If you consider its price by the linear foot, then today’s Nice Price or No Dice Cadillac is probably a good deal. We’ll still have to decide if it’s desirable enough to warrant even that metric.
Speaking of metrics, all the measurable aspects of the 1992 Suzuki Cappuccino that we looked at yesterday were appreciably tiny. It’s a shame that the same couldn’t be said then about the car’s $15,500 asking price. That fell squarely into nice-Miata territory, making the Kei car less compelling. A massive 86 percent No Dice loss was the result.
Hey, I want you to think for a sec: do you have a Frank Sinatra CD lying around somewhere? Maybe some Tony Bennett discs? I want to set the mood for considering this 1998 Cadillac Deville, and either of those would do perfectly. Plus, a hand-me-down-from-grandma or thrift store-sourced CD is a laudably frugal option in today’s era of costly subscription streaming services. Not only that, but this Caddy has a CD player in the dash, giving us a head start on its enjoyment.
This Deville is also pretty frugally priced, but before we get to that, let’s look at the car’s pros and cons. One of the most obvious factors in its favor is its size. While not crazy big like the Cadillacs of the past, its 114-inch wheelbase and 210-inch overall length makes for a comfortably spacious cabin and an equally sizable trunk.
This particular one also seems to be optioned pretty well, offering leather upholstery, chrome-plated alloy wheels, and lots of wood trim in the cabin. It’s also claimed to have no mechanical issues, a set of new tires, and a current clean-title registration.
On the downside, the engine in this Deville is the 275 horsepower 4.6-liter LD8 Northstar V8, which has so strong a reputation for crapping the bed (i.e., blowing its head gaskets) that it has earned the nickname “Deathstar.”
This car has done 120,000 miles, not too many for so old a car, but enough that anything that could have gone south with the engine likely already would have done so. Also, as noted, the seller claims the car to be leak-free, run without overheating, and not show any warning lights on the dash.
Other issues include some chips in the bumpers’ paint, a small ding in the right rear door, and, well… someone’s overenthusiastic use of what was probably a Costco-sized bottle of ArmorAll on the cabin. That last problem is easily solved with some proper interior cleaner, and at least the surfaces under the blinding sheen appear to be in decent shape, save for some wonkiness on the dash cap.
So, what we have here is what appears to be a comfortable and arguably competent daily driver that also offers a bit of panache. What would you pay for such a beast?
The asking price is $1,800, making the competition to this loaded car a really nice OLED TV or maybe a memorable weekend in Vegas. But should potential buyers beware of its purchase due to the reputation of the Caddy’s engine going tits-up without warning? Also, would that money be better spent on something like an old Corolla or Civic? Is the seller even being completely truthful about the car’s condition? Who the heck knows!
What do you say? Is this Deville worth a roll of the dice at that $1,800 asking? Or, for that much, would you rather have a really nice TV and just Uber everywhere?
You decide!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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