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  #1  
Old 12-26-2002, 12:04 AM
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Help - Choosing a car

I've been planning on buying a winter beater for a while now and I've narrowed down my search to either a '95 STS or a '98 Regal GS. I hate the Regal (its my dads first choice).

His defense in favour of the Regal is that its the more reliable of the two cars according to Consumers Report.

Now I need to find some sites that will have info to support my defense that an STS is no more troublesome than any other GM car. I'm heading down to the local dealer tomrw and am going to talk to one of the techs. Hopefully it'll work in my favour, but i also need some third party to butress my defense.

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  #2  
Old 12-26-2002, 02:59 PM
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I vote for the Regal.

The Cadillac's have a dismal quality record, and have enough electrical gizmo's to make you cry.

The Regal has the ubiquitous 3.8 liter all iron V6, and is incredibly durable and reliable. It also gets unbelieveably good gas mileage. You are likely to get 30 mpg on the freeway.
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  #3  
Old 12-26-2002, 08:24 PM
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GS

caddy's got the motor but the buick has the whole package
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  #4  
Old 12-26-2002, 08:30 PM
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basically the Regal is the more reliable of the two cars since it has few electro-goodies. i've been told by a few people that 95 is the best year for an STS. for major components and powertrain, the STS is proven to be a good car, at least after 1995. also, for the two particular cars i'm interested in the STS has a lot less milage.
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  #5  
Old 12-27-2002, 11:41 AM
PaulC
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There really aren't many more electric accessories on a Cadillac than the average late model car. Most (not all) of those that are present aren't terribly expensive to repair/replace. The STS has fewer digital instruments than the SLS, thus one less potential headache. The only potential $$$ on the Cadillac (vs. Regal) would be the Northstar engine, since it is a lower-production and more complex powerplant than the 3800 V6. Needless to say, complete service records would be a huge plus for the Cadillac.

An afterthought: Does the STS have a load-leveling rear suspension and/or electronic shock valving? Potential $$$.
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  #6  
Old 12-27-2002, 05:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by PaulC
An afterthought: Does the STS have a load-leveling rear suspension and/or electronic shock valving? Potential $$$.
From what research I've done the 95 and newer STS has a re-engineered version of the electro shock valving suspension as standard equip.
I've called a few dealers and they've told me that it isn't as much of a problem on 95 and newer models as it is on 94 and older ones.
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Old 12-28-2002, 02:48 AM
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Thumbs down [b]here we go again[/b]

well i see we are at it again. 2 posts that are in complete disagreement and the only right opinion will be whoever yells the loudest.

then we have a guy who knows a guy who talked to a guy that heard it from some guy's sister that the blah blah blah blah

and it's over a question that may actually be more politically correct on the open forum.


i suggest we drop this topic and moooove on. and besides i'm thinking the man wants an sts anyway period!

good nite!

craig
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  #8  
Old 12-28-2002, 04:12 AM
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for a winter beater, I'd rather have a 4wd vehicle.

Alon
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  #9  
Old 12-28-2002, 06:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by TANK
Wrong. I have a cousin who works at GM. The northstar is an indirect result of the experience and improvement on the 3.8 in many aspects not-withstanding it's all GM. Check you facts TX (if that's the real TX and not the alias!)
Why dont you just settle down a little bit. No need to bash someone over this all-important topic.
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  #10  
Old 12-28-2002, 07:47 PM
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I had a 94 Seville STS until November 1997. The car was a real money pit. I had problems with oil leaks, AC issues, electronic suspension issues, and a general feel the car was falling apart around me as it aged.

Finally, I traded the car just before it hit 70k miles. At that time, the AC evaporator leaked, the front electronic struts were throwing trouble codes, there was an oil leak in the "V" of the engine that couldn't be fixed without a major teardown, smelled of antifreeze and was just starting to get some white smoke out of the exhaust.

Email me privately if you would like more in-depth information about my experiences. I'd bet I have $7500 in receipts for the last year I owned the car.

On the other hand, I've owned several of the 3800 V6s, supercharged and not. Not one of them had any driveline-related problems. Four of the 3800 cars were sold with over 200k miles on them. Three that I know of are still plugging along.

Best of luck.
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  #11  
Old 12-28-2002, 08:15 PM
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buy the regal

As someone who has seen alot of both cars stay away from the caddy.The northstar have a terrible oil leak problem(motor has to be removed and dissambled for repair).Not to mention they are terribly hard and expensive to work on(starter is located internally in the valley between the heads bout 5hr job).The rest of the car is just as stupidly coplicated and expensive.On a purly astecic point the caddy wins hands down

The buick has probally the most reliable motor and trans of any american car made.3.8 is also very easy and cheap to repair not to mention it is quite powerfull and efficient.All acc in the car are very straight forward and reliable as well

Which ever way you decide to go make a good inrormed purchase
good luck and enjoy whichever one it migh be

Just my.02
James
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  #12  
Old 12-28-2002, 08:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ashman
for a winter beater, I'd rather have a 4wd vehicle.

Alon
The third car on my option list, which is my second choice behind the STS is a '93 300E 4-MATIC. The main reason the Caddy is so high on my list is that it has very low miles (60,000), and its being offered with a 2 year warantee.
I'm still doing research on how troublesome a 4-MATIC system is once the car hits 100,000 miles. What I've found so far is that they can become problematic with that kind of miles. And I do a lot of driving so in the long run I don't think a 4-MATIC will last.
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  #13  
Old 12-28-2002, 08:49 PM
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The 4-Matic system on the W124 chassis is extremely problematic and expensive to repair and replace.

I'd stay away from it at all cost.
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  #14  
Old 01-02-2003, 09:14 PM
123c
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ashman
for a winter beater, I'd rather have a 4wd vehicle.
I second that, get a big 4wd truck or an old beater subaru with AWD.
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  #15  
Old 01-02-2003, 09:42 PM
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Normally I'd recommend the Regal. The Caddy i wouldn't trust as far as I could throw it, and a 93 4Magic? No way, not recommended.....last car I would own.
The only hesitation I have with recommending the Regal is that it's a GS. I believe in 98, the GS option has the supercharged 3800. They first of all have a tendency to blow intake manifold gaskets, secondly require premium fuel, and lastly, the 3800 doesn't "need" to be supercharged, it'll just get you into trouble and they have higher insurance premiums.
The naturally aspirated 3800 has good power in the Regal body, a little underpowered in the larger chassis they put them in to, but it's a good engine. The naturally aspirated 3800 runs good on regular gas too, and the front drive 3800 cars have good traction in the snow using a good set of all-season tires only.

Gilly

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