Learn Me: Cadillac SRX's, first gen

More specifically, one fitted with a 4.6 Northstar V8. Have a possibility of picking one up cheap from auction. Looks real clean. Need the in's and out's on this por favor.

I know they are RWD or AWD. I guess they are not too horrible, by what I've heard. Depending on what year they could have cheap interior plastics which everyone seems to bitch about.

What year in particular are you looking at?

2005, RWD, looks real nice. Not for me, for the girlfriend/wife/Warden. I am perfectly content in my little Civic

My grandma, who is absolutely not car person, saw one one day and exclaimed, "Jesus Christ! That's a Cadillac?" Just sayin'.

It was on my shopping list a few years ago. They are built on the Sigma platform, so I wouldn't be too worried about the mechanical aspect. But from what I researched, it's all the little electrical widgets that can drive you crazy. And since 2005 is only the second year, and it's a GM, I'm sure you'd get plenty of little faults.

Test drove a 2004 AWD 4.6 Northstar with the big wheels (19" if I remember) and it drove really nice. Just like a CTS in fact. But I got scared by the electrical stuff (I have no patience for that stuff) and the MPG's.

If you don't need it as a primary vehicle and you can live with the MPGs, I'd rock it.

I'm not 100%sure, but IIRC those Northstars are 3 piece blocks and they are not something to be trifled with. And I mean that in a bad way. Like don't get one.

clutchsmoke wrote: I'm not 100%sure, but IIRC those Northstars are 3 piece blocks and they are not something to be trifled with. And I mean that in a bad way. Like don't get one.

The early Northstars had HG and oil consumption problems. But they don't seem to have problems after the 2001-2002 model years.

Someone here must have working experience on them.

I drove one at a Cadillac-sponsored event and was impressed. It handled well, and the engine and transmission seemed pretty good. No idea what living with one is like, though...

The early Northstars had HG and oil consumption problems.

I think it was really the ground underneath where they were parked that had the oil consumption problems. They all had tons of leaks and none of them were worth fixing since everything was such a PITA.

Oil pan leaking? Oh sure, just disconnect the entire front subframe and take it out, so you can take off the entire transmission, so you can take off the exhaust, so you can replace the oil pan gasket. That'll be $1500.

Even replacing the oil pressure sender was major pita if i remember correctly. Ive worked on a lot of northstars and i dont like them one bit in a FWD app. Maybe a RWD engine bay would change my opinion, but ive never had to work on an SRX. In other words i am no help!

My assistant had one for a couple of years. She like it well enough. I did not get good gas mileage. the large sunroof had a gasket that went bad and leaked and the dealer wanted >$1000. I was able to fix that fro her with some shoegoo. she does not seem to miss it now that it is gone. HTH.

Chris

Back in 2006, we looked at an SRX. To start the third row is usualess unless you are amputee andthe front footwells were narrow (presumably because of the transmission). The interior is nice in a few areas but not so nice in others for a luxury car. I was concerned over how the light beige floor mats (and seats for that matter) would hold up over time. The SRX was a decent station wagon, but we really needed a minivan and because of this, we didn't bother with a test drive. Car and Driver had a comparison test Witt the SRX back in 2007.

Well you folks have helped me with my recent craving.

How about the V6 version?

The company I work for makes the exterior lighting on it..

and Cadillac is owned by gm? I got nothin...

Well, this one did not sell, so I still have the possibility of buying it. It has come down to this and a 2002 Acura MDX, but I've had experience with the V6 trans failures on the Acura/Hondas, so I'm kinda leaning towards the Cadillac.