Cadillac Catera Parts & Accessories

Is the Cadillac Catera worth investing in given its tag as an "entry level Caddy"?

People often associate the tag "entry level" with something cheap—an item whose quality is diminished somewhat in order to be affordable. But it's actually all relative. With Cadillac, it's worth remembering that the brand is marketed as one for luxury and class. The Catera was an attempt to make the brand more accessible without completely compromising the quality that Cadillac is known for.

When it came out, it actually garnered a lot of rave reviews and was rather popular among Cadillac's options. The "upgraded" model launched in 2000 featured not only cosmetic changes with the nose, tail, interiors, mirrors, and wheels but also some performance updates, which included a stiffer suspension system. It sported a 200-hp 54-degree L81 V6 engine in an FR layout. This revamped model sold well too.

What common problems should I note about the Cadillac Catera?

While many praised the performance of the Cadillac Catera, a glaring problem was noted involving the crankshaft position sensor. There were occasions when it could fail, leading to engine stalling—occasionally occurring during operation of the car. It also tended to cause failure to start when the engine was particularly warm. A quick solution was found in letting the engine cool off but relying on this "quick fix" usually results in rough running and really poor performance. A permanent and more effective solution would be to deal with the crankshaft position sensor—ensuring that it functions properly.

What characteristics set the Sport version of the Cadillac Catera apart from the original iteration?

As the name implies, much of the upgrades to the Cadillac Catera manifests in the upgrade's performance specifications. A calibration change was applied to the brake booster, resulting in firmer pedal feedback. It's noticeable, with its Bosch ABS capable of halting the sedan from 70 mph in only 177 feet—something not done before. Additionally, its tauter springs and revised damping has meant that the complained "sluggishness" of the original model is well compensated for. A particular advantage of the Sport version of the Cadillac Catera is in its turns: they come off as calm, smooth, and controlled even at higher speeds. There is little in the way of body roll and the track is always spot-on.

Should I be worried about the Cadillac Catera's reportedly heavy weight?

Many people have indeed said that the Cadillac Catera felt heavy to handle. But the reality is that it does not have too much effect on the performance of the car itself. In fact, much of the perceived heft has been proven to assist with the sedan's turning characteristics. Best of all, these tests were conducted in conditions that the vehicle is never expected to face in normal day to day usage. This only means that much of the experience of weight might take some getting used to, but overall, it actually contributes greatly to the car's performance. A lot of this is even down to the improved engine found in the 2000 upgrade of the car.

Since its beginnings in 1902, Cadillac has been known worldwide for creating luxury vehicles. A division of General Motors, the brand was initially known for its roomy, plush, and comfortable sedans. However, in recent years, the company has been reaching out to younger generations by expanding its roster of vehicles. One of these efforts is best seen in the form of the Cadillac Catera. First introduced to the market in 1997, this entry-level luxury sedan is an attempt by General Motors to produce a sporty model of the Cadillac. Though the production of this car lasted for only four years, it was welcomed by a lot of car lovers with open arms, making it relatively successful.

The Cadillac Catera was basically a rebadged variant of the Opel Omega, and it was manufactured in the city of Rüsselsheim in Germany where Opel houses its production line. It may look like an average entry-level luxury sport sedan, but this car still features Cadillac’s signature roomy interiors and comfortable seats. Apart from that, it is also packed with features like cloth interiors, front bucket seats, an eight-speaker sound system, keyless entry, alloy wheels, full instrumentation, etc. The vehicle was also made available with optional leather interiors, a Bose premium sound system, sunroof, chrome wheels, and many more. Upon release in the market, car lovers were very excited about the vehicle and this can be seen in its sales performance.

The Cadillac Catera shared its platform with the Pontiac GTO—the U.S. version of the Holden Monaro coupe. The Pontiac GTO and Holden Monaro were both manufactured in GM’s Australia branch and they were both based on a sedan platform that was intended for the market in the land down under.

The Cadillac Catera was advertised with the tagline “the Caddy that zigs.” The advertisement became quite memorable for its odd presentation with Cindy Crawford signing on to make the TV spots. In the commercials, Crawford spoke to an animated character named Ziggy, who looked much like a duck. Cadillac describes Ziggy as a creature that was hatched in Germany and born with the sole purpose of bringing fun to Cadillacs.

Though sales figures were high, the Catera was not short of criticisms. Some contended that the vehicle should have been made available in a manual transmission option while some said that other competitor brands offered alternatives that were similar to the Catera at a much lower cost. Apart from these, the Catera was also met with several performance and safety issues that eventually came up. For instance, some drivers experienced problems like premature tire wear, faulty oil coolers, and timing belt issues. With people branding it as unreliable, the image of the Catera was gravely hurt. Sales gradually dwindled and the production of Cateras was put to a hault in 2001.