1998 Cadillac Catera Review

1998 Cadillac Catera

German Caddy?

by: Dan Jedlicka

The $29,995, equipment-loaded Catera is a bargain, considering it's really an upper-line German Opel that in Europe rivals comparably sized sedans from automakers such as Mercedes-Benz.
The mid-size Catera is a nicer car than the European Opel because it must cater to the U.S. luxury car crowd, which is more demanding than European buyers when it comes to luxury items. Even the Catera's glovebox is air-conditioned, for goodness' sake.

The 1998 model has new items including an improved standard traction-control system and a $295 power rear-window sunshade. Newly available is the $895 OnStar System, which links the car by cellular telephone and satellite to a GM site that provides such things as directions and emergency help.

There's also a new $33,610 model with a leather interior and items including a power passenger seat.

Cadillac feels the Catera was a success after its debut for 1997. But only 25,411 units were sold last year because the car looks bland and has had an oddball advertising campaign that left people wondering exactly what sort of car it is supposed to be.

Good question. Like the discontinued Allante sports car, the Catera really doesn't seem to fit in the Caddy lineup. For instance, it's the only Cadillac that doesn't have front-wheel drive and a V-8. Instead, the Catera has rear-wheel drive and a typically European 3-liter V-6 that is small by U.S. luxury car standards.

The smooth, dual-overhead-camshaft engine produces 200 horsepower and whisks the Catera from 0-60 mp.h. in 8.2 seconds with a subdued snarl. That's reasonably quick for a luxury sedan, but a Ford Taurus SHO V-8 will blow the Catera's doors off.

The heavy, 3,770-pound Catera could use at least a 4-liter V-6--if not a comparably sized V-8. Other Cadillacs have a 4.6-liter V-8 with 275-300 horsepower. The Catera's weight also hurts fuel economy: an estimated 18 m.p.g. in the city and 24 on highways.

Some traditional Cadillac customers will object to the power steering, which is precise but has a rather heavy feel.

But then, Caddy really isn't after its older traditional buyers with the Catera, which has excellent handling and strong braking. The supple, rather firm suspension easily absorbs bumps. This rigidly built car will safely and comfortably run all day at 100 m.p.h. on no-speed-limit German highways, although it lacks the low-speed torque provided by Caddy V-8s for lower-speed U.S. driving.

The quiet, no-nonsense interior has supportive seats and is plenty roomy for four 6-footers--or five in a pinch. Cargo space also is good.

While the Catera is an odd car for Cadillac, it's a soundly engineered, nicely priced competitor to European cars with illustrious nameplates.

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

For more reviews from Dan, visit Facebook.