If I had to guess, without going through the tedium of actually counting, I would say that more songs have been written about Cadillacs than any other make. From Bruce Springsteen to Southern Culture On The Skids, GM’s flagship brand has captured the imagination of songwriters everywhere – but I guarantee you none of them had these two models in mind.
Yesterday’s turbocharged hatchbacks probably didn’t capture many imaginations either, but you sure had some opinions about them. In particular, the Juke’s weird styling was a point of contention; some folks love it for being different, others can’t stand the sight of it. The little Fiat, being far less polarizing of a style, won by a sizeable margin.
I don’t hate the Juke, and in this trim it actually looks kinda cool, but I’ve wanted a 500 ever since they came out. Not badly enough to buy one (yet), but I am definitely a fan, and this is a good spec and a good price. Like some commenters, I wish it were a real color, but I don’t hate it in white.
For some reason, I was thinking about the song “Royals” by Lorde the other day, in particular the line, “We’re driving Cadillacs in our dreams.” It’s a strange callout to make, especially since Cadillac hasn’t been an aspirational brand for a long time. It was, once, certainly, but its “Standard Of The World” reputation didn’t survive the malaise era, and the brand has spent decades chasing former glories. Today we’re going to look at two cars that Cadillac desperately wanted to be seen as aspirational, but they fell somewhat short of the mark.
1986 Cadillac Cimarron – $4,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter overhead valve inline 4, three-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Pennsville, NJ
Odometer reading: 225,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Cadillac Cimarron has been the butt of jokes for as long as it has existed, but as someone who has not only driven one extensively, but also spun one out on a freeway on-ramp at sixty miles an hour and lived to tell the tale, I feel obligated to defend it. Yes, it was too expensive new. No, it was nowhere near the BMW 3 Series and Audi 4000 competitor Cadillac wanted it to be. Yes, it looks just like a Chevy Cavalier with more chrome. All that is true. But once the Cimarron hit the used market and depreciation took its toll, something funny happened: it became a great used car deal. My dad bought his, a 1984 model, for $2,600 in 1989. It lost ten grand of excess price in just five years, becoming roughly the same price as an equivalent Cavalier, but with power everything and nice leather seats.
The Cimarron’s base engine was the Cavalier’s 2.0-liter pushrod four, commonly mistaken for the Pontiac 2.5-liter Iron Duke, but it’s actually a totally different engine. Four- and five-speed manuals were available, but they’re rare. A 2.8-liter V6 became available in 1985, but GM wasn’t shy about adding badges to the outside announcing it, so I’m almost certain this one is a four-cylinder. It has 225,000 miles on it, but it has been well cared for, and it runs just fine.
The inside is dirty, and the driver’s seat bolster has seen better days. I’m pretty sure duct tape wasn’t on the Cadillac option sheet. But I do remember these seats being very comfortable. The seller says the interior will get cleaned out and detailed before the sale, but they should have done it before taking the photos.
It’s in better shape on the outside. The paint is shiny, and I don’t see any signs of rust, though admittedly the photos aren’t great. It’s missing the center cap on one wheel and possibly one end cap on the front bumper, but otherwise it’s remarkably well-preserved.
2001 Cadillac Catera – $2,700
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0-liter dual overhead cam V6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Newburgh, NY
Odometer reading: 86,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The next time Cadillac wanted to try selling a smaller car, instead of pulling from the rest of the GM domestic lineup, it looked across the ocean to Opel, GM’s European division. The Catera is really just an Opel Omega with every option in the book and some Cadillac badges. It was even built in the same factory in Germany.
Unlike the Cimarron, and most of the rest of Cadillac’s lineup throughout the 80s and 90s, the Catera is rear-wheel-drive. It’s powered by an Opel-designed V6 with an unusual 54 degree angle between the cylinder banks. No manual transmission was offered in the Catera; all of them have the same four-speed automatic. This one has very low miles, only 86,000, and the seller says it runs great.
It’s in good condition inside, and the seller says the air conditioner is ice cold. It doesn’t look much like a proper Cadillac inside, though; it has a distinctly European feel. I’m sure it’s very comfy, though.
It’s clean outside and rust-free, which the seller makes a big deal of. This was a Pennsylvania car until recently, and that state’s inspections are very strict about rust. Weirdly, the “CATERA” letters have been removed from the trunk lid, and the A and the T have been relocated to the lower-left corner. Seller’s initials, maybe?
When you think “Cadillac,” you generally don’t think small sedans, which is probably why neither one of these sold very well. But neither one is a particularly bad car. They’re just not very good at being Cadillacs. Ignore the badges, and just accept them as they are, not what Cadillac thought they should have been. Which one deserves a second chance?
I’m surprised the CHMSL on the Catera passed the requirements. It’s only like two inches above the regular brake lights. I had a friend who had one of these and she said it was the worst car she ever owned. And she was driving a Kia Forte at the time. She said the instrument panel often had more colored lights than a Christmas tree.
Still, I would choose it over the wildly overpriced Cimmaron. And is the guy holding down the hood in the second picture? It looks popped up a bit in the first.
give me the Opel. I’m sure the “Cimmoron’s” ratty interior reeks of stale Marlboros and DuPont’s finest byproducts. all the Febreze and ozone in the world isn’t gonna change that.
If you chose the Cinnamon…I mean Cimmaron..hope you like the smell (stench) of cigarettes. Marlboro Menthols at that! Wonder if the pack of Marlboros is included in the price? LOL …Sale Proof!
Wonder if you can even find parts for the Opel? If it is due to have the timing belt replaced????
Running away….screaming….No o o o
$4500 for a moon mileage 80s GM 4-cylinder & automatic is freebaseing ketamine with meth territory.
Oh, and nice to see a Southern Culture on the Skids reference. I used to attend after-hours parties at David Hartman’s—and rebuilt his piano decades later. Time to cue up Scots on Pandora!
Move the decimal point over on that Cavaladdy one notch to the left and this could be a contest. Years ago I had a coworker who owned the one that zigged and he stated it was… “fine, almost kind of fun”. That’s good enough for $2700.
Duck > moldy cinnamon
That Cimarron – sheesh. That guy should be ashamed to ask that money. It’s not a $4500 car – it’s a donate to the local animal shelter car, if they would even take it.
Ugh both of these should have been much better cars when new.
Catera for the win though, yank out the piece of shit 54 degree V6 and put anything else in it. LS is the obvious answer.
The Catera (and other 54 degree GM V6 cars) is a good example of David Tracey’s hatred of timing belts. They were notorious for the tensioners causing the belts to break, blowing motors, even when they were relatively new.
I learned from my fellow Autopians in these very comments that the Caters will accept a LS?!?!
Easy decision.
Looking at the interior of that Cimmaron, that kind of luxe just ain’t for us. Caddy that zigs for me today.
The Catera.
The Cimmaron may have been a great used car value at some point in 1990, but now its in no better shape than a similar vintage Cavalier.
The Catera is in better shape and is likely a better car. If GM marketing had stayed away from the
cocaineduck marketing campaign, maybe they would have been more successful.I find the rehabilitation of the Catera’s image by some strange. It was hardly the first step at trying to Euro-fy the Cadillac brand, it was just a departure from the stiffer suspensions and amber turn signals that usually made up their attempts prior.
In its time it wasn’t really a value, it wasn’t known for reliability – certainly in that “GM cars will run bad for longer” way. It’s not all that quirky as Opels go, or GM missteps of the time; the marketing was, but not the car. The only thing that tried to separate it was “it’s European and RWD just like a BMW :)” shtick but it was a years-old design by the time it arrived. The Lincoln LS hit the mark closer if you were set on a domestic RWD, a 300M was FWD but bigger and quicker.
And I’m probably going for the Catera between these two for the confirmed A/C and more modern car for the price.
The Catera was one boring to look at car. No one knew what it was when it was new. I remember being behind one and telling my 60 year old aunt “Look, that’s the new Cadillac”. She then proceeded to look all around saying “I don’t see it.” When I told her it was the car in front of us she said “That awful thing?” I doubt younger buyers felt any different.
I’m sorry to have missed yesterday’s offerings. That was a pretty good one!
I had a good laugh over the headline!
Now I have a decent earworm stuck in my head. Sweet!
This isn’t even fair. One is “nothing but a ‘Cadaverlier’ with power seats,” as a high school friend called them back in the day, the other a rebadged RWD Euro sport sedan for nearly half the price, with a third of the miles? I think I’ll “zig,” thanks.
Did you go to my high school? My 1st car was named Cadavalier – so named because it would stall out at stop lights if the outside temperature was above 85F.
Gimme the weird Euro-Caddy. It’ll handle the twisty roads driving back home a lot better than the Caddylier.
the cimarron price was also a major bone of contention for me. I mean it is pretty rare to even see a functioning cavalier of that vintage, so the caddy version is probably even more rare. but no way in hell is it $4,500 rare.
Catera begrudgingly for the win.
Love the shot with the hand holding the Cimarron hood closed
I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw the price on that Cimarron.
ditto
Lessee here:
150K miles more. Two cylinders less. One gear less. Fifteen years older. Dirtier inside. Duct-taped driver’s seat. $2K more.
OK Mr. Cimmaron owner. I appreciate your US Army service, but maybe don’t post your car ad right after smoking your medical marijuana.
Another easy burn both day.
IIRC, Lorde got a little bit of flak over that song because they thought she was making fun of hip-hop culture. Her reply was basically “that’s the image you’re exporting to the world.” Duh.
I missed the whole surge of popularity, but in hindsight we need more people like her — quasi-pop songwriters. I guess she was overshadowed by Billie Eilish for that role. The next one will probably be in elementary school.
I am going to say I unironically really like both of these cars.
The Catera is the most underrated Cadillac of all time. It seemed weird at a time when Caddy was making boats for geriatrics, but it fits in well with Cadillac’s modern focus on sport-luxury instead of isolation-luxury. The Catera was ahead of its time, and is the one vehicle that links “old” Cadillac (land yachts) with “new” Cadillac (Americanized European sports sedans).
I think the Cimarron deserves some respect too. I like that Cadillac tried to make a small car comfortable and desirable. It was a good idea, if poorly executed and overpriced. I do like the styling, though. I like cars with
boringunderstated styling. This car is nothing if not understated.I voted for the Catera. That is a nice car for $2,700; I wouldn’t pass this car up if it were for sale locally. While I like the Cimarron, this one is kind of gross. I might briefly consider paying $4,500 for a 10/10 Cimarron, but $4,500 for one with a dirty, worn interior is a hard pass. This is a $1500 car.
I was impressed when I looked up the Catera’s specs. Not bad!
It probably sold poorly because the outside has the personality of a fast food burger wrapper. Did Cadillac even try to make this distinctive?
That said, it’s a no brainer over the 88hp, sealed-beam, dirty Cimarron.
It sold poorly because they brought in a marketing team from Campbell’s Soup or something and figured “if they can sell that stuff, they can sell cars, it’s just another commodity!” And it was a stupid and weird campaign.
It was also expensve.
An old design.
Not that good.
So – old people who wanted another Cadillac had another one to buy. Nobody else cared.
So many cascading failure points. Mediocre product. Bad campaign. Bewildered customers. And the dealer network. Oh my, the dealer network.
The Catera was a decent car, if a bit plainly styled. As much as I like it, though, if I wanted a sports sedan in 2001 I would have almost certainly bought a 3 series. For those that wanted something less sporty, the ES300 would have been a better option than the Catera. There were a lot of great sports/luxury sedans around 2000. Cadillac would have had to build something truly spectacular to succeed in that segment at that time.
Part of me wonders if the Catera was mostly sold as an effort to change buyer perceptions of Cadillac to sell a different kind of car in the future. At the time, Cadillac was still viewed as a company that sold isolation chambers to the elderly. Maybe the Catera was more of a marketing ploy than a serious attempt at a sports sedan?
I really like your analysis of those times. I think you have a good handle on that era.
I remember how Cadillac was supposedly going after the European sport sedan market share, but while Ford put out the SHO and the Lincoln LS V8, GM was throwing out milquetoast.
Agree. I wouldn’t turn away either of them, but between these two specific cars at these prices there’s a clear winner.
Those aren’t dream cars. They are NIGHTMARE cars!!!!!
I’ve always wanted to pick up a Catera and see how easy to LS swap it would be, I figure it couldn’t be that bad seeing as the platform was also used for the Holdens.