
Car from HELL
I purchased a new 04 cts which was my 15th new auto. It came from a Stephen King flick i think. Everything was changed out on it but the paint job and it had to be redone. I never had a car that had the instrument panel replaced before. I gave GM so much trouble they even made a monthly payment for me. Cadillac is the most overpriced car made. I would not buy another Cad at ANY PRICE. I don't have time for the problems. The dealer kept it more than i did. After 40,000 I finally justified getting rid of my problem. I traded the car from HELL. It actually made it to the new car dealer that i traded it to.
Great car, Fun to Drive
I have had my CTS for two years, and had read several reviews before my purchase. I saw that there were several complaints about the batteries dying on this vehicle. I also had this problem, not because of a faulty wiring system like many of the reviews said, but because of the bose sound system. When i bought the car i knew bose made a cheap product and expected this to happen, due to the lack of a remote wire on their amp. I replaced the amp and speakers (the bose speakers are made of cardboard) with a better product and it fixed the issue. This car has great handling and plenty of power.
King Of The Road
After shopping used CTS's for about 1 year- I finally purchased a Pearl 04' CTS (w/black leather). The reviews have been great on this vehicle and the craftsmanship is extraordinary. I bought my Caddy with 60K on it but paid about 4K under blue book. So far, so good. I previously drove a Jeep Wrangler so this is an entirely different experience.
CTS is a cool car
The Cadillac CTS with both the luxury and sport packages is a very cool and fun car to drive. You have more quick acceleration than you need and with the addition of chrome wheels and a spoiler...you have the looks. The CTS does not have the real soft ride of the DeVille, but the DVville cannot turn on a dime nor accelerate like the CTS can.
What a great suprise
I came home after getting a raise to tell my wife I wanted to get her an Escalade for her birthday. To my surprise, she said that she had been driving SUV's for 13 years and since our kids were driving she wanted something fun. This has proven to be a big hit - solid construction, great looking and FUN to drive. This is a big step in the right direction for Cadillac.
Do Not Buy, Definitely Don't Lease
Obviously, most positive reviews are looks and fun. It does look good, but is only fun in optimal driving conditions. If sliding (from a stop at slow acceleration) on slightly wet pavement is is fun, it's fun. I've driven in Illinois winters for sixteen years; this is the only car I've ever slid off the road in. Interior looks good for awhile, but black finish on control buttons has chipped off. Interior lights dim off and on, and the cruise control has been disengaging--it only has 18,000 miles on the car. To this date, it has had three recalls. Don't waste money on a tired name when there are car quality companies producing luxury vehicles built with the driver in mind.
Did not live up to expectations
The CTS is attractive, but the engine seems strained at times while accelerating. I have been frustrated with several recalls and other parts that wore out, like the starter. I have also had defective memory seating that is supposed to remember your previous setting. That had to be replaced. I did not find the dealership to be attentive to my service requests and had to make several trips for the same complaint to be repaired. The back seat is tight in leg room and should definitely be larger. I traded in a BMW 740iLl to buy this car and will be going back to another BMW. The CTS doesn't hold a candle to the BMW 7-Series.
4 stars is excellent for a used 2004
No major problems yet and I hope it stays that way. The CTS has lot of electronics. It might take me some time and money to get everything sorted out. The ride, performance and handling is outstanding. We have the auto trans which gives us plenty of choices.
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Best Car this 63 Year Old Man has Owned
I had a 1985 DeVille that was an engineering disaster. I never thought I would own another GM car let alone a Cadillac. However after test driving the CTS plus the great deal, I took a chance. I was thinking about a top end Camry or Ford 500. My CTS was in the same price range but in another class when it comes to performance. The mileage was the biggest surprise. I get between 28 mpg to 31 mpg on the road. Where we live we have a lot of twisty two lanes road that we have to use, a real pain except when I use the CTS. So far I really love this car.
Get some options
I love my CTS! It is so easy to drive and park. Visibility is good. I have the Luxury Sport package with the 255 HP engine, Bose sound system, and the 17 inch wheels. This is a very practical and comfortable family car and gets excellent gas mileage. My only issues with this car is the door height from the inside (I always have to open the door when I am at the drive-up ATM) the fact that the car can easily be accidentally shifted into neutral from drive if my passenger crosses legs or shifts and bumps the shifter, and that the blower for the climate controls is VERY loud. A loaner CTS I recently drove with fewer options was not as enjoyable. Get upgrades on this car.
After 3 years, CTS great car
2004 CTS was purchased new. After 3 years, has been a great car. Love the OnStar, mileage, looks. No problems. After my '85 Caddy disaster, thought I would never buy another Caddy. Just bought a new STS last week. Most reviews are after a few weeks of ownership. After 3 years with the CTS, I bought the STS and my wife still drives the CTS. That speaks volumes.
CTS A FUN RIDE
Interestingly, people have rolled down windows at stop lights to comment or question; inspected by walking around my car in parking lots; stangers asking at gas pump "would you buy it again? does it measure with your deville? What's it really like? Never before have I had a car to get so much attention. Additionally it handles well, drives almost as smooth as a heavier car. We tried the volvo, lexus and many other cars in its category and found cts to offer more.
Best car I ever owned!
Bought my CTS used with 46000 miles. It is my daily driver so I am racking up the miles on it. I have the 3.6L V6 and the performance is out of this world! Traction in the snow has been great with the Goodyear Triple Treads. My plan is to put 1 million miles on this thing!
Amazing American Car
I've had this car for about 2 and a half months and this is absolutely amazing. I have the 3.6 L engine and acceleration is great and handling is also quite sharp, not to mention the turning radius on the car is one of the best out there. This car is super smooth at fast highway speeds and is a good looking car. When you compare it to other European cars in its class, this is hands down the best bang for the buck. This sure isn't just an old man's Cadillac. I'm in college and I love it. This is proof that Americans can make superb quality cars. The newer generation models look 10 times as amazing. The CTS is definitely the greatest American car on the market today.
I LOVE MY CADDIE!
This is a sleek, sexy car, fun to drive, and very comfortable.
Great On All Roads
I'm retired. Other than local driving, I take long trips with one or no passengers. My CTS's sport suspension, Stabilitrack, traction control, 17" Wheels, etc. make it handle great on Interstates and secondary roads. The seats allow comfort for 8 - 10 hours behind the wheel. I drive from Prescott, Arizona to both Southern and Northern California often. I have enjoyed separate drives to: the Canadian Rockies, Branson MO, Durango and Salida CO, Washington, D.C., Roswell NM, and Tombstone, AZ. I have installed a dashboard mounted GPS Navigation Unit that has proven invaluable. The fold-down rear seat-backs allow me to carry my Mountain Bike to nearby bike trails. It does what I want it to!
2004 CTS 3.6L
My initial excitement with this car was replaced by disappointment. Rear Shocks went at 37K, Wheel hub bearing at 50K (900 USD to replace), timing chain at 43K (1800 usd), airflow sensor @ 62K (450 usd), uses 1quart of oil per 1000 miles. This american luxury did not impress me. No wonder consumerreports rates it at "below average". GM: please wake up
Rick's 04 CTS
The CTS performs with little hesitation when you press on the gas pedal. The 1SC package with engine, suspension and cabin upgrade was a good addition. Stabilitrac keeps the car from rolling in turns. The cabin is very comfortable. The exterior is built to very tight tolerances. I looked at the Acura TL, Infiniti G35, BMW 525i and Audi A6. The CTS is simply more fun.
Blue Chip
Navigation system, memory positions and misc. presets are difficult to program. Memory positions do not always go to the positions determined by the key fob which is used. Cumulative odometer and trip odometer do not show the same mileage.
The Best Car I've Owned
I have been loving every thing about this car since I bought it. It handles really nice. I love the power it has when needed, the firm suspension and the turning radius. I hope to have this for a long time.
Caddie
A great car for every day drive
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Sporty Nightmare
It's very fun to drive, and fast for a V6. Looks great and turns heads. Great interior. However it gets terrible mileage for a V6. I get 24 on highway if I'm lucky. It burns about a quart every 1000 miles! It is worthless in snow and ice. My transmission went out at 95,000 miles. $5000 for a new one installed at the dealership. When I step on my brakes the car shimmies and shakes back and forth. Had to replace a brake caliper at 75,000 miles $850! Basically it's a unreliable gas/oil burning expensive piece of crap that I can only use half of the year if the transmission wasn't broken! Spare yourself a headache and steer clear! Its looks ARE deceiving!
Unreliable and Dangerous
On August 9, 2003, I purchased a new 2004 CTS. In September, on a short road trip, the master cylinder failed and I had no brakes. It was replaced after 11 days under warranty. On October 26, on a longer trip, the engine died while doing 70 mph on the interstate. The car was towed to a Cadillac dealer and he could find no errors in the cars computer, but tweaked some things and said the car was fine. On November 1, the car again died on the interstate and was towed to the nearest dealer where we left the car for good! After three dangerous failures in this car, we are now driving a Lexus, after receiving our money back from Cadillac.
Timing Chain Repair at 70K miles=$2500
I love driving this car. When purchasing I opted for the 3.6 liter engine, in part, because it has timing chains that are supposed to survive the life of the car, as opposed to the 3.2 which the owner's manual suggests replacing at 100k miles. The owners manual even states that if you don't replace the timing belt on the 3.2 liter you risk severe engine damage. Well the timing chain broke on my 3.6 CTS at 70K miles and the dealership estimates that the repair costs will be about $2500. Dealership also told me they had another 3.6 CTS in at the same time, for the same problem.
Love this car!!!
I love the smooth drive of the CTS. The style is unique and being that it is american made makes me feel good. I will have this car for a long time..
CTS will spoil you
You will not want any other car once a CTS spoils you. Only downside: so high-tech/state-of- the-art that it will take you awhile to learn all fancy features.
1st Caddy
Bought my first Cadillac, the 2004 CTS. Got the big 6 and I just love it. Lots of power and speed, its almost too quick, in passing it will get to 90+ before you know it and it feels so good at that speed you don't want to slow down. I have had 43 cars in my 47 years of driving and this is by far the very best. I drove the BMW, Volvo R and several others before I bought and I liked the CTS best. Its size made the difference over the BMW. Lots more room. And it will outrun it. Can't say anything bad about it yet!!!
CTS by JFD
Got tired of waiting for the new Acura TLs to be released and so I bought my CTS instead. What a great move! It rides well, looks great, and is fun to drive. And all of this for a reasonable price. My past experience with Cadillac was not a good one (I owned an '87 Eldorado). However, this one is looking like it is going to be much better.
CTS
Fun car to drive, real eye catching style, so far no mechnical problems, milage is better than I expected for a sporty car
fun to drive
i traded my 1997 seville sts to a 2004 cts. big difference in size and price! cts is alot more practical for my needs and pocketbook. it's a fun car!!
my car
i am suprised how well this car handles and operates, I traded an aurora (2001) for this car and so far it was a good decision. My only compaint is that the nob for the radio on the steering wheel should be recess a little more. I keep hit it when I turn the steering wheel using one finger. It might be that my fingers a too large?
My 2004 Cadillac CTS!
I was in the market for a new car and this little baby filled the bill in every way!I was very surprised at the smooth way it handled go through in town traffic and a smooth ride on the open highway!I am soooo glad that i bought the CTS!!
Superb vehicle
A beautifully handling sports sedan, outclassing MB C and E series in all areas of safety and luzury. Unbelievable value.
Problem with Timing Chain
So excited to buy my first Cadillac. Certified pre-owned and have had regular oil changes. Manual says nothing about replacing this chain for the 3.6 engine, but does so for the 3.1. Just out of warranty, and paid off early. Chain broke with no warning whatsoever. Research and mechanics have said this should not have happened at this mileage. In the shop right now and we're up to $2100 and counting. Anyone else had a problem with timing chain? It's just wrong! Dealer is not wanting to make any adjustments, passing me off to corporate office.....very unhappy with my decision to purchase this american car. Between brake and shock problems, it's a regret.
sg
I give this car an Excellent rating.Love the style of this vehicle very classy. a nice comfortable ride. An overall safe and easy to handle car. Appealing to all ages.
Glad I waited for the 2004
version the 40 more HP makes this car truly fun to drive. I got mine loaded with all the options except the Nav System and I absolutely love it.
A Cadillac for the Future
This car handles like a dream. It has plenty of acceleration to stay out of trouble when passing, or getting into trouble on the open road. Gas mileage suffers a little for a 6 cylinder engine, however, I am not sure that the fun acceleration (which entices a heavy foot if you have one)is more the culprit. The 2004 with the increased hp will truly make this car a world-class contender with such cars as BMW, Accura, Infinity and Lexis.
great car for the money.
love the car.only complaint is it has a whistling noise at low speads sounds like tires etc.
KAD-CTS
Maintenance seems to be a problem, after 5000 Miles I need a $300 front end alignment! Ordered by the dealers handbook.
Cadillac CTS
Great car. My wife and I both love it.
Great Value, Lots of Fun
Have 1st 04 delivered in SW Florida. 3.6vvt is OUTSTANDING(plus it takes regular fuel). Sport package is stellar, ride firm but compliant. Lumbar support for 04 is welcome. The 48th new car I've owned, this is the best overall for fun to drive plus luxury. Fit and Finish perfect. Quiet and solid. New(for 04)Mirror polished Sport Wheels are awesome. Traded a 2001 Aurora (that I liked VERY much)but the 04 CTS is in a different class entirely.Unqualified recommendation to anyone shopping this category.Great value.
A Great Ride
I am truly impressed with the styling, comfort and handling of the CTS. Not only is this car great in looks it performs well and I feel very secure driving it.