@@kz1000ps It's like they went to sleep until they had a wake-up call from the B5 Passat and the MK2 Mondeo, with all their "crisp" lines. Little did they know, most automakers would recieve the same wake up call, leading to the 2010s where ALL cars had that indescribably chunky and unnecessarily geometric Ford Kinetic Design look.
@onekoneb i dunno, looks a bit like late 90s/early 00s JDM sedan. Mark II or Crown, probably a bit like Nissan President. Not really old guy vibes at this point, more like stance queen in the hands of vape maniac.
Back in the day there was always a race to be first between a tow truck and a hearse when one if these things pulled over to the side of the road. I guess they are irony mobiles now.
@@ilsirent9726 those big jdm sedans were mostly intended for the same demographic as the DHS, but in japan. their image is, of course, very different in 2024.
I was gifted one of these by my grandad for my first car. When he passed a few years later, I was one of his pallbearers. The hearse we loaded him into was also an 8th gen DeVille. I miss that car and I miss my grandad.
I like to think that you'll see him again. Until then, keep his memory fresh in your mind and remember all the things he told you that meant little at the time. That now you realize are incredibly profound and accurate. Miss mine too. Those old guys are to be listened too. Their words were gold.
I was a schmuck that got an '03 Deville DTS with 130k for $1600 off Craigslist as a first car. Parents wanted me to get it because "big car = safe." Always thought the engine was a ticking time bomb, but 84k miles and a lot of good memories later, my old Deville is still trucking along, and I can't imagine myself getting rid of it anytime soon.
The real shame of the Northstar is that with the headbolts sorted it's a fucking excellent engine. Silky smooth, lots of power for it's size (and age) and it sounds great!
Yea I've heard someone say it's a great engine until it stops being great. I wouldn't mind having one if I can get those head bolts sorted. Looks like such a cozy car
@driceproductions5304 They are a real rarity here in the UK. The only pre-head bolt change car we got was the late '90s STS. By the time GM had reintroduced Cadillac to the UK market they'd changed the bolt design. Because of that the engine has a totally different reputation. It's actually one of the few reasons people were willing to buy an SRX for example. It was reliable!
Agreed. But for $5k that's the only major issue with a Northstar. Get a FWD Northstar car for cheap. Spend the money on the service and you have a decent car! Better and cheaper if you're willing to do the service yourself.
Find out where the alternator is btw 😂 yes, when, sometimes, the north star runs well it's very smooth and makes decent power. It's now obsolete but to each their own 😊
American cars from the 1990s and early 2000s were designed and engineered by coke heads to be built by crackheads all while being greenlit by department heads in the peak of greed season. RIP to the legendary Quincy Jones.
There was cool stuff tho too as a result. Pre bankruptcy GM was wild. Chopping the roof off a suburban to make it a truck? HHR SS panel wagon (turbo 6 speed, small cargo vehicle with a track package), 4 different FWD LS v8 cars, trailblazer with a corvette engine, 3 different roadsters that weren't corvettes etc. they also made the 3800 and LS platforms in the 90/2000s. Best engines out there from an American company
Don't forget the split block issue.... Northstars are far from being anything worth buying. Hell, even the LS4 in the SS Impala leaked from the day it rolled off the factory line. GM should have just never put V8s in fwd cars.
@@viscountslappy5085 the DTS replaced the Deville in 2006. But the DTS was a 2nd gen Deville Touring Sedan aka DTS. Also the CTS was a Cattera Touring Sedan and STS was a modern Seville Touring Sedan
I really thought, “This is my toy car, this is my real car” was going to make a return here. I love this generation of DeVille. It truly was the end of an era.
Had one of these as a rental in 2005 while my Audi S4 was being fixed due to a hit and run accident. Fell in love with it. Took me back to my grandfather's 1973 Cadillac Biarritz.
The official car of the Sopranos mafia Capos😂 You know it’s also funny in one of the Sopranos episodes mobster Furio Giunta which he owned a Cadillac DTS he said “something is wrong with the motor. I have to put my foot on the accelerator to keep it running.”😂
I know a guy that helped design that engine. The engineers HATED it. Reason? Cost cutting measures. GM’s financial wizards wanted to build a “European” engine without spending the money on engineering and testing. I give you: the NORTHSTAR SYSTEM. My dad had one, same color, until it blew a head gasket and he sold it for $1500. It was in mint condition (besides the engine). Yes, he was retired. He knew about the issues, but it was his dream to retire with a new Cadillac.
I like these. As a 28 year old man, I've always loved the DTS that came out right after this car, in 2006. I long for the bench seat, column shift GMs. With these, you get that last of that era, V8 power, can seat 5 or 6 comfortably, plushy seats....things you don't get in new cars. A symbol of an era long past. Sweet Caddy and great vid.
FINALLY. I've owned 2 of these. My first car was a 2005 Deville I got during high school and then my parents ended up paying off for me when I graduated. I totaled it 4 years later (I miss that car), it was Silt (or Silk I can't remember) green and I loved it. Even had it straight-piped. (143k miles when I sadly had to abandon it after totaling) Next car was a 2004 DTS. And even then I had it straight-piped. Black on black on black. This was my baby. I drove it for 4 years. Sold it at 120k miles, mostly because it was eating oil and the basic maintenance was getting expensive. Now I have a 2006 Cadillac STS with the non-V V8. Its also straight-piped. Just rolled over 100k miles and it's now my favorite after 4 years of ownership. Gets a lot of attention. Another black on black car. I love it. He's right though, I always was a Cadillac guy, so the DTS/Deville appealed to me and they were cheap and I knew the risks lmao.
My grandpa has one of these that I hope I don't inherit for many years. many people don't know that these 05 models use LS6 headbolts and finally fixed the headgasket issue. I wouldn't buy any other year DeVille, but these aren't half bad. It's not as nice as my 98 LS400, but it's definitely a bit nicer than my 04 LeSabre that it shares DNA with. I really like them, personally.
Exactly correct they actually fixed the issue by 2004 by installing coarser LS6 head studs in the block virtually making the Northstar bulletproof. I love Northstars but above all 3800s😊
@@ryboodle what coolant were you running? Has to be either red Dexcool or compatible orange. Green universal will blow intake gaskets and/or head gaskets. Been a mechanic for 31 years and worked at Bohn Pontiac Westminster MD back in 2007 at 17 years old as a service tech. Been a GM and Mopar guy my whole life. I also restore, build and race GM W-bodies. I definitely love my old N*s also and had plenty. I started at 4 years old with my father, went to UTI for my ASEs and made a living working on everything but specializing in GMs and Mopars. Too bad UTI doesn't have a Mopar program but been wrenching on them since the 1st gen LH platform
I inherited/bought one of these from from my grandfather in what someone described as “triple black.” I love it to pieces. I believe my grandfather fixed the Northstar issues (if there are any) because I heard that 2005 was the first year that GM fixed the Northstar so it doesn’t go boom. Either way it’s very comfy and I think holds up in the modern day. When I occasionally take it to car shows the only ppl who show interest in it are those who either have one or know someone who does. I once had a guy surprised it had a V8 in it.
not grandpa’s car, this is the car for grandma’s special friend that comes by a couple times a week and gives you a few bucks and talks too loud into his bluetooth earpiece
For me, Car Care Nut is the gold standard for what you might want to buy and YOU are the gold standard for what NOT to buy. Both are valuable but different. I love your channel to pieces.
I had a 99 DeVille with 140,000 that finally blew on me. The thing was a 300hp couch and was so comfy and easy to drive that my wife that is terrified if large vehicles was willing to putt it around. This was the second head gasket failure i ever had and i was driving down the interstate 25 minutes from home when it flashed "low coolant" at me. I pulled over and filled the pressurized resevoir (it had a pinhole leak (unfixable)) and drove sbout 5 minutes before it flashed again. I stopped again and filled it once more, then checked the oil and boom, a 3ft long braided cord wet with water for 2½ft. Topped it off, put on the ac and heat, and limped it home where the thing rotted for one winter before being scrapped. I went out to start it about twice a month and in that one winter the water pump belt chucked itself so ultimately, that was the final straw in the decision to park it in a graveyard for 250 bucks cash in my pocket. To be fair, i paid 1500 bucks for mine and it lasted me 2 years and a trip to Minnesota from Southern Indiana and back no problem. About 1500 miles in just that trip, about 25,000 miles altogether for the $1500 i paid. My least favorite quirk of the thing was the traction control button was in the glovebox but when you shut it off, it disables first gear, because V8 FWD which got annoying when the abs had an error for about 8 months straight, so i was forced to stop and go from 2nd up 😅
I had one of these in Coillege/University! great car, terrible mileage. I had a base model with column shifter and digital dash. Loved it! The Northstar sounds SO good. I had the white iridescent paint too.
My step grandfather had a car just like this. 05 except his was grey. He was also a retired cop that lived in Maine and always had a Cadillac as his second car after his pickup truck. I remember borrowing it when I was 16 to take down to the Oceanside to meet up with some friends blaring Motley Crue’s “home sweet home”. It was the first time a relative trusted me enough with their car, and it was a magical night.
My dad had one of these. He spent 30 years as a university professor and retired to Florida and bought a base '02 Deville. It was a nice highway cruiser, big trunk, quiet...it just didn't exude specialness like a Cadillac should. After three days, the boat battery under the back seat died. The replacement eventually leaked acid and burned a hole through the floor and stained the driveway. All the window switches were replaced twice. It never overheated on him, but his knees were going out and he traded it in on a Murano, which my mom still drives.
This was my first car, an 03 to be exact. This exact spec. I love the hell out of that car. It always stuck by me and was always quiet and smooth when I was having a rough time. And then the electric system just shit the bed but whatever. I still loved that car
When they run right, they're great! I used to have a 2002 DeVille DTS, and it could beat a BRZ/FRS from 60 to 85 by a whole car length. The DTS had 300hp/295tq with 3.71 gears with a standard top speed of 130(155 as a dealer option, 110 for lesser models). There were also 3 "generations" of Northstar. The first ended in 1999/2000 and was the most notorious for head gasket issues. The 2000/2001 to 2004.5 had longer head bolts and slightly more reliable. The 2004.5 and up was the most reliable, but would still benefit from the bulletproof kit. My dad had a 2004 base model and got rid of it at about 220,000 miles because of the transmission output seals leaking. As far as we could tell, it had the original head bolts/gaskets. Outside of that, it ran good.
As much shit as this era Cadillac get I do genuinely like them. They’re comfortable sure they’re not going to win any races but they’re comfortable. They’re a luxury car built for old people who still remember when Cadillac was a status symbol and who somehow owning a Buick Lesaber or Park Avenue is “beneath them.” And that’s the point. Sure the V Series Cadillacs are fun but they’re lost the comfort along the way.
When Mr. Regular tells stories like this, it's a one-to-one comparison to my childhood. I used to think we were born in the same decade, then within 5 years. I eventually found out we were born in the same month.
"It gives the feeling of everything is ok" is exactly how i feel about this car. For me, this is the car my mom and her boyfriend had when i left NY and moved in with them in FL. I needed a fresh start and this car was a part of it.
The later northstars dont actually have headbolt issues. I dont know exactly what year they fixed it, but a buddy if mine has one with 340,000kms on it (about 210,000 miles) and i can tell you, he is not kind to that car, but it is still going strong somehow. Its doing the gm thing where the suspension and body is failing, but the powertrain is going strong.
I KNOW that smell. My grandmas Plymouth Reliant K had that from all the Clove gum she kept in the car to cover up the fact that every once in a while grandma did a little bit of weed.
Cadillac's last boat car. Well, the next generation DTS, anyway. My favorite quirk about these is how the steering wheel rotation is only like 1 turn in either direction slamming you into the stops a lot sooner than you anticipated when maneuvering in a tight space.
It could be cheap The Sopranos cosplay, it could be "Man, this is THE LAST REAL CADILLAC", it could be "Man, I'm buying a Caddy and thats it!!!". But we all know that this car is still can be better, then all of today's midsize or fullsize "luxury"-premium sedans.
I had a 2004 DeVille DHS, same wheels and same color inside and out as this one. I owned it for 6 years and absolutely loved it, it was a great mix of old school and modern luxury in a way. Unfortunately, despite how well I took care of it and how clean I kept it, rust started to form on the rear quarter panels, so I sold it with 167k miles on the odometer. I replaced it with a 2010 DTS Platinum, which I've owned and used as my daily for the past 3 years now. It's about to hit 138k miles and the engine has been solid the whole time thanks to the 2006-2011 DTS having an updated version of the Northstar that ironed out all the bugs, including the dreaded headbolt issue. It's such a relaxing car to drive with the smooth ride, plush seats and cream/tan colored interior. I actually like my DTS more personally, it's just nicer and more reliable, but this did make me miss my old DeVille DHS.
The die cast model is meant to be kept at home. If grandma ever loses the car you just show the authorities the diecast replica, “ this is what it looks like officer.”
My step-dad had one of these cars. He sold it when we moved to minnesota and bought a suburban. His friend has a 98 Eldorado Northstar, and he says there is always something wrong with it, but he is a mechanic, so he can fix it.
I had a northstar and thought it was an awesome engine. Sounded so good. Would stretch its legs at well over 130 mph. Quad overhead camshafts I had an STS and it was hot.
I got one of these as a rental on my honeymoon to california in 2004. Quite a change from the Smart Fortwo we had back homw. It was pale gold. it was clearly rubbish dynamically, but also perfect for floating around LA or the long freeway haul to SF.
If you find one these Cadillacs with a Northstar engine, plan on having those head bolt studs redone. I know a few people who have had this work done to their engine. They have had good luck so far.
the engine in that DHS is a 280 cubic in or 4.6 L North star V8 the North Star engine family debuted in 1993 and was used until 2012 model year the DHS/DTS was in production between 2005-2011 roughly 211,000 units sold over those 7 model years where as at one time the Deville was the annual top seller at Cadillac for a few decades
It reminds me of those 1990s Renault and Citroen barges that were always cheap on the used market, but you knew they were a time bomb because the suspension or the keyfob or the electrics were going to fail catastrophically. Like the V6 Renault Laguna or Safrane. And yet who could turn down lovely suspension and a V6 for £1500?
My cousin had a 2003 DHS and I don’t believe he had the head gasket issue. The 1996 Deville he had before that is still the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven. It really floated down the road and I loved it.
I bought a 2008 DTS. Once the temp gauge started bumping up I replaced it. It wasn't easy, but I did it now I am saving up for the 100k mile maintenance.
I remember the 98 Seville STS my mother had. Very nice riding car. Everything was OK until her car started consuming oil and overheating at idle. I remember my dad keeping a bottle of Mobil 1 and Dexcool in the trunk. Crazy is that this car also had a watercooled alternator.. We got quoted 5k to do the headbolts but instead they bought a 2009 STS with the 3.6. Good car until the damn hvac started messing up. Now my mom bought an infiniti Q50 and she loves it.
The year was 2010 I was 22 years old. I needed a car. I had a 1994 Lincoln Town Car as my first car. I had the option of a used 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 from a dealership that I literally was watching them replace the rear bumper on for $7700 or a private sale 1999 Cadillac ElDorado with 1 senior owner and only 53,000 miles on it. I took my entire life savings ($5800) and bought the Caddy. 2 months go by and there go the head studs. I was quoted $3500 and they didn't know about the permanent fix back then so they said it was only going to happen again. I lost my ass on that car. Scrapped it for $300. I laughed so damn hard at this video the memories of riding a bicycle to work and the issues after only 2 months. I refuse to buy a Cadillac again to this day. Looking back knowing it could have been fixed for $5k I probably would have saved up and fixed it but hindsight is always 20/20 right?
Found your channel in the last month or so, got pretty seriously invested I won't lie. I'm deeply curious as to your thoughts on BMWs, specifically the 535i and even more specifically the 2008s.
2005 Cadillac DeVille DHS: The official car of your aging Boomer father going into retirement and decides to trade his new daily driver Toyota in for one of these as their last car because "It makes sense financially". And "Its older, and more comfortable, it will last longer."
I used to have a 2011 Cadillac STS, the rear-wheel-drive sedan from this same era of GM stuff. I loved every mile I logged in it, and I miss it every time I drive the CTS that replaced it. The STS was one of those, "You're doing great, and you'll continue doing great" kind of cars, like the Lexus. I wish you had reviewed it before I had to get rid of it when the piston rings in one cylinder failed.
"Only Matt Happle (sp?) has the superpower to reuse head gaskets" You need to see the debauchery James does to Wayde's cars on the Garbage Time channel. Their car dubbed The Goober has run with nutella as oil, pepsi as coolant, Bunnings supermarket fasteners for... almost everything at this point, EVERY gasket is reused, and somehow the heap still runs.
Wow I have to admit, my dad and I were one of those suckers who purchased one ironically enough around 85000 miles and I felt very attacked because it felt like you had watched my experience and described it perfectly down to the older original owner knowing what he was doing but still never said anything. Change i80 to i94 in Michigan and that’s my life lol. Bravo 5 star video 😂😂
This is false information the Northstar is an excellent simply designed easy to work on engine..even the head gasket is reasonably easy . But I love how people like you drive the price down so that I can get my hands on them for cheap and enjoy them
My wife's grandparents had two of these. Same color and trim level with "Mr and Mrs" vanity plates. When one passed away and the other stopped driving, their siblings basically stole both cars and their titles. Last I heard, one was sitting in the back of their garage with busted headbolts and the other got wrapped around a tree by a cousin who dabbled in driving while intoxicated.
I have that Maisto 1:18 scale diecast model of this car in silver. I always thought they were stylish and it's probably the most interesting thing in my collection Found it at an F.A.O. Schwartz quite a few years ago for $40.
14:46 That might be an AUTOart model. They make some very high quality 1:18 scale models. I've owned a few different ones. My favorite being my GT-R34 JGTC 2002 Calsonic model. $100 seems a little on the low end though for an AUTOart, even if they make that model.
This car looks like it's from both 2005 and 1990 simultaneously.
You nailed it! Well said; well said indeed!
I feel like that describes the styling of most GM products between the years of say 1995-2010. So close and yet so far.
@@kz1000ps It's like they went to sleep until they had a wake-up call from the B5 Passat and the MK2 Mondeo, with all their "crisp" lines. Little did they know, most automakers would recieve the same wake up call, leading to the 2010s where ALL cars had that indescribably chunky and unnecessarily geometric Ford Kinetic Design look.
I mean Lexus and Toyota of the era more or less copied early 90s/late Bruno Sacco (RIP) era Mercedes-Benz.
@@josephpbrown New Edge, baby!!
Cadillac Deville: the official "I saw grandpa hit a dog and didn't pull over" car
Exactly.
Official car of no headlights at 3am
🤣🤣🤣
I mean probably a good thing for the dog owner if anything unless the grandpa hit a leashed dog .
A vehicle that instantly telegraphs the fact that viagra would be completely wasted on you at this point.
Right? That front end always said "I'm only for really old people"
@onekoneb i dunno, looks a bit like late 90s/early 00s JDM sedan. Mark II or Crown, probably a bit like Nissan President. Not really old guy vibes at this point, more like stance queen in the hands of vape maniac.
Back in the day there was always a race to be first between a tow truck and a hearse when one if these things pulled over to the side of the road. I guess they are irony mobiles now.
@@ilsirent9726 those big jdm sedans were mostly intended for the same demographic as the DHS, but in japan. their image is, of course, very different in 2024.
Ouch
I was gifted one of these by my grandad for my first car. When he passed a few years later, I was one of his pallbearers. The hearse we loaded him into was also an 8th gen DeVille. I miss that car and I miss my grandad.
Nice memory to have though. I miss my Grandad too😢
Hm wow everything about that is true for me too, except I didn’t get one of these from him
I like to think that you'll see him again. Until then, keep his memory fresh in your mind and remember all the things he told you that meant little at the time. That now you realize are incredibly profound and accurate. Miss mine too. Those old guys are to be listened too. Their words were gold.
I was a schmuck that got an '03 Deville DTS with 130k for $1600 off Craigslist as a first car. Parents wanted me to get it because "big car = safe." Always thought the engine was a ticking time bomb, but 84k miles and a lot of good memories later, my old Deville is still trucking along, and I can't imagine myself getting rid of it anytime soon.
Garbage Time also has the wonderful skill of reusing head gaskets, can’t forget everyone’s favourite South Australian
I look for their cars around Adelaide
James has a channel called James Channel if you didn't know. It's like Garbage Time but with weird video game consoles instead of cars lol
Poor Goober
The goober survives on pure hatred alone.
The JAMES:
- Handsome man
- Father of three
- Level 95 Vehicular Necromancer
The real shame of the Northstar is that with the headbolts sorted it's a fucking excellent engine. Silky smooth, lots of power for it's size (and age) and it sounds great!
Yea I've heard someone say it's a great engine until it stops being great. I wouldn't mind having one if I can get those head bolts sorted. Looks like such a cozy car
@driceproductions5304 They are a real rarity here in the UK. The only pre-head bolt change car we got was the late '90s STS.
By the time GM had reintroduced Cadillac to the UK market they'd changed the bolt design. Because of that the engine has a totally different reputation. It's actually one of the few reasons people were willing to buy an SRX for example. It was reliable!
Agreed. But for $5k that's the only major issue with a Northstar. Get a FWD Northstar car for cheap. Spend the money on the service and you have a decent car! Better and cheaper if you're willing to do the service yourself.
Actually really reliable to. My mom’s friend has a Buick Lucerne with one at 298,000 miles and my grandfather had one with 260,000 miles.
Find out where the alternator is btw 😂 yes, when, sometimes, the north star runs well it's very smooth and makes decent power. It's now obsolete but to each their own 😊
American cars from the 1990s and early 2000s were designed and engineered by coke heads to be built by crackheads all while being greenlit by department heads in the peak of greed season.
RIP to the legendary Quincy Jones.
👌
There was cool stuff tho too as a result. Pre bankruptcy GM was wild. Chopping the roof off a suburban to make it a truck? HHR SS panel wagon (turbo 6 speed, small cargo vehicle with a track package), 4 different FWD LS v8 cars, trailblazer with a corvette engine, 3 different roadsters that weren't corvettes etc. they also made the 3800 and LS platforms in the 90/2000s. Best engines out there from an American company
14:00 that convo in there is a testament to how well insulated that car is
By 2005 they fixed the head bolt issue. They put coarser threads in the blocks by 2004. The rest of the run 2004 through 2011 was very solid
they changed the head bolts... still didnt always fix the problem... as evident by the fact this guy had the head bolts still had issues on an 05...
You are right but this is probably the last of the old Northstars as this was the last year of the Deville before it became the DTS
Don't forget the split block issue.... Northstars are far from being anything worth buying. Hell, even the LS4 in the SS Impala leaked from the day it rolled off the factory line. GM should have just never put V8s in fwd cars.
@@viscountslappy5085 the DTS replaced the Deville in 2006. But the DTS was a 2nd gen Deville Touring Sedan aka DTS. Also the CTS was a Cattera Touring Sedan and STS was a modern Seville Touring Sedan
The pre 1998 models also seem to not have this problem as pronounced as the 98+ MY. My 95 Eldorado has 159k on the N* original gasket and bolts.
I really thought, “This is my toy car, this is my real car” was going to make a return here.
I love this generation of DeVille. It truly was the end of an era.
Had one of these as a rental in 2005 while my Audi S4 was being fixed due to a hit and run accident. Fell in love with it. Took me back to my grandfather's 1973 Cadillac Biarritz.
The official car of the Sopranos mafia Capos😂
You know it’s also funny in one of the Sopranos episodes mobster Furio Giunta which he owned a Cadillac DTS he said “something is wrong with the motor. I have to put my foot on the accelerator to keep it running.”😂
Vito Spatafore drove a white one just like this, too.....
I know a guy that helped design that engine. The engineers HATED it. Reason? Cost cutting measures. GM’s financial wizards wanted to build a “European” engine without spending the money on engineering and testing. I give you: the NORTHSTAR SYSTEM.
My dad had one, same color, until it blew a head gasket and he sold it for $1500. It was in mint condition (besides the engine). Yes, he was retired. He knew about the issues, but it was his dream to retire with a new Cadillac.
I like these. As a 28 year old man, I've always loved the DTS that came out right after this car, in 2006. I long for the bench seat, column shift GMs. With these, you get that last of that era, V8 power, can seat 5 or 6 comfortably, plushy seats....things you don't get in new cars. A symbol of an era long past. Sweet Caddy and great vid.
I love that the Car Wizard got name checked on this video.
FINALLY.
I've owned 2 of these.
My first car was a 2005 Deville I got during high school and then my parents ended up paying off for me when I graduated. I totaled it 4 years later (I miss that car), it was Silt (or Silk I can't remember) green and I loved it. Even had it straight-piped. (143k miles when I sadly had to abandon it after totaling)
Next car was a 2004 DTS. And even then I had it straight-piped. Black on black on black. This was my baby. I drove it for 4 years. Sold it at 120k miles, mostly because it was eating oil and the basic maintenance was getting expensive.
Now I have a 2006 Cadillac STS with the non-V V8. Its also straight-piped. Just rolled over 100k miles and it's now my favorite after 4 years of ownership. Gets a lot of attention. Another black on black car. I love it.
He's right though, I always was a Cadillac guy, so the DTS/Deville appealed to me and they were cheap and I knew the risks lmao.
I used to have a v6 STS. I miss it every time I drive the CTS that replaced it.
RCR Northstar V8 Coverage gets the 'Top Gun Treatment': a sequel years later that no one anticipated, but upped the ante considerably
My grandpa has one of these that I hope I don't inherit for many years. many people don't know that these 05 models use LS6 headbolts and finally fixed the headgasket issue. I wouldn't buy any other year DeVille, but these aren't half bad. It's not as nice as my 98 LS400, but it's definitely a bit nicer than my 04 LeSabre that it shares DNA with. I really like them, personally.
Exactly correct they actually fixed the issue by 2004 by installing coarser LS6 head studs in the block virtually making the Northstar bulletproof. I love Northstars but above all 3800s😊
Telephonically it was half way through 2003. So 2003.5, but easier to just to find a 2004+.
@@mopargm9329Funny enough my 2005 still blew a head gasket
@@ryboodle what coolant were you running? Has to be either red Dexcool or compatible orange. Green universal will blow intake gaskets and/or head gaskets. Been a mechanic for 31 years and worked at Bohn Pontiac Westminster MD back in 2007 at 17 years old as a service tech. Been a GM and Mopar guy my whole life. I also restore, build and race GM W-bodies. I definitely love my old N*s also and had plenty. I started at 4 years old with my father, went to UTI for my ASEs and made a living working on everything but specializing in GMs and Mopars. Too bad UTI doesn't have a Mopar program but been wrenching on them since the 1st gen LH platform
@@mopargm9329what do you recommend for a northstar then? Yellow?
the owner should aquire an even smaller toy car version of his DeVille and put it into the interior of the toy car show in this video
I inherited/bought one of these from from my grandfather in what someone described as “triple black.” I love it to pieces. I believe my grandfather fixed the Northstar issues (if there are any) because I heard that 2005 was the first year that GM fixed the Northstar so it doesn’t go boom. Either way it’s very comfy and I think holds up in the modern day. When I occasionally take it to car shows the only ppl who show interest in it are those who either have one or know someone who does. I once had a guy surprised it had a V8 in it.
I think the 2001 Northstars were much better and the final fix was 2003. Great barges!
XD you uploaded at the EXACT at the same time as Shooting Cars review of the same car. I SO want to believe it's coincidental.
Embargo 😂
Yeah except RCR actually knows what he's talking about and shootingcars does not
Does that guy ever shower?
Shootingcars is a shill. He just likes everything
@@chriseaton2730 no
I'm officially old I guess because this Cadillac is absolutely perfection to me.
@@jamesmendini I agree, good looking outfit. Not like today's junk
Agreed
every black granpas dream car
Usually in that factory cherry red or Cream white color and with thin white or yellow wall tires.
With a long-ass cigarette hanging out their mouth in a kango hat ... 😅😅😅😅 Listening to Frankie Beverly and maze 😂😂😂
not grandpa’s car, this is the car for grandma’s special friend that comes by a couple times a week and gives you a few bucks and talks too loud into his bluetooth earpiece
@@hueleb1choWHATCHA SAY NAH, CHUCK?
I genuinely love the way these look
Yea, this is ANOTHER CLASSIC of RCR 👍
For me, Car Care Nut is the gold standard for what you might want to buy and YOU are the gold standard for what NOT to buy. Both are valuable but different. I love your channel to pieces.
Had a Seville STS '01. I did the head stud upgrade for under 300 bucks. It was a decent amount of work, but not inconceivable for a shadetree job.
I just love this power plant. Got it in the Seville SLS. If the car is in good shape, in my opinion worth fixing. Not many cars drive like that
The car actually looks very good. I really like the grill and the headlights. It has that classic look to it.
“Mints that taste like Sheetrock” a simply accurate quote and I know the chalky mints you are referring to.
"This isn't your grandpa's car anymore"
It literally is a grandpa car.
My grandpa literally had one lol
A big reason why I have a 2010 DTS now is because my grandpa had a 2009 DTS that he bought new when I was in high school
I had a 99 DeVille with 140,000 that finally blew on me. The thing was a 300hp couch and was so comfy and easy to drive that my wife that is terrified if large vehicles was willing to putt it around. This was the second head gasket failure i ever had and i was driving down the interstate 25 minutes from home when it flashed "low coolant" at me. I pulled over and filled the pressurized resevoir (it had a pinhole leak (unfixable)) and drove sbout 5 minutes before it flashed again. I stopped again and filled it once more, then checked the oil and boom, a 3ft long braided cord wet with water for 2½ft. Topped it off, put on the ac and heat, and limped it home where the thing rotted for one winter before being scrapped. I went out to start it about twice a month and in that one winter the water pump belt chucked itself so ultimately, that was the final straw in the decision to park it in a graveyard for 250 bucks cash in my pocket. To be fair, i paid 1500 bucks for mine and it lasted me 2 years and a trip to Minnesota from Southern Indiana and back no problem. About 1500 miles in just that trip, about 25,000 miles altogether for the $1500 i paid.
My least favorite quirk of the thing was the traction control button was in the glovebox but when you shut it off, it disables first gear, because V8 FWD which got annoying when the abs had an error for about 8 months straight, so i was forced to stop and go from 2nd up 😅
I had one of these in Coillege/University! great car, terrible mileage. I had a base model with column shifter and digital dash. Loved it! The Northstar sounds SO good. I had the white iridescent paint too.
Idk why but this car looks like a cross between a Camry, Town Car, and an Escalade.
Yeah, nailed it. Camry proportions, Town car size, early Escalade headlight shape and front clip proportioning
Yet with the benefits of none of those.
My step grandfather had a car just like this. 05 except his was grey. He was also a retired cop that lived in Maine and always had a Cadillac as his second car after his pickup truck. I remember borrowing it when I was 16 to take down to the Oceanside to meet up with some friends blaring Motley Crue’s “home sweet home”. It was the first time a relative trusted me enough with their car, and it was a magical night.
My dad had one of these. He spent 30 years as a university professor and retired to Florida and bought a base '02 Deville. It was a nice highway cruiser, big trunk, quiet...it just didn't exude specialness like a Cadillac should. After three days, the boat battery under the back seat died. The replacement eventually leaked acid and burned a hole through the floor and stained the driveway. All the window switches were replaced twice. It never overheated on him, but his knees were going out and he traded it in on a Murano, which my mom still drives.
i was very tempted to buy this insanely clean Cadillac STS with a Northstar....in Europe
This was my first car, an 03 to be exact. This exact spec. I love the hell out of that car. It always stuck by me and was always quiet and smooth when I was having a rough time. And then the electric system just shit the bed but whatever. I still loved that car
When they run right, they're great! I used to have a 2002 DeVille DTS, and it could beat a BRZ/FRS from 60 to 85 by a whole car length. The DTS had 300hp/295tq with 3.71 gears with a standard top speed of 130(155 as a dealer option, 110 for lesser models). There were also 3 "generations" of Northstar. The first ended in 1999/2000 and was the most notorious for head gasket issues. The 2000/2001 to 2004.5 had longer head bolts and slightly more reliable. The 2004.5 and up was the most reliable, but would still benefit from the bulletproof kit.
My dad had a 2004 base model and got rid of it at about 220,000 miles because of the transmission output seals leaking. As far as we could tell, it had the original head bolts/gaskets. Outside of that, it ran good.
As much shit as this era Cadillac get I do genuinely like them. They’re comfortable sure they’re not going to win any races but they’re comfortable. They’re a luxury car built for old people who still remember when Cadillac was a status symbol and who somehow owning a Buick Lesaber or Park Avenue is “beneath them.” And that’s the point. Sure the V Series Cadillacs are fun but they’re lost the comfort along the way.
The final generation DTS from 2006 to 2011 were actually good
It puts into perspective, how far Cadillac has come these days.
CT5, CT6 both look so good. Blackwing versions being Rwd manual beasts. Big fan.
I despise the CT5 and that hideous C pillar. They finally fixed the nose and trunklid.
When Mr. Regular tells stories like this, it's a one-to-one comparison to my childhood. I used to think we were born in the same decade, then within 5 years. I eventually found out we were born in the same month.
"It gives the feeling of everything is ok" is exactly how i feel about this car. For me, this is the car my mom and her boyfriend had when i left NY and moved in with them in FL. I needed a fresh start and this car was a part of it.
I love how You & @Shootingscars dropped this at the same time. My 2 favorite channels!👌🏽
The later northstars dont actually have headbolt issues. I dont know exactly what year they fixed it, but a buddy if mine has one with 340,000kms on it (about 210,000 miles) and i can tell you, he is not kind to that car, but it is still going strong somehow. Its doing the gm thing where the suspension and body is failing, but the powertrain is going strong.
I KNOW that smell. My grandmas Plymouth Reliant K had that from all the Clove gum she kept in the car to cover up the fact that every once in a while grandma did a little bit of weed.
Cadillac's last boat car. Well, the next generation DTS, anyway. My favorite quirk about these is how the steering wheel rotation is only like 1 turn in either direction slamming you into the stops a lot sooner than you anticipated when maneuvering in a tight space.
It could be cheap The Sopranos cosplay, it could be "Man, this is THE LAST REAL CADILLAC", it could be "Man, I'm buying a Caddy and thats it!!!". But we all know that this car is still can be better, then all of today's midsize or fullsize "luxury"-premium sedans.
Pauli Galtieri is gonna be pissed your dissing his car...
He is going to take your lawnmower he-he
RCR+coffee=BROWWWWWNN
The Northstar head bolts are BROWWWN.
I appreciate these reviews so much. This is a car I never would have second guessed.
I dig it, interior looks nicer then typical GM plastic and it does look pretty sleak. Also digital dash! Neat.
I had a 2004 DeVille DHS, same wheels and same color inside and out as this one. I owned it for 6 years and absolutely loved it, it was a great mix of old school and modern luxury in a way. Unfortunately, despite how well I took care of it and how clean I kept it, rust started to form on the rear quarter panels, so I sold it with 167k miles on the odometer.
I replaced it with a 2010 DTS Platinum, which I've owned and used as my daily for the past 3 years now. It's about to hit 138k miles and the engine has been solid the whole time thanks to the 2006-2011 DTS having an updated version of the Northstar that ironed out all the bugs, including the dreaded headbolt issue. It's such a relaxing car to drive with the smooth ride, plush seats and cream/tan colored interior.
I actually like my DTS more personally, it's just nicer and more reliable, but this did make me miss my old DeVille DHS.
The die cast model is meant to be kept at home. If grandma ever loses the car you just show the authorities the diecast replica, “ this is what it looks like officer.”
I’m glad you addressed chekhov's dashboard smaller version of the car you are currently inside
I love it when you upload early, watching before clocking in.😊
I literally checked 2 weeks ago to see if you had reviewed this!
I love this episode, I’m weird, I find the DHS incredibly attractive.
Like for the return of the diabolical salesman
God I miss column mounted shifters.
Got one on my 08 aspen its evrn clunkier than the GM ones and i love it especially smashing it when i want 1st gear
So much better than knobs
I don't care what anybody says. That thing is nice. The styling evokes Italy.
😂 yeah, after it's moved to the US, loaded up on baked ziti, and retired to Boca.
I rented one of these for a week long road trip and really enjoyed it. Then turned it back in.
My 2007 SRX with the 4.6 Northstar was a champ. 150k miles on it, original headgaskets.
RCR and Shooting Cars reviewed this same car by same owner and posted it on the same day around same time 👀😎
Great video, great car, great engine after you fix it!
My step-dad had one of these cars. He sold it when we moved to minnesota and bought a suburban. His friend has a 98 Eldorado Northstar, and he says there is always something wrong with it, but he is a mechanic, so he can fix it.
I love the rear tail lights on these
I had a northstar and thought it was an awesome engine.
Sounded so good.
Would stretch its legs at well over 130 mph.
Quad overhead camshafts
I had an STS and it was hot.
I got one of these as a rental on my honeymoon to california in 2004. Quite a change from the Smart Fortwo we had back homw. It was pale gold. it was clearly rubbish dynamically, but also perfect for floating around LA or the long freeway haul to SF.
This car is a beast
If you find one these Cadillacs with a Northstar engine, plan on having those head bolt studs redone. I know a few people who have had this work done to their engine. They have had good luck so far.
the engine in that DHS is a 280 cubic in or 4.6 L North star V8 the North Star engine family debuted in 1993 and was used until 2012 model year the DHS/DTS was in production between 2005-2011 roughly 211,000 units sold over those 7 model years where as at one time the Deville was the annual top seller at Cadillac for a few decades
You & Shooting Cars LITERALLY posted the exact the same car from the exact same owner on the exact same day.
What are the odds!
Man that gauge cluster really does look like some mid-90's shit
It reminds me of those 1990s Renault and Citroen barges that were always cheap on the used market, but you knew they were a time bomb because the suspension or the keyfob or the electrics were going to fail catastrophically. Like the V6 Renault Laguna or Safrane. And yet who could turn down lovely suspension and a V6 for £1500?
My cousin had a 2003 DHS and I don’t believe he had the head gasket issue. The 1996 Deville he had before that is still the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven. It really floated down the road and I loved it.
I bought a 2008 DTS. Once the temp gauge started bumping up I replaced it. It wasn't easy, but I did it now I am saving up for the 100k mile maintenance.
14:45 He doesn't say, "ThIs iS mY ToY cAaAaAaAaAaAaRrRrRrRrRr!!!1!!!" Absolutely criminal.
I remember the 98 Seville STS my mother had. Very nice riding car. Everything was OK until her car started consuming oil and overheating at idle. I remember my dad keeping a bottle of Mobil 1 and Dexcool in the trunk. Crazy is that this car also had a watercooled alternator.. We got quoted 5k to do the headbolts but instead they bought a 2009 STS with the 3.6. Good car until the damn hvac started messing up. Now my mom bought an infiniti Q50 and she loves it.
The year was 2010 I was 22 years old. I needed a car. I had a 1994 Lincoln Town Car as my first car. I had the option of a used 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 from a dealership that I literally was watching them replace the rear bumper on for $7700 or a private sale 1999 Cadillac ElDorado with 1 senior owner and only 53,000 miles on it. I took my entire life savings ($5800) and bought the Caddy. 2 months go by and there go the head studs. I was quoted $3500 and they didn't know about the permanent fix back then so they said it was only going to happen again. I lost my ass on that car. Scrapped it for $300. I laughed so damn hard at this video the memories of riding a bicycle to work and the issues after only 2 months. I refuse to buy a Cadillac again to this day. Looking back knowing it could have been fixed for $5k I probably would have saved up and fixed it but hindsight is always 20/20 right?
I really miss column shifters. They don’t take more space than needed
The Archer comparison is spot on damn
Those who know💀💀😈😈😈😈 0:20
Thanks!
Found your channel in the last month or so, got pretty seriously invested I won't lie.
I'm deeply curious as to your thoughts on BMWs, specifically the 535i and even more specifically the 2008s.
2005 Cadillac DeVille DHS: The official car of your aging Boomer father going into retirement and decides to trade his new daily driver Toyota in for one of these as their last car because "It makes sense financially". And "Its older, and more comfortable, it will last longer."
I used to have a 2011 Cadillac STS, the rear-wheel-drive sedan from this same era of GM stuff. I loved every mile I logged in it, and I miss it every time I drive the CTS that replaced it. The STS was one of those, "You're doing great, and you'll continue doing great" kind of cars, like the Lexus. I wish you had reviewed it before I had to get rid of it when the piston rings in one cylinder failed.
"Only Matt Happle (sp?) has the superpower to reuse head gaskets"
You need to see the debauchery James does to Wayde's cars on the Garbage Time channel. Their car dubbed The Goober has run with nutella as oil, pepsi as coolant, Bunnings supermarket fasteners for... almost everything at this point, EVERY gasket is reused, and somehow the heap still runs.
Wow I have to admit, my dad and I were one of those suckers who purchased one ironically enough around 85000 miles and I felt very attacked because it felt like you had watched my experience and described it perfectly down to the older original owner knowing what he was doing but still never said anything. Change i80 to i94 in Michigan and that’s my life lol. Bravo 5 star video 😂😂
This is false information the Northstar is an excellent simply designed easy to work on engine..even the head gasket is reasonably easy . But I love how people like you drive the price down so that I can get my hands on them for cheap and enjoy them
My wife's grandparents had two of these. Same color and trim level with "Mr and Mrs" vanity plates. When one passed away and the other stopped driving, their siblings basically stole both cars and their titles. Last I heard, one was sitting in the back of their garage with busted headbolts and the other got wrapped around a tree by a cousin who dabbled in driving while intoxicated.
my wife and i inherited a fixed '95 seville. outside of its battery drain, it has been a really fun car to putz around town in.
Cadillac DeVille : The official car of Sopranos guest star referred to as long-time serving capo who gets whacked 10 minutes into an episode
fyi I have a 2000 dhs - bought in 2001 - has 150kk miles - never had the head gasket issue
I have that Maisto 1:18 scale diecast model of this car in silver. I always thought they were stylish and it's probably the most interesting thing in my collection
Found it at an F.A.O. Schwartz quite a few years ago for $40.
In highschool I loved that car! Big and comfy !
Owned a Deville and a DTS and loved both of them. Underrated but they are both very problematic. Loved those cars!
14:46 That might be an AUTOart model. They make some very high quality 1:18 scale models. I've owned a few different ones. My favorite being my GT-R34 JGTC 2002 Calsonic model. $100 seems a little on the low end though for an AUTOart, even if they make that model.