Still Zigging: 2000 Cadillac Catera – SOLD!

February 24, 2022 Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

It’s hard not to love a car that very much tried to work its way into the hearts and minds of American enthusiasts, even if it failed miserably. This 2000 Cadillac Catera originally appeared on Craigslist in February 2022 in West Palm Beach with a low 50,000 miles on the clock and a very reasonable asking price of just $2,000. Comparing this price against the NADA Price Guide confirms this private seller has his Catera priced below the “Average” retail price of $2,475 and the “High” valuation of $3,675.

Cadillac has long attempted to disable the mid-size sports sedan power structure, and repeatedly, it has failed. Even to this current moment, the company’s offerings in the segment – no matter how competent – still barely register with consumers who simply choose to re-up their lease agreement to the next-generation BMW 3-Series. The Catera was an initial shot across the bow to attempt to persuade American consumers into the showroom with a rebadged Opel Omega, a German sports sedan with rear-wheel-drive and a 3.0L V6. Sadly, despite an ad campaign that is still burned into my memory courtesy of Cindy Crawford and a duck, the Catera didn’t land any serious punches and finished middle-of-the-road in almost every comparison test, hampered by a hefty curb weight.

The My Old Car YouTube Channel provides this assessment on why the Cadillac Catera failed:

The seller’s car does, indeed, look like one of the best ones left, but it’s a low bar to clear. I honestly can’t recall the last time I saw a Catera in the flesh, and that may have been part of the original problem: they weren’t memorable. The styling was incredibly conservative, and you could be forgiven for forgetting this car was ever a part of Cadillac’s lineup. The seller claims his car is a genuine one-owner with ice-cold air conditioning, and that with just 50,000 miles on the clock, it’s still primed to be jumped in and driven wherever your heart takes you. I just wouldn’t count on Cindy riding shotgun anytime soon. Good luck with the purchase if you take this forgotten Caddy home.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Great car! Super low miles, 1-owner. Ice cold AC, non-smoker, everything works, gas and go. SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY!.“

Do you have a Cadillac Catera story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!