Cadillac Vehicles The Cheapest To Maintain Over Ten Year Period, Study Says
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A Cadillac is one of the cheapest vehicles to own over a five-year or ten-year period, as indicated by a recent Consumer Reports study.
Consumer Reports asked members of its site to report how much they paid out of pocket for their total maintenance and repairs on their vehicle during the previous twelve months. The research publication says it found “significant differences in costs between five- and ten-year old models, underscoring how cars need more maintenance and repairs over time.” The average annual cost to maintain a five-year-old vehicle was $208, while the average cost to maintain a 10-year-old vehicle was $406.
Cadillac vehicles, somewhat surprisingly, were the least expensive to maintain after five years at an average of $106 annually and were also the cheapest to maintain after ten years at $225 annually. The most expensive vehicles to maintain, by comparison, came from BMW. The German marque’s products cost an average of $206 annually to maintain at five years old and a significant $911 to maintain annually once they reach ten years old. Fellow GM brand Buick was right behind Cadillac in second, with its vehicles averaging $121 to maintain after five years and $244 to maintain after ten years.
This data appears to indicate Cadillac vehicles typically only need routine maintenance like oil and filter changes when they are between five and ten years old – making it one of the most reliable luxury brands that the publication has data for. The next closest luxury brand was Lincoln with a $116 average after five years and a $306 average after ten years. Lexus was behind Lincoln at $219 after five years and $365 after ten years. Mercedes-Benz and Audi were second and third last in front of BMW, with Volvo and the BMW-owned Mini brand rounding out the bottom five.
Consumer Reports says motorists can save money by purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle from some of the least expensive brands with regard to maintenance, as these vehicles will also have lower insurance and registration costs, as well.
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You know a study is full of it when it pretends that Cadillacs are cheaper to maintain than a Toyota, Honda or Lexus.
If you are only doing oil changes in the first 5 years of ownership you are neglecting your vehicle.
Engine air filter
Cabin air filter
Transmission Fluid
Tire rotation
New Battery
And a wheel alignment are just a few of the things needed in the 1st 5 years of ownership. Nevermind any of the electronic crap that breaks & needs repaired.
Since when does it cost more to rotate tires on a Caddy than a Toyota? A tire rotation is a tire rotation. Air and cabin filters are all comparable in price.
And he forgot brake flushes. But basically I think I am around 200/yr if you average the fluid flushes which are 3-5 year periods with oil changes. Now I did get an unpleasant surprise this year, (year 11) the MR shocks needed replacing and they have a shocking price tag:)
Brake flushes only really need done every brake pad change or 100,000 miles.
Others you are throwing $$$ away.
The MR shocks are why I won’t touch a car with that system. Either a traditional steel suspension or air suspension is the financially smart thing to do. Hydraulic & magnetic suspensions are endless money pits.
Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic. I’d strongly encourage changing more often than that. The MR’s are wonderful, but I was aware of the pricing. I was pleased they lasted as long as they did.
In my opinion, brake and coolant flushes are scams. Hydraulic brake systems are closed and don’t need flushed unless there’s a problem. Modern coolant is good for 150,000 miles unless the system is opened and contaminated.
The differences are when you have to rotate your tires we can do it at home with a cheap $25 reset tool for tire pressure sensors while Toyotas is $300 or a trip to a dealer
Other service items are more expensive to attend to on a Toyota.bthe MR2 has $7 hose that needs the engine pulled to change it at 75k miles. Then you need to replace the water pump and cam belts as you are not going to pull the 3ng8ne in 20 k more miles to do these recommended services.
Toyota has many little expensive things. Most ignore them as they do in most cars but if you go by the book most GM cars are hands off but for simple things most of us can do at home.
I generally go 10 years with no major service issues.
Most only aligned cars when they show west. Most don’t. If you buy your tires at the right place they rotate tires and check alignment for free.
Most GM dealers rotate tires with oil changes.
Why would you take your car to a dealer for an oil change???
Because they are lazy, gullible and just plain stupid.
Going to the stealership tells me you can’t manage money.
And this is why I dis Toyota owners. The last 2 generations of Malibu have been cheaper up front and cheaper to operate, and no less reliable than the Camry. The Taco is inferior in every metric to the Colorado. Ditto tundra. Toyota buyers are like sheep and “buy Japanese” because they want a jap car, no logic required.
IMHO, you should always do your own fluid changes. You monitor your vehicle, can choose only the best fluids and save time from waiting at the dealership or quickie lube. You also don’t let them put in that crap oil that’s only advertised as “premium synthetic.” That’s where they cut corners.
Agreed, my 2012 Silverado, purchased new, just turned 63,000 miles. So far I have replaced 2 tires, one battery, the thermostat, two air filters, and 12 oil changes. All done by me at home except the tire mount/balance. I am more than pleased and will be ordering a new truck next year, but keeping this one to hand down to a grandson.
Most newer cars only require an alignment every two years, or after a significant pot hole hit or when purchasing new tires.
LOL, cheap Toyota maintenance is a myth. They do run well and are reliable, same as a Chevy, but you pay multiple times more for Toyota service and parts when the time comes. Plus you are sending your money to a foreign owned company.! No Thanks! Long live GM!
New battery in five years…I hope not.
Ya, this doesn’t sound right at all. Oil change alone on a 2015 CTS pushes around $100 for the synthetic stuff. Assuming one is changing oil every 4 months, that’s more like $300 p/year just for the oil changes.
Most expensive “maintenance service” these days is gas…leaving little left for other “non-essentials” like brakes, tires, etc…. ; -)
I looked up the article as I have a CR subscription. It included all brands. Knowing that many Cadillacs can use the same parts as a Chevrolet, but that is not true of a Mercedes, it does have some logic to it. Also considering most “old” Cadillacs are likely Escalades, it could be expected that one is more likely to just to use Tahoe parts or Chevy dealers instead of going to the Cadillac dealer. Add in the brakes and lack of timing belt replacements GM has had for more than 10 years and it all adds up (our 2019 Traverse has 102k with the same brakes and lights).
What I find interesting is Buick. Buick Encore GX is part of that Buick low cost of ownership, is recommended by CR with a better than average rating, recommended by JD Power also due to high ratings for reliability, IIHS Top safety pick (only missing out due to better headlight extra cost item), and gets 5 star by NHTSA. The Buick Envision is no different. There is no small or medium SUV that has all these recommendations, yet Buick still struggles to get them off the lot. Only a fool would not take at least a quick review of these products if they are looking in the same classification as nothing else gets this many high remarks and still is sold at or below MSRP in the current market.
Brilliant idea, use Chevy parts for a Cadillac, hint, no Chevy part meets Cadillac standards.
Cadillac Standards! LMAO
Look in the first 5 years mast people drive 70k to 80 k miles.
What is there to do other than oil filters, tires maybe brakes but often these are now lasting 100k on some models. I got 80 k on my GTP.
Most never need plugs, transmission flush. Anti freeze flush timing chains or other serious up keep items.
GM even has the tps reset tools cheap so the average owner can reset them for $25 at home. My buddy has to take his Hyundai to the dealer for $90.
And this is why I keep buying GM’s. IMHO, yes fords the best truck (just my opinion) but I can buy 1, almost 2 trims higher in a GM truck. Ditto with cars, where I place honda 1st in the sedan class, but Malibus are just as reliable as accords and cost less. GM is the king when it comes to SUV/crossovers. GM’s have thier problems, but my wallet isn’t unlimited.
Since Cadillac sales lag behind Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Audi. This study, in my opinion, is 100% fiction.
Last time I checked walmart synthetic was Mobil 1. Maybe changed since. Bit it is good oil.
Wife’s 17 XT5 has 70k on it. One set of brake pads, LOF’s when needed and a couple of air and cabin filters. Still drives like the day we picked it up. Will need tires in the fall. Will certainly buy another one